A greener shade of ‘Pale’ for him

A judge in London awarded a 40% share in the copyright of “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” one of the most famous pop songs of all time, to a former organist for Procol Harum.

Lead singer Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid always claimed credit for the hit, which became part of the soundtrack for the hippie “summer of love” of 1967. But in his ruling, the judge decided that organist Matthew Fisher was entitled to both credit and royalties.

The judge said the song’s organ solo “is a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition and quite obviously the product of skill and labor on the part of the person who created it.”

Brooker says he and Reid wrote the song before Fisher joined the band in March 1967. It was released in May.

In a statement, Brooker and Reid said Fisher’s court victory created a dangerous precedent because it meant any musician who had played on any recording in the last 40 years could claim joint authorship.

“It is effectively open season on the songwriter,” they said. “It will mean that unless all musicians’ parts are written for them, no publisher or songwriter will be able to risk making a recording for fear of a possible claim of songwriting credit.” They intend to file an appeal.

Fisher, 60, now a computer programmer living in South London, left the band in 1969. Brooker, 61, still tours with Procol Harum.