The first time I heard "A Whiter Shade of Pale", I was in a head shop in Pipers Alley, in Old Town, Chicago buying a hash pipe, I think... and I immediately fell in love with the song. Here's Procol Harum almost 40 years later, accompanied by the Danish National Concert Orchestra. The lead singer sure hasn't lost his magic. He's even better now.
I never realized it was based on Air on the G String by Bach. Did you? I'm posting the original in the comments.
First heard them on the radio 1966 on KXOA and KROY.
I think it was at the old Fillmore the first time I saw them!
My all time favorite song was the “Autumn of My Madness”
That was one of a half dozen songs in my repertoire durning my brief attempt at 16 of being the singer in a band. We never had a gig, just a couple of months practicing. Loved the song!