Procol Harum frontman Gary Brooker has won back full royalty rights to the band’s seminal 1967 hit ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ at London’s Court of Appeal.

In 2006, a court ruled that organist Matthew Fisher was entitled to a 40 per cent portion of royalties for the song that reached number one in the charts upon its release.

Matthew Fisher argued that he had contributed the song’s distinctive keyboard accompaniment. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the 2006 ruling on grounds that Fisher’s claim had come nearly 40 years after the track was first recorded.

As a consequence, Fisher will receive no royalties for the song reported to be John Lennon’s favourite track of 1967.

(by Patrick Smith)