We skipped the light fandango!

LONDON - A judge awarded a 40 percent 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, but in his ruling, the judge decided that organist Matthew Fisher was entitled to both credit and royalties as well!

The song is best known for it's organ solo and the judge said "this is a distinctive and significant contribution to the overall composition and quite obviously the product of skill and labour on the part of the person who created it.”

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 past 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.

Your "hum along because he doesn't know the words" scribe;
Allan W Janssen