Mick Fleetwood and Jake Shimabukuro Cover “Whiter Shade of Pale”

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro have unveiled a new single from their upcoming collaborative album, Blues Experience. The album is set for release on October 18. The latest track, now available digitally, is an instrumental rendition of Procol Harum’s iconic 1967 hit, “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”

A video showing Fleetwood, Shimabukuro, and their studio team performing the song has been uploaded on Shimabukuro’s official YouTube channel. The clip captures Jake delivering a reverb-laden take on the “Whiter Shade of Pale” melody, enhancing it with additional notes during his passionate solo. Meanwhile, Fleetwood provides a steady, skillful slow-tempo groove.

Shimabukuro shared his thoughts on social media about covering “A Whiter Shade of Pale.”

“Mick suggested recording ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ for our upcoming blues album,” he mentioned. “The original by Procol Harum is a world-renowned classic. Its melody is so powerful that it became a gift to us! We’re so excited that it’s out now, go listen!”

Shimabukuro also posted a video discussing his version of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and the forthcoming Blues Experience album.

“Very excited about releasing our new single off of the new album,” he said. “It’s called ‘Whiter Shade of Pale,’ and it’s one of my all-time favorite songs. I know Mick Fleetwood loved this one as well. And, you know, it was just such an honor to record this with him.”

Jake further added, “Blues Experience is a blues record. It consists of Mick Fleetwood on drums, my dear friend Jackson Waldhoff on electric bass, and also a longtime friend of mine, Michael Grande, on keys. We’re just so excited about this record, and hope you enjoy it. And hope you enjoy the new single.”

Blues Experience is a 10-track collection that reinterprets various classic blues songs and other covers. It also includes an original tune called “Kula Blues” that Shimabukuro wrote about the area of the Hawaiian island of Maui where Fleetwood resides.

The album features renditions of the blues standard “Rollin’ N Tumblin’,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World,” Little Willie John’s “Need Your Love So Bad,” and Stevie Wonder-penned Jeff Beck classic “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers.”

Additionally, Blues Experience includes a spoken-word version of the Christine McVie-penned Fleetwood Mac ballad “Songbird,” which was initially released in July 2023 to commemorate what would have been McVie’s 80th birthday. Another instrumental version of “Songbird” is also featured on the album.

Blues Experience is available for pre-order and will be offered in CD, vinyl LP, and digital formats.

Shimabukuro has over 40 concerts scheduled in North America through early 2025, starting with a performance on September 5 in Hopewell, Virginia, and concluding on February 1, 2025, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Fleetwood is slated to perform at the inaugural Maui Music & Food Experience, a festival taking place from September 5-7 on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The event aims to support those affected by the devastating fires in Lahaina in August 2023, which claimed over 100 lives and destroyed much of the town, including a restaurant and music venue owned by Mick.

Blues Experience Track List:
1. “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers”
2. “Rollin’ N Tumblin’”
3. “Need Your Love So Bad”
4. “Kula Blues”
5. “Whiter Shade of Pale”
6. “I Wanna Get Funky”
7. “Still Got the Blues”
8. “Rockin’ in the Free World”
9. “Songbird”
10. “Songbird” (Mick spoken word)

Source: Particle News