Click to hear 30 seconds of the trackGrand Finale [Brooker / Fisher / Reid] 

Gary Shepard and Friends [USA / UK]

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Gary, who plays all the instruments The Von Krapp Family Singers, photographed while Procol Harum were playing Cropredy 2003 John

Left to right: Gary Shepard – all instruments; Roland Clare – tenor voices, Linda Clare – soprano voice,
Peter Clare – bass voice, Jane Clare – alto voices; John Edgar – narration

RC: it didn't take many listens, after Gary Shepard sent his In Held instrumental track for the Palers' Project, to realise that his Grand Finale was crying out for a spoken part, and luckily John – a professional touring story-teller – was passing through Bristol at exactly the right time. As for the Von Krapp Family Singers, we busked the harmonies in double-quick time, and only afterwards found an unofficial copy of the choral parts – as used when Procol Harum performed this piece with the Hallé Orchestra and chorus – on the BtP shelf. Ah well …

Gary's gear in the USA: Paul Reed Smith guitar, Korg AX1500G effects processor, Carvin 8400 powered mixer, Boss BR-1180 digital recorder, Yamaha Motif 8 keyboard, and a nameless but useful bass guitar. John's vocal, and the chorus, added in Bristol using Sennheiser 421, Cakewalk, and domestic PC 

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