Isaac Guillory. 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' VRC0001

[@2flubadub]

Nothing is better than hearing my friend Isaac play this. We were together, back stage, at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago watching Procol Haram perform this. I miss my friend

[@johnsime4644]

I knew him years ago via John Renbourn and many workshops, gigs etc. He was such a humble genius and I remember sitting on the side of a stage with him when I was trying to nail the riff in Swinging Little Guitar Man and his patience was amazing. The smallest audience i saw was 12 people! in a tent at a summer festival and I asked him how he dealt with that and he just shrugged and said "that's life" and then continued to play his heart out to entertain them. I got to know his agent at the Sun Hotel in Hitchin and he said he always thought "Slow Down" should be recorded by bigger stars but Ike again, just shrugged! He never wanted to stay around with people after the gig as he always preferred his van where he did his weed. He and John were so great together - music gold. Both now sadly not with us. I still miss him.

[@rikroberts1754]

The Guitar's greatest unsung hero...even in his heyday (late 80s), he used to play to audiences of 20-30...unbelievable really. He is better known now KZbin has come along, but some have suggested that he always wanted to remain 'underground' on the UK folk circuit...but those who knew about him were always in awe...a truly great artist.

[@wilyjetset]

You said it. Unbelievable. Met him once or twice, and the way he would just stand around and have a pint in the break, chatting and joking with random awestruck, tongue-tied fans like me, was so special. You got the feeling that he really did live for the intimate gigs.

[@robertnewell5057]

So true. A wonderful man; still sadly missed. Only saw him once, but was completely blown away and would have loved to have seen him many times. May his soul rest in peace.

[@nickyG7515]

Isaac stayed with me twice when he was within reach in Derbyshire! I learned much from him X

[@FilNovak1]

I saw Isaac a number of times. One occasion I took photos during his performance (after asking his permission), then showed him b&w prints next time. He signed the best, and have kept this photo like a rare treasure. Sadly missed, but wonderful memories of his playing.

[@MoogNod]

by far, *the* best cover of this classic song...ever. Well done, Issac.

[@brianfileman1281]

I saw Isaac play only three times - once at the Buxton Folk Festival in about 1983 when i was a sound engineer for him and then in Otley in 1997 and 1999 (I think) - but never saw him do this. Whenever he did a cover it was almost always the best I'd heard and his own sings were just beautiful. Still missed.

[@22string67]

The best musician i have heard thanks for posting i saw him over 40 times he was a total gentleman and a total inspiration and role model.Genius.

[@markstorey6893]

Hi bristol Ron, thanks for your posts- he lived next door to me when i was growing up- was too young to realise how great he was-

[@oldvole]

I saw Isaac at the Guildhall in Leicester many years ago, and frankly I thought he's made some sort of bargain with the devil, like Robert Johnson. His playing was awesome, and I left feeling humbled by such skill.

[@cobwebscavern]

It goes to show all that is wrong with music today that at the time of writing less than 1600 people have watched this performance of beauty, talent and skill and any number of no marks from the x factor have hits into the 100's of thousands. A stunning cover version.

[@peterchatel8135]

Was für ein feiner Kerl - what a nice guy.. i have never seen him before! Normally i play this on a piano ...but tonight i walk up my good old guitar it is also a 50 year old Martin and i will play this for him!! Alles Gute!!!

[@philwil17]

Thanks for posting this, I recorded Isaac performing this in the eighties at Bretton college, nr Wakefield. A beautiful version, like only Isaac could.

[@73North265]

Oh this takes me back to London in the early/mid 90s as a student going to venues like the Sols Arms in Euston. Really small, but lovely gigs when you could have a drink with the performers afterwards. Isaac was such a lovely bloke and, goes without saying, an amazing guitarist, who had the knack of making it look so easy. Will always treasure the first time I saw him live and supported by Peter Buckley-Hall

[@spring74light]

Thank you for this priceless Posting! One is stuck for words ... [Tyneside, England.]

[@geoffnoble2435]

I met Ike several times at gigs and he always had time to chat except on the last one at the Flowerpot in Derby. He was recording tracks for a live album and when I approached him at the break very politely asked if we could chat later as he wanted to listen to the playback of the first half to check it was OK. At the end of the night he was busy chatting to several other people so I just wished him goodnight and he said 'See you next time'. Sadly there was no next time.....

[@paulfox1210]

Nights listening to you at the Half Moon in Putney were priceless, Isaac. So good that we've got this record of your beautiful talent.

[@CarlyWaarly]

Thanks for sharing, great to see Isaac on You Tube! He was my tutor at Guild Hall!

[@nickyG7515]

hey, he always came to stay with me when he played derbyshire and stopped over for a few nights. Got one to one tuition, so I know how lucky you are. Real sad lost of this unsung hero

[@descartesdonkey4291]

Never a bad show from this ace of the guitar.

[@Tony-dk9sx]

Beautiful ! RIP Isaac.

[@jojojam6012]

This outclasses most other versions. Miss ya Isaac.

[@thcooke]

Great job capturing this beautiful performance! Many thanks for posting.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you...

[@jacobienT]

Thanks a lot for sharing, so beautiful Isaac's version of this song. I'm still hoping someone will post a (good) live version of his great "Through us All" which i heard him sing many times and where he was truly transcendent ... a gift of the great artist ..

[@Shaun-c7w]

An excellent guitarist and musician.Saw him play in Cambridge.Sorely missed.

[@zerosoma33]

This takes me to another place...

[@swingmanu]

Beautiful solo version!Close enough to the original, and personal enough to be worth hearing.

[@MrBobtwang]

I remember him playing at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory folk club in the early seventies. Blown away by his playing I asked him afterward just how did he get so good. He said he started practicing scales at 9 in the morning for a performance that started at 8 in the evening and he did that every day. Obvious really.

[@cudleydudley9215]

what can you say ....

[@robertnewell5057]

Keith Richards said of the playing of (I think) Muddy Waters: 'I mean, it just makes you sick!' Obviously meant as a compliment. That's what I would say - as close to perfect as makes no difference.