Shy Limbs — “Reputation”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — May 26, 2026

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,986) Shy Limbs — “Reputation”

This “baroque-rock monster” (Peter Paphides, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/apr/14/strangest-record-shops-in-britain) is itself the spawn of quite a monster — “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. “Reputation is “top Procol Harum type psychedelia with a phasey outro, great organ and an epic feel throughout” (ROCKPROF, https://www.45cat.com/record/4190), “a wonderful slice of psychedelia” that “ends in a psychedelic stew of panning and phasing.” (Dave Furgess, https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/reviews/the-shy-limbs-reputation-love)

Clarkophile writes that “‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ — with its haunting, churchy organ, dramatic drum flourishes and general air of reflection — inspired a slew of up-and-coming psychedelic bands. I must admit that I have a soft spot for these dreamy knockoffs.”(https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/lesser-known-knockoffs-of-procol-harums-a-whiter-shade-of-pale.490868/) Mee too!

As to Shy Limbs, who lasted for two singles, “John Dickinson manned the keyboards [and generally handled vocals], Malcom Brasher was on bass, Andy McCulloch played drums and Greg [Lake] took care of the guitars [and did the vocals on ‘Love’, the B-side of ‘Reputation’]. Lake went on to briefly join the Gods before King Crimson[ and Emerson, Lake and Palmer].” (liner notes to the CD comp Mojo Presents: Acid Drops, Spacedust & Flying Saucers: Psychedelic Confectionary from the UK Underground 1965-1969)

Vernon Joynson shares that “Indeed the church organ sound is ideally suited to a wedding and when I got married in 1985 it was one of two records played when we walked out of the church!” ((interview with Klemen Breznikar), https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2011/09/vernon-joynson-interview-about-fuzz.html) What, the wedding band couldn’t reproduce it live?!!!

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