to clear up any confusion caused by a bad edit on my part: peter jenner was the manager and pete bown the engineer. what’s your favorite pink floyd album? comment below!
Wish You Were Here - The band writing an album largely about Syd. They were sad , he wasn't around to share in their massive success with Dark Side. Give David much credit for always including several Syd tracks on compilations & assuring Syd received royalties !
Any album that begins with flight announcements for the signs of the zodiac and ends with ducks having group sex is probably going to be an interesting listen.
This is my favorite, most played Pink Floyd album. Actually I bought "A Nice Pair" when I was a young lad. The first 2 albums are as good as anything they have ever recorded!
Growing up in the 70's and 80's Syd Barrett name was commonly used among many rock fans. Back then I thought Syd Barrett was just a fictional character like Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, Jonny (of Bad Company fame) I only ever heard one single Barrett era song Astronomy Dominae assuming, at the time it was a younger less skilled Dave Gilmore on guitar. it was in the 1990's when I watched a Floyd documentary with a chapter on Barrett, after that I scooped the their "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" debut and heard it in its entirety for the first time. I was totally blown away. Far more so than hearing Dark Side Of The Moon in 1973 at age 9. I was Saddened at what happened to Syd in the wake of Pipers release. similar to Brian Wilson with Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. another similar mind blowing album. Recently, I purchased a new limited edition vinyl MONO version of Piper. Personally, I think the Mono sounds better than the standard stereo Lp. More raw, More Low Fi. like muffly AM radio sound,. Im sure there's a MONO CD of Piper too.
Syd Barrett in such a short time would influence so many musicians, singers and future musical movements he didn't last long with Pink Floyd but he definitely made a huge impact
I would humbly suggest including "Slip Inside This House" by The 13th Floor Elevators as my 1A with "Interstellar Overdrive" as my 1B Two amazing and ground-breaking and brilliant musical statements in mind expansion and also, the two most representative musical explorations into a psychedelic trip...imho. Cheers
This is, hands down, the greatest music channel on this platform. Your attention to the details, contextualization, the information you bring about the record you are reviewing, the production of your videos, the trivias... Everything is in the right place. I've been a music head for a long time, I love to read the history behind my favorite bands and records, and even when I watch your review on records I know every well, I learn something new. I can only wish you the best, you deserve it.
Early Pink Floyd is all I ever listen to from that band anymore. I could explain, boy howdy could I explain in great detail, but the internet has enough negativity without me pitching in.
I get it. Probably because you don't want to hear stuff from DOTM, Wish You Were Here, Momentary Lapse, or The Wall etc. for like the millionth time, especially on any public radio format. I usually try not to listen to any of that on the radio, I'll switch it off, and rather listen to it on the album proper once in a blue moon so I won't get burned out on it.
The songs are too unnecessarily long. That's my issue with Pink Floyd and why I prefer Syd's era. I do like some of their later stuff, but unsurprisingly, it's the "shorter" songs.
@@sugadelicsavagesoul8623 not all prog is like that, again early Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and the Doors have short songs just to name the most famous ones. But I like King Crimson, and their songs are long too, the Court of the crimson King is a peak song.
Well that and also you're clearly a snob with unfair biases, meaning that your opinion is actually selfish, unfair and wrong and people like you don't deserve to have your snotty, self-righteous opinions taken seriously. If at any point you devalue Animals, The Wall, or Wish You Were Here as anything less than great, then you don't deserve your opinion, and you don't deserve to be listened to.
While they and the Beatles recorded their masterpieces, the Pretty Things were recording the first rock opera SF Sorrow. A masterpiece in its own right.
That's the one I just purchased on vinyl. I sort of miss the wild stereo effects, but I must say, it sounds nice! Good to know someone else recommends it, and I didn't purchase a dud.
Curious. Can you mention how different it sounds or aesthetically it is? Because for me one of the things that makes 60's psych recordings amazing are the trippy speaker pannings.
Most of Pink Floyd's best music is either by Syd or about him. Piper is my favourite Floyd album just for it's sheer quirkiness and experimentation. I like Chapter 24, maybe I just like Syd's voice on it. Some of the guitar playing still spooks me and I've been listening to it for 45 years.
I have always wanted a large square poster of the front cover to this LP. it totally looks like there SHOULD be a poster of it, but I have yet to see one. also, "take up" has one of my favorite lyrics of all time "real eyes realize real lies". I wish I had thought of that line.
Piper... one of my all-time favourite albums, a feat of the Summer of Love's psychedelia, Syd had a charming voice that suited their whimsical psych rock, from the off-kilter opening of Astronomy Dominé, to the raucous freakbeat of Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk and Bike. It's a shame he dipped out after beginning the sessions of Saucerful. Syd's influence on rock itself can be heard in XTC, John Lydon (who named his hamster Syd, and then his own friend.), Magazine, and so many more. Syd's solo albums are also great too, Madcap Laughs is a chunk of Syd's post-psychedelic lo-fi pop, and so much more. Vegetable Man (recorded after this album) is primal proto-punk and there's helluva lot more stuff about Syd that i'd ramble on about but a comment can't express it all. Edit: i'd also say there's a Syd-esque gem in the Dukes of Stratosphear as well, it's XTC's own rejig of the Summer of Love mixed with Syd-era freakouts.
One of the best 1967 albums! Symbol of the Summer of Love with the ones of The Doors, The Jefferson Airplane, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Move, The Grateful Dead! The first Pink Floyd album , the PIPER..., is a MUST!
6:08 Rick Wright did co-lead vocals also on "Astronomy Domine," "Flaming," "The Gnome," "Chapter 24," "Scarecrow," and "Bike" (as well as "See Emily Play" and the pre-album single "Arnold Layne"/"Candy And A Currant Bun"). It was kind of the signature sound (or at least part of it) of early Floyd to have Syd and Rick singing unison and splitting to harmonies... in part to beef up Syd's vocals on stage, but obviously also in the studio as well. Shortly before his death, Rick Wright did a radio interview (reacting to the 40th Anniversary rerelease) in which he recounted he was shocked during initial release that "vocals" weren't part of his credits on the album and that this had only been rectified for the 40th Anniversary release in 2007. I've popped on "& Vocals" on my personal copy of Piper, doing justice to my favorite of the Floyd. ^_^
I like how in early interviews there's a more relaxed, open feel, with Syd, Rick and 'Nicky' all chipping in witticisms, while Roger adds surly asides. It's the same in their playing, the early stuff often surprises by its creativity, and that includes Waters' bass playing. By the way, Rick was regarded by the management as the second creative force, and when things fell apart they came to Rick and suggested he and Syd dumped Roger and Nick and formed a new band, an idea which Rick rejected (ironic that Roger eventually sacked him from the band). But in the early days Rick was the second songwriter, coming up with a real gem in Paintbox, and a real stinker with It Would Be So Nice.
Stellar revisit with added depth. I knew of Syd from an old UK book about big acts o' the 70s that featured a good chunk of Syd's story. The school photo of the five piece had him dried out and absent among the cooler looking others and it haunted me. Late '70s in Townsville did not include very early Floyd (and no solo material) in record shops. Eventually, I borrowed an original mono UK copy from one of my sister's Uni friends. It took a lot of liking with the bigger semi-instrumental tracks asking too much of me. But then the Syd showcase completely charmed me (those were the songs I taped). Worth recalling that one of the features of the UK (and Australian) punk I was into then ditched the rock convention of singers trying American accents as one of the ways they stood out. Syd's middle class home counties voice was like a drink of cool water on a hot day (see also, Greg Lake and Peter Gabriel) and I loved the strong melodies. If you were listening out for Syd's signs of future unconventionality just go to Gnome and Bike where the bar line gets less respect than in other songs. Finally when Piper was re-released with the original cover art, I got my copy and reacquainted myself with it as a whole album and got into it. The what-ifs here are more interesting than normal (a supported Syd making it through more records with the band as a kind of transition period gets to me) but the big dark cloud of his illness always rolls over them and its back to looking the other way or treasuring the best of what we were left with. This LP, Relics, and the solo re-releases got into the water supply of every early '80s band who loved their psyche without the rock posturing. He walked among us, once again. Sorry for talking your kneecaps off it's just that Syd gets me talking. Great video (loved the take on the Bike lyric). For which, thanks.
The thing is, none of the people involved in telling Syd's story were doctors. It's a bunch of kids talking about what they think, or decided to think, about Syd. And now everyone repeats it as gospel. "Syd was schizophrenic." He was? Who told you that? Nick tells the story of trying to take Syd to a doctor, only for Syd to back out at the last minute. So the band went to the doctor without Syd to tell his story. According to Nick, after laying everything out, the doctor said "Are you sure it's *Syd* who has the problem?" In later years, Nick would confess he thought the doctor had a point. The boys in the band had a lot of ambition, they wanted to climb to the top of the charts, tour Europe and for that they needed singles. And for that they needed Syd. But Syd never seemed to have much interest in that. He could dash off a great single no problem, but so could lots of people. He never seemed to value that. Meanwhile in their live act, the band had developed this new kind of improvisational playing based on blues chords rather than jazz and Syd thought they had something new and amazing, they had a killer live jam show like no one else, but the rest of the band keep pressuring him for hits. "Why can't we just be an amazing live band? This thing between us and the audience and the music and the lights is AMAZING, why do we care about singles?" I think it's fair to interpret Syd's behavior as: he didn't want to go along with the other guy's plans for him, but they didn't actually care what Syd thought. So he, passive aggressively, starts to withdraw. Troll them, basically. And the worse he behaved, the MORE they didn't ask what was wrong. Until eventually he was happy to let them go on without him. They broke his heart, basically. I mean, we saw where Rog went. His ENORMOUS ambition, his refusal to treat the other bandmembers as equals. I have a sneaking suspicion Syd saw that in him way before any of us. I have no idea, I wasn't there and neither was anyone else at this point, except a bunch of 20 year old kids. Rick was always *adamant* Syd was schizophrenic but like...bro...you're a piano player, not a doctor. And you were TWENTY. Is it at ALL possible you just decided to label Syd as sick because it made it easier for you to write off your own callous behavior toward your friend? Nick Mason seems to think so.
Bowie talks about Syd like he was a god. I sometimes wonder, if Syd hadn't gotten off the merry-go-round, would we have gotten Ziggy? Or would Bowie have gone in a different direction, feeling Syd had that Space Rock God thing locked up?
I agree with you. He was a painter first and foremost. Everything makes sense once you remember that he was an artist who just wanted to be creative and play music. That's it. People think that's "crazy" because most people are ambitious and want success, money, power. Syd wasn't like that. And so, his decision to quit music and public life and go back to painting makes perfect sense.
Barrett's childish songs provide a clue to his own personality - he was using music to hark back to his childhood, the time of his life when he felt most happy.
One of my all time favorite records, so it's wonderful to hear all of the details from you. You do an INCREDIBLE job compiling information and stories about these release. SO stoked to watch this great video. This is EASILY my favorite Pink Floyd record (I only also care for Dark Side and Animals, but TBH.. the rest can suck it), and I have to say... I love every song on this album and love the track listing; Pow R. reminds me of exotica (it takes you to a place), Gnome is like watching the sun come up (after Interstellar Overdrive), Chapter 24 is a beautiful meditation, and Scarecrow is a perfect segue to Bike. For me; this album is perfect. The heavy guitars, the whimsey (maybe my favorite aesthetic component to all art), and the level of imagination. I feel like it's still ahead of its time. Long live Syd :)
I adore this beautiful album by Pink Floyd, along with "A Saucerful Of Secrets" they helped me immerse myself in other artists beyond the popular ones like The Beatles in 1967, The Mothers Of Invention, Captain Beefheart, The Count Five, The Electric Prunes, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Love, The Pretty Things, The Small Faces, Hawkwind, etc, to rare and underground artists of the psychedelic era such as Sacred Mushroom, Tomorrow (where Steve Howe of Yes came from), Weed, Comus, Frijid Pink, The Incredible String Band, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Os Mutantes, Ash Ra Temple, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Kaleidoscope, Sunforest, La Seconda Genesi, Le Stelle di Mario Schiano, etc, and Krautrock crazy things like Brainticket, Faust, Aktuala, Embryo, Amon Düül I & II, etc, to modern things like Ozric Tentacles, The Beta Band, King Gizzard, Melody's Echo Chamber, etc.
Great list. You’d probably love early Soft Machine, The Holy Modal Rounders, The United States of America too if you’re not already familiar with them.
I have both a stereo and mono pressing and I have to say, if you can get this album in mono DO IT IT IS SO MUCH BETTER! The mixing is overall much more balanced in songs like Bike and The Gnome and theres even a phaser on the song Flaming which isnt in the stereo for some reasong
The original vinyl monday episode was what kickstarted my deep dive into Pink Floyd, this is still my favourite album of theirs, I’m still looking for a US copy of this record cause my favourite song from Pink Floyd is See Emily Play 😭
While there might be better Floyd albums out there, Piper still is up there as my favourite, it just has this whimsical yet timeless sound to it, a bit like Sgt Pepper's. Also probably cos I'm not really big into prog rock in general. Even to this day, it still upsets me greatly about what happened to Syd, he was such a gifted and talented man who mentally capitulated in front of his bandmates and the crowds he played to. Sure, he might not have done himself any favours through doing "the Syd" but I agree that his bandmates should've looked out for him, too. As someone who's also fought mental health battles over the past few years his story is very touching and I'm really glad that the attitude towards stuff like that is changing, and yet, we still have a long way to go. Syd feels like a ghost on the later albums, you think he's playing in the background with the rest, but yet, he never appears...
Architecture students. I didn't know that. Graphic arts also include a band called: Wire, Peter Townshend , Ray Davys, Jimmy page, Ron wood, Ringo, John Lennon, The Talking Heads. All of whom also started by playing in bars also. Great show thx alot.
Yep, an album more 1967 than any other. Released a year before, or the year after it would have sunk without trace. For anybody interested in learning more about Syd and what happened to him in the years after Pink Floyd, there is an interview with Rosemary Breen, Syd's sister on YT. It's not hard to find.
Syd was something else. With him the band had a leader with a truly odd yet commercially viable pop sensibility when he applied himself to writing a single like See Emily Play or Arnold Layne. No one else in the band had that talent. Thank god we have this album to witness his immense talent and thank god we have that BBC interview clip so we get a sense of what a terrific, eloquent person Syd must have been to be around.
Would love to see a feature on my at least one of two if My favorite live albums. Concert for Bangladesh or Mad dogs and English Men. Both have some serious crazy back stories.
I was born in '74, so the "A Nice Pair" cassette was my intro to this album. Thus, for me, the live Ummagumma version of Astronomy Domine is the definitive version.
The Bob Close line up actually did a demo of 6 songs including Lucy Leave, they can be found on both a RSD single and in the early years box. Both Lennon and McCartney used to go see them in 66 at the UFO club, dressed incognito of course. So who influenced who? I know no one will ever agree with me, but being the runner of the Syd Barrett Archives since 97, I have a bit of knowledge of this stuff. Love the redux.
A good Beatles/Pink Floyd fan from Peru, Ronieco Psicodelio (rest in peace bro) said Piper was the best debut album of all time, along with Please Please Me. For me, it takes me back to Winter 1990 in Peru, when I discovered the studio version of Astronomy Domine in a Chilean cassette. Man the record blew my mind.
Being 17 in 1967 and surfing around Santa Monica ( Venice, Will Rogers ) there was this club on Navy St. named " The Cheetah Club ( formerly The Aragon Ballroom ) where if you were an up and coming band you made sure you ' dropped ' in ( pun intended ). The list of heavies that played there was absolutely incredible. Me, my sibs and friends would check out the line-up then really check out the line-up. we saw " The Pink Floyd " in the fall of that year and while consulting with my sis we determined they played the U S version entirely. To quote from " Free Four " from " Obscured by Clouds " 1972 " The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime ". Genius takes many forms and produces visual and audio art that some may deem comes from crazy, If that is the case than i am all in for crazy. BTW " Lucifer Sam is about Syd's Siamese cat's " Jennifer Gentle " is the other one on the track. Dig your style,aloha
I had a girl ask me to chaperone her to the cheetah club because Venice after dark was scary and unknown to South Bay people, because of all the junkies. . She wanted to go see the doors, and I, at maybe a very young 16 years, wanted no part of the Venice boardwalk at night , despite the doors being claimed as almost locals because they practiced in a garage in manhattan beach for a while. it was that decision and the later considerations of that decision which clearly illustrated a life long lesson to me about how allowing fear into thought, as opposed to simple consideration of risk, leads to unsound thinking. A couple of years later, I dropped a friend off at the Santa Monica civic auditorium where he said Pink Floyd preformed in quadraphonic sound, having effects fly around the room from large speakers placed in each of the halls four corners.
I believe “Jennifer Gentle” was his girlfriends name. The cats name I’d guess, would be Sam… the whole song seems like an inside joke between Syd and his girlfriend.
Yes, please do Syd's solo albums. They are both beautiful and tragic, two partially hidden gems of early 70s that were eclipsed by albums like Meddle and Atom Heart Mother.
Thank you for the review. This record and A Saucerful of Secrets along with ALL of Syd Barret's solo stuff left a solid impression on Pink Floyd, and us. Thanks for the info on Syd.
I LOVE that you’ve the solo records on vinyl! I’m so jealous. When I was growing up, I lived in such a rubbish one-horse town in the Southeastern United States that I couldn’t even get Syd’s solo records on CD-I had to drive 45 min to the nearest university town to pick them up. To my considerable pleasure, they were also able to order the *Opel* collection for me. It still wasn’t till the early ‘00s that I got to hear the likes of ‘Lucy Leave”, or the HILARIOUS ’Bob Dylan’s Blues’. I was incredibly fortunate to have downloaded and made a CD of the aforementioned Pink Floyd rarities ‘Scream Thy Last Scream’ and ‘Vegetable Man’. Thank you, Napster! Anyroad, although ‘Opel’ has a wonderfully bizarre chord progression, and it’s one of the few songs in which Syd doesn’t bugger up the timing, and gets all the lyrics right, nobody ever overdubbed bass, keys, and/or lead guitar. I don’t know why. It’s one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in his oeuvre, and could have been his masterpiece. Even reading the lyrics STILL gives me a very specific ‘lost’ feeling- like I’m lost in a grey place between two worlds, tethered to either by the merest thread. As I’m floating there, I feel something seem to crawl up my back. The music just adds to this.
Gnome and Chapter 24 are the two songs that give an amazing insight into Syd's psyche. Not just the lyrics, but the movement of the songs. the two tunes play off each other and the sequencing of Chapter 24 coming right after Gnome is important to that. In Gnome we have a happy go lucky character who enjoys being at home. Until one day he had a big adventure. This was Syd's life up until he took on the adventure of being in a traveling rock band. The adventure includes an epiphany moment, where the gnome looks at the sky, and looks at the river, and he realizes it's good. This epiphany is then explained in Chapter 24 with the phrases from I, Ching. Life is so much bigger than pop stardom and trendy clothes, etc.
So my Floyd journey was ... an interesting one. In late childhood and approaching the teens, I was aware of "classic" Pink Floyd and the mixed aftermath (The Final Cut to The Division Bell). But throughout my teens, I went through everything before Meddle. It was probably the best way to approach them as I got to hear the open and creative Floyd at a time when I was experimenting in my own way. It's interesting you associated "Lucifer Sam" with James Bond. When I was a teen - and thus very aware of Piper - I thought that the biggest transgression Austin Powers ever did was *ignore* this song, particularly during The Spy Who Shagged Me. Then again ... maybe it was for the best? But still, it was a missed opportunity to have something from that time and would fit better than "American Woman" (especially the then-current Lenny Kratviz cover). And "Bike" ... when I saw The Green Mile in the theatres, I turned to my date - who was also aware of my adventurous music tastes - and called "Mr. Jingles" "Gerald". And speaking of "what's canon": which Piper mix - mono or stereo? Honestly, I go back and forth between the two. The case for the mono was that this was most likely the edition most people bought back in 1967 and it does sound "more proper" in that it was something the EMI engineers knew how to do. The case for the stereo was that this would end up being the most commonly available version worldwide, cuts from there would feature on various compilations, and as mixing in stereo was new and fresh, there was a sense that "anything went" and you could whatever the [duck quack] you want. Listening to the stereo mix would drive current day engineers [duck quack] bat-[duck quack] crazy with basses and drums not always in the center and weird panning effects (see end of Interstellar Overdrive). And in the end, if Pink Floyd were a band that marched to their own drummer (so to speak), wouldn't it make sense to have a presentation that would showcase their eccentricities. I joke too about "horse man yelling about dead dad constantly", but Roger has always spoken of Syd fondly. There is, of course, Wish You Were Here and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in particular that was his most heartfelt and sincere tribute to his friend. But from Syd, I got the sense that after 1975 or so, he just wanted to be left alone. I know it's easy to make him into some creative martyr. But in the end, Syd was just a man like any other. Very special and one-of-a-kind, of course. But he wasn't God. And I kinda wonder if Syd's antics were in part a kind of harbinger and warning to the rest of the band: "Hey, lads, I know you want to be rich and famous. But I don't think it's worth it at all". In other words, Syd realised what Roger would come to realize in about half-a-decade later. And it's no surprise that the two of them responded in their own particular ways: Syd with his unexpectedness whimsy and Roger with his [duck quack] dourness. At any rate, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ... what a trip indeed =]
Jimi Hendrix called Syd “The laughing Syd Barret” I’m assuming he was joking? Yet according to David Gilmore there is home movie footage of them all tap dancing in a dressing room before a gig. Be fantastic to see that along with any film when Floyd were a five piece band in January 1968.
Whoah! No way! I was in England for the first two weeks of April (it was freezing wasn't it?!) And spent my first days in London, then a quick few days in Liverpool, then back to London for the rest. We also frequented quite a few pubs---man, I wish I would've known which pub was the Syd favorite! Cheers! 🍻
This is maybe my favorite album ever. I listen to a lot of nasty punk, and old school R&B, but something about Syd, with Floyd or solo, cuts deep no matter how I’m doing. Really enjoying all your psychedelic episodes. Hopefully one day you’ll do something about the WCPAEB?
I miss the artistic creativity and childlike whimsy of the Piper album. Their next album, A Saucer Full of Secrets, the great visionary Syd withdrew and sang lead only on his song "Jug Band Blues." A telling self-commentary about his state of mind then and a sad, tragic-comic song.
How much do l love this album? Back in the days when l played singer/songwriter gigs, l did "interstellar Overdrive" solo on acoustic guitar. If you've got an echo unit and a fuzz pedal velcro'ed to the guitar, you can TOTALLY make it work!
Roger owes a lot of inspiration from Syd, with three of the best Floyd albums Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall indirectly or directly based on his experiences with Syd.
Love that one too! It was supposed to be called Let's Roll Another One. Syds favorite past time! Lol. Weird bridge which is Arnold Layne almost backwards with psych tape editing. Cheers!
I read that a neighbour of syd's mother said when syd went back to live with his mother in cambridge that he reapetedly kept smashing the windows in the house and almost single handedly kept the local glazers in buisness, its a good job dave gilmour made sure syd recieved his royalties!!. I like the album and used to listen to it a lot in the days when i used to like a smoke ♈️🙋♂️
To appreciate the lyrics of Scarecrow and the Gnome you really need to be in a psychedelic state imo. It actually hits incredibly tender when you 'get it' because he's essentially singing you children's tales and providing a child like mindset. If you can work with that the songs expand into quite an experience.
I adore your style! You nailed the 60s/70s look, and you're super pretty! I don't know how your channel missed my radar but I look forward to your other vinyl reviews, especially the Pink Floyd ones.
I still have my first pressing import mono copy of Piper, which I bought for only $4 back in 1979. And congratulations on getting over 10,000 views on this one, somewhere in the universe, Syd's spirit must be smiling 😊
I am a shameless Syd snob. Piper used to be my favorite album by the Pink Floyd. I adore everything before Piper and if the early singles like See Emily Play and Paint Box had been an album it would be my favorite, but I've grown to appreciate more the Saucerful of Secrets album. Jugband Blues is an amazing swan song for Syd Barrett and even though this is mostly Waters' record, Syd's shadow is cast well over this record. I like the title track and Set the Controls more than Interstellar Overdrive these days-although the latter really needs a fuzzy surf rock cover. and I've said it before: crunchy power riffs shadowed by bass guitar is the same template Black Sabbath used. Syd was proto-metal!
My goodness this Album is too Good!! Look at this "Astronomy Domie" , "Lucifer Sam" , "Matilda Mother" , "Flaming" and the incredible jamming on "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and walk" not to mention "Interestellar Overdrive" and "Chapter 24" and the very Creative "Bike" with those lyrics and by the way I even like "Pow r Toc h" and "Scarecrow" and "The Gnome" sure "The Dark side of the moon and Wish You Were Here and Animals or even The Wall" are The best Pink Floyd Albums but "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is such a Unique Debut Album sure its not Perfect but its A Legendary Psychedelic rock masterpiece. If its not their best its almost certainly one of the best Floyd Albums.
She rubbished Pow R Toc H but it is a great instrumental track. Try defining it, Is it rock, Jazz, Psychedelia, or a bit of all of those rolled into one. Love it.
See Emily Play is awesome. The USA release did the right thing there imho. Too bad they didn’t put Arnold Layne on too. Love those songs, Psychedelic perfection!
'Are You Experienced', 'Sgt pepper', 'Piper', 'Disraeli Gears'. Listed in the order of release date. You had to be there to realise how different and advanced they were in the context of the other music that was around at the same time.
Nice review! Perhaps it's worth mentioning that "Nick Mason's Saucerfull of secrets" band has done some concert tours this last years playing a selection of these older Pink Floyd songs, even "Vegetable man", and there's also a double live album/Blu-ray "Live at the roundhouse" available.
I spent early "67 flat on my back, gurgling and smiling at toy animals...just having been born. Piper is good enough to base a religion on. Best album ever.
This video appeared in my feed and I thought what can a 24 year old American girl tell me about one of my favourite albums. Well the answer is quite a lot! I really enjoyed the review which was informative and entertaining which is a rarity on UA-cam. I was 16 when this album was released and to say it made an impact is a massive understatement. I literally wore out the vinyl and even to this day I get goosebumps when I hear the opening beats of Astromine Domine! Thank you for this brilliant review and as a new subscriber I look forward to diving into your back catalog.
Great review. I got into The Floyd in the 70s and piper didn't come my way till later. i was lucky enuff to catch the Animals tour in 77. But while in England on a summer vacation that same year with my parents I stumbled into a record shop and purchased a laminated covered Ummagumma. This is when I started traveling backwards in my Floyd listening. I think my first exposure to piper was the Nice Pair issued in the US in mid to late 70s. I love your 007 Bond reference because I always heard that too. Kind of like the intro for HELP on the Soundtrack by the fab 4. I always dug the swingin London era even though I was still a rug rat in 67. But these songs on piper always take me to another place. Some sounded like traditional folk, others went to the stars. I kind of categorize this LP much like another from 1967. The Who Sellout. The Who are my favorite band and always will be. But as you stated with Piper it is a fun LP to listen to. Believe it or not I like your 3 stinkers on side 2. my wife hates chapter LOL. But Like the Who Sellout this is not Floyds best LP by any stretch. But I have more fun listening to piper and the Sellout then I do any other Floyd or WHO record. thanks again Abigal. we almost named our first daughter Abigal but instead chose Annabelle.
26:19 You need a Japanese pressing! Same sequence as the UK version, but... "See Emily Play" is added to the end! Mine is a Japanese pressing and I love it! ^_^ And also, obi's are fun (look at any Japanese pressing of anything and you'll discover what I mean).
As a 12 year old kid I was addicted to this album. "Pow R. Toc H" is a grower. I always prefered from "Interstellar Overdrive". "Interstellar Overdrive" in turn of course is tough and it suffers a bit from coming over as a "very dry mix" for what we might consider "spacey music". The live version on the "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" soundtrack does the concept a better service. At least the Floyds at the time were on the forefront of one might call free from rock music and along with the Velverts and the Mothers put a blueprint on what later generations could ride on. Stuff like this was unheard of at the time and it was daring and if not performing in the comfort zone of the UFO club even confrontational. but what do I tell here. you know it all.
The "Lucifer Sam" riff wasn't far off James Bond, two bars are played in the introduction to "The Prisoner" starring Patrick McGoohan. Patrick is racing his Lotus 7 to London to resign his secret service job. As he enters the underpass, the riff is played. Don't know if it was coincidence (the 16 episodes were recorded between Sept 66 and Jan 68). The TV series was 60's weird and wonderful with Patrick imprisoned in a surreal village . The Intro's on UA-cam (type: Prisoner Intro) and is a two and a half minute episode in itself.
Piper is my favorite UK psych album of all time. Syd Floyd is a really special thing but I had no idea about Floyd's early days until I got online in the late 90's. While searching for Pink Floyd on Webcrawler I came across Apples And Oranges in "RealAudio", my mind was blown and I had to find more. I went out and bought Piper on cd and listened to it constantly. Anyways, I really wish they were albe to release a follow up album with Syd at the helm. I am lucky enough to own a mono UK original in great shape. One of my most holiest of grails.
For decades I passed off this album as being too Pop, with the exception of Astronomy and Interstellar. Now retired, I find a certain charm in it that I like. I still love DSOTM the best, as indicated by my avatar. Thanks for the Vid!
to clear up any confusion caused by a bad edit on my part: peter jenner was the manager and pete bown the engineer. what’s your favorite pink floyd album? comment below!
Atom heart mother .......and animals , greetings!!! 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱
Animals...still hoping one day you'll come around to it. This LP is a favorite too, definitely Syd s best work.
@@luissegovia8205 man not even floyd likes atom heart mother so i love seeing its fans pop up in the comments!
wish you were here: an immersive listen. the vinyl monday episode? an immersive listen and watch. both unmissable.
Wish You Were Here - The band writing an album largely about Syd. They were sad , he wasn't around to share in their massive success with Dark Side. Give David much credit for always including several Syd tracks on compilations & assuring Syd received royalties !
Any album that begins with flight announcements for the signs of the zodiac and ends with ducks having group sex is probably going to be an interesting listen.
this belongs in the youtube comments hall of fame and i’m mad i didn’t think of that line first. incredible, no notes
yr dam jiggy - and it is 😂🎉
As a 15 year old Brit in 1967, hearing this album changed my life.
Same, still love it.
This is my favorite, most played Pink Floyd album. Actually I bought "A Nice Pair" when I was a young lad. The first 2 albums are as good as anything they have ever recorded!
I feel honoured to have at least some of Syd's brilliance in this world. He was a true diamond and he shone much brighter than most people
Piper has always been my favourite pink Floyd album.
"For all the time spent in that room
The doll's house darkness old perfume
And fairy stories held me high
On clouds of sunlight floating by..."
O-ooh mother, tell me more!
Growing up in the 70's and 80's Syd Barrett name was commonly used among many rock fans. Back then I thought Syd Barrett was just a fictional character like Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, Jonny (of Bad Company fame) I only ever heard one single Barrett era song Astronomy Dominae assuming, at the time it was a younger less skilled Dave Gilmore on guitar. it was in the 1990's when I watched a Floyd documentary with a chapter on Barrett, after that I scooped the their "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" debut and heard it in its entirety for the first time. I was totally blown away. Far more so than hearing Dark Side Of The Moon in 1973 at age 9. I was Saddened at what happened to Syd in the wake of Pipers release. similar to Brian Wilson with Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. another similar mind blowing album. Recently, I purchased a new limited edition vinyl MONO version of Piper. Personally, I think the Mono sounds better than the standard stereo Lp. More raw, More Low Fi. like muffly AM radio sound,. Im sure there's a MONO CD of Piper too.
I agree with your statement on the Mono version. It's the same with Hendrix Experience 'Are You Experienced'. It loses something with Digitising it.
Syd Barrett in such a short time would influence so many musicians, singers and future musical movements he didn't last long with Pink Floyd but he definitely made a huge impact
Interstellar Overdrive is IMO the best musical representation of a psychedelic trip.
I would humbly suggest including "Slip Inside This House" by The 13th Floor Elevators as my 1A with "Interstellar Overdrive" as my 1B
Two amazing and ground-breaking and brilliant musical statements in mind expansion and also, the two most representative musical explorations into a psychedelic trip...imho.
Cheers
you guise need to listen to some sunn o))) 😂🎉
@@dougsmith7083 Chambers Brothers Time is a close 2nd( full LP version of course)
This is, hands down, the greatest music channel on this platform. Your attention to the details, contextualization, the information you bring about the record you are reviewing, the production of your videos, the trivias... Everything is in the right place.
I've been a music head for a long time, I love to read the history behind my favorite bands and records, and even when I watch your review on records I know every well, I learn something new.
I can only wish you the best, you deserve it.
Early Pink Floyd is all I ever listen to from that band anymore. I could explain, boy howdy could I explain in great detail, but the internet has enough negativity without me pitching in.
I get it. Probably because you don't want to hear stuff from DOTM, Wish You Were Here, Momentary Lapse, or The Wall etc. for like the millionth time, especially on any public radio format. I usually try not to listen to any of that on the radio, I'll switch it off, and rather listen to it on the album proper once in a blue moon so I won't get burned out on it.
The songs are too unnecessarily long. That's my issue with Pink Floyd and why I prefer Syd's era. I do like some of their later stuff, but unsurprisingly, it's the "shorter" songs.
@@c2e.7877 yeah well, that's prog for you. You either like long compositions or you don't.
@@sugadelicsavagesoul8623 not all prog is like that, again early Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and the Doors have short songs just to name the most famous ones. But I like King Crimson, and their songs are long too, the Court of the crimson King is a peak song.
Well that and also you're clearly a snob with unfair biases, meaning that your opinion is actually selfish, unfair and wrong and people like you don't deserve to have your snotty, self-righteous opinions taken seriously. If at any point you devalue Animals, The Wall, or Wish You Were Here as anything less than great, then you don't deserve your opinion, and you don't deserve to be listened to.
While they and the Beatles recorded their masterpieces, the Pretty Things were recording the first rock opera SF Sorrow. A masterpiece in its own right.
Mitch Ryder without the D troit wheels. Does she even use old Pink Fleetwood
SF Sorrow is equally as brilliant as Piper and Pepper!
And S.F. Sorrow was produced by Norman Smith also!!
SF sorrow is killer.
There is a song on SF Sorrow with the same chord progression as Matilda Mother, but in reverse. It's called Private Sorrow. Check 'em out!!
i think Piper is a timeless classic. ahead of it's time and still an enjoyable listen. love this album! :)
ps. Gnome is a great track
The reissue Mono version is incredible, I recommend ✌️🇬🇧🇺🇸
I second that 👍
Proper cup of tea then
That's the one I just purchased on vinyl. I sort of miss the wild stereo effects, but I must say, it sounds nice! Good to know someone else recommends it, and I didn't purchase a dud.
I have this one too! That was one of the most expensive RSDs I've ever had, but so worth it.
Curious. Can you mention how different it sounds or aesthetically it is? Because for me one of the things that makes 60's psych recordings amazing are the trippy speaker pannings.
Most of Pink Floyd's best music is either by Syd or about him. Piper is my favourite Floyd album just for it's sheer quirkiness and experimentation. I like Chapter 24, maybe I just like Syd's voice on it. Some of the guitar playing still spooks me and I've been listening to it for 45 years.
I have always wanted a large square poster of the front cover to this LP. it totally looks like there SHOULD be a poster of it, but I have yet to see one. also, "take up" has one of my favorite lyrics of all time "real eyes realize real lies". I wish I had thought of that line.
Reminds me of a line in a Cary Swinney song where a neanderthal man is drinking tea twig tea under the tea twig twee
Piper... one of my all-time favourite albums, a feat of the Summer of Love's psychedelia, Syd had a charming voice that suited their whimsical psych rock, from the off-kilter opening of Astronomy Dominé, to the raucous freakbeat of Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk and Bike. It's a shame he dipped out after beginning the sessions of Saucerful. Syd's influence on rock itself can be heard in XTC, John Lydon (who named his hamster Syd, and then his own friend.), Magazine, and so many more. Syd's solo albums are also great too, Madcap Laughs is a chunk of Syd's post-psychedelic lo-fi pop, and so much more. Vegetable Man (recorded after this album) is primal proto-punk and there's helluva lot more stuff about Syd that i'd ramble on about but a comment can't express it all.
Edit: i'd also say there's a Syd-esque gem in the Dukes of Stratosphear as well, it's XTC's own rejig of the Summer of Love mixed with Syd-era freakouts.
Stethoscope was Rogers tune ✌️
Love that Dukes of Stratosphere LP! XTC in disguise.
One of the best 1967 albums! Symbol of the Summer of Love with the ones of The Doors, The Jefferson Airplane, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Move, The Grateful Dead! The first Pink Floyd album , the PIPER..., is a MUST!
6:08 Rick Wright did co-lead vocals also on "Astronomy Domine," "Flaming," "The Gnome," "Chapter 24," "Scarecrow," and "Bike" (as well as "See Emily Play" and the pre-album single "Arnold Layne"/"Candy And A Currant Bun"). It was kind of the signature sound (or at least part of it) of early Floyd to have Syd and Rick singing unison and splitting to harmonies... in part to beef up Syd's vocals on stage, but obviously also in the studio as well.
Shortly before his death, Rick Wright did a radio interview (reacting to the 40th Anniversary rerelease) in which he recounted he was shocked during initial release that "vocals" weren't part of his credits on the album and that this had only been rectified for the 40th Anniversary release in 2007. I've popped on "& Vocals" on my personal copy of Piper, doing justice to my favorite of the Floyd. ^_^
I like how in early interviews there's a more relaxed, open feel, with Syd, Rick and 'Nicky' all chipping in witticisms, while Roger adds surly asides. It's the same in their playing, the early stuff often surprises by its creativity, and that includes Waters' bass playing. By the way, Rick was regarded by the management as the second creative force, and when things fell apart they came to Rick and suggested he and Syd dumped Roger and Nick and formed a new band, an idea which Rick rejected (ironic that Roger eventually sacked him from the band). But in the early days Rick was the second songwriter, coming up with a real gem in Paintbox, and a real stinker with It Would Be So Nice.
Agreed but just because It Would Be So Nice didn't chart doesn't make it a stinker. Rick wrote some great Floyd and solo songs.
“🎶We dumped the tea in the harbor 🎵” had me laughing!
Always great, Abbie!
good to know the joke from the original video aged well, thanks!
Stellar revisit with added depth. I knew of Syd from an old UK book about big acts o' the 70s that featured a good chunk of Syd's story. The school photo of the five piece had him dried out and absent among the cooler looking others and it haunted me. Late '70s in Townsville did not include very early Floyd (and no solo material) in record shops. Eventually, I borrowed an original mono UK copy from one of my sister's Uni friends. It took a lot of liking with the bigger semi-instrumental tracks asking too much of me. But then the Syd showcase completely charmed me (those were the songs I taped). Worth recalling that one of the features of the UK (and Australian) punk I was into then ditched the rock convention of singers trying American accents as one of the ways they stood out. Syd's middle class home counties voice was like a drink of cool water on a hot day (see also, Greg Lake and Peter Gabriel) and I loved the strong melodies. If you were listening out for Syd's signs of future unconventionality just go to Gnome and Bike where the bar line gets less respect than in other songs. Finally when Piper was re-released with the original cover art, I got my copy and reacquainted myself with it as a whole album and got into it. The what-ifs here are more interesting than normal (a supported Syd making it through more records with the band as a kind of transition period gets to me) but the big dark cloud of his illness always rolls over them and its back to looking the other way or treasuring the best of what we were left with. This LP, Relics, and the solo re-releases got into the water supply of every early '80s band who loved their psyche without the rock posturing. He walked among us, once again. Sorry for talking your kneecaps off it's just that Syd gets me talking. Great video (loved the take on the Bike lyric). For which, thanks.
The thing is, none of the people involved in telling Syd's story were doctors. It's a bunch of kids talking about what they think, or decided to think, about Syd. And now everyone repeats it as gospel. "Syd was schizophrenic." He was? Who told you that?
Nick tells the story of trying to take Syd to a doctor, only for Syd to back out at the last minute. So the band went to the doctor without Syd to tell his story.
According to Nick, after laying everything out, the doctor said "Are you sure it's *Syd* who has the problem?" In later years, Nick would confess he thought the doctor had a point. The boys in the band had a lot of ambition, they wanted to climb to the top of the charts, tour Europe and for that they needed singles. And for that they needed Syd.
But Syd never seemed to have much interest in that. He could dash off a great single no problem, but so could lots of people. He never seemed to value that.
Meanwhile in their live act, the band had developed this new kind of improvisational playing based on blues chords rather than jazz and Syd thought they had something new and amazing, they had a killer live jam show like no one else, but the rest of the band keep pressuring him for hits. "Why can't we just be an amazing live band? This thing between us and the audience and the music and the lights is AMAZING, why do we care about singles?"
I think it's fair to interpret Syd's behavior as: he didn't want to go along with the other guy's plans for him, but they didn't actually care what Syd thought. So he, passive aggressively, starts to withdraw. Troll them, basically. And the worse he behaved, the MORE they didn't ask what was wrong. Until eventually he was happy to let them go on without him. They broke his heart, basically.
I mean, we saw where Rog went. His ENORMOUS ambition, his refusal to treat the other bandmembers as equals. I have a sneaking suspicion Syd saw that in him way before any of us.
I have no idea, I wasn't there and neither was anyone else at this point, except a bunch of 20 year old kids. Rick was always *adamant* Syd was schizophrenic but like...bro...you're a piano player, not a doctor. And you were TWENTY. Is it at ALL possible you just decided to label Syd as sick because it made it easier for you to write off your own callous behavior toward your friend? Nick Mason seems to think so.
Bowie talks about Syd like he was a god. I sometimes wonder, if Syd hadn't gotten off the merry-go-round, would we have gotten Ziggy? Or would Bowie have gone in a different direction, feeling Syd had that Space Rock God thing locked up?
I agree with you. He was a painter first and foremost. Everything makes sense once you remember that he was an artist who just wanted to be creative and play music. That's it.
People think that's "crazy" because most people are ambitious and want success, money, power. Syd wasn't like that. And so, his decision to quit music and public life and go back to painting makes perfect sense.
Wonderful review of one of my all time favorite albums. What a debut, huh?...thank you for all the history and research you put in.
Barrett's childish songs provide a clue to his own personality - he was using music to hark back to his childhood, the time of his life when he felt most happy.
U-FO club was the place to be, a guy called David was waiting in the wings. Relics is great album for their singles 🇬🇧🌈🎸
Love See Emily Play. Took a while to like the album but now it is a gem. Love it
Norman Smith was The Beatles former sound engineer and was given a promotion to Producer and Pink Floyd was his 1st production.
Did a great job. He was also a musician and played drums on 'Remember a day' on Saucerful.
As "Hurricane Smith" he had a couple of hit singles in the UK.
One of my all time favorite records, so it's wonderful to hear all of the details from you. You do an INCREDIBLE job compiling information and stories about these release. SO stoked to watch this great video.
This is EASILY my favorite Pink Floyd record (I only also care for Dark Side and Animals, but TBH.. the rest can suck it), and I have to say... I love every song on this album and love the track listing; Pow R. reminds me of exotica (it takes you to a place), Gnome is like watching the sun come up (after Interstellar Overdrive), Chapter 24 is a beautiful meditation, and Scarecrow is a perfect segue to Bike. For me; this album is perfect. The heavy guitars, the whimsey (maybe my favorite aesthetic component to all art), and the level of imagination. I feel like it's still ahead of its time. Long live Syd :)
I adore this beautiful album by Pink Floyd, along with "A Saucerful Of Secrets" they helped me immerse myself in other artists beyond the popular ones like The Beatles in 1967, The Mothers Of Invention, Captain Beefheart, The Count Five, The Electric Prunes, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Love, The Pretty Things, The Small Faces, Hawkwind, etc, to rare and underground artists of the psychedelic era such as Sacred Mushroom, Tomorrow (where Steve Howe of Yes came from), Weed, Comus, Frijid Pink, The Incredible String Band, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Os Mutantes, Ash Ra Temple, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Kaleidoscope, Sunforest, La Seconda Genesi, Le Stelle di Mario Schiano, etc, and Krautrock crazy things like Brainticket, Faust, Aktuala, Embryo, Amon Düül I & II, etc, to modern things like Ozric Tentacles, The Beta Band, King Gizzard, Melody's Echo Chamber, etc.
Great list. You’d probably love early Soft Machine, The Holy Modal Rounders, The United States of America too if you’re not already familiar with them.
I don't think I've ever enjoyed a review of Piper more than this one! You have a new fan! Fun but very concise... Great job!
I have both a stereo and mono pressing and I have to say, if you can get this album in mono DO IT IT IS SO MUCH BETTER! The mixing is overall much more balanced in songs like Bike and The Gnome and theres even a phaser on the song Flaming which isnt in the stereo for some reasong
The original vinyl monday episode was what kickstarted my deep dive into Pink Floyd, this is still my favourite album of theirs, I’m still looking for a US copy of this record cause my favourite song from Pink Floyd is See Emily Play 😭
I put “Bike” on a mix tape I made for my wife when we were first dating in the 90’s. She wasn’t a Floyd fan but loved that song.
that’s so sweet aw :)
i listened to this album every single day from 2016-2018 often with my friend Lucy. My fav album ever.
I am shocked--Shocked! To find the guitarist of the Yardbirds copying anything from another musician. 🙃
HAHAHA
While there might be better Floyd albums out there, Piper still is up there as my favourite, it just has this whimsical yet timeless sound to it, a bit like Sgt Pepper's. Also probably cos I'm not really big into prog rock in general.
Even to this day, it still upsets me greatly about what happened to Syd, he was such a gifted and talented man who mentally capitulated in front of his bandmates and the crowds he played to. Sure, he might not have done himself any favours through doing "the Syd" but I agree that his bandmates should've looked out for him, too.
As someone who's also fought mental health battles over the past few years his story is very touching and I'm really glad that the attitude towards stuff like that is changing, and yet, we still have a long way to go. Syd feels like a ghost on the later albums, you think he's playing in the background with the rest, but yet, he never appears...
Architecture students. I didn't know that. Graphic arts also include a band called: Wire, Peter Townshend , Ray Davys, Jimmy page, Ron wood, Ringo, John Lennon, The Talking Heads. All of whom also started by playing in bars also. Great show thx alot.
The name of the band is Talking Heads 😅
Ringo didn't go to art school.
Yep, an album more 1967 than any other. Released a year before, or the year after it would have sunk without trace.
For anybody interested in learning more about Syd and what happened to him in the years after Pink Floyd, there is an interview with Rosemary Breen, Syd's sister on YT. It's not hard to find.
Where is this certainly-not-British Y T thost doest please parss the salt over, royaltehh
Syd was something else. With him the band had a leader with a truly odd yet commercially viable pop sensibility when he applied himself to writing a single like See Emily Play or Arnold Layne. No one else in the band had that talent. Thank god we have this album to witness his immense talent and thank god we have that BBC interview clip so we get a sense of what a terrific, eloquent person Syd must have been to be around.
the Beatles were a half decent Rutles tribute band
Ruttlemania will never die💯🤟
Yeah, but it took them a decade to do as much as a little of an hour of Rutlemania.
Saw the Rutles 90 years ago ✌️ shame what happened to them
@@daledavidson8242 "Their first album took 20 minutes to record...the second, took even longer"!
Would love to see a feature on my at least one of two if My favorite live albums. Concert for Bangladesh or Mad dogs and English Men. Both have some serious crazy back stories.
I was born in '74, so the "A Nice Pair" cassette was my intro to this album. Thus, for me, the live Ummagumma version of Astronomy Domine is the definitive version.
The Bob Close line up actually did a demo of 6 songs including Lucy Leave, they can be found on both a RSD single and in the early years box. Both Lennon and McCartney used to go see them in 66 at the UFO club, dressed incognito of course. So who influenced who? I know no one will ever agree with me, but being the runner of the Syd Barrett Archives since 97, I have a bit of knowledge of this stuff. Love the redux.
Fave Floyd - my gf is a hardcore Syd fan and she didn't melt down during the episode so... YA DID GOOD, KID😂❤
A good Beatles/Pink Floyd fan from Peru, Ronieco Psicodelio (rest in peace bro) said Piper was the best debut album of all time, along with Please Please Me. For me, it takes me back to Winter 1990 in Peru, when I discovered the studio version of Astronomy Domine in a Chilean cassette. Man the record blew my mind.
Being 17 in 1967 and surfing around Santa Monica ( Venice, Will Rogers ) there was this club on Navy St. named " The Cheetah Club ( formerly The Aragon Ballroom ) where if you were an up and coming band you made sure you ' dropped ' in ( pun intended ). The list of heavies that played there was absolutely incredible. Me, my sibs and friends would check out the line-up then really check out the line-up. we saw " The Pink Floyd " in the fall of that year and while consulting with my sis we determined they played the U S version entirely. To quote from " Free Four " from " Obscured by Clouds " 1972 " The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime ". Genius takes many forms and produces visual and audio art that some may deem comes from crazy, If that is the case than i am all in for crazy. BTW " Lucifer Sam is about Syd's Siamese cat's " Jennifer Gentle " is the other one on the track. Dig your style,aloha
I had a girl ask me to chaperone her to the cheetah club because Venice after dark was scary and unknown to South Bay people, because of all the junkies. . She wanted to go see the doors, and I, at maybe a very young 16 years, wanted no part of the Venice boardwalk at night , despite the doors being claimed as almost locals because they practiced in a garage in manhattan beach for a while.
it was that decision and the later considerations of that decision which clearly illustrated a life long lesson to me about how allowing fear into thought, as opposed to simple consideration of risk, leads to unsound thinking.
A couple of years later, I dropped a friend off at the Santa Monica civic auditorium where he said Pink Floyd preformed in quadraphonic sound, having effects fly around the room from large speakers placed in each of the halls four corners.
I have a handbill from that Nov. 12 1967 Cheetah concert 'n a poster from their Halloween performance at Whiskey-A-Go-Go in my livin' room.
I believe “Jennifer Gentle” was his girlfriends name. The cats name I’d guess, would be Sam… the whole song seems like an inside joke between Syd and his girlfriend.
Wow you seen them at the cheetah?? A lot of people debate wether they even turned up.
@@xdef1ne No I didn't see them live at The Cheetah but I have a handbill advertisin' the show.
Yes, please do Syd's solo albums. They are both beautiful and tragic, two partially hidden gems of early 70s that were eclipsed by albums like Meddle and Atom Heart Mother.
Thank you for the review. This record and A Saucerful of Secrets along with ALL of Syd Barret's solo stuff left a solid impression on Pink Floyd, and us. Thanks for the info on Syd.
Syd was everything. So inventive and creative. The madcap rules! ❤❤❤
15:52 not me watching this just in the middle of my hyperfixation on The move. I really enjoy your videos❤
My favourite Floyd LP.
Just discovered your channel - great content.
Lovely Rita Highlight omg so cute
I LOVE that you’ve the solo records on vinyl! I’m so jealous. When I was growing up, I lived in such a rubbish one-horse town in the Southeastern United States that I couldn’t even get Syd’s solo records on CD-I had to drive 45 min to the nearest university town to pick them up. To my considerable pleasure, they were also able to order the *Opel* collection for me. It still wasn’t till the early ‘00s that I got to hear the likes of ‘Lucy Leave”, or the HILARIOUS ’Bob Dylan’s Blues’. I was incredibly fortunate to have downloaded and made a CD of the aforementioned Pink Floyd rarities ‘Scream Thy Last Scream’ and ‘Vegetable Man’. Thank you, Napster!
Anyroad, although ‘Opel’ has a wonderfully bizarre chord progression, and it’s one of the few songs in which Syd doesn’t bugger up the timing, and gets all the lyrics right, nobody ever overdubbed bass, keys, and/or lead guitar. I don’t know why. It’s one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in his oeuvre, and could have been his masterpiece. Even reading the lyrics STILL gives me a very specific ‘lost’ feeling- like I’m lost in a grey place between two worlds, tethered to either by the merest thread. As I’m floating there, I feel something seem to crawl up my back.
The music just adds to this.
Piper is my favorite Pink Floyd album and always has been. Those Syd Barrett solo albums are great too. He had a very irregular head.
"We dumped your tea in the harbour" haha - love it! Great vid
Gnome and Chapter 24 are the two songs that give an amazing insight into Syd's psyche. Not just the lyrics, but the movement of the songs. the two tunes play off each other and the sequencing of Chapter 24 coming right after Gnome is important to that.
In Gnome we have a happy go lucky character who enjoys being at home. Until one day he had a big adventure. This was Syd's life up until he took on the adventure of being in a traveling rock band. The adventure includes an epiphany moment, where the gnome looks at the sky, and looks at the river, and he realizes it's good. This epiphany is then explained in Chapter 24 with the phrases from I, Ching. Life is so much bigger than pop stardom and trendy clothes, etc.
Your original video about (the) Piper was my indrodutction to your videos. Keep up your work, you're doing it definetely better than then!
Voi Vod did a great cover of Astronomy Domine
Yes, indeed! Voivod from Canada.
Great version 👌
So my Floyd journey was ... an interesting one. In late childhood and approaching the teens, I was aware of "classic" Pink Floyd and the mixed aftermath (The Final Cut to The Division Bell). But throughout my teens, I went through everything before Meddle. It was probably the best way to approach them as I got to hear the open and creative Floyd at a time when I was experimenting in my own way.
It's interesting you associated "Lucifer Sam" with James Bond. When I was a teen - and thus very aware of Piper - I thought that the biggest transgression Austin Powers ever did was *ignore* this song, particularly during The Spy Who Shagged Me. Then again ... maybe it was for the best? But still, it was a missed opportunity to have something from that time and would fit better than "American Woman" (especially the then-current Lenny Kratviz cover). And "Bike" ... when I saw The Green Mile in the theatres, I turned to my date - who was also aware of my adventurous music tastes - and called "Mr. Jingles" "Gerald".
And speaking of "what's canon": which Piper mix - mono or stereo? Honestly, I go back and forth between the two. The case for the mono was that this was most likely the edition most people bought back in 1967 and it does sound "more proper" in that it was something the EMI engineers knew how to do. The case for the stereo was that this would end up being the most commonly available version worldwide, cuts from there would feature on various compilations, and as mixing in stereo was new and fresh, there was a sense that "anything went" and you could whatever the [duck quack] you want. Listening to the stereo mix would drive current day engineers [duck quack] bat-[duck quack] crazy with basses and drums not always in the center and weird panning effects (see end of Interstellar Overdrive). And in the end, if Pink Floyd were a band that marched to their own drummer (so to speak), wouldn't it make sense to have a presentation that would showcase their eccentricities.
I joke too about "horse man yelling about dead dad constantly", but Roger has always spoken of Syd fondly. There is, of course, Wish You Were Here and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in particular that was his most heartfelt and sincere tribute to his friend. But from Syd, I got the sense that after 1975 or so, he just wanted to be left alone. I know it's easy to make him into some creative martyr. But in the end, Syd was just a man like any other. Very special and one-of-a-kind, of course. But he wasn't God. And I kinda wonder if Syd's antics were in part a kind of harbinger and warning to the rest of the band: "Hey, lads, I know you want to be rich and famous. But I don't think it's worth it at all". In other words, Syd realised what Roger would come to realize in about half-a-decade later. And it's no surprise that the two of them responded in their own particular ways: Syd with his unexpectedness whimsy and Roger with his [duck quack] dourness.
At any rate, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn ... what a trip indeed =]
I’ll tell ya, I came down off some acid, listening to Pipers in headphones, and oh buy was that GREAT!
Jimi Hendrix called Syd “The laughing Syd Barret” I’m assuming he was joking? Yet according to David Gilmore there is home movie footage of them all tap dancing in a dressing room before a gig. Be fantastic to see that along with any film when Floyd were a five piece band in January 1968.
Perfect episode! Last April, I spent 15 days in London and learned that the pub I frequented was Barrett's favorite.
Whoah! No way! I was in England for the first two weeks of April (it was freezing wasn't it?!) And spent my first days in London, then a quick few days in Liverpool, then back to London for the rest. We also frequented quite a few pubs---man, I wish I would've known which pub was the Syd favorite! Cheers! 🍻
This is maybe my favorite album ever. I listen to a lot of nasty punk, and old school R&B, but something about Syd, with Floyd or solo, cuts deep no matter how I’m doing.
Really enjoying all your psychedelic episodes. Hopefully one day you’ll do something about the WCPAEB?
I miss the artistic creativity and childlike whimsy of the Piper album. Their next album, A Saucer Full of Secrets, the great visionary Syd withdrew and sang lead only on his song "Jug Band Blues." A telling self-commentary about his state of mind then and a sad, tragic-comic song.
I feel like this a albu
Oh my God!! That was such a satisfying installment!! Thank you!
Love Syd!
How much do l love this album? Back in the days when l played singer/songwriter gigs, l did "interstellar Overdrive" solo on acoustic guitar. If you've got an echo unit and a fuzz pedal velcro'ed to the guitar, you can TOTALLY make it work!
Hands down...my absolute favorite Pink Floyd album.....
Interstellar Overdrive’s live performances ROCKED. The album version doesn’t do the song service, just like Run Like Hell from the wall
Roger owes a lot of inspiration from Syd, with three of the best Floyd albums Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall indirectly or directly based on his experiences with Syd.
Personally I loove Chapter 24, there's just something special about that song and I can't even describe it..
Great review though
One song of theirs I like a lot is `Candy and A Current Bun` the `B` of their UK single `Arnold Layne`.
Love that one too! It was supposed to be called Let's Roll Another One. Syds favorite past time! Lol. Weird bridge which is Arnold Layne almost backwards with psych tape editing. Cheers!
I read that a neighbour of syd's mother said when syd went back to live with his mother in cambridge that he reapetedly kept smashing the windows in the house and almost single handedly kept the local glazers in buisness, its a good job dave gilmour made sure syd recieved his royalties!!. I like the album and used to listen to it a lot in the days when i used to like a smoke ♈️🙋♂️
I love 70's album titles, they make absolutely no sense but they sound very deep and insightful 😮
To appreciate the lyrics of Scarecrow and the Gnome you really need to be in a psychedelic state imo. It actually hits incredibly tender when you 'get it' because he's essentially singing you children's tales and providing a child like mindset. If you can work with that the songs expand into quite an experience.
I adore your style! You nailed the 60s/70s look, and you're super pretty! I don't know how your channel missed my radar but I look forward to your other vinyl reviews, especially the Pink Floyd ones.
You get IT more than most people i know. This channel is brilliant.🤘
I still have my first pressing import mono copy of Piper, which I bought for only $4 back in 1979. And congratulations on getting over 10,000 views on this one, somewhere in the universe, Syd's spirit must be smiling 😊
I am a shameless Syd snob. Piper used to be my favorite album by the Pink Floyd. I adore everything before Piper and if the early singles like See Emily Play and Paint Box had been an album it would be my favorite, but I've grown to appreciate more the Saucerful of Secrets album. Jugband Blues is an amazing swan song for Syd Barrett and even though this is mostly Waters' record, Syd's shadow is cast well over this record. I like the title track and Set the Controls more than Interstellar Overdrive these days-although the latter really needs a fuzzy surf rock cover. and I've said it before: crunchy power riffs shadowed by bass guitar is the same template Black Sabbath used. Syd was proto-metal!
My goodness this Album is too Good!!
Look at this "Astronomy Domie" , "Lucifer Sam" , "Matilda Mother" , "Flaming" and the incredible jamming on "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and walk" not to mention "Interestellar Overdrive" and "Chapter 24" and the very Creative "Bike" with those lyrics and by the way I even like "Pow r Toc h" and "Scarecrow" and "The Gnome" sure "The Dark side of the moon and Wish You Were Here and Animals or even The Wall" are The best Pink Floyd Albums but "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is such a Unique Debut Album sure its not Perfect but its A Legendary Psychedelic rock masterpiece. If its not their best its almost certainly one of the best Floyd Albums.
She rubbished Pow R Toc H but it is a great instrumental track. Try defining it, Is it rock, Jazz, Psychedelia, or a bit of all of those rolled into one. Love it.
@@standbytogo123yeah its certainly a very fun instrumental its a bit of everything i love it
WOO HOO!! This album singlehandedly got me into the world of psychedelia!
See Emily Play is awesome. The USA release did the right thing there imho. Too bad they didn’t put Arnold Layne on too. Love those songs, Psychedelic perfection!
Oh yes, love those tracks SO much. See Emily Play enchanted me immediately.
Great re-review, thanks. I’m glad ‘we’ got Bike 😉😎
I’ve always prefer Pink Floyd when they’re writing with or about Syd Barrett. The music just sounds more honest to me
thank you for your reactions & in depth reviews. Much appreciated.
1967 was one of the best album years. Glad to see this one get some recognition.
'Are You Experienced', 'Sgt pepper', 'Piper', 'Disraeli Gears'. Listed in the order of release date. You had to be there to realise how different and advanced they were in the context of the other music that was around at the same time.
best pink floyd album by far
listened to the album while watching your video with subtitles... very trippy indeed
Nice review! Perhaps it's worth mentioning that "Nick Mason's Saucerfull of secrets" band has done some concert tours this last years playing a selection of these older Pink Floyd songs, even "Vegetable man", and there's also a double live album/Blu-ray "Live at the roundhouse" available.
I spent early "67 flat on my back, gurgling and smiling at toy animals...just having been born.
Piper is good enough to base a religion on. Best album ever.
This video appeared in my feed and I thought what can a 24 year old American girl tell me about one of my favourite albums. Well the answer is quite a lot! I really enjoyed the review which was informative and entertaining which is a rarity on UA-cam.
I was 16 when this album was released and to say it made an impact is a massive understatement. I literally wore out the vinyl and even to this day I get goosebumps when I hear the opening beats of Astromine Domine!
Thank you for this brilliant review and as a new subscriber I look forward to diving into your back catalog.
Great review. I got into The Floyd in the 70s and piper didn't come my way till later. i was lucky enuff to catch the Animals tour in 77. But while in England on a summer vacation that same year with my parents I stumbled into a record shop and purchased a laminated covered Ummagumma. This is when I started traveling backwards in my Floyd listening. I think my first exposure to piper was the Nice Pair issued in the US in mid to late 70s. I love your 007 Bond reference because I always heard that too. Kind of like the intro for HELP on the Soundtrack by the fab 4. I always dug the swingin London era even though I was still a rug rat in 67. But these songs on piper always take me to another place. Some sounded like traditional folk, others went to the stars. I kind of categorize this LP much like another from 1967. The Who Sellout. The Who are my favorite band and always will be. But as you stated with Piper it is a fun LP to listen to. Believe it or not I like your 3 stinkers on side 2. my wife hates chapter LOL. But Like the Who Sellout this is not Floyds best LP by any stretch. But I have more fun listening to piper and the Sellout then I do any other Floyd or WHO record. thanks again Abigal. we almost named our first daughter Abigal but instead chose Annabelle.
26:19 You need a Japanese pressing! Same sequence as the UK version, but... "See Emily Play" is added to the end! Mine is a Japanese pressing and I love it! ^_^
And also, obi's are fun (look at any Japanese pressing of anything and you'll discover what I mean).
I said this about the clash too but: I FUCKING LOVE PINK FLOYD THANK YOU
Legendary rock photographer Neal Preston said Bill Graham once reamed him out so bad, “I just got over it last week.”
Me when I wanna talk about Syd Barrett for 30 more minutes but the audience isn't quite ready for Madcap Laughs yet.
I mean what Elsa are the comments for
As a 12 year old kid I was addicted to this album. "Pow R. Toc H" is a grower. I always prefered from "Interstellar Overdrive". "Interstellar Overdrive" in turn of course is tough and it suffers a bit from coming over as a "very dry mix" for what we might consider "spacey music". The live version on the "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London" soundtrack does the concept a better service. At least the Floyds at the time were on the forefront of one might call free from rock music and along with the Velverts and the Mothers put a blueprint on what later generations could ride on. Stuff like this was unheard of at the time and it was daring and if not performing in the comfort zone of the UFO club even confrontational. but what do I tell here. you know it all.
The "Lucifer Sam" riff wasn't far off James Bond, two bars are played in the introduction to "The Prisoner" starring Patrick McGoohan. Patrick is racing his Lotus 7 to London to resign his secret service job. As he enters the underpass, the riff is played. Don't know if it was coincidence (the 16 episodes were recorded between Sept 66 and Jan 68). The TV series was 60's weird and wonderful with Patrick imprisoned in a surreal village . The Intro's on UA-cam (type: Prisoner Intro) and is a two and a half minute episode in itself.
This essay neither cringes nor panders - bravo. 🏆
Piper is my favorite UK psych album of all time. Syd Floyd is a really special thing but I had no idea about Floyd's early days until I got online in the late 90's. While searching for Pink Floyd on Webcrawler I came across Apples And Oranges in "RealAudio", my mind was blown and I had to find more. I went out and bought Piper on cd and listened to it constantly. Anyways, I really wish they were albe to release a follow up album with Syd at the helm. I am lucky enough to own a mono UK original in great shape. One of my most holiest of grails.
They're popular as hell
For decades I passed off this album as being too Pop, with the exception of Astronomy and Interstellar. Now retired, I find a certain charm in it that I like.
I still love DSOTM the best, as indicated by my avatar.
Thanks for the Vid!