Another musical retrospective- this one for the classic prog rock group Pink Floyd. Should be fascinating, as I know their later works very well but hardly anything of their early albums.
Album: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Year Released: 1967
Lineup:
Pink Floyd
- Syd Barrett – lead guitar, vocals
- Roger Waters – bass guitar, vocals
- Rick Wright – organ, piano, vocals
- Nick Mason – drums
Additional musicians
- Peter Jenner – intro vocalisations ("Astronomy Dominé")
- Norman Smith – drum roll ("Interstellar Overdrive")
Track Listing:
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Astronomy Dominé" 4:12
2. "Lucifer Sam" 3:07
3. "Matilda Mother" 3:08
4. "Flaming" 2:46
5. "Pow R. Toc H." 4:26
6. "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" 3:05
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "Interstellar Overdrive" 9:41
2. "The Gnome" 2:13
3. "Chapter 24" 3:42
4. "The Scarecrow" 2:11
5. "Bike" 3:21
Overall Thoughts:
In 1967 EMI Studios signed a British Band that was earning a reputation as a great underground Psychadelic group- Pink Floyd. They were led by art student Syd Barrett and architexture students Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason. Much like another British Classic Rock group from the 1970s (Queen), Pink Floyd was a group of STEM-Oriented musicians with one extremely artistic muse fronting the band. Barrett's time at the band would be short, but impactful.
Later in the year, they released their first album, "A Piper at the Gates of Dawn". This is the only album that Barrett dominated- he was the primary songwriter, lead singer and lead guitarist.
It's... a strange album. It feel less like a group of songs than a collection of sounds.
Some songs and records grab your attention- from the music or the lyrics, there's something that make you focus on them. "A Piper at the Gates of Dawn" isn't like that- it's good music, but it's in the background and sets the mood. It's a good album to put on while focussing on something else- or meditating.
Muscially, they were very experimental and directionless, bringing all sorts of sounds in addition to the basic instruments (guitar/keyboard/bass/drums). It's mellow and psychadelic. The songs are short with the exception of the instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive". It's prog music, but a softer prog than Rush.
It doesn't sound quite like the Pink Floyd from their biggest hits- this album is driven by Barrett, who isn't involved in their later works. But there are elements- specifically, adding everyday sounds into the music- that are familiar.
Lyrically... they get weird. Here's the lyrics from the first verse of "Take up Thy Stethoscope and Walk":
(Doctor, doctor)
I’m in bed (Doctor, doctor)
Aching head (Doctor, doctor)
Gold is lead, (Doctor, doctor)
Choke on bread (Doctor, doctor)
Underfed (Doctor, doctor)
Gold is lead (Doctor, doctor)
Jesus bled (Doctor, doctor)
Pain is red (Doctor, doctor)
Dark doom
Gruel ghoul, greasy spoon
Used spoon, June bloom
Don't expect comprehension of understanding from their lyrics. Barrett's Floyd doesn't tell a story- it sets an ambiance. And it often works (not always- "DOOY DOOY", from "Pow R. Toc H." is awful)
Is it a great album? No. But it's a pleasant collection of sounds, and it's a good starting point for the band.
Ranking of Pink Floyd Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):
- A Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs (changing as more albums are reviewed):
- "Flaming", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Astronomy Dominé", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Matilda Mother", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Lucifer Sam", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Take up Thy Stethoscope and Walk", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Interstellar Overdrive", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "The Scarecrow", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Chapter 24", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "The Gnome", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
- "Bike", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
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