Pink Floyd Retrospective: Album 02- A Saucerful of Secrets

 

So what happens when the heart of your band emotionally disintegrates?

Album:  A Saucerful of Secrets

Year Released:    1968

Lineup:

Pink Floyd

• David Gilmour – guitars (all except 2 and 7), kazoo (4), vocals
• Nick Mason – drums (all except 2), percussion (1, 5, 6, 7), lead vocals (4), kazoo (7)
• Roger Waters – bass guitar (all tracks), percussion (3, 5), vocals
• Richard Wright – Farfisa organ (all tracks), piano (1, 2, 5, 6), Hammond organ (1, 4, 5), Mellotron (5, 6), vibraphone (3, 5), celesta (3), xylophone (6), tin whistle (7), vocals
• Syd Barrett – vocals (7), slide guitar (2), acoustic guitar (2, 7), electric guitar (3, 7)

Additional personnel

• Norman Smith – producer, drums (2), backing vocals (2, 6), voice (4)
• The Stanley Myers Orchestra (4)
• The Salvation Army (The International Staff Band) – brass section (7)

Track Listing:

Side one

No. Title                                                                   Length

1. "Let There Be More Light"                                 5:38

2. "Remember a Day"                               4:33

3. "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"   5:28

4. "Corproal Clegg"                                               4:12

Side two

No. Title                                                                  Length

5. "A Saucerful of Secrets"                                  11:57

6. "See-Saw"                                      4:36

7. "Jugland Blues"                              3:00

Overall Thoughts:

Hypothetical situation:  The band Queen releases their first album.  There's some good songs- it's a promising group.  You look forward to hearing more music from them.

And then.... Freddy Mercury just vanishes.  *Poof*.  Gone.  No more singing from him, no more songs written by him.

The rest of the band still produces music- but does "Bohemian Rhapsody" exist?  What type of music do they make?  Do they become the hitmaker we think of?  What is the band "Queen" like without their msot charismatic member?

That's pretty much what happened to Pink Floyd.  The first album was dominated by Syd Barrett- he wrote most of the songs, he played the lead guitar, he was the primary singer- he was the core of the band that was signed, and he is the heart and soul of "A Piper at the Gates of Dawn".

And then, a combination of drugs and mental illness made Barrett unresponsive and apathetic.  He stopped playing during concerts and caused several shows to be cancelled.

The rest of the band (Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright) brought on David Gilmour to take over guitar duties, with the intention to have Barrett focus on songwriting.  For a short while Pink Floyd was a five person band... but as Barrett's condition worsened, the Band chose not to pick him up for a show, and ousted him.

Barrett's contributions to the second album amounts to one song ("Jugland Blues") that he wrote and sung, and some guitar work.  

And just like that, the core of the Pink Floyd's first album disappeared.  Barrett later had a couple of solo albums before retiring in 1974, shying away from public life.  He passed away in 2006.

As for the album itself-  "A Saucerful of Secrets" is still a psychadelic, progressive album.  But it's more focussed, and the band has levelled up.  Adding Gilmour (an outstanding guitarist) to the band IMMEDIATELY improved the quality of the music, right from the start of the first song, "Let There Be More Light".  Richard Wright's keyboard work is also excellent, especially on "Remember A Day".

The lyrics are less weird than "A Piper At the Gates of Dawn", but also not that memorable.  At this point in their careers, Pink Floyd is more focussed on music than lyrics

"A Piper At the Gates of Dawn" is background music- but you actually listen and pay attention to the music of "A Saucerful of Secrets".  The band has a direction, and focus, and it shows in a clearly better record.

The centerpiece of the album is the title track, which is almost 12 minutes in length.  It hits all of the notes of a long, prog-rock epic... strange title, meanding song, additional sounds besides instruments.  As a bonus, there's even some Orchestral music.  It's not awful, just forgettable.

The album ends with "Jugland Blues", the only song Barrett wrote for the album.  It's disjointed and random.  There's signs of good music, but it only highlights the contrast with the early part of the album.  And confirms why Pink Floyd improved by adding Gilmour.

Ranking of Pink Floyd Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. A Saucerful of Secrets
2. Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs (changing as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Let There Be More Light", A Saucerful of Secrets
2. "Set The Controls For the Heart of the Sun", A Saucerful of Secrets
3. "Remember A Day", A Saucerful of Secrets
4. "Flaming", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
5. "Astronomy Dominé", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
6. "A Saucerful of Secrets", A Saucerful of Secrets
7. "Matilda Mother", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
8. "See-Saw", A Saucerful of Secrets
9. "Lucifer Sam", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
10. "Take up Thy Stethoscope and Walk", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn

Pink Floyd Retrospective: Album 01- A Piper at the Gates of Dawn

 

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):

1. A Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs (changing as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Flaming", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
2. "Astronomy Dominé", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
3. "Matilda Mother", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
4. "Lucifer Sam", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
5. "Take up Thy Stethoscope and Walk", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
6. "Interstellar Overdrive", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
7. "The Scarecrow", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
8. "Chapter 24", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
9. "The Gnome", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn
10. "Bike", A Piper At the Gates of Dawn

Thoughts with Whiskey: 2025-05-25

Current drink:  Maker's Mark.  Not my favorite bourbon, but extremely solid, and a great deal for the price.

• Finished the episode "Who Are You?" from the show Andor.  Absolutely brilliant.  One reason it works is that it's the first show since the 1977 original movie to make the Empire actually competent and scary (the later movies made the Sith scary and the Empire as just their lackeys).  A good guideline for Star Wars is that the more emphasis they put on the Force, the weaker the world gets.

• I'd like to thank Tyrese Haliburton for being the NBA villain they didn't know they needed.  He and the Pacers are both very good and very obnoxious.  Part of me roots for them to lose- the other part wants them to win it all this year so my beloved Cleveland Cavaliers can knock them off next year.

• The House passed the "Big Beautiful Bill" this past week.  Two thoughts:

• Speaker Mike Johnson is, much like Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell, really good at his job.  He twisted enough arms to get the bill passed when it seemed unlikely.
• I'm an old school Conservative.  I like tax cuts, and I think the government overspends.  But with a current debt at over $36 trillion and a current deficit at over $1 trillion (that's over $1,000,000,000,000.00), we really need spending cuts and tax hikes.  This bill does nothing to deal with the debt seriously

• Current game:  The life and suffering of Sir Brante.  Fascinating "Chose Your Own Adventure" type game going over an entire life.  Really enjoying it

Everyone have a great holiday:  Some Gave All 

Thoughts With Whiskey: 2025-05-16

Today's beverage:  Weller Special Reserve.  Probably the best value for bourbon, in my humble opinion.

* The Cleveland Cavaliers of 2024-2025 may be one of my favorite teams to have ever followed, and it was heartbreaking to see them go out in the 2nd round of the playoffs.  I would run it back with the same players; stability is criminally underrated in basketball, and I do think this was a learning experience (though a painful one) for them.  

* Watching season 2 of "Andor" now.  Best Star Wars tv show, even over the Mandalorian.  My plan is to finish the season and then rewatch "Rogue One".    And it continues my theory that the less involved the Force are in the Star Wars Universe, the better.

* I'd chat about politics... but what's the point?  I want my elected officials to be competent, decent, and boring.  Text me when that option becomes available.  

* Pete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson are now eligible to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I lived in Kentucky when Rose broke Ty Cobb's record, and he was deified in that part of the country.  He was a great baseball player and horrible human being.  Though I suppose the same also applies to Ty Cobb and others who are actually in the Hall of Fame.  

* Be well, everyone.  It's rough out there.  

NBA 2025 Lottery Booking

Another year, another potential franchise player that everyone wants.  Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Mister Cooper Flagg.  All of the NBA teams want him, and the teams who did not make the playoffs are in the lottery to earn the right to draft him (if the teams haven't already traded away their picks).  And the draft is supposed to be deep enough that anyone who gets into the top 4 should get an excellet player.  I don't think the lottery is rigged.... but IF it was, here's how I'd book things.

Cooper Flagg

My Crazy Dream Booking: Portland, Sacramento, Houston, Chicago.

When in doubt, pick franchises that haven't ever won the NBA title.  I'm also in favor in giving all of the fanbases hope- and Portland certainly needs some hope.

As an added bonus, if Philadelphia drops from 5 to 7, they lose their pick to OKC.  Add in Phoenix losing their pick to Houston, and it's a lesson in not trading away unprotected draft picks.

  
What Should Happen: Winners of the lottery:  Washington, Charlotte, Toronto, Chicago, 

One thing I've noticed- all of the top prospects end up in the Western confernce. Wembeyana ended up in San Antonio; Zion ended up in New Orleans.  It's one of the reasons the Western Conference is tougher than the Eastern Confernce.

We need some balance- and Washington needs some hope.  Let's give the Eastern conference the top 3 picks  

What Will Happen: Winners of the lottery:  Utah, Washington, Brooklyn, Charlotte

Fourtune favors the worst teams, and the three worst teams end up in the top 4 picks.  Brooklyn is a large city franchise that ends up with a top 3 pick.

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia

I don't like rewarding teams that make foolish moves.  Dallas traded Luka Doncic and got an older, injury-prone Anthony Davis for him.  The Dejounte Murray trade cost Atlanta their pick (to San Antonio)- and then Atlanta traded Murray for New Orleans' pick.  

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: The Lakers get Cooper Flagg

Not possible- but the Lakers have the "I win.  I always win" button.  So never say never...

NBA 2024-2025 Playoff Predictions

 For the record, here is my predictions from the start of the season.  

Eastern Conference:

Play-in Games:

• Orlando Magic defeats Atlanta Hawks
• Chicago Bulls defeats Miami Heat
• Chicago Bulls defeats Atlanta Hawks

1st Round:

• Cleveland Cavaliers defeats Chicago Bulls, 4-1
• Boston Celtics defeats Orlando Magic, 4-2
• New York Knicks defeats Detroit Pistons, 4-3
• Milwaukee Bucks defeats Indiana Pacers, 4-2

2nd Round:

• Cleveland Cavaliers defeats Milwaukee Bucks, 4-1
• Boston Celtics defeats New York Knicks, 4-3

Conference Finals:

• Cleveland Cavaliers defeats Boston Celtics, 4-3

Thoughts:

• To the surprise of no one, the two best teams in the East meet in the finals.  Boston has the deep playoff experience.  Cleveland has the better record- and is better rested (the top 3 players on the Cavaliers in Minutes per game are all under 32 minutes;  the top 3 for Boston are all above 33 minutes).  And Boston played a ton more games last year.
• Add it up- and the longer the series goes, the fresher Cleveland will be.  Boston's a great team- but I think Cleveland wins in game 7

Western Conference:

Play-in Games:

• Golden State Warriors defeats Memphis Grizzlies
• Sacramento Kings defeats Dallas Mavericks
• Sacramento Kings defeats Memphis Grizzlies

1st Round:

• Oklahoma City Thunder defeats Sacramento Kings, 4-0
• Houston Rockets defeats Golden State Warriors, 4-1
• Minnesota TImberwolves defeats Los Angeles Lakers, 4-3
• Denver Nuggets defeats Los Angeles Clippers, 4-2

2nd Round:

• Oklahoma City Thunder defeats Denver Nuggets, 4-2
• Minnesota Timberwolves defeats Houston Rockets, 4-3

Conference Finals:

• Oklahoma City Thunder defeats Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1

Thoughts:

• Oklahoma City Thunder is head and shoulders above every other team in the West this year.  After them, it's a dogfight.
• I have Minnesota being the surprise team to make it to the conference finals.  Even at the 6 seed, they won 49 games- and I think they underperformed.  

NBA Finals:

• Oklahoma City Thunder defeats Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3

I want the Cavaliers to win it all.  But objectively, Oklahoma is the best team.  They won the most games despite some serious injuries.  Maybe if Chet Holmgren has problems, the Cleveland front court will lead them to victory.  

They split the series, each team winning 1.  Cleveland won by 7.  Oklahoma won by 20.

I have to give it to the best team, not the team I'm rooting for.

Your NBA Champions- the Oklahoma City Thunder!

The Tarriffs: A multi-prong disaster

Let us count the ways in which the tarriffs announced by President Trump are a horrible idea:

1)  It will raise prices.  That is what tarriffs are designed to do- raise prices on goods.  As a general rule, things that raise prices hurt the consumers.

2)  It's especially bad because one of the economy was marked as the most important issue by the voters in the 2024 election, and the voters were not happy with President Biden's handling of the economy.  So voluntarily raising prices- when people were complaining about the high prices from inflation- is especially foolish.

3)  The tarriffs have significantly increased the chance of a recession.  

4)  What are the purposes of the tarriffs?  The President's advisors and staffs are giving contradictory reasons on what the end goal is with the tarriffs.  Either they are hiding the reason- or, far more likely, they have no idea.  

5)  This is solely on President Trump.  No one in Congress voted on raising tarriffs; he did not have the buy-in from the House, the Senate, or the public.  If this succeeds (and I have no idea what 'success' would look like), the credit belongs to him.  If it fails (and, based on the stock market and people's opinions on the economy, I have a very good idea what 'failure' looks like), the blame belongs to him and him alone.

6)  He's managed to offend every nation with his 10% across-the-board tarriffs, ticking off allies.  The other countries may cut deals with the US- but they also know the US isn't a fair trading partner, and will look for other answers in the long term.

7)  The idea is bad- but the execution is far worse.  The calculations for the tarriffs were poorly made- to the point that economist Adam Tooze called them "Grotesque".  

8)  And they also applied tarriffs to uninhabited islands.  It's bad enough to think that the US is being run by a wannabe mob boss.  It's worse to think that it's being run by a grossly incompetent wannabe mob boss.  

9)  It's so haphazard- every day the story changes of which countries will have tarriffs and by how much.  Not only does this reinforces the idea that the group in the White House have no idea what they are doing, but business thrives on stability- when there is this much chaos, they retreat and stop spending money.  Which hurts the economy.

Normally, when a President makes a decision I don't agree with, I at least usually understand what they are thinking.  On this one, I'm completely lost.  I'm not a conspiracy theorist- but I am completely lost what the purpose of these tarriffs are supposed to be.  I don't see how this helps the country, the world, or even Trump politically.  

The tarriffs are a bad idea, poorly executed, and an embarassment to all involved.  It will hurt the country, the world, both in the short term and the long term.

Outside of that, it's a great idea.