Like all lists and top tens, top threes, top thirties etc they change over time (days, weeks, years) and this album has featured in my top three and top ten and always top thirty! It means a lot to me and I have mentioned elsewhere I was primarily a Syd Barrett fan and only after 'Meddle' I think, did I leave Pink Floyd behind. I hated 'Dark Side of The Moon' which is ironic I grant you but it's hokey schtick and cloying cliche riddled melodrama I detested. I couldn't stand The Wall either which was worse and it finally dawned upon me that my previous hero the bass player Waters was probably the cause of my distaste. I had previously thought him a great bass player and yet his song writing was truly awful. "WE don't need no education!"? please!
David Gilmour however is another matter and I have always admired his musician ship and guitar playing. the rest too Nick and Rick I always enjoyed their musicianship but what WAS the drive to pen "Teacher leave them kids alone"?
I think Piper at The Gates of Dawn is my favourite Floyd album . . . of all time
This from joker and the thief weblog:
The first album by Pink Floyd, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), was named by former member Syd Barrett after chapter 7 of The Wind in the Willows,which contains a visionary encounter with the god Pan, who plays his pan pipe at dawn. It was one of Barrett’s favourite books, and he often gave friends the impression that he was Pan, that he was the Piper. The moniker was later used in the song Shine On You Crazy Diamond, in which Barrett is called “you Piper”. However, the songs on the album are not directly related to the contents of the book. Barrett came up with the album title The Piper at the Gates of Dawn; the album was originally titled Projection up to as late as July 1967.
Lucifer Sam - Pink Floyd (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967)
A movement is accomplished in six stages And the seventh brings return The seven is the number of the young light It forms when darkness is increased by one Change returns success Going and coming without error Action brings good fortune Sunset, sunrise…
Pink Floyd - Chapter 24
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
Shine on you crazy diamond . . . . . . . . .
Friday, October 26, 2018
Pink Floyd
Piper at The Gates of Dawn
Here it is - the peak of Pink Floyd albums in my view and a favourite album regularly in my top ten Bought when it came out I adored this album and still do. It had a profound affect upon my and all of my then burgeoning youthful creativity, I hankered to be one of this band and identified with all of them especially Syd. The glorious centre piece to all of psychedelia so that nothingelse quite touches these dizzy heights
On this day in music history: October 26, 1967 - “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn”, the debut album by Pink Floyd is released. Produced by Norman Smith, it is recorded at EMI Abbey Road Studios in London from February 21 - May 21, 1967. Formed by Roger Waters (bass) and Nick Mason (drums) and Richard Wright (keyboards, guitar), they are joined by Syd Barrett (vocals, guitar) in mid 1965. It is Barrett that comes up with the name Pink Floyd, after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Originally playing more R&B influenced music, their sound begins to evolve. They become the talk of London’s underground music scene, with record labels courting the band. They’re signed to EMI Records’ Columbia label by former Abbey Road engineer Norman Smith. They record their first single “Arnold Layne” b/w “Candy And A Currant Bun” (#20 UK) during January and February, and is issued in March of 1967. Prior to its release, the band record their debut album with Syd Barrett as the driving creative force. The tracks include “Interstellar Overdrive”, an early staple of Pink Floyd’s live shows along with “Astronomy Domine”. The now iconic “kaleidoscopic” cover photo is taken by photographer Vic Singh. Released in the UK first in early August of 1967 (mono mix, followed by the stereo version in September), “Piper” quickly establishes them as leaders of the British psychedelic rock movement. Soon after, Syd Barrett’s mental state deteriorates, fueled his increasing intake of LSD. Held back in the US until October to coincide with their first tour, it is released on Capitol’s Tower Records imprint. The US version contains nine songs instead of eleven, dropping “Domine”, “Bike” and “Flaming”, adding the single “See Emily Play”. Shortly after making their US debut at the Winterland Ballroom on November 4, 1967, the tour is aborted when Barrett’s condition worsens. Making a now infamous appearance on singer Pat Boone’s TV show, Syd stares blankly into the camera instead of lip synching to the song “Apples And Oranges”. The band return home, and guitarist David Gilmour is added as a back up for Barrett. It marks the beginning of the end of Syd Barrett’s tenure in the band, leaving in mid 1968. Reissued many times including a three CD set, it is most recently remastered and reissued on CD in 2011. A 180 gram vinyl LP (stereo mix) is released in 2016. The original mono mix, is reissued as a limited edition 180 gram LP for Record Store Day in April Of 2018. It comes housed in a psychedelic, gold embossed outer sleeve and is packaged with a poster. The LP sleeve replicates the original UK tab back cover. Other than a brief European reissue in 1997, it marks the first time the mono mix has been available since 1968. “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn” peaks at number six on the UK album chart, number one hundred thirty one on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Dedicated to my daughter's cat 'George' (after Harrison of course) and he was only with us for 5 years but he had a profound affect upon me and we had a good relationship . . . . . . . "that cat's something I can't explain" . . . . . . yes I bought 'Piper . . . . ' when it came out and remains my favourite Pink Floyd album
I loved this song . . . . . . .
Friday, October 27, 2017
and perhaps my favourite Pink Floyd album of all . . . . and yes bought when it came out and still have it somewhere . . . . . . down in the vaults past the dungeon and down beyond the ha-ha . . . . in a box somewhere . . . . . . with my collection of bicycle bells
On this day in music history: October 26, 1967 - “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn”, the debut album by Pink Floyd is released. Produced by Norman Smith, it is recorded at EMI Abbey Road Studios in London from February 21 - May 21, 1967. Formed by Roger Waters (bass) and Nick Mason (drums) and Richard Wright (keyboards, guitar), they are joined by Syd Barrett (vocals, guitar) in mid 1965 after numerous line up and name changes. It is Barrett that comes up with the name Pink Floyd, after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Originally playing more rhythm & blues influenced music, their sound begins to evolve, largely due to Barrett’s guidance. They become the talk of London’s underground music scene, with record companies courting the band. They’re signed to EMI Records’ Columbia label by former Abbey Road engineer Norman Smith (The Beatles). Recording their first single “Arnold Layne” b/w “Candy And A Currant Bun” (#20 UK) with Smith during January and February, it is issued in March of 1967. Prior to its release, Pink Floyd begin recording their debut album with Syd Barrett as the driving creative force. The song “Interstellar Overdrive”, an early staple of Pink Floyd’s live shows becomes one of the album’s centerpieces along Barrett’s “Astronomy Domine”. The album’s now iconic “kaleidoscopic” cover photo is taken by photographer Vic Singh. Released in the UK first in early August of 1967 (mono mix, followed by the stereo version in September), “Piper” quickly establishes them as leaders of the British psychedelic rock movement. Soon after, Syd Barrett begins to display erratic behavior brought on his deteriorating mental state, and his increasing intake of LSD. Held back in the US until October of 1967 to coincide with Pink Floyd’s first American tour, it is released on Capitol’s Tower Records imprint. The US version contains nine songs instead of eleven, dropping “Astronomy Domine”, “Bike” and “Flaming”, adding the single “See Emily Play”. Shortly after making their US debut at the Winterland Ballroom on November 4, 1967, the tour is aborted when Barrett’s condition worsens. Making a now infamous appearance on singer Pat Boone’s TV show, Syd stares blankly into the camera instead of lip synching to the song “Apples And Oranges” as had been previously rehearsed. The band return home, and guitarist David Gilmour is added to act as a back up for Barrett. It marks the beginning of the end of Syd Barrett’s tenure in the band, leaving in mid 1968. In time, “Piper” is regarded a masterpiece and a definitive psychedelic rock album. Reissued numerous times over the years including a three CD set, it is most recently remastered and reissued on CD in 2011, with a 180 gram vinyl LP (stereo mix) released in 2016. “The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn” peaks at number six on the UK album chart, number one hundred thirty one on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
The title comes from a favourite book Chapter VII of Kenneth 'Wind In The Willows'
"The Willow-Wren was twittering his thin little song, hidden himself in the dark selvedge of the river bank. Though it was past ten o'clock at night, the sky still clung to and retained some lingering skirts of light from the departed day; and the sullen heats of the torrid afternoon broke up and rolled away at the dispersing touch of the cool fingers of the short midsummer night. Mole lay stretched on the bank, still panting from the stress of the fierce day that had been cloudless from dawn to late sunset, and waited for his friend to return"
thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves On this day in Music History
