Utahpolis

So….what’s wrong with this picture of Pink Floyd? That’s right! There are five members posing here. For a couple of months in early 1968, the band existed as a five-piece before making the transition from Syd Barrett to David Gilmour.

A Saucerful of Secrets was recorded before, during, and after this brief existence as a five piece and is an interesting snapshot of one Floyd breaking down and another just beginning.

With almost forty years of music recorded between then and now, it’s hard to get a grasp on just how weird Pink Floyd must of sounded to even the most open minded people of the late-60’s. Sure, there was plenty of music masquerading as psychedelic, but most of it was just sixties-pop with a sitar thrown in to make it sound “out-there”. The Syd Barrett-led Pink Floyd of the Piper at The Gates of Dawn era was crazed from the ground-up. There was simply nothing else like it at the time and, even to this day, hasn’t been since.

While quite a bit more grounded without a fully functional Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s second album manages to keep some of the LSD-drenched Piper-scapes alive while beginning to show hints of what would come.

Pink Floyd - Let There Be More Light

As soon as you drop the needle on the record, you’re met with Roger Waters’ maniacal bass line. They’ve made their intentions known from the start; No screwing around. Well, not until a minute later when they slow everything down and launch into what very well could be some of the worst lyrics that Waters ever penned. No matter, though. We forgive you, Roger.

“Let There Be More Light” marks the debut of David Gilmour, first with the counter-vocals to Richard Wright and Roger Waters, then with a Gilmour guitar solo to close out the final minute-thirty.

Pink Floyd - Remember A Day

“Remember A Day” is the track that most resembles something off of Piper. You have the tribal drumming by Mason, stereo panning, occasional feedback, strange mouth pops and noises, backwards vocals and some steel guitar work courtesy of old friend Syd Barrett.

It would seem that the lead vocalist spot was still up for grabs at the time; Richard Wright wrote and sang this one. In fact, the four tracks Richard sings outnumber the contributions by the other members, the only time that would happen in the band’s history.

Pink Floyd - Jugband Blues

Here we have Syd’s final appearance in Pink Floyd. In his own words…..

It’s awfully considerate of you to think of me here
And I’m almost obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here
And I never knew the moon could be so big
And I never knew the moon could be so blue
And I’m grateful that you threw away my old shoes
And brought me here instead dressed in red.

And I’m wondering who could be writing this song…

I don’t care if the sun don’t shine
And I don’t care if nothing is mine
And I don’t care if I’m nervous with you
I’ll do my loving in the winter….

And the sea isn’t green
And I love the Queen
And what exactly is a dream?
And what exactly is a joke?

Roger Waters has a few tour dates listed. I was fortunate enough to see him in 2000 or so, and I highly recommend taking a trip to catch Roger while you still can!

SUN 4/27 - Coachella Valley Music & Artists Festival - Indio, California
WED 4/30 - Pepsi Center Arena - Denver, Colorado
FRI 5/2 - Smirnoff Music Center - Dallas, Texas
SUN 5/4 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, Texas
SUN 5/11 - Megaland - Landgraaf, Holland
TUE 5/13 - Fionia Park - Odense, Denmark

Click here to purchase A Saucerful of Secrets.