1967 ORIG PINK FLOYD PIPER GATES OF DAWN Prog Psych

$

88

1967 ORIGINAL FIRST PRESSING VINYL!                       

TOWER RECORDS !                           

                                                                PINK  FLOYD

        Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

                                                 USA - (TAN) TOWER RECORDS - ST 5039

Original 1967 STEREO first pressing on the highly collected tan TOWER RECORDS label...The first Pink Floyd entry back in the heady days when the almighty Syd Barret flew the storied Pink Floyd deliciously upside down...."lime and limpid green, a second scene, a fight between the blue...."

Syd's influences included The Stones, Beatles, Byrds and Love. A song from the debut Love album went on to inspire the chord pattern for 'Interstellar Overdrive'. Syd wrote virtually the entire 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn Album', but within 12 months he'd be out of Pink Floyd, and 'out of it' altogether, to all intents and purposes. Syd was the undisputed creative leader of Pink Floyd for their early clutch of singles, and this, the only full album he'd participate in for the group. Who knows what went on in the mind of Syd Barrett? What makes this one of the finest Psychedelic albums of all of time is that Syd had different thought patterns, he did things differently. The way he played guitar was different, the way he sang was different ( resolutely English ) and his lyrics were certainly not something heard before. Nursery rhyme lyrics almost, but very striking, not Rock n Roll lyrics as such. Syd took too many drugs, but the drugs wore him down, ripped him apart. 'See Emily Play' is a striking infectious cut of popsike supreme with its kaleidoscopic keys and Syd's guitar work doesn't even sound like guitar half the time, the production and mixing effects, the level of experimentation turn this into something far more that the basic structure and entity of the actual song. There's all this groovy bass and pit-patter drum sounds here. It sounds like it's from outer-space, and it sounds pretty great, different for the time it was released, too. Still different to this day. And yeah, the song is truly fantastic, and don't even know what it's doing, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything 'usual'. The ending of the song is glorious, the layered vocals wonderful. 'Lucifer Sam' opens guitar heavy, the lyrics are stupendous other world poetry with a hint of nursery rhyme, making no sense, but sounding deep and heavy no doubt at all, provided you're out of your head! If you aren't out of your head, they sound great anyway, there is a natural poetry about the lyrics of Syd Barrett, not a structured learned poetry, rather a very natural way with language. Glorious guitar parts appear everywhere. One can even begin to imagine how the song came to be. 'Matilda Mother' has heavenly harmonies, more great lyrics, an exciting and mind-blowing mid instrumental section.

Roger Waters wrote a couple of songs here, people sometimes forget that. Well, he wrote 'Take Up They Stethoscope & Walk' and contributed to the band compositions, 'Intestellar Overdrive' and 'Pow R Toc H'. Before those 'Flaming' arrives, more Barrett lyric genius, more production and mixing experimentation - but it never obscures the melody of the song. 'Pow R Toc H' continues in this albums usage of strange effects and noises, but also continues with strong musical melodic content. 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk', the sole Waters solo composition owes obvious debts to Barrett, the lyrics are clumsy and basic compared to Syd, though. Roger would get better, and 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope' benefits from a demented musical assault, especially the way the organ solo is taken! 'Interstellar Overdrive' is nine minutes of loosely structured experimentation and jamming, although the basic pattern of the song holds it together, allowing the room for improvisation. Personally, 'Interstellar Overdrive' is just something to get off on, not a piece of writing genius, just these sequences of sound. Syd takes center stage for the closing sequence of songs. 'The Gnome' is a charming nursery rhyme song with strummed guitar and typically imaginative lyrics. 'Chapter 24' indulges in mixing experimentation, it sounds fantastic harmonically. 'Scarecrow' opens with lots of ticking and clock noises, a simple, very simple childs melody, more nursery rhyme type lyrics, but then, these lyrics?  Let's mention the sheer imagination behind them, the worlds and pictures and places they place in your brain. Because they do. Who needs drugs? And, that's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' Syd and Pink Floyd together for the only time for a whole album project, an album project that's been massively influential through the years, and something that's never quite been done again.

Side One:
1. See Emily Play (2:53)
2. Pow.R Toc.H (4:26)
3. Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk (3:05)
4. Lucifer Sam (3:07)
5. Matilda Mother (3:08)

Side Two:
6. The Scarecrow (2:11)
7. The Gnome (2:13)
8. Chapter 24 (3:42)
9. Intersteller Overdrive (9:41)

CONDITION: The cover has very light partial shelf wear just starting, nothing to be converned about. A little bottom right corner rub, but that is minor. A little spine rub at very top. That is about all. VG+(+) and collectible

The vinyl is still glossy having small light hairline scuffs, nothing deep to be concerned and overall anything is remotely insignificant, so while appearing, as visual VG+ play graded VG++ to EXcellent enjoyable here, without noticable disctractions...

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record