SYD BARRETT – AN INTRODUCTION TO SYD BARRETT (Vinyl 2LP)

One of the most influential musicians in British pop history, Syd Barrett was as appreciated as much for his iconoclastic approach to the electric guitar as for his adventurous and imaginative songwriting. A co-founder of Pink Floyd, he was also quintessentially English, penning idiosyncratic and unique songs, and, along with Ray Davies, was directly responsible for a whole generation of musicians feeling that it was acceptable to develop their own indigenous brand of rock music.

Pink Floyd signed to EMI Records in 1967, releasing the singles “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play,” both written by Syd, and the album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, again mostly composed by Syd and considered to be one of the greatest British psychedelic albums. However, as the band began to attract a large fanbase, it became clear that Syd’s fluid approach to writing, performing and recording – spontaneous, one take only, nothing repeated – was increasingly at odds with the expectations of a musical scene that was still very conservative, especially outside London.

Possibly exacerbated by Syd’s frequent experimentation with psychedelic drugs, his behavior became more erratic, to the point that the band decided to add a second guitarist for live performances. They hoped to call on Syd’s compositional abilities for studio work, similar to Brian Wilson’s role in the Beach Boys, while David Gilmour would bolster the band in live shows. The experiment didn’t really work and, in January 1968, after a handful of shows as a 5-piece, the band elected not to pick Syd up on the way to a Southampton University show.

Syd and Floyd officially parted company in March 1968, with the band’s management Blackhill Enterprises deciding to stick with Syd as a solo artist. EMI’s new Harvest label committed to a Barrett solo project, and over the course of a year Syd recorded his debut The Madcap Laughs. The album was well received and sold reasonably, so EMI elected to record follow-up Barrett straight away, the last official Syd Barrett album, bar compilations.

In 2010, EMI released An Introduction To Syd Barrett, a new 18-track collection that brought together for the first time tracks from Syd’s Pink Floyd and solo work on one album, including some brand-new remixes. David Gilmour was enlisted as executive producer of the album, and, together with Andy Jackson and Damon Iddins at Astoria Studios, remixed five tracks, including “Octopus,” “She Took A Long Cool Look,” “Dominoes” and “Here I Go.” Gilmour also added bass guitar to “Here I Go,” while Floyd’s “Matilda Mother” also received a fresh 2010 Mix. Long-time Pink Floyd associate Storm Thorgerson provided the album’s artwork.

LP1

1.  Arnold Layne (2010 Digital Remaster)

2.  See Emily Play (2010 Digital Remaster)

3.  Apples And Oranges (2010 Digital Remaster)

4.  Matilda Mother (Alternative Version: 2010 Mix)

5.  Chapter 24 (2011 Remaster)

6.  Bike (2011 Remaster)

7.  Terrapin (2010 Digital Remaster)

8.  Love You (2010 Digital Remaster)

9.  Dark Globe (2010 Digital Remaster)

LP2

1.  Here I Go (2010 Remix)

2.  Octopus (2010 Mix)

3.  She Took A Long Cool Look (2010 Mix)

4.  If It’s In You (2010 Digital Remaster)

5.  Baby Lemonade (2010 Digital Remaster)

6.  Dominoes (2010 Mix)

7.  Gigolo Aunt (2010 Digital Remaster)

8.  Effervescing Elephant (2010 Digital Remaster)

9.  Bob Dylan Blues (2010 Digital Remaster)