An Alternative Look at The 1960's

Bulldog · 12-23-2008, 02:58 AM

Weren't they banned from the US or something by the time they got 'round to recording Village Green, or is that just my dodgy memory?

Fantastic (and massively important) album, and a good review to compliment it

Music Nut · 08-24-2009, 05:53 AM

Outstanding thread of my favorite music decade
thanks

Molecules · 01-29-2009, 04:39 AM

Totally missed this journal Cellartapes.. looks sweet! I'm creeping up to mid-20's aswell and I also love the 60's, don't worry our time will come sir

Do you have Mass in F Minor by the Prunes? It's mental. I intend to check out Turquoise!

jackhammer · 12-21-2008, 12:34 PM

I hope to see you posting all around the site as you seem to know your stuff.

TheCellarTapes · 12-21-2008, 12:38 PM

Cheers for the kind words people, much appreciated!

TheCellarTapes · 01-20-2009, 06:17 AM

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
(1970)

Tracks

1. Terrapin 5:04
2. No Good Trying 3:26
3. Love You 2:29
4. No Man's Land 3:03
5. Dark Globe 2:02
6. Here I Go 3:10
7. Octopus 3:47
8. Golden Hair 1:59
9. Long Gone 2:50
10. She Took A Long Cold Look 1:55
11. Feel 2:17
12. If It's In You 2:26
13. Late Night 3:10

Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968; his final contribution to Pink Floyd was the last song on "A Saucerful of Secrets", the very apt Jugband Blues. From here he left to focus on a solo career, whether he left of his own accord or was pushed we can leave for another day, but it took a further two years for Barrett's first solo outing to be released.

"The Madcap Laughs", released in 1970 on Harvest, was two years in the making and had production assistance from various people most notably Roger Waters and Dave Gilmore, as well as session musicians of some esteem to perform overdubs on most of the tracks, musicians including Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie on Drums. It's also worth noting that some of these esteemed musicians never actually met Barrett.

The various sessions involved in writing and recording the songs for this release were dogged with Barrett's internal and well documented mental turmoil, but this record was recorded in the end and what a record it is. The album opens with "Terrapin", despite the number of producers involved throughout the album; this opening track echoes the style, which will make Madcap Laughs the album it is.

Every strum is heard, the lyrics are quite mysterious, the vocals are eerie and because the overdubs are done after and away from Barrett's erratic musicianship, the beats and bars are quite unpredictable, which I happen to believe is a good thing. This trend, which I like to think of as classic Barrett recording techniques, continues with "No Good Trying", the marvellous "Octopus", "Golden Hair" and the beautifully composed "She Took a Long Cold Look" and "Dark Globe".

The album does have some upbeat moments, "Love You" and "Here I Go" are probably as close to pop songs Barrett ever got, but thankfully he's still a million miles off the norm.

Along with "Barrett", another album from Syd Barrett released in 1970, The Madcap Laughs remains a beacon of the talents of this great songwriter, a man whose demons would tragically halt his career but thankfully did not result in this record never being released. Yes, some of the vocals are erratic and sometimes off key, yes some of the songs go off on one a bit with the overdubs trying to keep up, and yes this album is far from being polished, but don't let that stop you, the sum of all the parts of this album make for an unbelievably addictive and surprisingly wholesome record.

Piss Me Off · 12-23-2008, 03:47 PM

How on earth Picture Book or Johnny Thunder weren't released as singles i will never know. I'll never understand what record companies are thinking sometimes.

jackhammer · 12-23-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piss Me Off

How on earth Picture Book or Johnny Thunder weren't released as singles i will never know. I'll never understand what record companies are thinking sometimes.

The record company had no faith in the album whatsoever due to the falling sales of previous releases. Our gain though I think.

Piss Me Off · 12-23-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

The record company had no faith in the album whatsoever due to the falling sales of previous releases. Our gain though I think.

If i was a rich little 60's kid i would have bought Picture Book 5 times over. So THERE record companies :p

Akira · 12-23-2008, 03:50 PM

Picture Book is wonderful

01-29-2009, 04:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Totally missed this journal Cellartapes.. looks sweet! I'm creeping up to mid-20's aswell and I also love the 60's, don't worry our time will come sir Do you have Mass in F Minor by the Prunes? It's mental. I intend to check out Turquoise! __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

12-21-2008, 12:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I hope to see you posting all around the site as you seem to know your stuff. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

12-23-2008, 03:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	How on earth Picture Book or Johnny Thunder weren't released as singles i will never know. I'll never understand what record companies are thinking sometimes. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

12-23-2008, 02:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Weren't they banned from the US or something by the time they got 'round to recording Village Green, or is that just my dodgy memory? Fantastic (and massively important) album, and a good review to compliment it

08-24-2009, 05:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Music Nut Groupie Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1	Outstanding thread of my favorite music decade thanks

12-21-2008, 12:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	Cheers for the kind words people, much appreciated!

01-20-2009, 06:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs *(1970)* Tracks 1. Terrapin 5:04 2. No Good Trying 3:26 3. Love You 2:29 4. No Man's Land 3:03 5. Dark Globe 2:02 6. Here I Go 3:10 7. Octopus 3:47 8. Golden Hair 1:59 9. Long Gone 2:50 10. She Took A Long Cold Look 1:55 11. Feel 2:17 12. If It's In You 2:26 13. Late Night 3:10 Syd Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968; his final contribution to Pink Floyd was the last song on "A Saucerful of Secrets", the very apt Jugband Blues. From here he left to focus on a solo career, whether he left of his own accord or was pushed we can leave for another day, but it took a further two years for Barrett's first solo outing to be released. "The Madcap Laughs", released in 1970 on Harvest, was two years in the making and had production assistance from various people most notably Roger Waters and Dave Gilmore, as well as session musicians of some esteem to perform overdubs on most of the tracks, musicians including Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie on Drums. It's also worth noting that some of these esteemed musicians never actually met Barrett. The various sessions involved in writing and recording the songs for this release were dogged with Barrett's internal and well documented mental turmoil, but this record was recorded in the end and what a record it is. The album opens with "Terrapin", despite the number of producers involved throughout the album; this opening track echoes the style, which will make Madcap Laughs the album it is. Every strum is heard, the lyrics are quite mysterious, the vocals are eerie and because the overdubs are done after and away from Barrett's erratic musicianship, the beats and bars are quite unpredictable, which I happen to believe is a good thing. This trend, which I like to think of as classic Barrett recording techniques, continues with "No Good Trying", the marvellous "Octopus", "Golden Hair" and the beautifully composed "She Took a Long Cold Look" and "Dark Globe". The album does have some upbeat moments, "Love You" and "Here I Go" are probably as close to pop songs Barrett ever got, but thankfully he's still a million miles off the norm. Along with "Barrett", another album from Syd Barrett released in 1970, The Madcap Laughs remains a beacon of the talents of this great songwriter, a man whose demons would tragically halt his career but thankfully did not result in this record never being released. Yes, some of the vocals are erratic and sometimes off key, yes some of the songs go off on one a bit with the overdubs trying to keep up, and yes this album is far from being polished, but don't let that stop you, the sum of all the parts of this album make for an unbelievably addictive and surprisingly wholesome record.