June 29, 1968 - A Saucerful Of Secrets

My first full album from 1968 is the sophomore effort from Pink Floyd, "A Saucerful Of Secrets" released on June 29. It is their only album as a five-piece, with David Gilmour (guitars, vocals) joining the original four members Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. Frontman Barrett's drug use had increased since their debut last August and he was becoming unreliable for live performances as well as studio sessions. Gilmour was brought in to cover for Barrett when he wasn't mentally there, and Barrett would end up being kicked out of the band before the completion of the recording. This album has a different feel than their debut "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", which Barrett wrote most of the songs for. All five members contribute to writing on this album, although there is only one song in which all five feature. 

Side 1 begins with a Waters-written song "Let There Be More Light" which features Wright on vocals for the verses and Gilmour for the chorus. It is about a spaceship landing in England, and first contact with aliens. It's led by a coop bass riff from Waters and features some psychedelic keyboards throughout. Gilmour does a nice slow guitar solo and they even mention Lucy in the Sky in the lyrics! Track 2, "Remember A Day", is written and sung by Wright and has slide guitar from Barrett. It's about yearning for the simple days of early childhood. Aside from some pretty good drumming from Mason, this is a slow slong with more trippy keyboards. Waters takes over lead vocals on the only track to feature all five band members, "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun". It's also driven by a Waters bass riff and Mason uses timpani mallets on his drum kit for a softer sound. Weight again stars with some eerie, trippy keyboards that were often improvised for lengthy sessions during live shows. The song has a real outer space feel in the music snd the lyrics. Side 1 ends with "Corporal Clegg", which has Gilmour, Wright and Nick Mason making a rare vocal appearance. It's about a soldier who lost his leg during World War II. Mason's vocals are a little weird and this song has a psychedelic circus feel, including a kazoo part! It's also the first time Gilmour's singing really shines in the chorus. 

Side 2 begins with the near 12 minute title track, "A Saucerful Of Secrets". With Gilmour on guitar, this instrumental track is quite something and is a great example of the sort of live shows that Pink Floyd would become famous for. It begins with some drone-y guitar and some slow, eerie organ as well as some percussion from Mason. At the 4 minute mark there are some great drums, some whistling guitar noises and some dark, haunting sounding piano from Wright. He is all over the piano and I think it sounds phenomenal. After the 7 minute mark it returns to the quieter opening style and around the 9 minute mark some slow, almost church-like organ  Carrie's the rest if the song, along with some oohing ahhing by Wright and Gilmour. What a great song! It combines the best parts of both psychedelic and progressive rock. Wright is on lead vocals once again on track 6, "See-Saw". This song is about a brother and sister playing and has Wrigjt playing some trippy background keyboards, while the song is left by Gilmour on acoustic guitar. The album closes with the lone Syd Barrett written and sung track "Jugband Blues". This song feels much more like the debut album, with some nonsense lyrics from Barrett and another circus-y song with some horns. This would be Barrett's last contribution to the band, and it is a fitting end to his final album.

That is the end of "A Saucercul Of Secrets". It built on the best aspects of their first album, and in my opinion, Pink Floyd have surpassed it. The title track and a solid side 1 make this album a great listen. While this album and it's predecessor are different in style a bit, I like the new direction that Pink Floyd are headed in, and am very interested to see where the new line-up will take us. That's it for the summer of '68, see ya next fall!

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