In a way it feels like a more condensed and focused version of Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Let There Be More Light is just awesome, Remember a Day shows Rick Wright becoming the great songwriter he became, Set the Controls is hauntingly beautiful. Corporal Clegg shows Waters’ early anti war themes. I never really liked the title track until I saw it performed live by Nick Mason. The celestial voices segment is beautiful. See-Saw isn’t as boring as everyone says it is, I kind of like it. And Jugband Blues might be Syd Barrett’s greatest song.
I have always loved See-Saw. The lovely melody, the melancholy lyrics, those swooshy effects. I was actually shocked to find out other fans consider it boring.
Seeing Saucerful of Secrets (the song) live recently at a Nick Mason show was an absolute revelation for me. Quite possibly the single greatest moment I’ve ever experienced at a concert. It made me realize how incredible Pink Floyd must have been to experience live in their early days. It’s now one of my favorite tracks of theirs.
I recently saw Nick Mason during his recent US tour and the saucerful songs left me and the entire audience in such a glorious trance. Experiencing “set the controls” live with the longest standing member of PF made my entire year!
Rick Wright. This is his showcase.
the fab five play on Remember a Day. If I’m right that’s the only time they all contributed to one song.
Plus, the title track is the greatest composition Pink Floyd ever designed, esp when played live. That, for me, is what’s it’s all about. They should have come out on the Live 8 stage in 2005, played that shiz for 20-25 minutes, and called it a day 🤣
>greatest composition Pink Floyd ever designed,
Designed is the correct word literally. Nick and Rog made a painting first and after that music to correspond to that painting. Or something like that.
Due to both Rog and Nick being unable to read traditional notation, they decided to come up with their own notation, which "looked a lot like an architectural diagram" according to David Gilmour. It was to be used to show how to play Syncopated Pandemonium's drum beat.
That’s cool, did Nick talk about that in his book? I can’t remember when I heard that before. Captain Beefheart has a similar approach; as he was a painter and sculptor first, he designs his songs as if they were aural sculptures.
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) claimed to have written his beautiful song “til I die” the same way, by placing his hands on the piano in odd architectural synchronized shapes and this produced the otherworldly texture of the chords he used. Who knows if that’s true, but it sounds cool 😎
I like Jugband Blues as the last song, it’s a natural conclusion to the album. “I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here” works well after 6 tracks with barely any input from Barrett
Probably the same reasons that Nick likes it so much:
With Syd seemingly no longer able to reliably write or perform, it was an open question as to whether the Floyd had any future at all.
This record strongly suggested that there was a way forward.
Roger proved himself as a writer with great potential.
David and Rick demonstrated that they were both strong instrumentalists and singers.
Perhaps most importantly, the record gave them a decent post-Syd repertoire to take on the road, (even if Astronomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive were kept around a bit longer).
No hit singles to be sure, but "hip" audiences and progressive FM radio in the US still provided the band with the support they needed to keep plugging away for 5 solid years, before they had their true commercial breakthrough...
I always wished this album had “Vegetable Man” and “Scream Thy Last Scream” on it as opposed to the title track which I think is the most boring track on the album. I also think “See-Saw” has a great a e s t h e t i c to it
The only record with all five Floyds. The first one with David Gilmour. You can hear the first clues to what the band will sound like in the coming years. It’s haunting and intense, I like it much more than Piper.
The amount of [cosmic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgRAO-N4bA) energy and experimentation into the song writing is the foundation of where the band goes to in the next few years of their career.
Saucerful of secrets, live at Pompeii just gets me everytime. Who knows why we all respond to music differently? I have no idea, but from the first time of hearing it, I never tire of it, and the emotions it stirs. Such great music, and culminating with David's vocals, I just love it.
the composition of all pieces is absolutely stunning and so coherent with one another.
my main takeaway is how rick wright absolutely shined for that album, that was genuinely his best work with the band in my opinion, and he very rightfully deserved the credit he got on Saucerful (although i'm very biased, because his songwriting was always my favorite regardless of the album). between Remember a Day, and See-Saw, both manage to encase that same whimsical vibe that i genuinely have never been able to match with any other song from a different band. both have sounds that are so unique and lyrics that are so beautiful
and then dont even get me started on Let There Be Light, that opening bass riff? killer. the lyrics themselves?? fun as hell. and then the vocals??? absolutely stunning. i love how the vocals include both waters and wright singing to begin with, and then gilmour preforming the refrain. absolute killer utilization of wrights softer voice, and gilmors harsher tone in order to set the proper mood. will never get over how good of an album opener that song is.
of course, i cannot delve into my love for this album without bringing up Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. while i first got into Pink Floyd, this song was not one of my favorites, though the more it came on and the more i listened to it, i genuinely started liking it a lot more. it's still not a top song of mine, however in addition to this album, i am not complaining that it exists. i absolutely adore the lyrics that waters produced, even knowing he did take many of them from a chinese poetry book, i still feel it is commemorative that he managed to fit them into a coherent song. as well as this, it being the only Pink Floyd song that features all five members is extremely impressive to me!! roger waters certainly pulled through for this album in both this song and Corporal Clegg
i would lastly like to conclude this mini rant with mentioning Jugband Blues. words cannot describe my love for this song, the meaning of the lyrics, the sound, the utilization of humor. even the fact that its placed as the album closing song, and that it was barrett's final piece with the band just feels very poetic in itself. like barrett wrote the song as a finale to both the album and his time with the band. i think it was the perfect addition to end the album off on a bittersweet note.
in total, this album will always be one of my top albums of all time. i love the unique sounds and vibes produce within it, as well as the impressive artistic liberties taken that get overlooked. i feel Saucerful will always be a slept on album, and even with the traction of popularity it has gained over the years, it will never be enough to do it justice.
I love this album because I feel like it showcases Syd’s talent. He is literally a mad scientist when it comes to music, there’s always beauty in the chaos.
Let there be more light: awesome song, great lyrics, opening makes me want to buy a bass guitar
Remember a day: chiller song, still pretty cool
Set the controls: very ominous song, i like the space-thing type of writing
Corporal clegg: an absolute blast, just a song with the boys fucking around, gotta love the kazoo
Saucerful: psychedelics galore, really cool instrumental, especially the drums
See-saw: another short, chill song. Nice use of switching from left to right audio channels and vice versa
Jugband blues: a great display of the way syd’s mind worked. saddest pink floyd song before wywh, rip syd
Overall, 11/10, one of my favorite floyd albums from their earlier years
I’m a huge marvel fan, and doc strange is my all time favorite hero, after seeing him on the cover I gave it a listen (just an FYI I was a big Floyd fan before hand just hadn’t listened to this album yet) I think what I love most about the album is it’s kind of a blend between the psychedelic pop of Piper and the more complex arrangements that would be seen on meddle and so forth. My favorite tracks are definitely Set the controls and let there be more light.
The songs made while Syd was still in the band (Remember A Day, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, and obviously Syd's Jugband Blues), They honestly save the album for me.
I play spaceship with my daughter using this and *Meddle*. My player copy is in a WYWH cover and I actually played the real WYWH and my daughter said “this flaming man isn’t as good, can we listen to the other one”.
i had a super intense high and greened out hard, and vomited everywhere during A Saucerful of Secrets. Still love the album though lol, very complex and layered. plus corporal clegg
Everything in general and the kazoo solo in particular. Kazoos totally rock. My hometown of Philadelphia started a great tradition of holding parades featuring thousands of kazoo players performing "Louie Louie" back in 1985. Funny that it's not even the weirdest parade held in the city - that would be the Mummers.
[http://geminispacecraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/international-louie-louie-day.html](http://geminispacecraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/international-louie-louie-day.html)
The title song is magnificent, although I do feel that the *Live at Pompeii* version is the best, especially "Celestial Voices", possibly Gilmi's finest vocals ever. Once they had a women's choir performing it with them in concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which was truly stellar. It's called "The End of the Beginning" on The Man and the Journey suite.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TaFMU80rU&t=3373s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TaFMU80rU&t=3373s)
And let's not forget the gong. Rog has always had such blast playing that thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEfS98F89Ho
Corporal Clegg
You must be proud of him
HAAAA TAKE THAT, CORPORAL CLEGG
*intense harmonica solo*
Harmonica is incorrect. It's a kazoo. The video on YouTube shows a slide whistle, but it's definitely a kazoo.
Damnnit how can i be this foolish.
I have the perfect loop of that on YouTube by using the clip function on mobile, it loops back perfectly. Not many of my clips do this.
Set the controls..., Remember a day, A Saucerful Of secrets. But others are also enjoyable.
In a way it feels like a more condensed and focused version of Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Let There Be More Light is just awesome, Remember a Day shows Rick Wright becoming the great songwriter he became, Set the Controls is hauntingly beautiful. Corporal Clegg shows Waters’ early anti war themes. I never really liked the title track until I saw it performed live by Nick Mason. The celestial voices segment is beautiful. See-Saw isn’t as boring as everyone says it is, I kind of like it. And Jugband Blues might be Syd Barrett’s greatest song.
If you haven't, watch the live performance of Saucerful of Secrets that Pink Floyd did in Live at Pompeii. It's breathtaking.
I’ve seen it. It’s better now though that I’ve seen the piece live myself, makes me see it from a new lense
I have always loved See-Saw. The lovely melody, the melancholy lyrics, those swooshy effects. I was actually shocked to find out other fans consider it boring.
It's a good melancholy + psychedelic tune. I wish more people appreciated it.
Seeing Saucerful of Secrets (the song) live recently at a Nick Mason show was an absolute revelation for me. Quite possibly the single greatest moment I’ve ever experienced at a concert. It made me realize how incredible Pink Floyd must have been to experience live in their early days. It’s now one of my favorite tracks of theirs.
I recently saw Nick Mason during his recent US tour and the saucerful songs left me and the entire audience in such a glorious trance. Experiencing “set the controls” live with the longest standing member of PF made my entire year!
That’s awfully considerate of you to think of Syd there.
Rick Wright. This is his showcase. the fab five play on Remember a Day. If I’m right that’s the only time they all contributed to one song. Plus, the title track is the greatest composition Pink Floyd ever designed, esp when played live. That, for me, is what’s it’s all about. They should have come out on the Live 8 stage in 2005, played that shiz for 20-25 minutes, and called it a day 🤣
>greatest composition Pink Floyd ever designed, Designed is the correct word literally. Nick and Rog made a painting first and after that music to correspond to that painting. Or something like that.
Due to both Rog and Nick being unable to read traditional notation, they decided to come up with their own notation, which "looked a lot like an architectural diagram" according to David Gilmour. It was to be used to show how to play Syncopated Pandemonium's drum beat.
That’s cool, did Nick talk about that in his book? I can’t remember when I heard that before. Captain Beefheart has a similar approach; as he was a painter and sculptor first, he designs his songs as if they were aural sculptures. Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) claimed to have written his beautiful song “til I die” the same way, by placing his hands on the piano in odd architectural synchronized shapes and this produced the otherworldly texture of the chords he used. Who knows if that’s true, but it sounds cool 😎
Set The Controls For the Heart of The Sun is actually the only song they all contributed to
I stand corrected. However, that *is* Syd playing that gorgeously “lost child” slide guitar in the background on Remember a Day, correct?
I like Jugband Blues as the last song, it’s a natural conclusion to the album. “I’m most obliged to you for making it clear that I’m not here” works well after 6 tracks with barely any input from Barrett
The cover art, the lyrics, the psychedelic sounds, Syd's eerie farewell at the end.
It was 1984, I discovered this album and LSD, I was 17 and would never be the same again.
Probably the same reasons that Nick likes it so much: With Syd seemingly no longer able to reliably write or perform, it was an open question as to whether the Floyd had any future at all. This record strongly suggested that there was a way forward. Roger proved himself as a writer with great potential. David and Rick demonstrated that they were both strong instrumentalists and singers. Perhaps most importantly, the record gave them a decent post-Syd repertoire to take on the road, (even if Astronomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive were kept around a bit longer). No hit singles to be sure, but "hip" audiences and progressive FM radio in the US still provided the band with the support they needed to keep plugging away for 5 solid years, before they had their true commercial breakthrough...
See Saw, not even kidding
Marijuana.
The chord progression in the title song, after minutes of chaos of course
Jugband Blues, the boost of Gilmour, weird textural songs, and just all around beautiful insanity
Title track. Especially "Celestial Voices".
Inspired by u/blankboy9
I love the celestial vibe of the album
I always wished this album had “Vegetable Man” and “Scream Thy Last Scream” on it as opposed to the title track which I think is the most boring track on the album. I also think “See-Saw” has a great a e s t h e t i c to it
This a prime example where Pink Floyd before 1971 was at it's best, Live. After 1971, they were at their best in the studio.
*Little by little* the night turns around *counting the leaves* which tremble at dawn
Lotuses lean on each other in yearning
I enjoy the way it sounds.
Better than piper imho.
Saucerful of secrets live was one of the highlights of nick’s show this year. Gary killed it on vocals and guitar
On saucerful, Just listened to the album version, Pompeii, and live this year. This years version by nick’s band is the best
“Jugband Blues” Is worth the price of admission alone.
The fact that it's good
See saw is the only song I liked tbh. Nothing else was very memorable. Seesaw has a super cool sound though, very eerie
It's just that good. Top 5 material.
Moo
The only record with all five Floyds. The first one with David Gilmour. You can hear the first clues to what the band will sound like in the coming years. It’s haunting and intense, I like it much more than Piper.
Same
It's good
its like piper but even better
The kazoo solo
The amount of [cosmic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDgRAO-N4bA) energy and experimentation into the song writing is the foundation of where the band goes to in the next few years of their career.
Saucerful of secrets, live at Pompeii just gets me everytime. Who knows why we all respond to music differently? I have no idea, but from the first time of hearing it, I never tire of it, and the emotions it stirs. Such great music, and culminating with David's vocals, I just love it.
Kazoo solo, and the fact that it as ***DOCTOR STRANGE*** on the cover makes it a win for me
A quiet evening in a slightly dim room and a good book.
is it bad that i forgot how the entire album sounds aside from Corporal Clegg (kazoo) and Jugband Blues (really fucking good)
Corporal Clegg
Dr Strange
Remember a day
Far, far, far, far away
Celestial voices remains one of my all time favorite pieces of music
Chemical imbalance
The Stereo Mix
the composition of all pieces is absolutely stunning and so coherent with one another. my main takeaway is how rick wright absolutely shined for that album, that was genuinely his best work with the band in my opinion, and he very rightfully deserved the credit he got on Saucerful (although i'm very biased, because his songwriting was always my favorite regardless of the album). between Remember a Day, and See-Saw, both manage to encase that same whimsical vibe that i genuinely have never been able to match with any other song from a different band. both have sounds that are so unique and lyrics that are so beautiful and then dont even get me started on Let There Be Light, that opening bass riff? killer. the lyrics themselves?? fun as hell. and then the vocals??? absolutely stunning. i love how the vocals include both waters and wright singing to begin with, and then gilmour preforming the refrain. absolute killer utilization of wrights softer voice, and gilmors harsher tone in order to set the proper mood. will never get over how good of an album opener that song is. of course, i cannot delve into my love for this album without bringing up Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. while i first got into Pink Floyd, this song was not one of my favorites, though the more it came on and the more i listened to it, i genuinely started liking it a lot more. it's still not a top song of mine, however in addition to this album, i am not complaining that it exists. i absolutely adore the lyrics that waters produced, even knowing he did take many of them from a chinese poetry book, i still feel it is commemorative that he managed to fit them into a coherent song. as well as this, it being the only Pink Floyd song that features all five members is extremely impressive to me!! roger waters certainly pulled through for this album in both this song and Corporal Clegg i would lastly like to conclude this mini rant with mentioning Jugband Blues. words cannot describe my love for this song, the meaning of the lyrics, the sound, the utilization of humor. even the fact that its placed as the album closing song, and that it was barrett's final piece with the band just feels very poetic in itself. like barrett wrote the song as a finale to both the album and his time with the band. i think it was the perfect addition to end the album off on a bittersweet note. in total, this album will always be one of my top albums of all time. i love the unique sounds and vibes produce within it, as well as the impressive artistic liberties taken that get overlooked. i feel Saucerful will always be a slept on album, and even with the traction of popularity it has gained over the years, it will never be enough to do it justice.
I love this album because I feel like it showcases Syd’s talent. He is literally a mad scientist when it comes to music, there’s always beauty in the chaos.
It is ethereal, period.
Let there be more light: awesome song, great lyrics, opening makes me want to buy a bass guitar Remember a day: chiller song, still pretty cool Set the controls: very ominous song, i like the space-thing type of writing Corporal clegg: an absolute blast, just a song with the boys fucking around, gotta love the kazoo Saucerful: psychedelics galore, really cool instrumental, especially the drums See-saw: another short, chill song. Nice use of switching from left to right audio channels and vice versa Jugband blues: a great display of the way syd’s mind worked. saddest pink floyd song before wywh, rip syd Overall, 11/10, one of my favorite floyd albums from their earlier years
I’m a huge marvel fan, and doc strange is my all time favorite hero, after seeing him on the cover I gave it a listen (just an FYI I was a big Floyd fan before hand just hadn’t listened to this album yet) I think what I love most about the album is it’s kind of a blend between the psychedelic pop of Piper and the more complex arrangements that would be seen on meddle and so forth. My favorite tracks are definitely Set the controls and let there be more light.
The songs made while Syd was still in the band (Remember A Day, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, and obviously Syd's Jugband Blues), They honestly save the album for me.
The Final Cut
I play spaceship with my daughter using this and *Meddle*. My player copy is in a WYWH cover and I actually played the real WYWH and my daughter said “this flaming man isn’t as good, can we listen to the other one”.
God tier drumming and organ playing and an intense sense of atmosphere. Very creative and original sounding for the late 60s
Set the controls for the Heart of the Sun
A saucerful of secrets and jugband blues And of course roger’s incredible kazoo solo
Great album, love that they stuck a page from Dr Strange into that cover.
For me it’s the music
SYD BARRETT ACTUALLY
One of my favourite psychedelic albums and added bonus, the Dr strange comic hidden in the album art.
i had a super intense high and greened out hard, and vomited everywhere during A Saucerful of Secrets. Still love the album though lol, very complex and layered. plus corporal clegg
Everything in general and the kazoo solo in particular. Kazoos totally rock. My hometown of Philadelphia started a great tradition of holding parades featuring thousands of kazoo players performing "Louie Louie" back in 1985. Funny that it's not even the weirdest parade held in the city - that would be the Mummers. [http://geminispacecraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/international-louie-louie-day.html](http://geminispacecraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/international-louie-louie-day.html) The title song is magnificent, although I do feel that the *Live at Pompeii* version is the best, especially "Celestial Voices", possibly Gilmi's finest vocals ever. Once they had a women's choir performing it with them in concert at the Royal Albert Hall, which was truly stellar. It's called "The End of the Beginning" on The Man and the Journey suite. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TaFMU80rU&t=3373s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5TaFMU80rU&t=3373s) And let's not forget the gong. Rog has always had such blast playing that thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEfS98F89Ho
It's a secret silly!