Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)

While Simon Dupree & the Big Sound were exploring Abbey Road Studios and recording their debut album by the cover of night, three other bands were busy recording important moments in rock history at the same time. The Beatles recorded Sgt. Pepper's, The Pretty Things recorded S.F. Sorrow, and Pink Floyd recorded their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Pink Floyd began in 1963 with the friendship of Roger Waters and Nick Mason. They would head a constantly changing lineup of various band names until 1965 when The Pink Floyd Sound was solidified with Richard Wright on keyboards, Bob Klose on guitar, and Syd Barrett on vocals and as lead vocalist. Waters also sang and played bass (among other instruments) and Mason was on percussion. Bob Klose and "The...Sound" soon dropped. Pink Floyd stepped beyond their R&B roots and entrenched itself in the burgeoning underground psychedelic scene under the guidance of their managers Peter Jenner and Andrew King. Syd Barrett's performances as the frontman and lead guitarist imbued the group with a frenetic energy and extended the range of their musical experimentation.

As one of the leading bands of the underground music scene at the time, Pink Floyd soon perked the ears of the music industry and signed with EMI. Their first single "Arnold Layne", released early in 1967, reached number 20 on the UK Charts despite being banned by various radio stations for its references to cross-dressing. Their second single of that same year "See Emily Play" reached number six on the charts. Both songs were written by Syd Barrett whose life was now being affected by his regular use of LSD and bouts of depression. His influence was still enough to propel the band through their debut The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, considered one of the cornerstone recordings of the psychedelic sound. Although the album was able to capture the surreal elements of Pink Floyd's music, most fans at the time felt the recording didn't capture the band's energetic live performances.

Pink Floyd went on to record one more Syd Barrett penned single "Apples and Oranges" before realizing that they could no longer rely on him as they used to. Enter new member, guitarist David Gilmour (an old friend of Barrett's), who would make his first appearance on the 1968 single "It Would Be So Nice".

Here is the discography surrounding Pink Floyd's debut album:

Arnold Layne (1967 single)
See Emily Play (1967 single)
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Apples and Oranges (1967 single)
It Would Be So Nice (1968 single)
London '66-'67 (1995 EP of 1967 recordings)





If you like what you hear or have a good idea for where the musical history tour should stop next, feel free to holler. I'm open to any suggestions and any kind of music. Remember it has to be connected to this era Pink Floyd.

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