Recent pick ups

Life has been a bit hectic lately and had some ups and downs, and unfortunately something had to be put aside and it ended up being blogging. But a lot of Pink Floyd things have still been going on in my life, and I'm eager to get this account up to date! I thought I'd start with a few of my recent buys.



First up, a small order I placed with the Pink Floyd online store. I saw they'd released some enamel pins, they were quite pricey but I really loved this Animals one. I also really wanted the magnet from Ther Mortal Remains - I saw the exhibition numerous times in London and also in Rome, and whilst in Italy I began collecting magnets as I like the idea of having one from everywhere I've been. Unfortunately I started the collection after I visited the exhibition, so I placed a little order. I'm disappointed in the quality for the £5 price tag - it's basically cardboard stuck onto magnet backing. But I'm glad to have it none the less.



At the beginning of August I went to a local record fair, and happened to see this first UK pressing of About Face as soon as I walked in. It felt like fate as I'd been outbid on eBay for a copy of this record just a few days before! It's the first time I've seen one of David's solo records for sale in the flesh (although I'm obviously very familiar with his music, I have everything on MP3!) and I'm pleased to have finally started this collection. I now have at least one LP of each individual band member.




This is a Japanese 1971 single release of Julia Dream, with Summer 68 on the B side. Such a beautiful duo of songs to release together! This is fairly rare and sells for quite a lot, but I managed to pick it up cheap on eBay. I've had a lot of luck on eBay recently!



And here's another eBay find! I gathered all of my various editions of Piper At The Gates of Dawn together for a photograph for the album's anniversary, and it made me want more. It's my favourite album of all time, and although I collect Pink Floyd stuff anyway I want to make more effort to collect this album specifically and all of the various releases it's had. A few days later, I saw this near mint copy of the 1997 mono re-release to mark the albums 30th anniversary up on auction and won it for a steal.




This isn't official merchandise, but something I picked up from Etsy as I couldn't resist. It has "All you create and all you destroy" from Eclipse stamped into it.



And lastly for now, a copy of Amused to Death which is another eBay find that I won for only a tenner. This is my favourite of Roger's solo work, but even this repressing often sells for quite a lot of money, so I'm glad I waited it out!

Record Store Day

I've never taken part in Record Store Day before today, it generally doesn't hold any interest for me. I visit record stores regularly regardless of which day it is, and I generally find the releases to be overpriced and full of gimmicks. I've learnt that the record stores themselves do earn a lot of money from this day which helps them to stay afloat, many couldn't survive without it and I respect it for that aspect. But I think a lot of the meaning behind the day is lost when it's a race against eBay resellers to see who can get to the record store first, it's not a record store day when you have to arrive before it opens and most of the good stuff is gone an hour after opening, you know? Plus I don't hold a very high opinion of repressings, it's digital music pressed onto an analogue format, just get an original which is often cheaper and will sound so much better.

Saying that, Pink Floyd got me to participate this year! As soon as I heard they were releasing a special limited edition set of Piper At The Gates of Dawn, I knew I wanted it. Although I own an original mono pressing of this album, I don't play it very often at all as I worry about wear and also I'm a bit of a klutz and am scared of dropping the needle on it or something. I know, I know, what's the point in owning it if you're not going to listen to it, right? But it means so much to me and I saved so hard for it that I'd be so upset if anything happened.



So I'm pleased to own a mono copy I can play as regularly as I like now, and the collector in me needed it anyway for it's special sleeve! I've just listened to it, and it sounds sublime, as good as the original for sure. Definitely a good alternative if you can't afford the crazy prices the first pressing sells for!

I knew I'd have to partake in the full RSD experience if I wanted this album, and it took some work. I got up to queue at 5.30am and I had to drive several towns over to get to a record store that was taking part in the day. It was worth it though, and despite everything I can see why people get addicted and go every year. There's a great atmosphere, and although you're queuing for hours it goes by much quicker than that. And it's a wonderful feeling to finally get your hands on what you wanted so much! I also got the three records Tom Waits released for the Orphans set, something I probably wouldn't of bought had I not been there in person to buy them and I'm so glad I have them! I've wanted the Orphans boxset since it was released but it usually goes for upwards of £500 which is completely out of reach to me. I know it's not Pink Floyd related, but it just highlights that I'd of missed out had I not attended!

I also filmed a vlog of the experience, I'm going to be editing it tonight so I'll be sure to link to it when it's uploaded!

Floating down, the sound resounds

Today is 50 years to the day that my favourite album of all time was released. August 5th, 1967. It still sounds fresh - I'd like to say as fresh as it would of sounded when released, but it was unlike anything that had ever been released before it so that's impossible. It's an album that gets overlooked a lot - even by Pink Floyd themselves. Nothing was released for it's 50th anniversary, no special edition, not even a previous edition repackaged for the occasion. Nothing. I'm bitter about that - when you consider how many editions of Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall have been released. Those albums would never have been made without Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Pink Floyd as we know it would never have existed without Syd Barrett. They'd never have been signed to EMI without him. So many people don't even know who he was, beyond the "crazy diamond" written about on Wish You Were Here. He was so much more than that. He wrote the majority of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd struggled to find their feet with their sound after he left. They wrote a few songs that tried to imitate and capture Syd's whimsical essence, but never could. That's Syd's talent. He could take child like themes and play on words, yet there's an unexpected deepness to it. The songs on this album have supported me through some of the darkest times. It transports me to another world, a world where I am understood.

Pink Floyd recorded this album to sound like their live performances that were garnering so much attention. They'd record during the day, and then play a live set at The UFO Club or The Roundhouse in the evening. I can only imagine how fabulous those live sets were.

Piper At The Gates of Dawn

I consider this a birthday present although it was actually a present to myself from myself, but it still counts, right? The Piper At The Gates of Dawn has long been at the very top of my vinyl wishlist, which shouldn't come as any surprise if you know me and how much I adore Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett. It's Pink Floyd's debut album and is the only album that really features Syd. Because of this the album has a completely different sound to other Pink Floyd albums, much more psychedelic, and personally to me is their best. Debut albums are almost always worth more in general, but Pink Floyd's history with Syd really makes this one skyrocket and it can be difficult to find a genuine first mono pressing which is what I wanted. I always figured if I was going to spend big on this album one day, I may as well get the one I really wanted!

I got some money recently and knew straight away that I wanted to treat myself to this with it so went straight onto eBay and quite lucked out finding this copy. It hadn't been described very well and so didn't have many other bidders (only two others) and it ended in the middle of the night so I presume I was the only one dedicated enough to stay up for it to ensure it became mine. It's a true first mono pressing (mono is important as it's mixed differently. Pink Floyd mixed the mono themselves over a period of days, whereas the record company mixed the stereo without Pink Floyd's input in about 20 minutes and there's quite some significant sound differences) and it has a G1 matrix which means it was part of the very first batch ever made. Exciting, huh?? I still can't quite believe it's mine!