On February 5, 2025, Michael Roland Ratledge died aged 81. He was musician (keyboards, flute), member of the Daevid Allen Trio, but was best known as founding member of Soft Machine. Regarded as one of the most influential members of the Canterbury scene, he recorded with Daevid Allen Trio, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen, Syd Barrett, David Bedford, Wilde Flowers, Planet Earth, Rubber, Rollercoaster, Karl Jenkins.
Tag Archives: Syd Barrett
Ghost: Hypnotic Underworld
On January 27, 2004, “Drag City” label released “Hypnotic Underworld”, the seventh Ghost album. It was recorded in July 2003, and was produced by Taishi Takizawa.
Personnel:
- Masaki Batoh – vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
- Michio Kurihara – electric guitar
- Kazuo Ogino – organ, piano, lute, mellotron, Korg synthesizer, Celtic harp
- Taishi Takizawa – bouzouki, flute, saxophone, theremin, tin whistle
- Takuyuki Moriya – electric bass, double bass, cello
- Junzo Tatewia – percussion, drums
- Masaki Hayashi – engineer
- Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi – artwork
- Dan Osborn – cover layout
- Kazuo Ogino – photography
- Keiko Yoshida – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Masaki Batoh, Michio Kurihara, Takuyuki Moriya, Kazuo Ogino, Taishi Takizawa and Junzo Tatewia, except where noted.
- Hypnotic Underworld
- I. God Took a Picture of His Illness on This Ground
- II. Escaped and Lost Down in Medina
- III. Aramaic Barbarous Dawn
- IV. Leave the World
- Hazy Paradise – Chris Koerts
- Kiseichukan Nite
- Piper
- Ganagmanag
- Feed
- Holy High
- Dominoes/Celebration for the Gray Days – Syd Barrett, Masaki Batoh, Michio Kurihara, Takuyuki Moriya, Kazuo Ogino, Taishi Takizawa, Junzo Tatewia
Syd Barrett: Opel
On October 17, 1988, “Harvest” label released “Opel”, and album compiled from Syd Barrett’s recordings made between 1968 and 1970. It features unreleased material and alternate takes of recordings from sessions for Barrett’s solo albums, “The Madcap Laughs”, and “Barrett”. It was recorded at “Abbey Road Studios” in London and was produced by Syd Barrett, Peter Jenner, Malcolm Jones, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour.
Personnel:
- Syd Barrett – vocals, guitar
- Mike Ratledge – organ
- Hugh Hopper – bass
- Robert Wyatt – drums
- Gareth Cousins – mixing
Track listing”
All tracks by Syd Barrett, except where noted.
- Opel
- Clown and Jugglers
- Rats
- Golden Hair – lyrics based on a poem by James Joyce
- Dolly Rocker
- Word Song
- Wined and Dined
- Swan Lee (Silas Lang)
- Birdie Hop
- Let’s Split
- Lanky (Party One)
- Wouldn’t You Miss Me (Dark Globe)
- Milky Way
- Golden Hair (instrumental version)
Camper Van Beethoven: Same
In August 1986, “Pitch-A-Tent” label released the self-titled, third Camper Van Beethoven album. It was recorded in 1986, and was produced by Victor Krummenacher, David Lowery, Greg Lisher, Chris Molla, Chris Pedersen, Jonathan Segel and Eugene Chadbourne
Personnel:
- David Lowery- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Greg Lisher- lead guitar
- Chris Molla -lead and backing vocals, pedal steel guitar, guitar
- Jonathan Segel – lead and backing vocals, violin, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, sitar
- Victor Krummenacher- bass guitar, backing vocals, spoken word
- Chris Pedersen- drums
- Eugene Chadbourne- guitar, banjo
- Tom Fox – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Victor Krummenacher, David Lowery, Greg Lisher, Chris Molla, Chris Pedersen, Jonathan Segel and Eugene Chadbourne, except where noted.
- Good Guys and Bad Guys
- Joe Stalin’s Cadillac
- Five Sticks
- Lulu Land – Paul MacKinney
- Une Fois
- We Saw Jerry’s Daughter
- Surprise Truck
- Stairway to Heavan
- The History of Utah
- Still Wishing to Course
- We Love You
- Hoe Yourself Down
- Peace & Love
- Folly
- Interstellar Overdrive – Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason
- Shut Us Down
Syd Barrett: Barrett
On November 14, 1970, “Harvest” label released “Barrett”, the second and final Syd Barrett studio album. It was recorded February – July 1970, at Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by David Gilmour and Richard Wright.
Personnel:
- Syd Barrett – lead and backing vocals, guitars
- David Gilmour– organ, 12-string guitar, bass guitar
- Richard Wright– piano, harmonium, Hammond organ
- Jerry Shirley– drums, percussion
- John “Willie” Wilson– drums, percussion
- Vic Saywell – tuba
- Peter Bown – engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Syd Barrett.
- Baby Lemonade
- Love Song
- Dominoes
- It Is Obvious
- Rats
- Maisie
- Gigolo Aunt
- Waving My Arms in the Air/I Never Lied to You
- Wined and Dined
- Wolfpack
- Effervescing Elephant
Rick Wright
On September 15, 2008, Richard William “Rick” Wright died aged 65. He was musician (keyboards), composer, singer and songwriter, best known as founding member, keyboardist and vocalist of Pink Floyd. He recorded and performed on all Pink Floyd’s albums except on “The Final Cut”.
Pink Floyd: The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
On August 4, 1967, “EMI” label released “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn”, the debut Pink Floyd studio album. It was recorded February – May 1967, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by Norman Smith. The album, named after the title of chapter seven of Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows”, was the only Pink Floyd’s album recorded by the leadership of Syd Barrett. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” ranked “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” at number 347th on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Syd Barrett– vocals, lead guitar, rear cover design
- Roger Waters– vocals, bass guitar
- Richard Wright– Farfisa Compact Duo organ, piano
- Nick Mason– drums, percussion
- Peter Bown – engineer
- Peter Jenner– intro vocalizations
- Norman Smith– vocal and instrumental arrangements, drum roll
- Vic Singh – cover photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Syd Barrett, except where noted.
- Astronomy Domine
- Lucifer Sam
- Matilda Mother
- Flaming
- Pow R. Toc H. – Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Nick Mason
- Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk – Roger Waters
- Interstellar Overdrive – Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Nick Mason
- The Gnome
- Chapter 24
- The Scarecrow
- Bike
Syd Barrett: The Madcap Laughs
On January 3, 1970, “Harvest” label released “The Madcap Laughs”, the debut Syd Barrett solo album. It was recorded May 1968 – August 1969, at the “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Syd Barrett, Peter Jenner, Malcolm Jones, David Gilmour and Roger Waters.
Personnel:
- Syd Barrett– lead vocal, acoustic and electric guitar
- David Gilmour– bass guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, drums
- Mike Ratledge– keyboards
- Hugh Hopper– bass guitar
- Willie Wilson– bass guitar
- Jerry Shirley– drums
- Robert Wyatt– drums
- Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis – design
- Mick Rock– photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Syd Barrett, except where noted.
- Terrapin
- No Good Trying
- Love You
- No Man’s Land
- Dark Globe
- Here I Go
- Octopus
- Golden Hair – lyrics based on a poem by James Joyce, music by Syd Barrett
- Long Gone
- She Took A Long Cold Look
- Feel
- If It’s in You
- Late Night
Pink Floyd: Ummagumma
On October 25, 1969, “Harvest” label released “Ummagumma”, the fourth Pink Floyd album. It was recorded on 27 April 1969 at the “Mothers Club” in Birmingham, and on 2 May 1969 at “Manchester College of Commerce” in Manchester, and was produced by Norman Smith, David Gilmour, Nick mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright. “Ummagumma” was double album, the first record containing live materials and the second record containing solo compositions by each member of the band.
Personnel:
- David Gilmour – vocals, lead guitar, various instruments
- Roger Waters – vocals, bass guitar, various instruments
- Richard Wright – vocals, organ, keyboards, various instruments
- Nick Mason – percussion, various instruments
- Lindy Mason – flutes
- Ron Geesin – additional vocals
- Hipgnosis – art work
Track listing
Record one – live album
- Astronomy Domine – Syd Barrett
- Careful With That Axe, Eugene – Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, David Gilmour
- Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun – Roger Waters
- A Saucerful of Secrets – Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, David Gilmour
Record two – studio album
- Sysyphus (Parts 1-4) – Richard Wright
- Grantchester Meadows – Roger Waters
- Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict – Roger Waters
- The Narrow Way (Parts 1-3) – David Gilmour
- The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party (Part 1: Entrance; Part 2: Entertainment; Part 3: Exit – Nick Mason
David Bowie: Pin Ups
On October 19, 1973, “RCA” label released “Pin Ups”, the seventh David Bowie album. It was recorded July1973, at the “Château d’Hérouville”, in Hérouville, France, and was produced by Ken Scott and David Bowie. “Pin Ups” featured cover versions of songs from other authors. The cover art showed super model Twiggy.
Personnel:
- David Bowie- lead and backing vocals, guitar, tenor and alto saxophone, harmonica, arrangements, Moog synthesizer
- Mick Ronson – vocals, guitar, piano, arrangements
- Ron Wood– guitar
- Mike Garson- piano, organ, harpsichord, electric piano
- Trevor Bolder- bass guitar
- Aynsley Dunbar- drums
- Ken Fordham – baritone saxophone
- A. MacCormack- backing vocals
Track listing:
- Rosalyn – Jimmy Duncan, Bill Farley
- Here Comes the Night – Bert Berns
- I Wish You Would – Billy Boy Arnold
- See Emily Play – Syd Barrett
- Everything’s Alright – Nicky Crouch, John Konrad, Simon Stavely, Stuart James, Keith Karlson
- I Can’t Explain – Pete Townshend
- Friday on My Mind – George Young, Harry Vanda
- Sorrow – Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer
- Don’t Bring Me Down – Johnnie Dee
- Shapes of Things – Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf
- Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere – Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend
- Where Have All the Good Times Gone – Ray Davies
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