Saucerful of Secrets

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A Saucerful of Secrets is an uneven album that could glibly be called Pink Floyd's sophomore jinx, though it's a bit more complicated than that. The problems behind the band's second outing can be summed up in two words: Syd Barrett. Or rather, the absence thereof. The creative force behind Floyd's first distinctively baroque collection is credited with just one track here ("Jugband Blues") and the occasion marked the beginning of his decades-long withdrawal from public life, battles with mental illness, and burgeoning cult legend. What's left is essentially the first album by the "classic" Floyd lineup, though they're understandably a long way from their focused 1970s prime (as witnessed by the 11-minute title track); the dense sound and effects collages that are mere seasoning on later Floyd records are too often the whole point here. Roger Waters barely hints at his later glories on "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," a would-be stellar journey that's ultimately rather pedestrian. An album that seems alternately driven by a genuine experimental spirit one moment and creative panic the next. --Jerry McCulley

Tracks:

Let There Be More Light
Remember A Day
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
Corporal Clegg
A Saucerful Of Secrets
See-Saw
Jugband Blues

Amazon.com

A Saucerful of Secrets is an uneven album that could glibly be called Pink Floyd's sophomore jinx, though it's a bit more complicated than that. The problems behind the band's second outing can be summed up in two words: Syd Barrett. Or rather, the absence thereof. The creative force behind Floyd's first distinctively baroque collection is credited with just one track here ("Jugband Blues") and the occasion marked the beginning of his decades-long withdrawal from public life, battles with mental illness, and burgeoning cult legend. What's left is essentially the first album by the "classic" Floyd lineup, though they're understandably a long way from their focused 1970s prime (as witnessed by the 11-minute title track); the dense sound and effects collages that are mere seasoning on later Floyd records are too often the whole point here. Roger Waters barely hints at his later glories on "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," a would-be stellar journey that's ultimately rather pedestrian. An album that seems alternately driven by a genuine experimental spirit one moment and creative panic the next. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The first signs of the classic Floyd sound appear.......2007-05-27

Released in 1968, this album was the first without Syd Barrett as a full member of the band (he did write and perform on Jugband Blues and played slide guitar on Remember a Day however) and also provided a major impetus for a good portion of the German experimental rock scene; influencing a number of bands including electronica giant Tangerine Dream. Although in some ways the product of a band getting used to a new lineup, I feel that this is still an excellent Pink Floyd album that has a great deal to offer any fan of progressive music.

The lineup at this point included new member (and old friend) David Gilmour (electric and acoustic guitars; vocals); Rick Wright (mellotron, piano, organ, and vocals); Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals); Nick Mason (drums and percussion); and on Jugband Blues/Remember a Day, Syd Barrett (vocals, electric guitar; slide guitar). Although Dave was never comfortable with his vocals skills at this point, I think he does a great job, as do all of the other members including Rick and Roger. Dave was a little bemused by what his new bandmates were asking him to do with his guitar, and he found himself playing the instrument with pieces of wood, and making other odd noises. The musical influences present on this album clearly indicate that the band was entering new territory and even Rick Wright started exploring his Stockhausen influences a bit further (especially on A Saucerful of Secrets). As a side note, the band was using a quadraphonic sound setup during this early stage and surrounding their audience with the music, which was yet another nod to avant-garde electronic composers; in this instance the reference was to Edgar Varese.

Musically, this album is a bit removed from the excellent debut album, and is a little darker in mood (if that can be imagined). The album shows the band delving further into the electronic soundscapes that they would develop further over the next few years. I think that the lengthy (11'57") A Saucerful of Secrets suite is an excellent example of this and brings together avant-garde electronic experimentation, Rick Wright's "celestial" and spacey organ chords with tiny modulations, and large scale form into one place. Large scale composition is something that would develop further during the 1970s, and on this suite there is good use of dynamic range, and varying moods throughout. There is also the meditative and somewhat menacing Water's piece Set the Controls for the heart of the Sun and two nice spacey psychedelic pieces loaded with mellotron by Rick Wright including Remember a Day and my personal favorite See Saw. Corporal Clegg marks the beginning of Roger Water's increasing focus on his father's death in the war and features (I think) a few riffs on the guitar from Syd. The truly odd track on the album is Syd Barretts' Jugband blues, which is a chaotic mix of the Salvation Army Band (he told them to play whatever they felt like playing), kazoo, and his penchant for asymmetric and surreal lyrics. This would prove to be his last studio performance with the group.

All in all, A Saucerful of Secrets is regarded by many folks as a weaker sophomore effort, although I feel that this is a pretty important album that demonstrates the direction the band would head in. Highly recommended along with Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967); More (1969); Ummagumma (1969); Atom Heart Mother (1970); and Meddle (1971).

For Nastalgia.......2007-05-14

Pink Floyd has adapted to the times (thank goodness) leaving their older albums reminiscent of the seventies. Still a great trip down memory lane if you were into them back then.

Good blow away tunes.......2007-03-09

My first delve into pre-Darkside Floyd. Good set of tunes to get blown away to, i.e., let your mind relax. I told my kids that you don't need drugs to get high; just listen to this. Be careful playing CD while driving.

First steps toward the classic Floyd sound.......2007-03-09

With Syd Barrett's departure, Pink Floyd experienced a creative crisis. They had a new guitarist/vocalist in David Gilmour, but needed someone to step up in the composition department. Neither Rick Wright nor Roger Waters were skilled songwriters like Barrett. That said, this album is pretty good and has the first hints of the classic sound Pink Floyd would develop in the early 70s.

Of the 3 Waters compositions, "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is by far the best -- a vaguely Middle-Eastern melody, whispered vocals by Waters, and very spacy playing by Wright and Gilmour. Live versions of this tune, as you can hear on Ummagumma or Live in Pompeii, would be much more adventurous. "Let There Be More Light" is a pretty good tune (with silly lyrics), while "Corporal Clegg" (Waters's first anti-war lyric) is annoying. Of the two Wright compositions, the nostalgic psych-pop "Remember a Day" is better; "See Saw" isn't as good, though it's not nearly as bad as some Floyd fans would have you believe. The only collaborative composition on this album, the title track, is arguably the best thing on the album. Lots of out-there collective improvisation by the band, leading to some pretty wild playing, and finally concluding with a very churchy chord progression and some choral voices. A classic -- one of their best achievements, though like "Set the Controls", live versions would be stretched much further out. Finally, the album concludes with Syd Barrett's final contribution to Floyd, "Jugband Blues". It's a much darker tune than most of his contributions to Piper and makes for an enigmatic farewell.

Saucerful of Secrets isn't as good as Piper or Floyd's early 70s albums. That said, it contains two of their most important tunes ("Saucerful", "Set the Controls") and some other enjoyable stuff. If you're exploring early Floyd, you will need to pick it up. Three and a half stars.

Goodbye, asyd...........2007-02-28

One of their least Floydian works, the album still comes across as one of the better, semi-generic psychedelic works of that time. producing a few of their beloved early live staples. As interesting as a few of these elongated centerpiece jams were, it would pain any fan in comparison to how they became so much more on masterful concerts (portrayed with their double Ummagumma). Helping round out some of the extended lsd indulgences were a few more upbeat, in their own warped way, rockers, and more of Floyd's greatest, identity-less, hippiefests. Ultimately, the energy is merely hinted at here. Even at their compositional best, the group does not have the confidence, nor the studio proficiency to complement their hazy ambitions, and sadly the power of much impact to be found throughout the compelling half-step in a memorable career is fleeting. The bittersweet ending of Syd Barrett's drug-infested musical heart that helped start an amazing thing thankfully would give way to a new era of focus.

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Floyd's classic transitional effort
s saucerfull of secrets revisited

A Saucerful of Secrets
Pink Floyd
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005HYH3
Release Date: 2001-05-16

Tracks:

Let There Be More Light
Remember a Day
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Corporal Clegg
Saucerful of Secrets
See-Saw
Jugband Blues

Album Description

Japanese limited edition remastered reissue of 1968 album. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition featuring an LP Style Slipcase Cover for Initial Pressing.

Customer Reviews:

Floyd's classic transitional effort.......2006-03-17

Pink Floyd's second album A Saucerful of Secrets, released in July of 1968.
In late 1967, English rockers Pink Floyd were facing major problems.
The band's first US tour was cancelled after guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Syd Barrett's dependency on hallucinogenic drugs were causing his behavior to become more erratic(on the band's first US TV appearance on American Bandstand, the group got through it unscathed but on The Pat Boone Show, Syd refused to mime to See Emily Play or speak to Pat), the band's third single Apples and Oranges failed and a proposed fourth single Vegetable Man was not ever released.
Early in January 1968, drummer Nick Mason, keyboardist Rick Wright and bassist/vocalist Roger Waters called Syd's childhood friend David Gilmour and invited him to join making PF a five piece for five shows. Then, before what would have been the sixth gig as a five piece, Roger said let's not pick up Syd.
After he left, the band recorded a fourth single It Would Be So Nice, which flopped and were also recording A Saucerful of Secrets. I first heard this album on the 1973 double disc A Nice Pair, which was the reissue of Floyd's first two albums, when I was 11 in May of 1987.
The album starts off with Let There Be More Light, which has Rick singing and Roger whispering in unison on one part then David Gilmour singing the next part. The track ends with a soaring Gilmour solo(the first proper guitar solo on a Floyd track by the way). Next is Remember a Day, which was a holdover from Piper at the Gates and was written and sung by Rick with great slide guitar by Syd. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun follows and was written and sung by Roger and was Roger's first truly great song he wrote for the band. This track is still a classic today and he performed it on his tours in 2000 and 2002. Next is Corporal Clegg with Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason on vocal(yes, it was Nick who sang the "he won it in the war", "in orange red and blue", "he's never been the same" and the "from her majesty" sections of the track).
The second half starts with the group composed title cut which became a showstopper for the band for the next four years and is a classic. Watch the version on Live at Pompeii and you'll agree to the fact. Rick's See-Saw follows and is a great song despite the fact Rick is embarrased by the track. Lastly, the album ends with Syd's Jugband Blues. The song is one of his best and is on the Pink Floyd best of Echoes since it is liked so much by the band and fans.
Sadly, A Saucerful of Secrets was hugely ignored in the US but made it to #9 in the UK upon release in 1968.
Sales notwithstanding, the album is a classic!
The album was re-released in Japan in 2001 with packaging that looks like the original EMI vinyl. The remastering was the same as the 1994 EMI remastering but sounds incredible.

s saucerfull of secrets revisited.......2001-08-03

listend to the stuff a long time ago. Hear the base line in Corporal Clegg, it is like a nightmare. Also let there be more light is in wispering mode to your mind. This is music you never forget once you heard it.

Product Description

Excellent 2 cd set from the Master Series of Pink Floyd live at Filmore West recorded April 29th 1970. Songs are Granchester meadows/Astronomy domine/Cymbaline/Atom heart mother/Embryo/ disc 2- Green is the color/careful with that axe Eugene/Set the controls for the heart of the sun/Saucerful of secrets/Interstellar overdrive. Stereo.

A Saucerful of Secrets [Japanese OBI] [MINI LP]

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A Saucerful of Secrets [Japanese OBI] [MINI LP]
PINK FLOYD
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000RWHUPY

Product Description

PINK FLOYD - A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS MINI-LP CD W/JAPANESE OBI Track listing 1. Let There Be More Light 2. Remember A Day 3. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun 4. Corporal Clegg 5. Saucerful Of Secrets, A 6. See Saw 7. Jugband Blues

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BEWARE - THIS IS A BOOTLEG

Pink Floyd Live at Winterland
Pink Floyd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000M16Q9G

Product Description

Pink Floyd Live at Winterland 2 CD 1970! Excellent 2 cd set from Pink Floyd and their Winterland California show, recorded October 21 1970. Songs are Granchester meadows/Astronomy domine/Cymbaline/Atom heart mother . Disc 2 Embryo/ Green is the color/careful with that axe Eugene/Set the controls for the heart of the sun/Saucerful of secrets. Stereo.

Customer Reviews:

BEWARE - THIS IS A BOOTLEG.......2007-06-26

My review is simple, this is not an official release by Pink Floyd. This is a bootleg that someone downloaded for free and are charging you 50 bucks for it. DO NOT BUY !

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Pink Floyd A Saucerful of Secrets

Saucerful of Secrets

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000GUK72A
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Customer Reviews:

Pink Floyd A Saucerful of Secrets.......2006-09-13

Track Listings:

1. Let There Be More Light
2. Remember A Day
3. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
4. Corporal Clegg
5. A Saucerful Of Secrets
6. See-Saw
7. Jugband Blues

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Saucerful Of Secrets
Pink Floyd
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000LX0X76

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