Ummagumma [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Released in 1969, Ummagumma represents where the influence of departed founding songwriter Syd Barrett began to fade in favor of the rather less whimsical and pastoral visions of Roger Waters. Ummagumma is a double album, divided into live and studio halves. The live cuts--"Astronomy Domine," "Careful with That Axe, Eugene," "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," and "A Saucerful of Secrets"--established the Floyd's predilection for gloomily atmospheric and faintly preposterous sci-fi bombast that would turn them into such a successful stage act. The kindest that may be said of the studio compositions--by and large interminable avant-prog rambles in search of the lost chord--is that they haven't dated terribly well. --Andrew Mueller

Tracks:

Astronomy Domine
Careful With That Axe, Eugene
Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
A Saucerful Of Secrets

Tracks:

Sysyphus: Part One
Sysyphus: Part Two
Sysyphus: Part Three
Sysyphus: Part Four
Grantchester Meadows
Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict
The Narrow Way: Part One
The Narrow Way: Part Two
The Narrow Way: Part Three
The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part One (Entrance)
The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part Two (Entertainment)
The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part Three (Exit)

Amazon.com

Released in 1969, Ummagumma represents where the influence of departed founding songwriter Syd Barrett began to fade in favor of the rather less whimsical and pastoral visions of Roger Waters. Ummagumma is a double album, divided into live and studio halves. The live cuts--"Astronomy Domine," "Careful with That Axe, Eugene," "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," and "A Saucerful of Secrets"--established the Floyd's predilection for gloomily atmospheric and faintly preposterous sci-fi bombast that would turn them into such a successful stage act. The kindest that may be said of the studio compositions--by and large interminable avant-prog rambles in search of the lost chord--is that they haven't dated terribly well. --Andrew Mueller

Customer Reviews:

An interesting and unique album........2007-06-29

Now, as you've probably noticed by now, this album has two discs:

The Live disc: Wonderful collection of live songs by the Floyd. I really am thankful that these songs were caught on tape. The songs that were played show how well expirimentation can go. I've never heard another band do anything similar to these recordings live, and if someone has, I doubt it could be as good as this.

The Studio disc: This will probably be the least favorite part of the album for most people. I will admit, some of the songs can get boring, unless you look at it in the right way. It is simply an extreme form of artistic expression through sound, and while it may not pass of as good "music" to some, perhaps a different outlook on it will change the way you think of it.

There are some songs on the studio album that are brilliant, and are definitely worth the listen. "Grantchester Meadows" definitely is the finest song on this album. It's so delicate and refreshing, if your an appreciator of the outdoors.

This album may be of interest to you, or it may not, it simply depends deeply on your opinions in music. I know that seems sort of obvious, but you'll know what I mean once you listen to it.

Definitely listen to the preview tracks before you think of buying.

Live is mind blowing.......2007-06-28

If you are interested in this album on the least it probably means that you have heard plenty of Floyd already. This is not a starter kind of album. The studio portion is weird and experimental and just a blast to listen to. Not to mention that crazy song that's title is a whole story unto itself. The animals, the cave, the grooving and the pict.
As for the Live half. It is just far and away the better CD of this set. I listen to this as much as I do Dark Side of the Moon. It is very good. You get to hear another perspective of the Syd Barrett song Astronomy Domine. And a live version of Careful with that Axe Eugene. Aw you know what all 4 tracks are just flat out awesome! Get it if you liked Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Meddle, Saucerful of Secrets, or More. It follows a similar flow and sound, that sound being of the best (ish) band ever.

Stockhausen and space rock collide.......2007-06-04

Released in 1969, this experimental album consisted of solo works by each member of the band along with a disc of live material. I think that of the pre-Dark Side of the Moon albums, this may be the most difficult to listen to for most folks, although I really do like this album and appreciate the fact that the band was experimenting with different approaches to composition. The lineup at this point included Rick Wright (organ, piano, mellotron, vocals); Roger Waters (bass, vocals); Nick Mason (drums and percussion); and David Gilmour (electric and acoustic guitars; vocals).

The solo works are quite different from one another with Rick's moody keyboard opus demonstrating his fondness for Stockhausen and featuring some very dissonant and atonal sections. Dave's piece was a bit more of a straightforward rock piece and very good, although he has been quoted as saying he did not like it very much. Nick's drum piece is excellent and demonstrates just how creative a drummer he was (and still is) - for those of you that are curious, his track is not just a drum solo, but a very interesting "sound collage" with drums. Roger's pieces range from the pastoral (Grantchester Meadows) to the downright bizarre (Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict). The latter piece is purely a sound collage, with little in the way of what one would regard as melody, harmony, etc. Still, it is interesting nonetheless.

The live disc is what I used to get excited about and features excellent versions of A Saucerful of Secrets and especially Careful with that Axe Eugene - the screams are positively hair-raising. The energy of the live performances is pretty intense and the brooding and creepy mood of tunes like Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun is something that never fails to excite (or frighten depending on your perspective).

This remastered version is pretty good and features a mini-poster along with the two CDs packaged in a green cardboard case. The sound quality of the studio pieces is not bad, although the sound quality of the live disc is a bit grainy - very listenable though.

All in all, this is a good album by Pink Floyd that features the group experimenting through their solo works, and demonstrating what an exciting live unit they were. In fact, the live set is an excellent document from this early phase of Pink Floyd. Ummagumma (which is slang for copulation I believe) is recommended along with Piper at the Gates of Dawn 1967); A Saucerful of Secrets (1968); More (1969); Atom Heart Mother (1970); Meddle (1971); Obscured by Clouds (1972); and Animals (1977).

Well worn but not torn sonic gateway to their future... .......2007-04-12

I bought this album right after it was released after hearing a cut on a newly emerged progressive rock station. I believe it was the song Astronomy Domine. I knew nothing of what had come before from Pink Floyd nor obviously what was to come. I found the album to stand alone in creativity, style, approach, concept, musicianship, daring, and eccentricity. It worked and worked well for such a groundbreaking double album. Had Pink Floyd not gone on to greater, more accessible work, I do believe that this album would always be a favorite of mine for all times as it was for me on first impression. It is not perfect but the material shows the potential of a fledgling rock group having to restart after retooling for life without Syd. David Gilmour is not Barrett and that is good, both as in showing all of us a definite demarcating style line in tribute to the all too short lived performances of Syd Barrett but also to show all of us what Pink Floyd now was and how appealing they could be with the urgency to have to take off in a new direction out of necessity. This LP (now CD) is an old friend. Haka pah cow... hi yee!

Get it for the live disc.......2007-03-09

This was Floyd's last album of the 60s, and consisted of two LPs. The first was a sort of live retrospective, consisting of extended versions of four classic Floyd tunes from this period. The second was combination of studio experiments by the individual Floyd members, each doing his own thing.

The live album is great. The original versions of each tune were pretty good, but during the '69-'71 Floyd was at their best in concert and this is the only official release (besides the film Live at Pompeii) to document that fact. There isn't any of the slick, studio-reproduction aspect that you hear on Delicate Sound of Thunder or Pulse. Instead the band expands and explores the material. For example, "Careful With That Axe Eugene" is much more intense than the studio version, and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" has a very spacy organ solo in the middle. People who expect tunes with catchy melodies will probably be disappointed, but those that like the more adventurous and instrumental side of Pink Floyd will be very pleased. If you like this stuff, look for other ("unofficial") recordings from the '69-'71 period -- some of those are even better than this one.

The studio album is one of the worst things they ever did. Each member of Floyd gets half an LP, and they mostly use it for avant-garde experiments. I've got nothing against avant-garde experimentation, but Pink Floyd had much better experiments elsewhere. Wright offers a quasi-classical multi-layered keyboard composition ("Sysyphus"), Mason a drums & percussion piece with electronic effects ("The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" -- definitely the worst thing on this album), and Gilmour a guitar-oriented composition ("The Narrow Way"). Waters's section consists of a lovely acoustic/pastoral ballad ("Grantchester Meadows") and a strange vocal-effects collage ("Several Species of Small Furry Animals..."). I'd say that "Grantchester Meadows" is the only good thing on the studio album, though Part 3 of "The Narrow Way" (the song part) is OK.

This is still one of the first "early Floyd" albums you should pick up (after Piper), but I am guessing that in the long run you will probably only listen to the live half.

Average customer rating:

Ummagumma
Pink Floyd
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000MLS716

Product Description

STUDIO ALBUM

Average customer rating:

Mushroom - 'Glazed Popems' (Black Beauty) 4 1/2 stars
back in full force

Glazed Popems
Mushroom
Manufacturer: Black Beauty
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Foxy Music
An Electric Storm

ASIN: B0002235AS
Release Date: 2006-03-16

Tracks:

L'auberge
Pink Island
(Hats Off To) Bert Jansch
A Stone's Throw From Coe Fen
Isle Of Wight
You And I Have Memories, Longer Than The Road That Stretches Out Ahead
Half Sicillian/Half Welsh
Just Because Nobody Understands You, That Doesn't Mean You're An Artist
Blackwaterside

Tracks:

The Beards Are Back In Town
Tin Foil Hat
This Goes Squank!
Blues For Bobby Seale
Glazed Popems
Tonite Let's All Make Love In Oakland
Sunday Morning, Seven Am On San Pablo Avenue
Running Wild And Looking Pretty (Theme Song For DJ Kitty)

Album Description

Psychedelic groovers Mushroom move into pastoral, acid folk-rock on disc 1 of their 2 CD set. Mellotron, electric harpsichord, acoustic guitar give it a distinct flavor - blending "Ummagumma" Floyd, 70's King Crimson and Led Zep III. They haven't gone totally prog - members of OM Trio, Oranj Symphonette, Jolie Holland, Howard Tate, & Slovenly steer it into wild space jams, jazzy beats and freaked out post-rock on disc 2.

Customer Reviews:

Mushroom - 'Glazed Popems' (Black Beauty) 4 1/2 stars.......2005-09-05

Only the second Mushroom release I've ever heard,better than their 'Analog Hi-Fi Surprise' disc.Disc one features Mushroom playing a gig in London,UK.It's more like psych/folk,with some out-there tracks,like the nine-minute "Isle Of Wight","Half Sicilion/Half Welsh",the trippin' "Just Because Nobody Understands You..." and "Blackwaterside".I could play this disc several times a week.Disc two takes the genre-fusing ensemble to Oakland,CA.This gig is more in the psych/jazz direction.But,rest assure,I thought it was a LOT better than other CD's I've heard before of such.Best cut,hands down is "Sunday Morning,Seven AM".Other audio goods here include the 2-CD's title track "Glazed Popems" and "Running Wild And Looking Pretty".Line-up:Erik Pearson-guitar,flute&tenor sax,Alison Levy-synth,organ&vocals,Ralph Carney-clarinet&soprano sax,Tim Plowman-guitar,Dave Mihaly-congas,bongos,tom-tom&bells,Matt Henry-piano,harp&mellotron,Brian Felix-sound effects,Michael Rinta-trumpet,Ned Doheny-bass and Pat Thomas-drums.Might appeal to fans of Gong,Stereolab,Spacetime Continuum and possibly Air.Recommended.

back in full force.......2004-08-22

With two CDs this time around, Mushroom has went the full gammat as far as showing off their talent.
On Disc One, London, Mushroom merges psychedelic with jazz and proves that both genres are not that distant from each other. Imagine "A Saucerful of Secrets" and "Ummagumma"-era Pink Floyd converging with Can. Although I am a fan of "groovy" Mushroom, the first CD is one to cherish. It sounds as if the band is exploring the vast regions of their minds while paying homage to their influences of such bands as Faust and Gong.
On Disc Two, Oakland, Mushroom brings back the familiar "Mushroom sound" with groovy rhythms, experimental effects and layers upon layers of absolute wildness. The organs, drums, bass, synthesizers, guitars and brass intertwine to paint a surreal landscape of the world...if you consider that world to be the corners of 1970s America where Curtis Mayfield and Herbie Hancock reign.
I highly recommend this album but if you haven't listened to Mushroom before, I recommend you do what I did...start out with "Foxy Music" because if this was bought by a first time Mushroom listener, they may receive a shock to their senses whenever "l'auberge" first comes on the hi-fi. But for the adventurous types who crave experimentation+psychedlic+jazz+funk+originality, then definitely pick this up. You will not be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Floyd's equal of half and half creme 37 years on
Quite rocking psychodela
Spotty Double Album
too expensive
Not to be missed.

Ummagumma
Pink Floyd
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Atom Heart Mother
A Saucerful of Secrets

ASIN: B00005HYH5
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Tracks:

Astronomy Domine
Careful With That Axe, Eugene
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Saucerful of Secrets

Tracks:

Sysyphus, Pt. 1
Sysyphus, Pt. 2
Sysyphus, Pt. 3
Sysyphus, Pt. 4
Grantchester Meadows
Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and
Narrow Way, Pt. 1
Narrow Way, Pt. 2
Narrow Way, Pt. 3
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 1: Entrance
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 2: Entertainment
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 3: Exit

Album Details

Digitally remastered Japanese limited edition featuring an LP style slipcase cover for initial pressing.

Customer Reviews:

Floyd's equal of half and half creme 37 years on.......2006-03-17

Don't be fooled by the review title, this is a great album. Pink Floyd's fourth album Ummagumma was released in November of 1969.
Ummagumma was Pink Floyd's first double album and the band's first crack in the U.S. Top 100 on Billboard peaking at #74 in early 1970 and eventually went Gold in early 1974(after the success of Dark Side) and eventually Platinum(in March, 1994).
The two disc set is basically two albums in one package. The title of the album is an old Cambridgeshire slang term for a word I cannot use.
I first got this album as a Christmas present from my paternal grandmother whom unfortunately passed away on Valentine's Day 2004 on cassette(which was missing three live tracks) in 1987. Then, I acquired on CD in August, 1991 with the full album. The remaster however, released in June of 1995 in the US, is the definitive version. When I listen to it now, I think back to my grandmother whom I loved dearly and will miss(and smile instead of cry to mourn with the music on this album).
Back to Ummagumma, the first disc is a live album that the band recorded at a club called Mother's in Birmingham, England and the Manchester College of Commerce in Manchester, England in April and June of 1969 respectively.
The first track is a wonderful, extended reading of Astronomy Domine this time featuring keyboardist Rick Wright singing the lower parts Syd originally sang and guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour singing the higher harmonies. The song is a great showpiece for Dave's excellent guitar work and Rick's fantastic keyboard work. Next is Careful With That Axe Eugene(deleted from the original cassette issue) which is more sinister and longer than the hurried studio version with bass player/vocalist Roger Waters' demonic screaming and excellent drumming from drummer Nick Mason and excellent playing by Wright and Gilmour as well. Set the Controls For the Heart of the Sun(deleted from the original cassette issue) follows and buries the studio version once again featuring extra keyboard work by Rick whom may be one of the best keyboardists in rock history(although unjustly overlooked) and Roger sang this track with more passion. The first disc ends with A Saucerful of Secrets(deleted from the original cassette issue) which surpasses the studio version although I love the version from Pompeii too. The ending section of Saucerful is way different than the studio as Rick's organ is this time joined by bass guitar, drums and then guitar making it more of a jam than a funeral hymn like on the original album.
Disc two consists of a solo piece or two by the four band members and came about because of Rick's frustrations with doing just rock music.
Rick's solo piece was the four-part Sysyphus which features Rick's jazz and classical influences and his keyboard work on the mellotron and piano and organ gives me a shiver down the spine. Roger had two solo pieces. First, the folk-tinged acoustic number Grantchester Meadows which was his song about his childhood in Cambridge. Next, was the avant-garde tape effect with Scottish dialect rant laden Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict. David Gilmour for his solo piece combined his rock, blues and folk influences in the three part The Narrow Way. Although he hates the song and refused to have the lyrics to part 3 printed on the remaster, it's my favorite on the disc. The solo disc ends with Nick Mason's The Grand Vizier's Garden Party which is a Nick Mason drum solo and shows that he is a great drummer and Nick's then wife Lindy did the flute solos.
If you like the Floyd from 1973 forward then you may be turned off by some of the pieces but if you are a hardcore Floyd fan and/or have an open ear like myself, I highly recommend this album.
The album was re-released by Toshiba-EMI in Japan in 2001 with the 1995 remaster that Capitol issued but packaged like the original EMI vinyl including the pictures that are missing on the remaster.

Quite rocking psychodela.......2005-08-20

This is last PF psychedelic album, and it's pretty succesful, but also very wierd. The first disc contains live recordings, and they are good. Astronomy Domine seems more powerful than on piper, and it has an organ improvisation. Careful with THat Axe Eugene is an absolute classic of psychodelic rock. Set THe Controls are also better than the studio version, also more scary and with more improvisations. Saucerful Of Secrets is more wild and the last part is much more powerful than on studio version, but studio version is more mystery and scary.
The studio part of ummagumma is a set of most wierd, twisted, psychedelic songs Pink Floyd ever did. Each member of the band wrore his own material and so here it is. First comes Richard Wright with Syphys, that starts quite interesting, but then it becomes so twisted and you just can't listen to it. Next one is Waters, with soft song Grandchester Meadows, that goes into Several Spieces..., and this is a combination of sounds of some small fury animals with some other wierd stuff. I don't really like that. But here's something better: i think Narrow Way is the best part of ummagumma studio. Part first is a soft acoustic melody, part two is a heavy, distorted riff with some other effects, and part three is a mystery, psychodelic song. I think it's worth effort and i like it. There's still something else, Mason shows us his drum creation, Grand Vizier's Garden Party, which is a song only with drum and percussion and a lot of improvisations. At first time I didn't like it, but it has its wierd, haunted climax that is cool.

Generally I think ummagumma is a worth effort, but my favourtie PF psychodelic album is A Saucerful Of Secrets. Also, If You're a beginner, don't start with this one; Go for Dark Side Of The Moon or Wish You Were Here.

Spotty Double Album .......2005-07-21

Released in late 1969, Pink Floyd were adopting a more prog rock sound like King Crimson. I like "Granchester Meadows", "The Narrow Way", "Several Species...", and also the live version of "Astronomy Domine". In hindsight, I think it's safe to say it's not Pink Floyd's best album though it had team spirit in the shared songwriting.

too expensive.......2005-01-14

But the original recording is allegedly a soundtrack to Kubrick's "The Dawn of Man" segment in "2001: A Space Oddysey". Note how the song titles correspond to the film.

Not to be missed........2002-09-04

For those used to the later Pink Floyd, this will come as a complete surprise. But after a few hearings, the musical fun will come through. And while it is Pink Floyd with all that implies, it is more of an exploration of the groups musical tastes and boundaries.

If you like rock as opposed to dance music, this is a must-have album - first in that it contains some truely classic and ground breaking music and second in that (however obscurely) the music has managed to leave its imprint on almost everything to follow.

The live tracks are grand - and deserve (though it isn't necessary) to be played loudly. For me, the introduction to "Astronome Domine" and "Saucerful of Secrets" have the power to drag the listener in with little effort. Unlike many similar pieces, the variety of sounds and dynamic range make the music unlike much you might hear outside a concert hall - in a couple of tracks the music fades to a very quiet contemplative mood only to swell quickly into a loud, noisy contrast.

The studio tracks are wildly different sounding almost completely different -much quieter (though far from always quiet) with odd vocal backgrounds (and a few surprising add ons). "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict" is a delight and completely unexpected and "Grantchester Meadows" is a quite and rich track featuring acoustic guitar, voice and birds.

If the pieces on this album were played separately, a casual listener might well conclude that they were played by entirely different people with very different musical interests, but played together, its clear that there is a strong commonality and that these four disparate musicians capable of going in very different directions are still somehow forging a sound, mood and presence that is unique and unforgettable.

Not all of the music here is a success - but even the tracks that are less strong are worth listening to and thinking about.

Tracks:

Astronomy Domine
Careful With That Axe, Eugene
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Saucerful of Secrets

Tracks:

Sysyphus, Pt. 1
Sysyphus, Pt. 2
Sysyphus, Pt. 3
Sysyphus, Pt. 4
Grantchester Meadows
Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and
Narrow Way, Pt. 1
Narrow Way, Pt. 2
Narrow Way, Pt. 3
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 1: Entrance
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 2: Entertainment
Grand Vizier's Garden Party, Pt. 3: Exit

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