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Contributing Band Members:
Roger Waters (Bass, Vocals)
David Gilmour (Guitar, Vocals)
Richard Wright (Keyboards, Vocals)
Nick Mason (Drums, Percussion)
Roger "Syd" Barrett (Guitar, Vocals)
"A Saucerful Of Secrets" was Pink Floyd's sophomore album effort, realeased on July 29th, 1968, recorded at the famous EMI Abbey Road Studio. This was a rough and transitional time period for the members of Pink Floyd. The band was originially lead by the charming and playful lyricist and guitarist Syd Barrett. In the beginning, they played R&B covers at local schools and colleges, never really thinking that they would make it big. By chance, a new local underground scene was starting to take place in London. Fueled by psychedelic drugs, bands would play playful, yet loud and almost frightning songs, blowing their audiences minds as they watched with jaws dropped. Syd saw what was happening, and was quickly interested and involved. He was the perfect psychedelic poster boy of London. Although Pink Floyd's image would say that they were LSD dropping, pot smoking hippies, they really weren't, even at the time. The only member to really be a part of the underground was Syd. But Syd starting going overboard. From what, we will never know. But he was quickly becoming fragile, and hard to work with. Water's continues to believe that Syd was always a schizophrenic, and that hallucinogenics had made the problem much worse. But in the end, Syd's old friend David Gilmour was invited to play, and one night the band simply didn't pick Syd up for a show.
"A Saucerful Of Secrets" really shows this time period well. You can start to see Waters taking to the helm as far as song writing goes, and Syd becoming less involved and influentual to the album. In fact, Syd only contributed guitar on the song "A Saucerful Of Secrets", and a sad song ending the album called "Jugband Blues", which is really Syd's ultimate self-diagnosis of his psychizophrenic mind state. Gilmour was a brand new member to the band, and you won't find the Gilmour of later years who lead the band musically with his guitar ability. Wright really stand out on this album, with two songs of his own, and with the band beginning to experiment with different sounds and synthesizers. "Let There Be More Light" is a great song in my opinion, reminisant of typical Beatles-esque 60's pop. "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" was one of the bands favorites, and a staple in their set for a long time. The lyrics were inspired by a Chinese book of Zen, writen by Waters. There is rumour that Syd played on this song, but no one can recall. "Corporal Clegg" is a fun song. It shows Waters interest in War, that later becomes his favorite topic, inspired by his father's death at a young age. One of the instruments used is a kazoo. Although it isn't a strong song, it is still my favorite, and I think anyone could enjoy it.
Although a new or none Pink Floyd fan might find it a bore, I recommend it to anyone who likes Pink Floyd or Syd Barrett and has yet to hear it. A very interesting album, to say the least. "A real hodgepodge of possible Floyds", says biographer Nicholas Schaffer.
4/5
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Good review man...I've been thinking about getting this album for a while, and although it's quite low down on my list of albums to buy, it's definitely on it. Nice work. 
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I think the bass line on the first track sounds alot like the bass line to 46&2 by Tool.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Thanks Med. It wouldn't be an album I'd look to buy really either, but to have every Pink Floyd album is a pretty sweet collection to have.
I guess I forgot to put up a picture of the album cover, so here it is.
It is the first album cover done by the famous photographer Storm Thorgerson, who became close friends with Pink Floyd, and went on to do album covers for almost every album, including Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, and that awesome cow on Atom Heart Mother.
| | | Album Rating: 2.0
Dont waste the money...this album sucks.(Excet Jugband Blues)
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It is a meh album. There are some good tracks like "Let there be more light" and "Jugaband Blues" but Floyd have better old albums.
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This album doesn't suck. It may not be as consistent as the piper at the gates of dawn, but it's definitely a good album.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I've tried so hard to like the title track on this album, but just can't bring myself to. Let's face it, its just noise. Does anybody think otherwise? The organ bit at the end is good though. Wistful melancholy if ever I heard it. And the rest of the album's good when you're in the right kinda mood.
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Are you kidding? This is my favorite PF album. I absolutely love it.
And Storm Thorgerson was actually their friend and he grew up in Cambridge in their age group. He was in a different group of people growing up.
And Schyma, you can shove Echoes - The Best Of right up your ass because youre a guy that only likes the hits and I hate those guys. I bet you like Another Brick in the Wall.
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I have heard lots of people says that some of the tracks on this album suck, but i think every single song kicks ass! My favorite floyd album second only to Animals.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah, how come this album is getting bashed? I love this album.
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I love "Set the Controls..." :-)This Message Edited On 11.02.05
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
"Jugband Blues" is my favorite Pink Floyd song of all time.
Good reviewThis Message Edited On 11.02.05
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Set the Controls for the HEart of the Sun is BRILLIANT. I like this album a lot, but Meddle, DSOTM, and THe Wall beat it easily.
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hey i know how to make u all lose some respect for syd barret. he thought that the hallocaust was funny
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Jugband Blues is my favorite track, but I think they're all great, excluding the title track which I can hardly ever bring myself to listen to. I have a soft spot for "Remember A Day".
But this part of Jugband Blues always makes me really depressed:
"And the sea isn't green
And I love the queen
And what exactly is a dream?
And what exactly is a joke?"
My god.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
The live version of A Saucerfull of Secrets is extremly better than the studio version of this song, especially the end part where Gilmour sings and the song gets really energetic, man the live at Pompeii DVD is sweet and if you like this album you should check it out. It has some really good renditions of early-DSOTM songs.
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I dig stoner music, especially earlier floyd.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Uhhh... are you defending him to be shcizophrenic, or for being on drugs? The holocaust thing probably isn't true, the most likely thing is that he just giggled at it, not knowing what he was thinking, and not meaning it.
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He was origionally schizophrenic and the drugs made it even worse. It was probably a load of tripe anyway.
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I give this one a 4 after listening again, light and relaxing at best, still freaking weird?
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