The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | 
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| Artist: Pink Floyd
Label: Capitol
Category: Music
List Price: $38.98
Buy New: $23.99
You Save: $14.99 (38%)
New (27) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $22.99
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 3883
Format: Extra Tracks, Limited Edition, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.6 x 0.8
EAN: 5099950391929
ASIN: B000T05R8Q
Release Date: September 11, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
Disc 1
| • | Astronomy Domine | | • | Lucifer Sam | | • | Matilda Mother | | • | Flaming | | • | Pow R. Toc H. | | • | Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk | | • | Insteller Overdrive | | • | The Gnome | | • | Chapter 24 | | • | Scarecrow | | • | Bike |
Disc 2
| • | Astronomy Domine | | • | Lucifer Sam | | • | Matilda Mother | | • | Flaming | | • | Pow R. Toc H. | | • | Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk | | • | Insteller Overdrive | | • | The Gnome | | • | Chapter 24 | | • | Scarecrow | | • | Bike |
Disc 3
| • | Arnold Layne | | • | Candy And A Currant Bun | | • | See Emily Play | | • | Apples And Oranges | | • | Paintbox | | • | Interstellar Overdrive (French EP) | | • | Apples And Oranges (Stereo Version) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
At the time The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was originally released in 1967, it was one among many aurally ripped, acid-tripped albums including Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced, Cream's Disraeli Gears, Jefferson Airplane's After Bathing at Baxter's, and, of course, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which the Beatles were recording down the hall from Pink Floyd at Abbey Road. But as those albums have gracefully slipped into the mainstream of our music consciousness, Piper, along with The Velvet Underground and Nico, still sounds like it broke through from another dimension. Pink Floyd were employing musique concrete techniques, inventing glissando guitar, and exploring areas of trance with tunes like "Interstellar Overdrive," actually two takes of an extended rave-up laid on top of each other. Mixing sci-fi imagery with swinging London metaphors and pastoral fantasies (the title is lifted from The Wind in the Willows), Pink Floyd's music was even more dappled, swirled, and surreal than the light shows that accompanied their performances. Piper represented Syd Barrett's vision as the sole composer of all but three songs. He was yet to have his acid-induced meltdowns, and all things were possible and beautiful. Barrett mixed whimsy on "Bike" with cynicism on the wordless but ominous "Pow R. Toc H."; goofy innocence on "The Gnome" and mysticism on "Chapter 24." But there's no doubting the contributions of Richard Wright with his swirling, reverb-drenched organ fugues and jazz ellipses and Roger Waters's earth-rooted bass. Nick Mason's underrated drumming, time-shifting polyrhythms, and colorful flourishes pushed Barrett's elliptical pop even further over the edge, especially on the space-music opus "Astronomy Domine." This deluxe edition, designed by Storm Thorgerson with three discs nestled in a clothbound book, almost seems a bit staid for an album this hallucinogenic. But it's full of great period photos of the band and a reproduction of one of Barrett's original notebooks with collages, poetry, and other writing that reads like a schizophrenic's diary. The original album was recorded on only four tracks, making stereo effects and panning somewhat rudimentary and often annoying. But this expanded release includes a full mono mix of the album which provides a more coherent sound and, surprisingly, a bit more depth. This triple-disc release also contains a CD of all their 1967 single sides, including "See Emily Play," a vintage slice of psychedelic pop, and two alternate, single run-through takes of "Interstellar Overdrive." Some of the songs are just wacky, some of the technology and tape edits rough-hewn, but The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is one of those albums that actually appears more radical in retrospect. --John Diliberto
Album Description
To mark the 40th anniversary of the original release of Pink Floyd's first album 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn', a special edition is planned for release via EMI Records on Tues 28th August in North America, and Monday September 3rd in Europe. The packaging, designed by Storm Thorgerson, resembles a cloth-covered book, and holds 3 CD discs, along with a 12-page reproduction Syd Barrett notebook. Discs 1 and 2 will contain the full 'Piper' album, represented in both stereo and mono versions. Both have been newly remastered by James Guthrie. Disc 3 includes bonus tracks, including the following: all the Pink Floyd singles from 1967, ('Arnold Layne', 'See Emily Play', and 'Apples And Oranges'), plus the B sides 'Candy And A Current Bun' and 'Paintbox'. Other tracks are a version of 'Interstellar Overdrive' - Take 2 of the original recording sessions, previously only available on an EP in France - and the 1967 stereo version of 'Apples And Oranges'. EMI. 2007.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 38 more reviews...
 The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Awesome! October 30, 2008
revsev (CT)
Up to this point I had never owned The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. I'd owned all the other Floyd albums, but this has really got me stoked. I'd always tended to shy away from Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, but this set has changed my mind. The Mono and Stereo versions coupled with the alternative versions and singles have given me a new found respect for the genius that was Syd. Some of it sounds dated to the psychedelic 60's, but most of it seems timeless and captures the imagination, taking me back to a psche-developing english childhood gone by and longed-for. A very intriguing look into the mind of a musical/artistic genius, whom we lost far too soon.
Such a good album.. RIP Syd October 28, 2008
Joseph Morris (Elmwood Park, NJ)
I remember first hearing this album, playing my vinyl 2 lp of A Nice Pair, which featured the first couple albums of the Floyd (Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Saucerful of Secrets). Which remain my favorite albums by the group, followed by More and Animals
Listening to this album in stereo (one of these 3 discs is the original album in stereo) .. whoo! Heaven knows what people made of the noisy guitar on Pow R Toc H when this first came out here in the States on Tower Records!
Firstly, the sound. Never sounded better. You get the original mono mix. The 30th anniversary that first saw the album in mono seems to have clipped Flaming - it sounds fine now remastered for the 40th anniversary..
I give the nod to the mono mix, as thats the mix the Floyd originally supervised. An organ track is missing on the stereo Interstellar Overdrive - oops! Exciting track regardless
You will need both! (mono/stereo)
Sigh. Yes, Vegetable Man, Scream thy last scream were left off the 2007 remaster at the last sec (according to Mason). They're difficult tracks to listen to, and not Syd at the peak of his powers, but it'd be nice to have them
The early singles are very nice however, as is the alternate version of Matilda Mother (which has the original Belloc lyrics)
So you will need it
Do I wish the band would put out more outtakes from 1967 (what a year!) Oh sure. "Reaction in G" is a tantalizing snippet the group prerecorded for a BBC Top Gear session (according to a news article, the track was a song written in reaction to having to play Emily live; the band didn't play their singles live). "Millionaire" (aka "She was a millionaire") would be nice to turn up, as that was going to be the third single after the UK hit See Emily Play
But, regardless, its a very nice package. It only came out cos of Syd dying of course. Its a fitting memorial to the man however, with a nice little sketchbook he worked on, lyrics, lovely pictures. The third cd is still wonderful (heck! Piper at the Gates of Dawn on discs 1&2 is wonderful!) Singles, outtakes and all
It would have been nice to have everything recorded by Syds Floyd in one place however, which makes the omission of tracks like Scream, Vegetable Man pretty unforgivable really
an absolute classic September 6, 2008
ManWithGoodTasteSays:
This album was recorded in the 60s. So, what are the reasons for people who didn't hear it to buy it in the 21st century? There are two. First one-it is very good. If you like music of good quality, then you will be pleased. The lyrics and the sound are both top-notch. Second reason-even though the album is 40 years old, it is still very original, no one ever made anything like this still-a very unique thing!
An Ode To Syd Barrett August 30, 2008
Luis (Harlingen,TX USA)
First off, I love the unique bound case, its like a tiny tome of British psychedelia. But then I'm saddened that its chief architect paid a terrible price in creating it, but that's a tale for another day. Where Syd could have taken Pink Floyd will always be a subject of debate. But what is not debatable is that this a gorgeous package at a great price.
The only time Floyd were any good! August 6, 2008
J. W. Settle (Wakefield, West Yorks, UK)
The late great Syd Barrett was a genius of some sort and none more so than on this celebratory (is that a real word?) box set.
The mono mix of this set is cataclysmical with so many nuances I've never heard before and its nice to have b-sides and alternate takes all on one disc. Its all well worth it!
I know that Gilmour (hes a nice bloke)-era Floyd fans will hunt me down and tear me to bits when I declare that nothing Pink Floyd ever did, even all added together, comes close to "Piper..." but I think some will agree.
I'm sure more people were influenced by Syd era Floyd than the slow, turgid, non-sensical, depressing, boring, bland, po-faced, anal, stadium filling, downright audacious, humanity hating, multi-squillion pound (I could go on) behemoth of the 70s (hey, its my opinion!)and this set gives proof to that.
Its a terrific tribute to one of the great British psychedelic bands and Roger Waters actually plays some unbelievably interesting bass lines!
Long live Syd!
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