Syd Barrett (1946–2006) was an English musician who recorded 37 songs during his short two-year solo career. One of the founding members of English rock band Pink Floyd, he was the dominant force in their early years, writing the majority of the material on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, contributing to their second, A Saucerful of Secrets, and recording several unreleased songs with them. As a result of Barrett's increasing mental illness, guitarist David Gilmour was hired as his possible replacement. When his condition worsened, he was officially excluded from Pink Floyd in April 1968. After his departure, Barrett recorded two solo albums, both released in 1970, until he left the music business in 1972.
Barrett returned to the studio in 1969 to begin work on his first solo album, The Madcap Laughs. His only single, "Octopus", was released in November 1969. Work on The Madcap Laughs proved difficult, going through five different producers, including former Pink Floyd bandmates David Gilmour and Roger Waters, and Barrett himself. Released in January 1970, the album received positive reviews from critics and enjoyed moderate commercial success, reaching number 40 in the UK charts. Two months later, Barrett began recording his second and final solo album, Barrett. Produced by Pink Floyd members David Gilmour and Richard Wright, the sessions were recorded more sporadically than The Madcap Laughs. Barrett was released in November 1970, but failed to chart; no singles were issued from the album. Two years later, Barrett signed a document ending his association with Pink Floyd and any financial interest in future recordings and left the music business. The Madcap Laughs and Barrett were paired and released as Syd Barrett in 1974. Barrett made almost no public appearances for the remainder of his life, and after suffering from Type 2 diabetes for several years, died at his home in Cambridge, England, in 2006 at age 60.
Several compilation albums of Barrett's songs were released before and after his death. The first of these, The Peel Session, an EP containing recordings Barrett performed for the John Peel Top Gear show on 24 February 1970, contains the unreleased song "Two of a Kind". In 1988, Barrett approved the release of Opel, a compilation that contained several unreleased songs and alternate takes of recordings from sessions for his two solo albums. The 1993 box set Crazy Diamond included his solo albums, Opel, and more alternate takes. The compilation album Wouldn't You Miss Me? followed suit, and contained Barrett's highly sought-after "Bob Dylan Blues". The song, along with "Terrapin" from The Madcap Laughs and "Maisie" from Barrett, reflect Barrett's early interest in the blues. The next greatest hits album, An Introduction to Syd Barrett, contained the previously unreleased twenty minute instrumental "Rhamadan" as a CD bonus track. In 2016, Barrett's Pink Floyd-era songs "In the Beechwoods", "Vegetable Man", and "Scream Thy Last Scream" were officially released on the Pink Floyd compilation box set The Early Years 1965–1972; they were meant to be released earlier but were blocked by Pink Floyd.
List
All songs written by Syd Barrett, except where noted. BCDEFGHILMNORSTWNotesReferencesBibliographySee also +Key Indicates compilation album track only
+ Name of song, producer(s), original release, and year of releaseSongProducer(s)Original releaseYear "Baby Lemonade" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Birdie Hop" David Gilmour Opel 1988 "Bob Dylan Blues" David Gilmour 2001 "Clowns and Jugglers" Malcolm Jones Opel 1988 "Dark Globe" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Dolly Rocker" David Gilmour Opel 1988 "Dominoes" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Effervescing Elephant" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Feel" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Gigolo Aunt" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Golden Hair" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Here I Go" Malcolm Jones 1970 "If It's in You" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "It Is Obvious" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Lanky (Part 1)" Peter Jenner Opel 1988 "Late Night" Malcolm Jones 1970 "Let's Split" David Gilmour Opel 1988 "Long Gone" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Love Song" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Love You" Malcolm Jones 1970 "Maisie" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Milky Way" David Gilmour Opel 1988 "No Good Trying" Malcolm Jones 1970 "No Man's Land" Malcolm Jones 1970 "Octopus" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Opel" Malcolm Jones Opel 1988 "Rats" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Rhamadan" Peter JennerMalcolm Jones 2010 "She Took a Long Cold Look" David GilmourRoger Waters 1970 "Swan Lee (Silas Lang)" Peter Jenner Opel 1988 "Terrapin" Malcolm Jones 1970 "Two of a Kind" John Walters 1987 "Waving My Arms in the Air"/"I Never Lied to You" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Wined and Dined" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Wolfpack" David GilmourRichard Wright Barrett 1970 "Word Song" David Gilmour Opel 1988 "Wouldn't You Miss Me" David GilmourRoger Waters Opel 1988
Notes
References
Bibliography
See also Syd Barrett discography List of songs recorded by Pink Floyd List of unreleased songs recorded by Pink Floyd