View source for The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

{{other uses|Piper at the Gates of Dawn (disambiguation)}}
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{{Infobox album
| name         = The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Pink Floyd]]
| cover        = PinkFloyd-album-piperatthegatesofdawn 300.jpg
| alt          =
| released     = {{start date|1967|8|4|df=yes}}
| recorded     = 21 February&nbsp;– 21 May 1967
| studio       = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre        =
*[[Psychedelic rock]]<ref name="Billboard2006" /><ref>{{cite book|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|author-link=Jim DeRogatis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U7cQmRsLgN8C&pg=PA79|title=Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock|year=2003|publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation]]|isbn=1-61780-215-8|access-date=1 August 2013|archive-date=9 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009052930/http://books.google.com/books?id=U7cQmRsLgN8C&pg=PA79|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[acid pop]]<ref name="AM"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Perone |first1=James E. |title=The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations |date=October 2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=104}}</ref>
*[[experimental rock]]<ref name="Young2011">{{cite book|first=Rob|last=Young|title=Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kyY2fPcoqUcC&q=%22experimental+rock%22+%22Piper+at+the%22+Pink+Floyd&pg=PA454|date=10 May 2011|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn=978-1-4299-6589-7|pages=454–|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521211912/https://books.google.com/books?id=kyY2fPcoqUcC&q=%22experimental+rock%22+%22Piper+at+the%22+Pink+Floyd&pg=PA454|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[space rock]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Abrahams |first1=Ian |title=Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins |date=July 2004 |publisher=SAF Publishing |page=17}}</ref>
| length       = {{duration|m=41|s=54}}<ref name="AM" />
| label        = [[Columbia Graphophone Company|EMI Columbia]]
| producer     = [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]]
| prev_title   =
| prev_year    =
| next_title   = [[A Saucerful of Secrets]]
| next_year    = 1968
| misc         = {{Singles
| name        = The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[Flaming (song)|Flaming]]
| single1date = November 1967 (US)
}}
}}
'''''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''''' is the debut [[studio album]] by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Pink Floyd]], released on 4 August 1967 by [[Columbia Graphophone Company|EMI Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/timeline_1967.html|title=Pink Floyd official site|access-date=27 November 2024|archive-date=27 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127085749/https://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/timeline_1967.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the only Pink Floyd album made under the leadership of founder member [[Syd Barrett]] (lead vocals, guitar); he wrote all but three tracks, with additional composition by members [[Roger Waters]] (bass, vocals), [[Nick Mason]] (drums), and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] (keyboards, vocals). The album followed the band's influential performances at London's [[UFO Club]] and their early chart success with the 1967 non-album singles "[[Arnold Layne]]" and "[[See Emily Play]]".
The album was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI Studios]] in London's [[Abbey Road, London|Abbey Road]] from February to May 1967 and produced by [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]]. It blended Pink Floyd's reputation for long-form [[improvisational]] pieces with Barrett's short pop songs and whimsical take on [[psychedelic music|psychedelia]]. The album made prominent use of recording effects such as [[reverb]] and [[echo]], employing tools such as [[Elektromesstechnik|EMT]] plate reverberation, [[automatic double tracking]] (ADT), and Abbey Road's [[echo chamber]]. Part-way through the recording sessions, Barrett's growing use of the [[psychedelic drug|psychedelic]] drug [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] accompanied his increasingly debilitated mental state, leading to his eventual departure from the group the following year. The album title was derived from referencing the god [[Pan (god)|Pan]] in chapter seven of [[Kenneth Grahame]]'s 1908 children's novel ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]'', a favourite of Barrett's.
The album was released to critical and commercial success, reaching number 6 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="officialcharts" /> In the United States, it was released as ''Pink Floyd'' in October on [[Tower Records (record label)|Tower Records]] with an altered track listing that omitted three songs and included "See Emily Play". In the UK, no singles were released from the album, but in the US, "[[Flaming (song)|Flaming]]" was offered as a single. Two of its songs, "[[Astronomy Domine|Astronomy Dominé]]" and "[[Interstellar Overdrive]]", became long-term mainstays of the band's live setlist, while other songs were performed live only a handful of times.  In 1973, ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was packaged with the band's second album ''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'' (1968) and released as ''[[A Nice Pair]]'', to introduce the band's early work to new fans gained with the success of ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]'' (1973).
The album has since been hailed as a pivotal [[psychedelic music]] recording. Special limited editions of ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' were issued to mark its 30th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries, with the former two releases containing bonus tracks. In 2012, ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was placed at number 347 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]", moved up to number 253 in the 2020 edition.<ref name="rollingstone1"/><ref name="RS2020">{{Cite magazine|date=22 September 2020|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=24 February 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922163403/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Background ==
Architecture students [[Roger Waters]], [[Nick Mason]] and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] and art student [[Syd Barrett]] had performed under various group names since 1962, and began touring as "The Pink Floyd Sound" in 1965.{{sfn|Povey|2007|pp=24,29}} Around 1966, the group began to achieve underground success for their influential performances at London's [[UFO Club]].<ref>Mason, Nick (2005) [2004]. Dodd, Philip (ed.). Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd (Paperback ed.). Phoenix. ISBN 978-0-7538-1906-7</ref> They turned professional on 1 February 1967 when they signed with [[EMI]], with an advance fee of £5,000.<ref name="Schaffner54–56">{{cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|title=Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey|year=2005|publisher=Helter Skelter|location=London|isbn=1-905139-09-8|pages=54–56|edition=New}}</ref><ref name=blake74>{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|title=Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd|year=2008|publisher=Da Capo|location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=978-0-306-81752-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/comfortablynumbi00mark/page/74 74]|url=https://archive.org/details/comfortablynumbi00mark/page/74}}</ref><ref name=Irgh137>{{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Rob|title=Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head|url=https://archive.org/details/sydbarrettveryir00chap|url-access=registration|year=2010|publisher=Faber|location=London|isbn=978-0-571-23855-2|edition=Paperback|page=[https://archive.org/details/sydbarrettveryir00chap/page/137 137]}}</ref> Their first single, a song about a [[kleptomania]]c transvestite titled "[[Arnold Layne]]", was released on 11 March to mild controversy, as [[Wonderful Radio London|Radio London]] refused to air it.<ref name="Schaffner54–56"/><ref>Cavanagh 2003, p. 19</ref>
About three weeks later, the band were introduced to the mainstream media.{{#tag:ref|They were already well known in the underground scene.|group="nb"}} EMI's press release claimed that the band were "musical spokesmen for a new movement which involves experimentation in all the arts", but EMI attempted to put some distance between them and the underground scene from which the band originated by stating that "the Pink Floyd does not know what people mean by [[psychedelic pop]] and are not trying to create hallucinatory effects on their audiences."<ref name="Schaffner57">Schaffner 2005, p. 57</ref><ref name="toby34">{{cite book|last=Manning|first=Toby|title=The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd|year=2006|publisher=Rough Guides|location=London|isbn=1-84353-575-0|page=34|edition=1st}}</ref> The band returned to [[Sound Techniques]] studio to record their next single, "[[See Emily Play]]", on 18 May.<ref name="Schaffner66">Schaffner 2005, p. 66</ref><ref name="Irgh171">Chapman 2010, p. 171</ref> The single was released almost a month later, on 16 June, and reached number six in the charts.<ref name="blake88-89">Blake 2008, p. 88–89</ref><ref name="officialcharts">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/pink%20floyd/ |title=Pink Floyd <nowiki>| Artist |</nowiki> Official Charts |work=officialcharts.com |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002162947/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/pink%20floyd/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Pink Floyd picked up a tabloid reputation for making music for [[LSD]] users. The popular broadsheet ''[[News of the World]]'' printed a story nine days before the album's recording sessions began, saying that "The Pink Floyd group specialise in 'psychedelic music', which is designed to illustrate LSD experiences."<ref>Cavanagh 2003, p. 42</ref> Contrary to this image, only Barrett was known to be taking LSD; authors [[Ray B. Browne]] and Pat Browne contend that he was the "only real drug user in the band".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Browne|first1=Ray B.|author-link1=Ray B. Browne|last2=Browne|first2=Pat|title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture|year=2000|publisher=Bowling Green State University Popular Press|location=Bowling Green, OH|isbn=978-0-87972-821-2|page=610}}</ref>
== Recording ==
Pink Floyd's record deal was a £5,000 advance over five years, low royalties and no free studio time,<ref name=Povey/> which was poor by today's standards, but typical for the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awal.com/blog/history-of-record-deals|work=awal.com|title=1960 - 1997: Record Deals <> Album Era|date=30 April 2019|author=[[AWAL]]|access-date=24 November 2024|archive-date=2 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002024052/https://www.awal.com/blog/history-of-record-deals/|url-status=live}}</ref> It included album development, which was very unusual; EMI, unsure of exactly what kind of band they had signed, gave them free rein to record whatever they wanted.<ref name=Povey>{{cite book |author=Glenn Povey |title=Echoes : The Complete History of Pink Floyd |year=2007 |publisher=Mind Head Publishing |isbn=978-0-9554624-0-5 |edition=New |pages=37–39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnnl3FnO-B4C&pg=PP45}}</ref>
They recorded the album at EMI's [[Abbey Road Studios]] in London and their recording room was next to the Beatles' recording room where the Beatles were recording the album ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''. Pink Floyd sat in on one Beatles session for the song "[[Lovely Rita]]".<ref name="toby34" /><ref name="Schaffner55">Schaffner 2005, p. 55</ref> ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was overseen by producer [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]],<ref name="toby34" /><ref name="Irgh169-170">Chapman 2010, pp. 169–170</ref> a central figure in Pink Floyd's negotiations with EMI.<ref name="Mason70 87">{{cite book|last=Mason|first=Nick|author-link=Nick Mason|title=Inside Out&nbsp;– A Personal History of Pink Floyd|publisher=Phoenix |edition=Paperback |editor=Philip Dodd|year=2011|orig-year=2004|pages=70, 87|isbn=978-0-7538-1906-7|chapter=Freak Out Schmeak Out}}</ref> [[Music engineer|Balance engineer]] Pete Bown, who had mentored Smith, helped ensure that the album had a unique sound, through his experimentation with equipment and recording techniques.<ref>{{cite book|last=Palacios|first=Julian|title=Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe|year=2010|publisher=Plexus|location=London|isbn=978-0-85965-431-9|edition=Rev.|pages=180–182}}</ref> Bown, assisted by [[studio manager]] David Harris, set up microphones an hour before the sessions began. Bown's microphone choices were mostly different from those used by Smith to record [[the Beatles]]' EMI sessions.<ref name="DarkG182">Palacios 2010, p. 182</ref> Because of the quietness of Barrett's singing, he was placed in a vocal [[isolation booth]] to sing his parts.<ref name="DarkG182" /> [[Automatic double tracking]] (ADT) was used to add layers of echo to the vocals and to some instruments.<ref name="DarkG183">Palacios 2010, p. 183</ref> The album features an unusually heavy use of echo and [[reverb effect|reverb]] to create a unique sound. Much of the reverb came from a set of [[Elektro-Mess-Technik]] plate reverberators&nbsp;– customised EMT 140s containing thin metal plates under tension&nbsp;– and the studio's tiled [[echo chamber]] built in 1931.<ref name="DarkG183" /><ref name="DarkG196" />
The album is made up of two different classes of songs: lengthy improvisations from the band's live performances and shorter songs that Barrett had written.<ref name="Irgh142">Chapman 2010, p. 142</ref> Barrett's LSD intake escalated part-way through the album's recording sessions.<ref name="PFRB">{{cite book|last=Jeffrey|first=Laura S.|title=Pink Floyd: The Rock Band|year=2010|publisher=Enslow Publishers|location=Berkeley Heights, NJ|isbn=978-0-7660-3030-5}}</ref> Although in his 2005 autobiography Mason recalled the sessions as relatively trouble-free, Smith disagreed and claimed that Barrett was unresponsive to his suggestions and constructive criticism.<ref name="Mason92-93">Mason 2011, pp. 92–93</ref><ref name="DarkG183-184">Palacios 2010, pp. 183–184</ref> In an attempt to build a relationship with the band, Smith played jazz on the piano while the band joined in. These [[jam session]]s worked well with Waters, who was apparently helpful, and Wright, who was "laid-back". Smith's attempts to connect with Barrett were less productive: "With Syd, I eventually realised I was wasting my time."<ref name="blake77">Blake 2008, p. 77</ref> Smith later admitted that his traditional ideas of music were somewhat at odds with the psychedelic background from which Pink Floyd had come. Nevertheless, he managed to "discourage the live ramble", as band manager [[Peter Jenner]] called it, guiding the band toward producing songs with a more manageable length.<ref name="toby34" /><ref name="blake84-85">Blake 2008, pp. 84–85</ref>
Barrett would end up writing eight of the album's songs and contributing to two instrumentals credited to the whole band, with Waters creating the sole remaining composition "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk".<ref name="GW7">{{cite book|last=Perna|first=Alan di|title=Guitar World Presents Pink Floyd|year=2002|publisher=Hal Leonard|location=Milwaukee, WI|isbn=978-0-634-03286-8|edition=1st|author2=Tolinski, Brad |editor=Kitts, Jeff|page=7}}</ref> Mason recalled how the album "was recorded in what one might call the old-fashioned way: rather quickly. As time went by we started spending longer and longer."<ref name="Piper39" />
{{quote box
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| quote = I opened the door and nearly shit myself&nbsp;... by Christ it was loud. I had certainly never heard anything quite like it before.
| source = Abbey Road engineer Pete Bown describing his introduction to "Interstellar Overdrive"<ref name=blake85>Blake 2008, p. 85</ref>
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Recording started on 21 February<ref name=MCLM28>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Malcolm|title=The Making of The Madcap Laughs|year=2003|publisher=Brain Damage|edition=21st Anniversary|page=28}}</ref> with six takes<ref name=DarkG185>Palacios 2010, p. 185</ref> of "[[Matilda Mother]]", then called "Matilda's Mother".<ref name="Irgh142"/><ref name=Irgh149>Chapman 2010, p. 149</ref> The following week, on the 27th,<ref name=DarkG187>Palacios 2010, p. 187</ref> the band recorded five takes of "[[Interstellar Overdrive]]",{{#tag:ref|This was not the first time the band had recorded the song as it had been recorded earlier in the year at [[Sound Techniques (studio)|Sound Techniques Studios]] in London, between 11 and 12 January, for producer Peter Whitehead's documentary ''[[Tonite Let’s All Make Love in London (film)|Tonite Let's All Make Love in London]]''.|group="nb"}}{{#tag:ref|An early, unoverdubbed, shortened mix of the album's "Interstellar Overdrive" was used for a French [[Extended play|EP]] release that July.<ref name=DarkG188>Palacios 2010, p. 188</ref>|group="nb"}}<ref name=DarkG188/> and "[[Chapter 24]]".<ref name=DarkG187/><ref name=Irgh151>Chapman 2010, p. 151</ref> On 16 March, the band had another go at recording "Interstellar Overdrive", in an attempt to create a shorter version,<ref name=DarkG195>Palacios 2010, p. 195</ref> and "[[Flaming (song)|Flaming]]" (originally titled "Snowing"), which was recorded in a single take<ref name=Irgh152>Chapman 2010, p. 152</ref> with one vocal overdub.<ref name=DarkG196>Palacios 2010, p. 196</ref> On 19 March, six takes of "[[The Gnome]]" were recorded.<ref name=DarkG196/><ref name=Irgh153>Chapman 2010, p. 153</ref> The following day, the band recorded Waters' "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk".<ref name=Irgh153/><ref name=DarkG198>Palacios 2010, p. 198</ref> On 21 March, the band were invited to watch the Beatles record "[[Lovely Rita]]".<ref name=toby36>Manning 2006, p. 36</ref><ref name=DarkG198-199>Palacios 2010, pp. 198–199</ref> The following day, they recorded "[[The Scarecrow (song)|The Scarecrow]]" in one take.<ref name=Irgh154>Chapman 2010, p. 154</ref><ref name=DarkG199>Palacios 2010, p. 199</ref> The next three tracks&nbsp;– "[[Astronomy Domine|Astronomy Dominé]]",{{#tag:ref|14 takes of "Astronomy Dominé" were recorded,<ref name=Irgh155>Chapman 2010, p. 155</ref> over a seven-hour session.<ref name=DarkG206>Palacios 2010, p. 206</ref>|group="nb"}} "Interstellar Overdrive" and "[[Pow R. Toc H.]]" – were worked on extensively between 21 March and 12 April,<ref>Palacios 2010, pp. 198, 206</ref> having originally been lengthy instrumentals.<ref name=Irgh155/> Between 12 and 18 April,<ref name=Irgh158>Chapman 2010, p. 158</ref> the band recorded "Percy the Rat Catcher"{{#tag:ref|"Percy the Rat Catcher"."<ref name=MCLM21-22>Jones 2003, pp. 21–22</ref><ref>Cavanagh 2003, pp. 37–38</ref>|group="nb"}} and a currently unreleased track called "[[She Was a Millionaire]]".<ref name=DarkG209>Palacios 2010, p. 209</ref><ref name=DarkG371>Palacios 2010, p. 371</ref><ref name=HyperMillionaire>{{cite web |url=http://pinkfloydhyperbase.dk/unreleased/index.html#MILLIONAIRE |title=Unreleased Pink Floyd material: Millionaire / She Was a Millionaire |publisher=Pinkfloydhyperbase.dk |access-date=24 December 2012 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127082747/http://pinkfloydhyperbase.dk/unreleased/index.html#MILLIONAIRE |url-status=live }}</ref>
"Percy the Rat Catcher" received overdubs across five studio sessions and then was mixed in late June, eventually being given the name "[[Lucifer Sam]]".<ref name=Piper39>Cavanagh 2003, p. 39</ref> Songwriting for the majority of the album is credited solely to Barrett, with tracks such as "[[Bike (song)|Bike]]" having been written in late 1966 before the album was started.<ref name=Irgh142/><ref name=toby29>Manning 2006, p. 29</ref><ref name=Irgh162>Chapman 2010, p. 162</ref> "Bike" was recorded on 21 May 1967 and originally entitled "The Bike Song".<ref name=Irgh142/> By June, Barrett's increasing LSD use during the recording project left him looking visibly debilitated.<ref name=PFRB/>
== Release ==
In June 1967 before the album was released, the single "See Emily Play" was sold as a 7-inch 45&nbsp;rpm record, with "The Scarecrow" on the B-side, listed as "Scarecrow".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/the-scarecrow-mt0042065753 |title=The Scarecrow – Pink Floyd |publisher=Allmusic.com |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |access-date=19 January 2013 |archive-date=24 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124094054/http://www.allmusic.com/song/the-scarecrow-mt0042065753 |url-status=live }}</ref> The full album was released on 4 August 1967, including "The Scarecrow".
Pink Floyd continued to perform at the UFO Club, drawing huge crowds, but Barrett's deterioration caused them serious concern. The band initially hoped that his erratic behaviour was a phase that would pass, but others, including manager Peter Jenner and his secretary [[Marc Bolan#Personal life|June Child]],{{#tag:ref|Child was employed by Peter Jenner as a secretary and general production assistant.<ref>Schaffner 2005, p. 36</ref>|group="nb"}} were more realistic:
{{Blockquote|...&nbsp;I found him in the dressing room and he was so&nbsp;... gone. Roger Waters and I got him on his feet, we got him out to the stage&nbsp;... and of course the audience went spare because they loved him. The band started to play and Syd just stood there. He had his guitar around his neck and his arms just hanging down.<ref name="Mason95">Mason 2011, p. 95</ref>}}
To the band's consternation, they were forced to cancel their appearance at the prestigious [[National Jazz and Blues Festival]], informing the music press that Barrett was suffering from nervous exhaustion. Jenner and Waters arranged for Barrett to see a psychiatrist&nbsp;– a meeting he did not attend. He was sent to relax in the sun on the Spanish island of [[Formentera]] with Waters and [[Hank Wangford|Sam Hutt]] (a doctor well-established in the underground music scene), but this led to no visible improvement.<ref name="Mason95-105">Mason 2011, pp. 95–105</ref><ref name=blake94>Blake 2008, p. 94</ref><ref name="Schaffner88-90">Schaffner 2005, pp. 88–90</ref><ref name="Schaffner91-92">Schaffner 2005, pp. 91–92</ref>
[[File:Frontispiece to The Wind in the Willows.png|thumb|The album's title, ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,'' refers to the god [[Pan (god)|Pan]], as depicted in the 1908 book ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]''.]]
The original UK [[gramophone record|LP]] was released on 4 August 1967 in both [[monaural]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereophonic]] mixes. It reached number six on the UK charts.<ref name="officialcharts" /><ref name="Povey 2007 342">Povey 2007, p. 342</ref><ref name=Irgh172>Chapman 2010, p. 172</ref> The original US album appeared on the [[Tower Records (record label)|Tower]] division of [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] on 21 October 1967. This version was officially titled simply ''Pink Floyd'',{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}} though the original album title did appear on the back cover as on the UK issue, and [[Dick Clark]] referred to the record by its original title when the group appeared on his ''[[American Bandstand]]'' television program on 18 November.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pink Floyd Performs on US Television for the First Time: American Bandstand, 1967|url=http://www.openculture.com/2016/04/pink-floyd-performs-on-us-television-for-the-first-time-american-bandstand-1967.html|website=Open Culture|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204147/http://www.openculture.com/2016/04/pink-floyd-performs-on-us-television-for-the-first-time-american-bandstand-1967.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dolloff|first1=Matt|date=24 October 2013|title=Watch Pink Floyd Perform with Syd Barrett on "American Bandstand" in 1967|url=http://wzlx.cbslocal.com/2013/10/24/watch-pink-floyd-perform-with-syd-barrett-on-american-bandstand-in-1967/|website=WZLX Radio|access-date=4 November 2016|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204148/http://wzlx.cbslocal.com/2013/10/24/watch-pink-floyd-perform-with-syd-barrett-on-american-bandstand-in-1967/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The US album featured an abbreviated track listing,<ref name=Piper54-55>Cavanagh 2003, pp. 54–55</ref> and reached number 131 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' charts. The UK single, "See Emily Play", was substituted for "Astronomy Dominé", "Flaming" and "Bike".<ref name=Piper54-55/> Released in time for the band's US tour, "Flaming" was released as a single, backed with "The Gnome".<ref>Cavanagh 2003, p. 55</ref> The Tower issue of the album also faded out "Interstellar Overdrive" and broke up the segue into "The Gnome" to fit the re-sequencing of the songs. Later US issues on [[compact disc]] had the same title and track list as the UK version. The album was certified Gold in the US as a part of ''[[A Nice Pair]]'' with ''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'' on 11 March 1994.<ref name="Povey 2007 342"/>
About being handled on Tower Records, Jenner commented that: "In terms of the U.K. and Europe it was always fine. America was always difficult. Capitol couldn't see it. You know, 'What is this latest bit of rubbish from England? Oh Christ, it'll give us more grief, so we'll put it out on Tower Records', which was a subsidiary of Capitol Records [...] It was a very cheapskate operation and it was the beginning of endless problems The Floyd had with Capitol. It started off bad and went on being bad."<ref>Cavanagh 2003, pp. 55–56</ref>
=== Packaging ===
[[File:Pink Floyd Their Mortal Remains - 2017-10-13 - Andy Mabbett - 02.jpg|thumb|Vic Singh's lens, used to take the cover picture for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' (displayed at the ''[[Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains]]'' exhibition) ]]
{{quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center |quote=It was unusual and different, and they were delighted with it, and Syd did his own little drawing on the back cover. |source=Vic Singh<ref name=blake92>Blake 2008, p. 92</ref> <!--|align=right--> |width=30% |align=left }}
Up-and-coming society photographer [[Vic Singh]] was hired to photograph the band for the album cover. Singh shared a studio with photographer [[David Bailey (photographer)|David Bailey]], and he was friends with Beatles guitarist [[George Harrison]]. Singh asked Jenner and King to dress the band in the brightest clothes they could find. Singh then shot them with a prism lens that Harrison had given him.<ref name=blake92/> The cover was meant to resemble an LSD trip, a style that was favoured at the time.<ref>{{cite book|last=Carruthers|first=Bob|title=Pink Floyd – Uncensored on the Record|year=2011|publisher=Coda Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-908538-27-7}}</ref> In 2017, the lens was displayed at the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]], as part of the ''[[Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains]]'' exhibition.
Barrett came up with the album title ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''; the album was originally titled ''Projection'' up to as late as July 1967.<ref name=Irgh148-149>Chapman 2010, pp. 148–149</ref> The title was taken from that of chapter seven of [[Kenneth Grahame]]'s ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]''<ref>Cavanagh 2003, pp. 2–3</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Vegro|first=Symon |title=All That You Touch |year=2009 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=9781467897969 |page=78}}</ref> which contains a visionary encounter with the god [[Pan (god)|Pan]], who plays his [[Pan flute|pan pipe]] at dawn.<ref name=Irgh148>Chapman 2010, p. 148</ref> It was one of Barrett's favourite books, and he often gave friends the impression that he was the embodiment of Pan.{{#tag:ref|Barrett believed he had a dream-like experience meeting Pan, with characters from the book. [[Andrew King (music manager)|Andrew King]] said Barrett thought Pan had given him understanding of how nature works.<ref name=DarkG187/><ref>{{cite book|last=Young|first=Rob|title=Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music|year=2011|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=978-1-4299-6589-7|pages=454–455}}</ref>|group="nb"}}<ref name=GW7/><ref>{{cite book|last=Reisch|first=George A.|title=Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful with That Axiom, Eugene!|year=2007|publisher=Open Court|location=Chicago|isbn=978-0-8126-9636-3|edition=3. print.|page=189|quote=It started with a guy named Syd who styled himself a 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' and spent most of the 1960s surrounded by groupies.}}</ref> The moniker was later used in the song "[[Shine On You Crazy Diamond]]", in which Barrett is called "you Piper".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/7188674 |url-access=limited |title=Syd Barrett: Roger 'Syd' Barrett, leader of Pink Floyd, died on July 7th, aged 60 |date=20 July 2006 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |publisher=Economist Newspaper Ltd |volume=380 |page=83 |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113074225/http://www.economist.com/node/7188674 |url-status=live }}</ref> The cover was one of several Pink Floyd album covers used on a series of [[Royal Mail]] stamps issued in May 2016 to commemorate 50 years of Pink Floyd.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36382247 | title=Royal Mail unveils stamps to mark 50 years of Pink Floyd | work=BBC News | date=26 May 2016 | access-date=26 May 2016 | archive-date=26 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526021804/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36382247 | url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2018, the album was reissued in its mono mix. With this version came with a new packaging box with the original record cover inside. This new design was done by [[Hipgnosis]]' [[Aubrey Powell (designer)|Aubrey Powell]] and Peter Curzon and includes a gold-embossed version of the graphic by Syd Barrett which features on the back cover of the original LP.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/pink-floyds-piper-gates-dawn-gets-new-mono-remaster-103718 |title=Pink Floyd's the Piper at the Gates of Dawn gets new mono remaster |date=6 March 2018 |access-date=7 March 2018 |archive-date=6 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306172130/http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/pink-floyds-piper-gates-dawn-gets-new-mono-remaster-103718 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Critical reception ===
At the time of release, both ''[[Record Mirror]]'' and ''[[NME]]'' gave the album four stars out of five. ''Record Mirror'' commented that "[t]he psychedelic image of the group really comes to life, record wise, on this LP which is a fine showcase for both their talent and the recording technique. Plenty of mind blowing sound, both blatant and subtle here, and the whole thing is extremely well performed."<ref>{{cite web |last=McAlwane |first=Jim |title=August 1967 |work=Marmalade Skies |url=http://marmalade-skies.co.uk:80/aug1967.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115042636/http://marmalade-skies.co.uk/aug1967.htm |archive-date=15 January 2007 |access-date=7 May 2017 |url-status=dead}} Review originally published in ''[[Record Mirror]]'' in August 1967, no author cited.</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' called it "a particularly striking collection of driving, up-to-date rock ventures".<ref>Povey 2007, p. 66</ref> [[Paul McCartney]]<ref name=toby36/> and Pink Floyd's previous producer [[Joe Boyd]] both rated the album highly. Some voiced the opinion of the underground fans, by suggesting that the album did not reflect the band's live performances.<ref name=Irgh171/>
{{clear}}
==Legacy==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[About.com]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://classicrock.about.com/od/artistsnz/fr/floydpiperset.htm |title=Pink Floyd&nbsp;– Review of 40th Anniversary Edition of ''Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' by Pink Floyd |last=White |first=Dave |work=[[About.com]] |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712055038/http://classicrock.about.com/od/artistsnz/fr/floydpiperset.htm |url-status=deviated }}</ref>
| rev2 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-mw0000191309 |title=''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''&nbsp;– Pink Floyd: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: AllMusic |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=9 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009211704/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-mw0000191309 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|date=20 May 2014|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8790376/Pink-Floyds-14-studio-albums-rated.html|title=Pink Floyd's 14 studio albums rated|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|access-date=27 December 2014|archive-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227153821/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/8790376/Pink-Floyds-14-studio-albums-rated.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857125958 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=pink+floyd&pg=RA3-PA2005-IA45 |access-date=22 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=21 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521211918/https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=pink+floyd&pg=RA3-PA2005-IA45 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev5 = [[MusicHound]]
| rev5score = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite book | editor-last1 = Graff | editor-first1 = Gary | editor-last2 = Durchholz | editor-first2 = Daniel | title = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | publisher = Visible Ink Press | location = Farmington Hills, MI | year = 1999 | page = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/872 872] | isbn = 1-57859-061-2 | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/872 }}
</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = 9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/pink-floyd/8935 |title=''NME'' Album Reviews&nbsp;– Pink Floyd&nbsp;– ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''&nbsp;– nme.com |date=4 September 2007 |work=[[NME|nme.com]] |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102041320/http://www.nme.com/reviews/pink-floyd/8935 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''
| rev7score = 9.5/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/09/pink-floyd-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-why-pink-flo.html |title=Pink Floyd: ''Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' ("Why Pink Floyd?" Reissue) :: Music :: Reviews :: ''Paste'' |last=Deusner |first=Stephen |date=28 September 2011 |work=[[Paste (magazine)|pastemagazine.com]] |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=5 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205164224/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/09/pink-floyd-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-why-pink-flo.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev8score = 9.4/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10643-the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-40th-anniversary-edition/ |title=Pink Floyd: ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' (40th Anniversary Edition) <nowiki>| Album Reviews |</nowiki> Pitchfork |last=Klein |first=Joshua |date=18 September 2007 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=10 October 2012 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020091620/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10643-the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-40th-anniversary-edition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Q">{{cite journal |date=January 1995 |title=Review: ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |page=275}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="RSguide">{{cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/pink-floyd/albumguide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217230328/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/pink-floyd/albumguide|title=Pink Floyd: Album Guide|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner|Wenner Media]], [[Fireside Books]]|date=2 November 2004|archive-date=17 February 2011|access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
}}
"When I first heard their music, I wasn't terribly impressed," recalled then-EMI employee [[Alan Parsons]]. "I was working at ''[EMI's headquarters]'' [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]] and the ''Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' album came to me for duplication. And I was thinking if this was to be the music of the future, I wasn't looking forward to it. But, like a lot of stuff, you get to like bits of it over a long period."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Cunningham|title=The other side of the moon|magazine=Making Music|date=January 1995|page=18}}</ref>
In 1999, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it "the golden achievement of Syd Barrett". In 2003, it was ranked number 347 on the magazine's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", maintaining that rank in the 2012 update and climbing to number 253 in the 2020 reboot of the list.<ref name="rollingstone1">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/pink-floyd-the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-19691231 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Pink Floyd, <nowiki>'</nowiki>''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''<nowiki>' |</nowiki> ''Rolling Stone'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=12 June 2012 |archive-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604061659/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/pink-floyd-the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-19691231 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RS2020" />
''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' is hailed as a psychedelic masterpiece and [[LSD]] is named as a direct influence.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=MacDonald|editor-first=Bruno|title=Pink Floyd: Through the Eyes of&nbsp;– the Band, its Fans, Friends, and Foes|year=1996|publisher=Da Capo Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-306-80780-0|page=11}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] called it one of the greatest psychedelic albums of all-time, and described it as "full of colorful, childlike, distinctly British whimsy, albeit filtered through the perceptive lens of LSD," adding that "Barrett's catchy, melodic [[acid pop]] songs are balanced with longer, more experimental pieces showcasing the group's instrumental freak-outs."<ref name="AM"/>
James E. Perone says that ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' became known as a [[concept album]] in later years, because listeners wanted to play it all the way through rather than pick out a favourite song.<ref>{{cite book|last=Perone|first=James E.|title=Music of The Counterculture Era|year=2004|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, Conn. [u.a.]|isbn=978-0-313-32689-9|edition=1. publ.|page=24}}</ref> While Beatles biographer [[Philip Norman (author)|Philip Norman]] agrees that ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' is a concept album,<ref>{{cite book|last=Norman|first=Philip|title=John Lennon: The Life|year=2009|publisher=Ecco|location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-075402-0|edition=1st Ecco pbk.|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnlennonlife00norm/page/498 498]|url=https://archive.org/details/johnlennonlife00norm/page/498}}</ref> other authors contend that Pink Floyd did not start making concept albums until 1973's ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]''. Author George Reisch called Pink Floyd the "undisputed" kings of the concept album, but only starting from ''Dark Side''.<ref>Reisch 2007, p. 144</ref> In July 2006, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' as "one of the best [[psychedelic rock]] albums ever, driven by [[Syd Barrett|Barrett's]] oddball narratives and the band's skill with both long jams and perfect pop nuggets".<ref name="Billboard2006">{{cite magazine |title= Pink Floyd Co-Founder Syd Barrett Dies at 60 |date= 11 July 2006 |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57867/pink-floyd-co-founder-syd-barrett-dies-at-60 |access-date= 19 July 2016 |archive-date= 14 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171014122231/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57867/pink-floyd-co-founder-syd-barrett-dies-at-60 |url-status= live }}</ref>
=== Reissues ===
''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was reissued in the UK in 1979 as a stereo vinyl album,{{#tag:ref|UK EMI Fame FA 3065{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}}|group="nb"}} and on CD in the UK and US in 1985.{{#tag:ref|UK EMI CDP 7463842, US Capitol CDP 7463842{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}}>|group="nb"}} A digitally remastered stereo CD, with new artwork, was released in the US in 1994,{{#tag:ref|US Capitol CDP 7463844{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}}|group="nb"}} and in 1997 limited edition 30th anniversary mono editions were released in the UK, on CD and vinyl.{{#tag:ref|UK EMI LP EMP 1110, EMI CD EMP 1110{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}}|group="nb"}}{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=342}} The latter included a selection of art prints, and a six-track bonus CD, ''[[1967: The First Three Singles]]''.{{sfn|Povey|2007|pp=342,354}}
In 1973, the album, along with ''[[A Saucerful of Secrets]]'', was released as a two-disc set on Capitol/EMI's [[Harvest Records]] label, titled ''[[A Nice Pair]]'' to introduce fans to the band's early work after the success of ''[[The Dark Side of the Moon]]''.{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=352}} On the US release, the original four-minute studio version of "Astronomy Dominé" was replaced with the eight-minute live version found on ''[[Ummagumma]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |author1-link=Martin Popoff |title=Pink Floyd |date=2018 |publisher=Voyageur Press |location=Beverly, Massachusetts |isbn=9780760360620 |page=21 |chapter=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn}}</ref>
For the 40th anniversary, a two-disc edition was released on 28 August 2007,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn [40th Anniversary 2-CD Edition] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-40th-anniversary-2-cd-edition--mr0000715350 |website=AllMusic |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302175400/https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-40th-anniversary-2-cd-edition--mr0000715350 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a three-disc set was released on 11 September.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn [3-CD Deluxe Edition] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-3-cd-deluxe-edition--mr0001314898 |website=AllMusic |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302175400/https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn-3-cd-deluxe-edition--mr0001314898#review |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was remastered and re-released on 26 September 2011.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=DeCurtis |first=Anthony |date=11 May 2011 |title=Pink Floyd announce massive reissue project |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-announce-massive-reissue-project-187577/ |access-date=26 February 2023 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US |archive-date=26 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226173236/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pink-floyd-announce-massive-reissue-project-187577/ |url-status=live}}</ref>  For [[Record Store Day]] 2018, ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'' was reissued in its mono mix with a bespoke envelope package containing the original cover art.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/pink-floyds-piper-gates-dawn-gets-new-mono-remaster-103718|title=Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn gets new mono remaster|last=Richards|first=Sam|date=6 March 2018|website=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|publisher=[[Time Inc. UK]]|access-date=6 March 2018|archive-date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306172130/http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/pink-floyds-piper-gates-dawn-gets-new-mono-remaster-103718|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Live performances ==
The band promoted the album with a series of concerts. They played dates in [[Ireland]] and [[Scandinavia]], and in late October the band was to embark on their first tour of the United States. It was unsuccessful, mainly because of the mental breakdown of Barrett.<ref name="Mason95-105"/> In his capacity as tour manager, Andrew King travelled to New York to begin preparations, but he ran into serious problems. [[Visa (document)|Visas]] had not arrived, prompting the cancellation of the first six dates.<ref name=blake94/> The band finally flew across the Atlantic on 1 November, but work permits were not yet obtained, so they settled into a hotel in [[Sausalito, California]], just north of [[San Francisco]].<ref name=povey4-5>Povey 2007, pp. 4–5</ref> After a number of cancellations, the first US performance was given 4 November at [[Winterland Ballroom]], following [[Janis Joplin]] fronting [[Big Brother and the Holding Company]].<ref name=povey4-5/>
Communication between record company and band was almost non-existent, and Pink Floyd's relationship with Tower and Capitol was therefore poor. Barrett's mental condition mirrored the problems that King encountered;<ref name="Schaffner88-90"/> when the band performed at Winterland, he detuned his guitar during "Interstellar Overdrive" until the strings fell off. His odd behaviour grew worse in subsequent performances, and during a television recording for ''[[Pat Boone|The Pat Boone Show]]'' he confounded the director by [[lip-sync]]ing "[[Apples and Oranges (song)|Apples and Oranges]]" perfectly during the rehearsal, and then standing motionless during the take. King quickly curtailed the band's US visit, sending them home on the next flight.<ref name="Schaffner91-92"/>
Shortly after their return from the US, beginning 14 November, the band supported [[Jimi Hendrix]] on a tour of England,<ref name="Schaffner91-92"/> but on one occasion Barrett failed to turn up and they were forced to replace him with singer/guitarist [[David O'List]] borrowed from the opening band [[the Nice]].<ref name="Mason95-105"/> Barrett's depression worsened the longer the tour continued.<ref name="Schaffner94">Schaffner 2005, p. 94</ref> Longtime Pink Floyd psychedelic lighting designer Peter Wynne-Willson left at the end of the Hendrix tour, though he sympathised with Barrett, whose position as frontman was increasingly insecure. Wynne-Willson, who had worked for a percentage, was replaced by his assistant John Marsh, who collected a lesser wage.<ref name=blake102>Blake 2008, p. 102</ref> Pink Floyd released "Apples and Oranges" (recorded prior to the US tour on 26 and 27 October)<ref name=Irgh189>Chapman 2010, p. 189</ref> but, for the rest of the band, Barrett's condition had reached a crisis point, and they responded by adding [[David Gilmour]] to their line-up, initially to cover for Syd's lapses during live performances.<ref name="Mason95-105"/>
Some songs on the album were rarely played live.<ref name=Irgh185>Chapman 2010, p. 185</ref> "Flaming" and "Pow R. Toc H." were performed by Pink Floyd after Barrett's departure in 1968.{{sfn|Povey|2007|pp=94-95}} After September 1967, the band played several new compositions in concert. These included "[[One in a Million (Pink Floyd song)|One in a Million]]", "[[Scream Thy Last Scream]]", "[[Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun]]" and "[[Reaction in G]]", the last of which was a song created by the band in response to crowds asking for their hit singles "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Layne".<ref name=Irgh192-193>Chapman 2010, pp. 192–193</ref> Barrett resurrected the track "Lucifer Sam" with his short-lived 1972 band [[Stars (British band)|Stars]].<ref name="sbpf">{{cite web|url=http://www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com/2010/02/syd-barrett-stars-its-so-long-ago-now.html|title=Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Psychedelic Music Progressive Music: Syd Barrett Stars – Everything (So Far)|publisher=Sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814104115/http://www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com/2010/02/syd-barrett-stars-its-so-long-ago-now.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Astronomy Dominé" was later on the live disc of ''[[Ummagumma]]'' (1969),<ref name="schaffner156">Schaffner 2005, p. 156</ref><ref name="Mabbett-3">{{Cite book |publisher=Omnibus |isbn=978-1-84938-370-7 |page=160 |last=Mabbett |first=Andy |title=Pink Floyd&nbsp;– The Music and the Mystery |location=London |year=2010}}</ref> and adopted by the post-Waters Pink Floyd during the 1994 [[The Division Bell Tour|Division Bell Tour]], with a version included on the 1995 live album ''[[Pulse (Pink Floyd album)|Pulse]]''.{{sfn|Povey|2007|p=270}} David Gilmour, though not a member of Pink Floyd at the time the song was originally recorded, resurrected "Astronomy Dominé" for his ''[[On an Island]]'' and ''[[Rattle That Lock]]'' tours.
== Track listing ==
===UK release===
All tracks are written and sung by [[Syd Barrett]], unless otherwise noted.
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Astronomy Domine|Astronomy Dominé]]
| length1 = 4:12
| writer1 =
| extra1 = Barrett and [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
| title2 = [[Lucifer Sam]]
| length2 = 3:07
| writer2 =
| title3 = [[Matilda Mother]]
| length3 = 3:08
| writer3 =
| extra3 = Wright and Barrett
| title4 = [[Flaming (song)|Flaming]]
| length4 = 2:46
| writer4 =
| title5 = [[Pow R. Toc H.]]
| length5 = 4:26
| writer5 = {{flatlist|
* Barrett
* [[Roger Waters]]
* Wright
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra5 = ''instrumental, wordless vocals by Barrett, Waters and Wright''
| title6 = Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
| length6 = 3:05
| writer6 = Waters
| extra6 = Waters
| total_length = 20:44
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Interstellar Overdrive]]
| length1 = 9:41
| writer1 = {{flatlist|
* Barrett
* Waters
* Wright
* Mason}}
| extra1 = ''instrumental''
| title2 = [[The Gnome]]
| length2 = 2:13
| writer2 =
| title3 = [[Chapter 24]]
| length3 = 3:42
| writer3 =
| title4 = [[The Scarecrow (song)|The Scarecrow]]
| length4 = 2:11
| writer4 =
| title5 = [[Bike (song)|Bike]]
| length5 = 3:21
| writer5 =
| total_length = 21:08 41:54
}}
===UK 8-track release===
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| headline = Program 1
| title1 = [[Astronomy Domine|Astronomy Dominé]]
| extra1 = Barrett and Wright
| title2 = [[Lucifer Sam]]
| extra2 = Barrett
| title3 = [[Matilda Mother]]
| extra3 = Wright and Barrett
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| headline = Program 2
| title1 = [[Flaming (song)|Flaming]]
| extra1 = Barrett
| title2 = [[Pow R. Toc H.]]
| writer2 = {{flatlist|
* [[Syd Barrett]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra2 = ''instrumental, wordless vocals by Barrett, Waters and Wright''
| title3 = [[Bike (song)|Bike]]
| extra3 = Barrett
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| headline = Program 3
| title1 = Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
| writer1 = Waters
| extra1 = Waters
| title2 = [[Chapter 24]]
| extra2 = Barrett
| title3 = [[The Scarecrow (song)|The Scarecrow]]
| extra3 = Barrett
| title4 = [[Interstellar Overdrive]]—Part 1
| writer4 = {{flatlist|
* [[Syd Barrett]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra4 = instrumental
| total_length =
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| headline = Program 4
| title1 = [[Interstellar Overdrive]]—Conclusion
| writer1 = {{flatlist|
* [[Syd Barrett]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra1 = instrumental
| title2 = [[The Gnome]]
| extra2 = Barrett
| total_length =
}}
===US release===
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline = Side one
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[See Emily Play]]
| length1 = 2:53
| writer1 =
| extra1 = Barrett
| title2 = Pow R. Toc H.
| length2 = 4:26
| writer2 = {{flatlist|
* [[Syd Barrett]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra2 = ''instrumental''
| title3 = Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
| length3 = 3:05
| writer3 = Waters
| extra3 = Waters
| title4 = Lucifer Sam
| length4 = 3:07
| writer4 =
| extra4 = Barrett
| title5 = Matilda Mother
| length5 = 3:08
| writer5 =
| extra5 = Barrett and Wright
| total_length = 16:39
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = The Scarecrow
| length1 = 2:11
| writer1 =
| extra1 = Barrett
| title2 = The Gnome
| length2 = 2:13
| writer2 =
| extra2 = Barrett
| title3 = Chapter 24
| length3 = 3:42
| writer3 =
| extra3 = Barrett
| title4 = Interstellar Overdrive
| length4 = 9:41
| writer4 = {{flatlist|
* [[Syd Barrett]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]
* [[Nick Mason]]}}
| extra4 = ''instrumental''
| total_length = 17:47
}}
===40th anniversary edition===
Released in 2007, some releases have 2 CDs (first CD in mono and second CD with same tracks in stereo) and some releases include the third CD.
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc one (in mono)
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = Astronomy Dominé
| extra1 = Barrett, Wright
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = Lucifer Sam
| extra2 = Barrett
| length2 = 3:09
| title3 = Matilda Mother
| extra3 = Wright, Barrett
| length3 = 3:05
| title4 = Flaming
| extra4 = Barrett
| length4 = 2:46
| title5 = Pow R. Toc H.
| note5 = Barrett, Roger Waters, Wright, Nick Mason
| extra5 = Instrumental, wordless vocals by Barrett, Waters
| length5 = 4:24
| title6 = Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
| note6 = Waters
| extra6 = Waters
| length6 = 3:07
| title7 = Interstellar Overdrive
| note7 = Barrett, Waters, Wright, Mason
| extra7 = Instrumental
| length7 = 9:41
| title8 = The Gnome
| extra8 = Barrett
| length8 = 2:14
| title9 = Chapter 24
| extra9 = Barrett
| length9 = 3:53
| title10 = The Scarecrow
| extra10 = Barrett
| length10 = 2:10
| title11 = Bike
| extra11 = Barrett
| length11 = 3:27
| all_writing =
| total_length = 42:13
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc two (in stereo)
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = Astronomy Dominé
| extra1 = Barrett, Wright
| length1 = 4:14
| title2 = Lucifer Sam
| extra2 = Barrett
| length2 = 3:07
| title3 = Matilda Mother
| extra3 = Wright, Barrett
| length3 = 3:08
| title4 = Flaming
| extra4 = Barrett
| length4 = 2:46
| title5 = Pow R. Toc H.
| note5 = Barrett, Roger Waters, Wright, Nick Mason
| extra5 = Instrumental, wordless vocals by Barrett, Waters
| length5 = 4:26
| title6 = Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
| note6 = Waters
| extra6 = Waters
| length6 = 3:06
| title7 = Interstellar Overdrive
| note7 = Barrett, Waters, Wright, Mason
| extra7 = Instrumental
| length7 = 9:40
| title8 = The Gnome
| extra8 = Barrett
| length8 = 2:13
| title9 = Chapter 24
| extra9 = Barrett
| length9 = 3:42
| title10 = The Scarecrow
| extra10 = Barrett
| length10 = 2:11
| title11 = Bike
| extra11 = Barrett
| length11 = 3:24
| all_writing =
| total_length = 41:57
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc three
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Arnold Layne]]
| extra1 = Barrett
| length1 = 2:57
| title2 = [[Candy and a Currant Bun]]
| extra2 = Barrett
| length2 = 2:45
| title3 = See Emily Play
| extra3 = Barrett
| length3 = 2:54
| title4 = [[Apples and Oranges (song)|Apples and Oranges]]
| extra4 = Barrett
| length4 = 3:05
| title5 = [[Paint Box (song)|Paintbox]]
| note5 = Wright
| extra5 = Wright
| length5 = 3:45
| title6 = Interstellar Overdrive (Take 2) (French Edit)
| extra6 = Instrumental
| length6 = 5:15
| title7 = Apples and Oranges (Stereo Version)
| extra7 = Barrett
| length7 = 3:11
| title8 = Matilda Mother (Alternative Version)
| extra8 = Barrett
| length8 = 3:09
| title9 = Interstellar Overdrive (Take 6)
| extra9 = Instrumental
| length9 = 5:03
| all_writing =
| total_length = 32:04
}}
== Personnel ==
Numbers noted in parentheses below are based on original UK album tracklist and CD track numbering.
'''Pink Floyd'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn |others=Pink Floyd |year=1967 |publisher=EMI |id=SCX6157 |url=http://www.minilps.net/images/stories/shop_image/product/pink-floyd-piper-gates-dawn-back-cover.jpg |access-date=12 September 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025727/http://www.minilps.net/images/stories/shop_image/product/pink-floyd-piper-gates-dawn-back-cover.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Syd Barrett]]&nbsp;– vocals, electric guitar {{small|(1–7, 9–11)}}, acoustic guitar {{small|(4, 5, 8, 10)}}, [[percussion]] {{small|(4)}}
* [[Nick Mason]]&nbsp;– drums {{small|(1–7, 11)}}, [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] {{small|(2, 4, 5, 8–11)}}
* [[Roger Waters]]&nbsp;– bass guitar {{small|(all tracks)}}; slide whistle {{small|(4)}}, percussion {{small|(4)}}, gong {{small|(9)}}, vocals
* [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]]&nbsp;– [[Farfisa|Farfisa Combo Compact organ]] {{small|(1–7, 9, 10)}}, piano {{small|(2, 5, 9, 11)}}, [[Hammond organ]] {{small|(2, 3, 4, 7)}}, [[tack piano]] {{small|(4, 11)}}, [[harmonium]] {{small|(9, 11)}}, [[celesta]] {{small|(8, 11)}}, [[cello]] {{small|(9, 10)}}, [[Lowrey organ]] {{small|(4)}},  [[percussion]] {{small|(4)}}, [[vibraphone]] {{small|(8)}}, [[pianet|Hohner Pianet]] {{small|(9)}}, violin {{small|(11)}}, vocals
'''Production'''
* Syd Barrett&nbsp;– rear cover design
* Peter Bown&nbsp;– [[Audio engineer|engineering]]
* [[Peter Jenner]]&nbsp;– intro vocalisations {{small|(1)}}<ref name=DarkG206-207>Palacios 2010, pp. 206–207</ref>
* Vic Singh&nbsp;– front cover photography
* [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]]&nbsp;– [[Record producer|production]], vocal and instrumental arrangements, drum roll {{small|(7)}}<ref name=Irgh170>Chapman 2010, p. 170</ref>
* [[Doug Sax]], James Guthrie – 1994 remastering at The Mastering Lab<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn|others=Pink Floyd |year=1994 |type=Booklet |publisher=Capitol Records (CDP 0777 7 46384 2 5)}}</ref>
* James Guthrie, Joel Plante – 40th Anniversary Edition and 2011 remastering at das boot recording<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn|others=Pink Floyd |year=2007 |type=Booklet |publisher=EMI (50999-503919-2-9)}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn|others=Pink Floyd |year=2011 |type=Booklet |publisher=Capitol Records (50999 028935 2 5)}}</ref>
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+1968 weekly chart performance for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''
! scope="col"| Chart (1968)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|UK|6|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|131|artist= Pink Floyd|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+1997 weekly chart performance for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''
! scope="col"| Chart (1997)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|60|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|44|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2007 weekly chart performance for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''
! scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|28|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|39|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Czech|34|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|week=1838|rowheader=true|access-date=27 November 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|46|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|48|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|id=5921|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Italy|16|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|10|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Poland|38|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|id=416|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Spain|70|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|43|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|87|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|22|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2011 weekly chart performance for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''
! scope="col"| Chart (2011)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|France|150|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+2022 weekly chart performance for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''
! scope="col"| Chart (2022)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|48|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|id=5921|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|15|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|year=2022|week=10|rowheader=true|access-date=21 April 2023}}
|}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''The Piper at the Gates of Dawn''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|award=Gold|certyear=2017|access-date=30 January 2017|relyear=1967}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Piper at the Gates of Dawn|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2016|id=12147-1497-2|note=1994 release|access-date=12 August 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
==Cultural references==
* The album ''[[Klaus Schulze#"The Dark Side of the Moog"|The Dark Side of the Moog IV]]'' (1996) by [[Klaus Schulze]] and [[Pete Namlook]] is subtitled "Three Pipers at the Gates of Dawn".
== References ==
'''Footnotes'''
{{reflist|group="nb"}}
'''Citations'''
{{reflist}}
'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Povey |first=Glenn |title=Echoes : The Complete History of Pink Floyd |year=2007 |publisher=Mind Head Publishing |isbn=978-0-9554624-0-5 |edition=New }}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{Discogs master|19546}}
{{The Piper at the Gates of Dawn}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The}}
[[Category:1967 debut albums]]
[[Category:Pink Floyd albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Norman Smith (record producer)]]
[[Category:EMI Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:EMI Records albums]]
[[Category:Tower Records albums]]
[[Category:Experimental rock albums]]
[[Category:Psychedelic pop albums]]
[[Category:Experimental rock albums by English artists]]