I’m continuing my education on early Pink Floyd. Love what I’m hearing. This one is so sixties that you can smell the incense.
When I first heard this I thought one thing…sixties James Bond…and there is not more cooler than that. Cool guitar riff to open this one up.
It was on Pink Floyd’s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It was written by Syd Barrett.
This song is essentially an ode to Syd Barrett’s cat, Sam. However, it was rumored that it might refer to another man in some kind of relationship with Jenny Spires, who was Barrett’s girlfriend at the time.
In the line, ” Jennifer Gentle you’re a witch,” “Jennifer Gentile” is said to refer to Spires.
Jenny Spires
Rob Chapman, A Very Irregular Head – The Life of Syd Barrett‘Lucifer Sam’ is the odd track out on the Piper album. Neither lengthy instrumental nor three-minute fairy tale, its taut style is a throwback to the Floyd’s earlier raw R&B. ‘Lucifer Sam’ has a compact form and driving riff that would have made it a prime candidate for a single (or at least a perfectly serviceable B-side) if there hadn’t already been stronger contenders. It’s a character song like ‘Arnold Layne’ rather than a still-life study like ’The Scarecrow,’ and by Syd’s oblique standards it is specific and direct. Jenny Spires appears thinly disguised as Jennifer Gentle and although the whole thing wiffs of stoned paranoia (‘that cat’s something I can’t explain’ – it’s just a cat, Syd, there really is nothing to explain) and menacing undertones it also possesses a nimble and playful wit.
Lucifer Sam
Lucifer Sam, Siam cat
Always sitting by your side
Always by your side
That cat’s something I can’t explain
Jennifer Gentle you’re a witch
You’re the left side
He’s the right side
Oh, no!
That cat’s something I can’t explain
Lucifer go to sea
Be a hip cat, be a ship’s cat
Somewhere, anywhere
That cat’s something I can’t explain
At night prowling sifting sand
Hiding around on the ground
He’ll be found when you’re around
That cat’s something I can’t explain
…
Barrett on fire, singing about a ginger Siamese pussy named Jennifer! Mixes in some magik references with Nautical allusions and packs it with some great music.
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Love the guitar riff that drives the train on this song.
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Yep! Awesome, exciting riff – weird and yet melodious! A typical Barrett composition from the ’67 “Piper At The Gates Of Dawn” album.
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Your post the other day put me back on track for this. I grew up with the 70’s Floyd Arena music…this is fresh for me.
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From today’s perspective, “The Piper At The Gate Of Dawn” may sound a bit dusty, but back then it was a musical revelation. The Beatles and Rolling Stones also incorporated elements of psychedelic music into their music in the years 1966-1968. But only built-in and rudimentary, and their results sound good, but lack the radicalism and consistency of Pink Floyd of that time.
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Yea the Beatles and Stones made it more accessible.
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The first video reminds me of the Pink Panther animation scenes.
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Rather cool! I like the guitars and overall sound. Would’ve fit right in with ‘The Wall’, LOL ! (before naysayers pipe in, I’d probably rather listen to an album of this than The Wall)
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I really love the James Bond guitar. The Pink Floyd version is a great sample of what I love about early PF.
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It’s great finding all of this….now I’m seeing why they ended up where they did music wise.
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67 was a colossal year for rock music. Piper is, if not the best, (it’s probably the best) in the top 5 or 6 along with Are You Experienced, The Who Sell Out, Something Else by the Kinks, Velvet Underground and Nico, and Between the Buttons. Monumental year, monumental album.
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I love what I’m hearing off of it right now. Now I see how and why they ended up where they did.
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I have never truly dived into Floyd. I have a few vinyl, but still haven’t really explored anything. Someday I will do it.
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Barrett is great – shame he only really made two albums while he was cogent.
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Great tune – experimental and kind of catchy at the same time. And certainly very different from “Wish You Were Here” and “Dark Side.”
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Great song. Yeah…very James Bond-y. Loved the Rat Catcher animation.
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I liked it so much I started to watch a James Bond movie…I have all of them except a few of the new…I just don’t get into a stubby blonde Bond…
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I know some folks that won’t go past Connery.
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I will…I’ll go to Moore! I’m advanced! lol. They started to get silly in the 90s…invisible cars….but the modern ones have no gadgets…at least the ones I saw.
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I liked Connery, to a point (watching re-runs). I liked the one George Lazenby flick. I grew up with Moore and I thought they were a tad cheesy. I liked Dalton & Brosnan. I have seen pieces of Craig’s stuff. He is more stiff than Connery.
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I do like that one also…George wasn’t bad…he just listened to the wrong people…he could have had Moore’s career if he would have just done it. I like some of Moores…it depends on which ones. The writing got iffy there.
I liked Dalton a lot…I wish he would have done more. By the time Brosnan did it…the writing had gone to hell.
Yea Connery was the man
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Yep.
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How have you been doing Miss Vic?
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Email…
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oki doki
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I never would have guessed it was PF. It does sound James Bond and the video looks like Pink Panther style.
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Lisa I’m really liking this Syd Barrett era…it’s different.
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Yeah Syd had a certain style that worked for me and it also worked for the band. This going back to the very beginning Max. You are exploring the vaults.
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I never knew their music before the early seventies…and I’m loving what I’m finding.
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I’m paying attention to you musical journey. I think I told you I came on board with ‘Meddle’ and then went back to this stuff. Plus picked up Syd’s sole stuff. If it grabs you, you’ll be in for lots of music. ‘Interstellar Overdrive’ is a fave instrumental for me.
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