RARE EARLY U.K. PRESSING with silver/black Columbia labels

SCARCE & SOUGHT vintage LAMINATED BRITISH Collectible (((COLUMBIA RECORDS))) from approx 43 years ago...... the second 1968 Pink Floyd album delving into space explorations -- The last PINK FLOYD rise of Syd Barrett ...

AS most all know, A Saucerful Of Secrets" was Pink Floyd's second album effort, released 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, reminisant of typical Beatles-esque 60's popsike. "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.

With all said, and / or speculated, a very interesting album, to say the least.

Let there be more light (5:38)
Remember a day (4:33) 
Set the controls for the heart of the sun (5:28)
Corporal Clegg (4:12)
A saucerful of secrets (11:57) 
See-saw (4:36) 
Jugband blues (2:59)

CONDITION: The cover is very fragile and clean...the front cover is rated "EX" (excellent) all laminated with striking colors (way better than USA issue)...The back cover (non laminated) has a trace of shelf wear just beginning, strong VG++ that shouldn't bother most. no split seams, no delete marks, no writing, and no crinkles in the lamination like you usually see with 40_ year old overseas artifacts of this nature.... and those colors are bright and vibrant...

The vinyl both sides all glossy; TOPS = clean near M- has excellent enjoyable audio ... both UK Columbia labels are clean ...