Flaming (Pink Floyd song)
Encyclopedia
"Flaming" is a song by psychedelic rock
band Pink Floyd
, and is featured in their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
. The song, written by Syd Barrett
, is basically a child-like game scenario between two friends, hence "Lazing in the foggy dew". After David Gilmour
joined the band, the song remained in the playlist for a short while in 1968.
Pink Floyd single (Tower 378). The single did not chart. The mono U.S. single mix of "Flaming" is slightly edited from other stereo or mono versions of the recording. This U.S. single was released in place of "Apples and Oranges
" backed with (b/w) "Paint Box" which had then just recently failed to break into the United Kingdom
charts.
It was the first of two U.S. Pink Floyd singles released on the Tower Records
label that were not released on a single in the U.K. The other U.S. single not released in the U.K. was "Let There Be More Light
" b/w "Remember a Day
" (Tower 440).
In this song, reference is made to an eiderdown
. Several other Pink Floyd songs contain such a reference, including "Julia Dream
" and "A Pillow of Winds
".
played by Roger Waters
.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, and is featured in their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the debut album by the English rock group Pink Floyd, and the only one made under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics about space, scarecrows, gnomes, bicycles and fairy tales, along with psychedelic instrumental songs...
. The song, written by Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
, is basically a child-like game scenario between two friends, hence "Lazing in the foggy dew". After David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
joined the band, the song remained in the playlist for a short while in 1968.
Information
This was also the third United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Pink Floyd single (Tower 378). The single did not chart. The mono U.S. single mix of "Flaming" is slightly edited from other stereo or mono versions of the recording. This U.S. single was released in place of "Apples and Oranges
Apples and Oranges (song)
"Apples and Oranges" is the third United Kingdom single by Pink Floyd and the final one written by Syd Barrett. The B-side was "Paint Box" written by Richard Wright. The song is about a girl whom the narrator meets at the supermarket...
" backed with (b/w) "Paint Box" which had then just recently failed to break into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charts.
It was the first of two U.S. Pink Floyd singles released on the Tower Records
Tower Records (record label)
Tower Records was a record label from 1964 to 1970. A subsidiary of Capitol Records, Tower often released music by artists who were relatively low profile in comparison to those released on the parent label, including a number of artists—such as The Standells and The Chocolate Watch Band—later...
label that were not released on a single in the U.K. The other U.S. single not released in the U.K. was "Let There Be More Light
Let There Be More Light
"Let There Be More Light" is the opening track on Pink Floyd's second album A Saucerful of Secrets. It was also released in edited form as the fourth US single by the group. A rare US-only single release contains edited mono versions of this song and "Remember a Day". The single did not chart...
" b/w "Remember a Day
Remember a Day
"Remember a Day" is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, and is featured on their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets . The song, written and sung by Richard Wright, was recorded in October 1967 at De Lane Lea Studios in London, England...
" (Tower 440).
In this song, reference is made to an eiderdown
Eiderdown
Eiderdown can refer to:* The down feathers of the eider duck* A kind of comforter or quilt...
. Several other Pink Floyd songs contain such a reference, including "Julia Dream
Julia Dream
"Julia Dream" is the B-side of the Pink Floyd single "It Would Be So Nice". It was later issued on several compilation albums: The Best of the Pink Floyd, Relics, and The Early Singles disc included in the Shine On box set...
" and "A Pillow of Winds
A Pillow of Winds
"A Pillow of Winds" is the second track from Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle.According to the 1996 Pink Floyd history book by Cliff Jones, the band felt that "One of These Days" was such a powerful track that they needed to bring everyone down with something gentle. The song is a soft acoustic...
".
Alternative and live versions
Post-Barrett live incarnations of the song are often mocked by fans; its happy, surreal lyrics were entirely different from anything in Pink Floyd's setlist that year, and the lead vocals were delivered by David Gilmour in an unenthusiastic manner (video bootlegs of the song in 1968 show Gilmour with a bored expression on his face as he sang it). A David Gilmour version was shown on French television. The song opened with a very uncharacteristic slide whistleSlide whistle
A slide whistle is a wind instrument consisting of a fipple like a recorder's and a tube with a piston in it. Thus it has an air reed like some woodwinds, but varies the pitch with a slide. The construction is rather like a bicycle pump...
played by Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
.
Personnel
- Syd BarrettSyd BarrettSyd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
— guitar and lead vocals - Richard WrightRichard Wright (musician)Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
— keyboards and backing vocals - Roger WatersRoger WatersGeorge Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
— bass, slide whistle and backing vocals - Nick MasonNick MasonNicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
— drums and percussion