Point Me at the Sky
Encyclopedia
"Point Me at the Sky" is the fifth United Kingdom
single by the British band Pink Floyd
, released on 17 December 1968. The song was an early collaboration by bassist Roger Waters
and guitarist David Gilmour
. The single was not released in the United States
However, it was released by Capitol Records in Canada (catalog number 72563) as well as in Japan, and some European countries. The vocals on the verse of the song are sung by Gilmour, and the bridge vocals are shared between Gilmour and Waters.
Point Me at the Sky has since become the least readily available of all officially released Pink Floyd recordings. It was left out of the 1971 collection Relics
and was not re-issued until the 1992 CD collection The Early Singles, a bonus disc in the Shine On
box set.
Because it was not intended for album release all available versions of this recording are a mono mix. There has never been a stereo mix version. The mono mix has a rather "muddy" sound quality. Musically, the song starts out quietly and then becomes a heavy piece of psychedelia.
The record did not chart. The B-side of the single, "Careful with That Axe, Eugene
," became far more popular, as it was later included on two different Pink Floyd albums and played regularly at concerts throughout the early 1970s.
The group made a promotional film for the song in which they posed in goggles and flight outfits with a vintage aeroplane, registration G-ANKB (a De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
) A still picture from this photo session was included in promotional materials given away with the U.K. single and on a picture sleeve version released in The Netherlands. Alternate still shots from the same session appeared in the artwork for the 1973 LP A Nice Pair
and the booklet for 1992 remastered CD of A Saucerful of Secrets
. The film also features another vintage aircraft, G-ADBO (an AVRO 504N
), plus scenes of trains at Paddington Station
.
A different performance of Point Me at the Sky was recorded and broadcast by the BBC in late 1968, but this has never been officially released on record.
A remake of the song was recorded by the Los Angeles group Acid Casualties which featured guitarist Robbie Krieger of The Doors
. It was included on the group's only album, Panic Station, released by Rhino Records in 1982.
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...
single by the British 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...
, released on 17 December 1968. The song was an early collaboration by bassist 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...
and guitarist 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...
. The single was not released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
However, it was released by Capitol Records in Canada (catalog number 72563) as well as in Japan, and some European countries. The vocals on the verse of the song are sung by Gilmour, and the bridge vocals are shared between Gilmour and Waters.
Point Me at the Sky has since become the least readily available of all officially released Pink Floyd recordings. It was left out of the 1971 collection Relics
Relics (Pink Floyd album)
Relics is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released in 1971. The album was released on 14 May in the UK and 15 July in the United States. A re-mastered CD was released in 1995 with a different album cover, a three-dimensional version of the original sketch drawn by drummer Nick Mason for the...
and was not re-issued until the 1992 CD collection The Early Singles, a bonus disc in the Shine On
Shine On (Pink Floyd)
Shine On is a 1992 nine-CD box set by Pink Floyd which was released through EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Columbia Records in the United States to coincide with Pink Floyd's 25th anniversary as a recording and touring band...
box set.
Because it was not intended for album release all available versions of this recording are a mono mix. There has never been a stereo mix version. The mono mix has a rather "muddy" sound quality. Musically, the song starts out quietly and then becomes a heavy piece of psychedelia.
The record did not chart. The B-side of the single, "Careful with That Axe, Eugene
Careful with That Axe, Eugene
"Careful with That Axe, Eugene" is an instrumental song by the British band Pink Floyd. The studio recording was originally released as the B-side of their single "Point Me at the Sky" and is also featured on the Relics compilation album; live versions can also be found on Ummagumma and in the film...
," became far more popular, as it was later included on two different Pink Floyd albums and played regularly at concerts throughout the early 1970s.
The group made a promotional film for the song in which they posed in goggles and flight outfits with a vintage aeroplane, registration G-ANKB (a De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth
De Havilland Tiger Moth
The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft...
) A still picture from this photo session was included in promotional materials given away with the U.K. single and on a picture sleeve version released in The Netherlands. Alternate still shots from the same session appeared in the artwork for the 1973 LP A Nice Pair
A Nice Pair
A Nice Pair is a compilation album by Pink Floyd, re-issuing their first two albums—The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets—in a new gatefold sleeve. The album was released in December 1973 by Harvest and Capitol in the United States and the following month in the United Kingdom...
and the booklet for 1992 remastered CD of A Saucerful of Secrets
A Saucerful of Secrets
A Saucerful of Secrets is the second studio album by the English rock group Pink Floyd. It was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on various dates from August 1967 to April 1968...
. The film also features another vintage aircraft, G-ADBO (an AVRO 504N
Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
), plus scenes of trains at Paddington Station
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
.
A different performance of Point Me at the Sky was recorded and broadcast by the BBC in late 1968, but this has never been officially released on record.
A remake of the song was recorded by the Los Angeles group Acid Casualties which featured guitarist Robbie Krieger of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
. It was included on the group's only album, Panic Station, released by Rhino Records in 1982.
Personnel
- David GilmourDavid GilmourDavid 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...
— Electric Guitar,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 and 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...
— Keyboard, Organ 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