Ummagumma
Encyclopedia
Ummagumma is a double album
by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd
, released in 1969 by Harvest
and EMI
in the United Kingdom
and Harvest and Capitol
in the United States. Disc A is a live album
of their normal set list of the time, while disc B contains compositions by each member of the band recorded as a studio album
.
slang
for sex
, commonly used by Pink Floyd friend and occasional roadie, Ian "Emo" Moore, who would say "I'm going back to the house for some ummagumma". However, some band members have since stated that the word was "totally made up and means nothing at all".
, Birmingham
on 27 April 1969 and the following week at Manchester College of Commerce
on 2 May 1969; the second disc included four solo segments, one half-side of vinyl each by, in order: Richard Wright
, Roger Waters
, David Gilmour
, and Nick Mason
.
The band had also recorded a live version of "Interstellar Overdrive
" (from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
) intended for placement on side one of the live album, and "The Embryo
", which was recorded in the studio before it was decided that the band members each come up with their own material. The tracks were dropped at the last minute, probably to maintain the sound fidelity of the record, but numerous test pressings with the original track list were given to friends of the band, including John Peel
. The reason for the cut of "Interstellar Overdrive" was most likely due to time constraints, as it was over 13 minutes long.
effect (i.e. the Droste effect
), with each recursion showing band members exchanging positions. After 4 variations of the scene, the final picture within picture is the cover of the previous Pink Floyd album, A Saucerful of Secrets
. The latter, however, is absent from the CD release; instead, the recursion effect is seemingly ad infinitum
.
The cover of the original LP varies between the British, American/Canadian, and Australian releases. The British version has the album Gigi
leaning against the wall immediately above the "Pink Floyd" letters. At a talk given at Borders bookstore in Cambridge on 1 November 2008, as part of the "City Wakes" project, Storm Thorgerson
explained that the album was introduced as a red herring to provoke debate, and that it has no intended meaning. On most copies of American and Canadian editions, the Gigi cover is airbrushed to a plain white sleeve, apparently because of copyright concerns; however the earliest American copies do show the Gigi cover, and it was restored for the American remastered CD edition. On the Australian edition, the Gigi cover is completely airbrushed, not even leaving a white square behind. The house used as the location for the front cover of the album is located in Great Shelford
, near Cambridge
.
On the rear cover, roadies Alan Stiles (who also appears in "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast
") and Peter Watts
(father of the actress Naomi Watts
) are shown with the band's equipment laid out on a runway at Biggin Hill Airport
; a concept proposed by Nick Mason, with the intention of replicating the "exploded" drawings of military aircraft and their payloads, which were popular at the time.
Song titles on the back are laid out slightly differently in British vs. North American editions; the most important difference being the inclusion of sub-titles for the four sections of "A Saucerful of Secrets". These subtitles only appeared on American and Canadian editions of this album, but not on the British edition; nor did they appear on original pressings of A Saucerful of Secrets.
The inner gatefold art shows separate black-and-white photos of the band members. David Gilmour is seen standing in front of the Elfin Oak
. Original vinyl editions showed Waters with his first wife, Judy Trim, but she has been cropped out of the picture on most CD editions (with the original photo's caption 'Roger Waters (and Jude)' accordingly changed to just 'Roger Waters'). The uncropped picture was restored for the album's inclusion in the box set, Oh, by the Way
.
on 10 November 1969. The album reached number five on the UK album charts and number 74 on the US album charts, marking the first time the band reached the top 100 in the US. The album was certified Gold in the US in February 1974 and Platinum in March 1994. In 1987, the album was re-released on a two-CD set. A digitally re-mastered version was released in 1994 in the UK and 1995 in the US.
The CD edition includes a longer version of "Sysyphus
"—extended to 13:26, with the movements lasting 1:08, 3:30, 1:49, and 6:59, respectively. The original "Part 1" of "Sysyphus" was split into two tracks and called "Part 1" and "Part 2". "Part 2" on vinyl became "Part 3" on CD, and "Part 3" and "Part 4" were combined into the CD's "Part 4" (the original "Part 4" begins with the lengthy orchestral thud.) "The Narrow Way" and "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" were also split into their three parts for easier navigation. The times below reflect the original vinyl pressing.
The 2011 re-release campaign, Why Pink Floyd...?
presents all 14 albums newly remastered in 2011. Ummagumma however only has the studio disc remastered, the live disc is presented in the previous 1994 remaster. It also marks the first time that the lyrics for "The Narrow Way (Part 3)" have been printed in the album's booklet.
Side one
Side two
Record two (Studio album)
Side three
Side four
Side B
Side A
Side B
with
"What do you think of your early records like Atom Heart Mother and Ummagumma today?"
"When you listen to Ummagumma, you get the feeling that each one of you is doing his own music, not caring much about the others."
"I thought it was a very good and interesting little exercise, the whole business of everyone doing a bit. But I still feel really that that's quite a good example of the sum being greater than the parts, that it's an interesting album, and all sorts of ideas are contained in it, but it actually is more satisfactory when we work as a band." - Nick Mason
- Shades of Pink - The Definitive Pink Floyd Profile, from The Source Radio Show, 1984.
"The back of Ummagumma comes from something Nick Mason did". - Storm Thorgerson
- Guitar World - February 1998
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
by English progressive rock 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 in 1969 by Harvest
Harvest Records
-References:* Harvest Records collectors guide ISBN 978-5-9622-0021-7...
and EMI
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
in 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...
and Harvest and Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in the United States. Disc A is a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of their normal set list of the time, while disc B contains compositions by each member of the band recorded as a studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
.
Title
The album's title supposedly comes from CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
, commonly used by Pink Floyd friend and occasional roadie, Ian "Emo" Moore, who would say "I'm going back to the house for some ummagumma". However, some band members have since stated that the word was "totally made up and means nothing at all".
Background
Although the sleeve notes say that the live material was recorded in June 1969, the first disc of Ummagumma was recorded live at Mothers ClubMothers
Mothers was a club in Erdington, near Birmingham, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mothers opened above an old furniture store in Erdington High Street on August 9, 1968. The club, run by John 'Spud' Taylor and promoter Phil Myatt, closed its doors on 3 January 1971...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
on 27 April 1969 and the following week at Manchester College of Commerce
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
on 2 May 1969; the second disc included four solo segments, one half-side of vinyl each by, in order: Richard Wright
Richard 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, and Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas 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...
.
The band had also recorded a live version of "Interstellar Overdrive
Interstellar Overdrive
"Interstellar Overdrive" is a psychedelic composition written by Pink Floyd in 1966, which appears on their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn at almost ten minutes in length. An earlier, longer recording, 16:52, can be heard on the soundtrack to the film Tonite Let's All Make Love in...
" (from 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...
) intended for placement on side one of the live album, and "The Embryo
Embryo (Pink Floyd song)
"Embryo" is a song by Pink Floyd. It was a concert staple in 1970–71, but a full band version was never released on a Pink Floyd studio album — though a greatly shortened studio version did appear form on the compilation Works in 1983 and also on a rare multi-artist album entitled Picnic - A...
", which was recorded in the studio before it was decided that the band members each come up with their own material. The tracks were dropped at the last minute, probably to maintain the sound fidelity of the record, but numerous test pressings with the original track list were given to friends of the band, including John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. The reason for the cut of "Interstellar Overdrive" was most likely due to time constraints, as it was over 13 minutes long.
Packaging
The cover artwork shows the members of the band, with a picture hanging on the wall showing the same scene, except the band members have switched positions. The picture on the wall also includes the picture on the wall, creating a recursionRecursion
Recursion is the process of repeating items in a self-similar way. For instance, when the surfaces of two mirrors are exactly parallel with each other the nested images that occur are a form of infinite recursion. The term has a variety of meanings specific to a variety of disciplines ranging from...
effect (i.e. the Droste effect
Droste effect
The Droste effect is a specific kind of recursive picture, one that in heraldry is termed mise en abyme. An image exhibiting the Droste effect depicts a smaller version of itself in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to appear. This smaller version then depicts an even...
), with each recursion showing band members exchanging positions. After 4 variations of the scene, the final picture within picture is the cover of the previous Pink Floyd album, 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 latter, however, is absent from the CD release; instead, the recursion effect is seemingly ad infinitum
Ad infinitum
Ad infinitum is a Latin phrase meaning "to infinity."In context, it usually means "continue forever, without limit" and thus can be used to describe a non-terminating process, a non-terminating repeating process, or a set of instructions to be repeated "forever," among other uses...
.
The cover of the original LP varies between the British, American/Canadian, and Australian releases. The British version has the album Gigi
Gigi (1958 film)
Gigi is a 1958 musical film directed by Vincente Minnelli. The screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner is based on the 1944 novella of the same name by Colette...
leaning against the wall immediately above the "Pink Floyd" letters. At a talk given at Borders bookstore in Cambridge on 1 November 2008, as part of the "City Wakes" project, Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson is an English graphic designer, known for his work for rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, 10cc, Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, Muse, The Cranberries, and Biffy Clyro.-Biography:...
explained that the album was introduced as a red herring to provoke debate, and that it has no intended meaning. On most copies of American and Canadian editions, the Gigi cover is airbrushed to a plain white sleeve, apparently because of copyright concerns; however the earliest American copies do show the Gigi cover, and it was restored for the American remastered CD edition. On the Australian edition, the Gigi cover is completely airbrushed, not even leaving a white square behind. The house used as the location for the front cover of the album is located in Great Shelford
Great Shelford
Great Shelford is a village located approximately four miles to the south of Cambridge, in the county of Cambridgeshire, in eastern England. In 1850 Great Shelford parish contained intersected by the river Cam. The population in 1841 was 803 people...
, near Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
.
Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast
"Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" is a three-part instrumental track from the 1970 Pink Floyd album Atom Heart Mother.-Overview:The track features Pink Floyd playing in the background as Alan Stiles speaks about the breakfast he is preparing and eating, as well as breakfasts he has had in the past...
") and Peter Watts
Peter Watts (road manager)
Peter Anthony Watts was an English road manager and sound engineer who worked with Pink Floyd.-Biography:Watts was born Peter Anthony Watts on 16th January 1946 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, the son of Jane P. G. and Anthony Watts. Watts had one older brother, Michael, and one younger sister,...
(father of the actress Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
) are shown with the band's equipment laid out on a runway at Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport is an airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south southeast of Central London, United Kingdom...
; a concept proposed by Nick Mason, with the intention of replicating the "exploded" drawings of military aircraft and their payloads, which were popular at the time.
Song titles on the back are laid out slightly differently in British vs. North American editions; the most important difference being the inclusion of sub-titles for the four sections of "A Saucerful of Secrets". These subtitles only appeared on American and Canadian editions of this album, but not on the British edition; nor did they appear on original pressings of A Saucerful of Secrets.
The inner gatefold art shows separate black-and-white photos of the band members. David Gilmour is seen standing in front of the Elfin Oak
Elfin Oak
The Elfin Oak is a 900-year-old tree stump in Kensington Gardens in London, carved and painted to look as though elves, gnomes and small animals are living in its bark....
. Original vinyl editions showed Waters with his first wife, Judy Trim, but she has been cropped out of the picture on most CD editions (with the original photo's caption 'Roger Waters (and Jude)' accordingly changed to just 'Roger Waters'). The uncropped picture was restored for the album's inclusion in the box set, Oh, by the Way
Oh, by the Way
Oh, by the Way is a compilation box set by Pink Floyd released on 10 December 2007, by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States through Capitol Records. The box set includes all fourteen of their standard studio albums, packaged as mini-vinyl replicas...
.
Release history
The album was released in the United Kingdom on 25 October 1969 and then in the USUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on 10 November 1969. The album reached number five on the UK album charts and number 74 on the US album charts, marking the first time the band reached the top 100 in the US. The album was certified Gold in the US in February 1974 and Platinum in March 1994. In 1987, the album was re-released on a two-CD set. A digitally re-mastered version was released in 1994 in the UK and 1995 in the US.
The CD edition includes a longer version of "Sysyphus
Sysyphus
"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
"—extended to 13:26, with the movements lasting 1:08, 3:30, 1:49, and 6:59, respectively. The original "Part 1" of "Sysyphus" was split into two tracks and called "Part 1" and "Part 2". "Part 2" on vinyl became "Part 3" on CD, and "Part 3" and "Part 4" were combined into the CD's "Part 4" (the original "Part 4" begins with the lengthy orchestral thud.) "The Narrow Way" and "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" were also split into their three parts for easier navigation. The times below reflect the original vinyl pressing.
The 2011 re-release campaign, Why Pink Floyd...?
Why Pink Floyd...?
Why Pink Floyd...? is an exhaustive re-release campaign of the entire back catalogue of the English rock group Pink Floyd scheduled for 2011–12. It will entail various incarnations of the band's material in multiple formats. The music will be presented newly remastered, featuring unreleased tracks...
presents all 14 albums newly remastered in 2011. Ummagumma however only has the studio disc remastered, the live disc is presented in the previous 1994 remaster. It also marks the first time that the lyrics for "The Narrow Way (Part 3)" have been printed in the album's booklet.
Track listing
Record one (Live album)Side one
- "Astronomy DomineAstronomy Domine"Astronomy Domine" is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. The song, written and composed by original vocalist/guitarist Syd Barrett, was the first track featured on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn . The lead vocal was sung by Barrett and keyboard player Richard...
" (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...
) – 8:29 – 27 April 1969 - "Careful with That Axe, EugeneCareful 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...
" (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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
) – 8:50 – 2 May 1969
Side two
- "Set the Controls for the Heart of the SunSet the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a song by British rock band Pink Floyd and is featured on their second album A Saucerful of Secrets . It was written by Roger Waters and features a drum part by Nick Mason played with timpani mallets...
" (Waters) – 9:12 – 2 May 1969 - "A Saucerful of SecretsA Saucerful of Secrets (song)"A Saucerful of Secrets" is a multi-part instrumental composition by the rock band Pink Floyd from the album A Saucerful of Secrets, released in 1968. The track lasts 11:52 and was composed by band members Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and David Gilmour...
" (Gilmour/Waters/Wright/Mason) – 12:48 – 27 April 1969- "Something Else"
- "Syncopated Pandemonium"
- "Storm Signal"
- "Celestial Voices"
Record two (Studio album)
Side three
- "SysyphusSysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" (Wright) – 12:59- Part 1 – 1:07
- Part 2 – 3:23
- Part 3 – 1:46
- Part 4 – 6:52
- "Grantchester MeadowsGrantchester Meadows (song)"Grantchester Meadows" is a song from the second half of the experimental Pink Floyd album Ummagumma. It was written and performed entirely by Roger Waters. The song features Waters' lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a skylark chirps in the background throughout the...
" (Waters) – 7:19 - "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a PictSeveral Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is a track written and performed by Roger Waters from the two-part 1969 Pink Floyd album, Ummagumma....
" (Waters) – 4:55
Side four
- "The Narrow WayThe Narrow Way"The Narrow Way" is a section on the studio half of Pink Floyd's fourth album Ummagumma. It was written and performed by David Gilmour and is divided into three parts...
" (Gilmour) – 12:17- Part 1 – 3:25
- Part 2 – 2:54
- Part 3 – 5:51
- "The Grand Vizier's Garden PartyThe Grand Vizier's Garden Party"The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" is a three-part instrumental from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album. All three parts are written by Nick Mason following the structure of the album in which each band member made his own composition...
" (Mason/Ron GeesinRon GeesinRonald 'Ron' Geesin is a British musician and composer, noted for his quirky creations and novel applications of sound. He is probably best known as the orchestrator and organizer of Pink Floyd's "Atom Heart Mother" in 1970, after the band found themselves hopelessly deadlocked over how to...
) – 8:44- Part 1: "Entrance" – 1:00 (Geesin)
- Part 2: "Entertainment" – 7:06 (Mason)
- Part 3: "Exit" – 0:38 (Geesin)
UK cassette edition
Side A- "SysyphusSysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" (Wright) – 12:59 - "Astronomy DomineAstronomy Domine"Astronomy Domine" is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. The song, written and composed by original vocalist/guitarist Syd Barrett, was the first track featured on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn . The lead vocal was sung by Barrett and keyboard player Richard...
" (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...
) – 8:29 - "Grantchester MeadowsGrantchester Meadows (song)"Grantchester Meadows" is a song from the second half of the experimental Pink Floyd album Ummagumma. It was written and performed entirely by Roger Waters. The song features Waters' lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a skylark chirps in the background throughout the...
" (Waters) – 7:26 - "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a PictSeveral Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is a track written and performed by Roger Waters from the two-part 1969 Pink Floyd album, Ummagumma....
" (Waters) – 4:59 - "Careful with That Axe, EugeneCareful 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...
" (Waters/Wright/Gilmour/Mason) – 8:50
Side B
- "The Narrow WayThe Narrow Way"The Narrow Way" is a section on the studio half of Pink Floyd's fourth album Ummagumma. It was written and performed by David Gilmour and is divided into three parts...
" (Gilmour) – 12:17 - "Set the Controls for the Heart of the SunSet the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a song by British rock band Pink Floyd and is featured on their second album A Saucerful of Secrets . It was written by Roger Waters and features a drum part by Nick Mason played with timpani mallets...
" (Waters) – 9:12 - "The Grand Vizier's Garden PartyThe Grand Vizier's Garden Party"The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" is a three-part instrumental from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album. All three parts are written by Nick Mason following the structure of the album in which each band member made his own composition...
" (Mason) – 8:44 - "A Saucerful of SecretsA Saucerful of Secrets (song)"A Saucerful of Secrets" is a multi-part instrumental composition by the rock band Pink Floyd from the album A Saucerful of Secrets, released in 1968. The track lasts 11:52 and was composed by band members Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason, and David Gilmour...
" (Gilmour/Waters/Mason/Wright) – 12:48
American cassette edition
American versions of the cassette omitted "Careful With That Axe, Eugene", "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun", and "A Saucerful of Secrets".Side A
- "Astronomy DomineAstronomy Domine"Astronomy Domine" is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. The song, written and composed by original vocalist/guitarist Syd Barrett, was the first track featured on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn . The lead vocal was sung by Barrett and keyboard player Richard...
" - "The Narrow Way—Parts I, II, IIIThe Narrow Way"The Narrow Way" is a section on the studio half of Pink Floyd's fourth album Ummagumma. It was written and performed by David Gilmour and is divided into three parts...
" - "Grantchester MeadowsGrantchester Meadows (song)"Grantchester Meadows" is a song from the second half of the experimental Pink Floyd album Ummagumma. It was written and performed entirely by Roger Waters. The song features Waters' lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a skylark chirps in the background throughout the...
"
Side B
- "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a PictSeveral Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict"Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is a track written and performed by Roger Waters from the two-part 1969 Pink Floyd album, Ummagumma....
" - "Sysyphus: Part ISysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" - "Sysyphus: Part IISysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" - "Sysyphus: Part IIISysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" - "Sysyphus: Part IVSysyphus"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma...
" - "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part I—EntranceThe Grand Vizier's Garden Party"The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" is a three-part instrumental from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album. All three parts are written by Nick Mason following the structure of the album in which each band member made his own composition...
" - "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part II—EntertainmentThe Grand Vizier's Garden Party"The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" is a three-part instrumental from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album. All three parts are written by Nick Mason following the structure of the album in which each band member made his own composition...
" - "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part III—ExitThe Grand Vizier's Garden Party"The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" is a three-part instrumental from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album. All three parts are written by Nick Mason following the structure of the album in which each band member made his own composition...
"
Personnel
Pink Floyd- 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s; vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
on "Astronomy Domine", "A Saucerful of Secrets"; all instruments and vocals on "The Narrow Way" parts 1 and 2; guitar, drums, lead vocals on "The Narrow Way" part 3. - 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...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - 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 guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
; vocals on "Careful with That Axe, Eugene", "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Grantchester Meadows"; acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
on "Grantchester Meadows"; tape effects and voices on "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict". - 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...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
; vibraphonePercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
; vocals on "Astronomy Domine"; all instruments on "Sysyphus"
with
- Lindy Mason - flutes on "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" (Parts 1 & 3)
Quotes
"What was your inspiration for The Narrow Way (on Ummagumma) your first major Floyd composition?"- "Well, we'd decided to make the damn album, and each of us to do a piece of music on our own... it was just desperation really, trying to think of something to do, to write by myself. I'd never written anything before, I just went into a studio and started waffling about, tacking bits and pieces together. I haven't heard it in years. I've no idea what it's like." - David Gilmour - Sounds "Guitar Heroes" Magazine, May 1983
"What do you think of your early records like Atom Heart Mother and Ummagumma today?"
- "I think both are pretty horrible. Well, the live disc of Ummagumma might be all right, but even that isn't recorded well." - David Gilmour — Der Spiegel No. 23–5 June 1995
"When you listen to Ummagumma, you get the feeling that each one of you is doing his own music, not caring much about the others."
- "That's right. I can't be precise, but we were very individualistic at the time." - Nick Mason — March 1973
"I thought it was a very good and interesting little exercise, the whole business of everyone doing a bit. But I still feel really that that's quite a good example of the sum being greater than the parts, that it's an interesting album, and all sorts of ideas are contained in it, but it actually is more satisfactory when we work as a band." - Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas 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...
- Shades of Pink - The Definitive Pink Floyd Profile, from The Source Radio Show, 1984.
"The back of Ummagumma comes from something Nick Mason did". - Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson
Storm Thorgerson is an English graphic designer, known for his work for rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, 10cc, Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, Muse, The Cranberries, and Biffy Clyro.-Biography:...
- Guitar World - February 1998
Sales chart performance
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
5 |
| 1970 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
74 |