A Saucerful of Secrets

A Saucerful of Secrets

**"A Saucerful of Secrets"** is the second album released by the English psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, released on 29 June 1968 by EMI Columbia in the United Kingdom and on 27 July 1968 in the United States by Tower Records. During recording, Syd Barrett, who suffered from depression, became addicted to LSD, and because of his growing disconnect with the group, he was kicked out and replaced with David Gilmour before the album's completion. The final song "*Jugband Blues*," was the final song Barrett contributed to the band.

Whereas Barrett had led songwriting for Pink Floyd's debut album, *Piper at the Gates of Dawn* (1967), on *A Saucerful of Secrets* each member contributed songwriting and lead vocals. Gilmour appeared on all but two songs, whilst Barrett contributed to three. "*Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun*" is the only song on which all five members appeared. *A Saucerful of Secrets* reached number nine in the UK charts, but did not chart in the US until April 2019, peaking at number 158. The album received mostly positive reviews, though many critics have deemed it inferior to *The Piper at the Gates of Dawn*. "*Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun*" and the self-titled suite were later included on the live half of the double fourth album *Ummagumma* (1969), where they were extended. At a length of thirty-nine minutes, it contains the following seven tracks:

1. ***Let There Be More Light* (5:38)**
2. ***Remember A Day* (4:33)**
3. ***Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun* (5:28)**
4. ***Corporal Clegg* (4:13)**
5. ***A Saucerful Of Secrets* (11:52)**
6. ***See-Saw* (4:36)**
7. ***Jugband Blues* (3:00)**

## Personnel

* Roger Waters - vocals on "*Let There Be More Light*," and "*Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun*", bass guitar.
* David Gilmour - vocals on "Corporal Clegg" and "*Let There Be More Light*," lead guitar on all except "*Jugband Blues*."
* Richard Wright - piano, organ, mellotron, vibraphone, vocals on "*Let There Be More Light*", "*Remember A Day*," and "*See-Saw*."
* Nick Mason - drums, percussion, vocals on "*Corporal Clegg*."
* Syd Barrett - guitar and vocals on "*Jugband Blues*", guitars on "*Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun*" and "*Remember A Day*."

***featuring:***

* Norman Smith - drums and backing vocals on "*Remember A Day*."
* 8 members of the Salvation Army (The International Staff Band) - Ray Bowes (cornet), Terry Camsey (cornet), Mac Carter (trombone), Les Condon (Eb bass), Maurice Cooper (Euphonium), Ian Hankey (trombone), George Whittingham (Bb bass), and one other.

## Info

* The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
* It reached #9 in the UK charts, and this is the only Pink Floyd album not to chart in the US.
* This is the only non-compilation album on which all five band members appear.
* Due to his declining mental state, this was the last Pink Floyd album Syd Barrett worked on.
* The album artwork is a jumbled mess of pictures, including a planet vortex taken from a Marvel Comic, Dr. Strange from the same comic, and what appears to be St. Patrick in the center.

## References

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink\_Floyd\_discography
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A\_Saucerful\_of\_Secrets
3. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-saucerful-of-secrets-mw0000650632
4. ↑ https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/pink-floyd/a-saucerful-of-secrets/
5. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/a-saucerful-of-secrets-184964/
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummagumma
7. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/master/10352-Pink-Floyd-A-Saucerful-Of-Secrets
8. ↑ https://genius.com/album\_cover\_arts/11000