Pink Floyd: 'Ummagumma' | A Most Important Album

[@thelawman4684]

Glad to hear you refer to Atom Heart Mother as a masterpiece. To be honest, although I appreciate the big four classic albums that ended with with The Wall, I can rarely be bothered to listen to them anymore - all played to death. But I still love and listen to Atom Heart Mother very regularly - possibly, with the help of Geesin, their most musical and listenable album. I love every track, even Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast. It never ceases to amaze me that a band that hasn't made a decent album in 44 years (The Wall, 1979) still manages to capture the imagination of so many people. I loved them far more before social media, when I was young and they were largely a faceless mystery - and not endlessly washing their dirty laundry in public.

[@GCSoundArtifacts]

Thank GOD someone has mentioned The Narrow Way as a highlight...!!! I don't think that the studio album of Ummagumma as a total disaster as well... I can even understand the existence of that percussive piece by Mason in a Varésian term... Pink Floyd was in a midway between being a (progressive) rock band and avant-garde composers, and no other album in their discography captured such tension between commercial tendencies and avant-garde detours better than Ummagumma. It's my second favorite album of this band, being The Piper at Gates of Dawn the first and Atom Heart Mother the third best. Thanks for being an exception!

[@GCSoundArtifacts]

@Terrence's Classic Rock Corner Podcast Really agreed on "Grantchester Meadows". "Sisyphus" is, by far, the most accomplished piece from the studio album. Some people really don't know how much Rick Wright can be a composer of real density and creativity. This piece is a proof of that. It isn't prog-rock at all; it's 20th century avant-garde music - and all done and played by just one guy. As for "The Grand Vizier": it's explorative, evocative of fairy-tales and humorous. Nick Mason was a living proof that the sense of humor of Pink Floyd wasn't completely lost. "Several Pieces..." isn't the only humorous piece of the "Ummagumma" studio album.

[@GCSoundArtifacts]

And I have to tell that, even being an experimental recording for somebody like Gilmour, "The Narrow Way" shows off how much pioneering he really was for progressive-rock. Gilmour not only shows how great multi-instrumentalist he was, but also how much his singing was precious, with a really hard high-pitched falsetto to be reached (that's why I believe that he felt that this song was a pain for him when playing it live)...

[@3ggshe11s]

I have a sentimental attachment to this album. It was the first record I ever bought with my own money, upon seeing a used copy at a neighbor's garage sale. I had no idea who Pink Floyd were. I just liked the cover and the song titles. In hindsight, it probably primed my love of exploratory and progressive music in the years that followed. Floyd were fortunate that they came up in a time when a major label would give them so much leeway to explore open-ended ideas and hone their craft. I think some of their most creative music came out of the time between "Piper" and "Dark Side," with "Atom Heart Mother" and "Meddle" representing the pinnacle of that period. I don't mind admitting that I'm still fond of this record, even Nick Mason's bit. There's nothing else like it in Floyd's catalog -- or really anyone else's. Creatively it may have been a dead-end, but I'm still grateful that they took the journey. And I agree that "The Narrow Way" is the best of the studio material, though my daughter gets a kick out of "Several Species." And the live material isn't so bad either. For me, these are the definitive versions of "Astronomy Domine" and "A Saucerful of Secrets." Thanks for the review.

[@richardwadholm4019]

I used to put this album on every day after I came home from school. "Several Species etc." seemed swirling and mysterious then, and we all imagined that our older brothers knew exactly what that Scottish guy at the end was yelling about - and that it must've been good, or they wouldn't all have listened to it...

[@b2tall239]

This album is proof that, as one critic noted, Pink Floyd is a band that (apparently) never threw away an idea. I absolutely love the live disc of this album. I still think it's their best live album....much better than the somewhat underwhelming "Pulse" or "Delicate Sound...". But that studio disc....ugh🤢 Thanks, Barry.

[@blackcat-zw5im]

Pulse and Delicate Sound live albums are good but never matched with 70s live era.

[@gjermundification]

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun is one of my favorite tunes by Pink Floyd.

[@michellebell5092]

Ummagumma is where I came across the fabulous mesmeric Set The Controls For The Heart of the Sun , one of my favourite tracks by them and anybody.

[@mvm5375]

That was the first Floyd album I heard. I was just a kid. I was fascinated by it.

[@Robutube1]

Did you just call Atom Heart Mother the band's absolute masterpiece? Welcome to my, sparsely populated, world!

[@classicalbum]

I so love that album

[@philmore1871]

I would say it's damn near perfect

[@EmileJoulbert]

@@classicalbum On that note, apparently a letter from Ron Geesin posted on the wikipedia talk page about Several Species... makes it clear he had absolutely no involvement in the making of the track: 'This myth has to be corrected - probably too late though! I had nothing to do with 'Pict'. The facts are that Roger Waters did a kind of Scottish phonetic impression generally at that time (c. 1969) - he did have a Scottish connection since his mother had Scottish ancestry. Whether he had heard me doing my versions on the radio is not known. I'm not sure if I had even met him at the time he recorded 'Pict': 'tis he who does that phonetic raving, and most probably not from any 'script'. Best waves, Ron Geesin.'

[@JasonSmith-jr7jh]

Roger Waters (late 70s, Re: Atom Heart Mother) "I wish it were put into the dust bin and never listened to by anyone, ever again." Methinks he didn't mind it hitting #1 in the UK, though! I prefer the original (live) pre-Ron Geesin version myself. And I'll go to me grave thinking the correct pronunciation of Ummagumma is at the end of The Nile Song: "Yeeahooow...OOOMA GOOOMA!"

[@Absolutecorn5767]

I looove atom heart mother. Such a unique album from them.

[@brettlowton6961]

My Brother-in-law told me how back in the '70s he tied his younger Sister to a chair, stuck headphones on her head and made her listen to "Several Species ......." .......... she's never been the same since. I do love the live album though - that very laid back period of Floyd before the technical wizardry of 'Dark Side of the Moon' came to the fore and changed the Floydian landscape forever.

[@MagusRealm]

It has always been one of my favorites, a ton of mood throughout. A great concept, many artist don't appreciate their own work.

[@VagueRANT100]

I bought UMMAGUMMA in 1969 and ATOM HEART MOTHER in 1970 when I was in my late teens and are still my favorite FLOYD albums.....saw them live in SYDNEY in 1971

[@slidetek]

This was the first Pink Floyd I heard - or really connected with around 1970. Friend's older brother was playing it on his 8-track, and it was like being abducted by aliens. As a youngster I went from Beatles and Beach Boys to PF in a day. All I had was the back catalog, and it took me a while to "get" the Syd era, but now revere it. I still frequently listen to the studio LP on this album, I simply love The Narrow Way and Grantchester Meadows. Later, I played the grooves flat on Atom Heart Mother and Meddle. For me, it was downhill after DSOTM. I remember liking, but not loving WYWH, Animals and The Wall. And by the time of the Wall, they were definitely too big for their britches. That's the first time a concert was both unaffordable and inaccessible to me.

[@marksargeant1019]

Music teacher in high school in 1978 used this album in a lesson. That was my introduction to Pink Floyd.

[@michaelbadger9352]

I love this era of Floyd. For me it’s the most listened too these days.

[@genesisofandrozani7313]

unpopular opinion but i actually really enjoy this album. I even did reviews of it on my channel with 4 of my friends and we all gave it alot of praise and dissected our own experiences and interpretations whilst also appreciating the instrumentation. It may not be traditionally appealing music, and the band themselves might not like it, but maybe because of my way of constructing narrative in my head from sounds im able to get a lot out of Ummagumma.

[@montyrose78]

The studio side takes a hit from critics but I like it

[@peterchios9637]

(ATOM HEART MOTHER) MASTERPIECE SHINE ON 💎 🎼☮️👊🇨🇦

[@philrussell5258]

I love this album, truly groundbreaking and unashamed for what it is. The drum solo is incredible. So much here that resonates on future work. Hugely experimental, with live and studio pieces intertwined. But I guess I listen to it mainly because it evokes the time I first heard it in the summer of 1994.

[@TheProgCorner]

It was my introduction to Pink Floyd!!!

[@classicalbum]

Mine was The Wall in 79

[@3ggshe11s]

Mine as well.

[@ilabelle1]

Meddle

[@MisterWondrous]

I lucked into a copy of this not long after its release, and it changed my life forever. While admittedly preternatural, Nick Mason's percussive section was among my favorite, by way of its inexplicability. I'm hearing in my mind's ear as we speak. Almost like exotic bird trills at times. The Narrow Way was a favorite, and Sisyphus had a grandeur, along with Astronomy Domine. When the band brought the "Dark Side of the Moon" Tour to Charlotte, it was in a fairly small venue, and I was touching the stage. They had yet to skyrocket, thankfully. The feeling among Floyd fans of old was that the band had gone commercial, but they had done so with great style, and without surrendering all creativity. Ummagumma is far more ingenious, iconoclastic, groundbreaking.

[@Wayner71]

I really like this indeterminate period post-Saucer and pre-Meddle. There is something dreamlike about the Floyd's output in this iconic turn of the 70's period. You can really lose yourself in that ethos.

[@ilabelle1]

For a long time the live half was the only sanctioned live recording. This is where I first heard Careful With That Axe Eugene. It still sounds scary. The version of Saucerful is for me the definitive take. I’ve always liked Waters’ tunes on this album. Granchester Meadows is one of my favourite Floyd ditties. Several Small Species? I love it. I like the acoustic part of Gilmour’s The Narrow Way but the dirge before and after suck. I think the weakest tracks fall on Wright. Kinda boring really. I do like Mason’s contributions. A fun bit of psychedelic percussive noodling. Interestingly, Peter Watts was Naomi Watts’ father. Also the equipment displayed on the back cover ended up being stolen!

[@kevinbossick8374]

This album is an absolute, psychedelic masterpiece.

[@josephdegregorio1370]

Love Ummagumma. Even The "Grand Vizier's Garden Party!"

[@charleskatholijr.1055]

This era also features the lost pastoral aspects of this band that sort of died by the time DSOTM came out.

[@jdmresearch]

Saucerful of secrets may have been dismissed by Gilmour.... but it was Mason's favorite album

[@charleskatholijr.1055]

They should have put out more live albums. All the terrific bootlegs out there bear that out. They could have easily put out an amazing live record every year and kept it fresh.

[@seaperu1]

sad they couldn't at least keep up with UFO

[@elongatedborzoi1160]

animal instincts is amazing, same with the various early era bootlegs, I especially love when they play atom heart mother for 39 minutes

[@Plan9wood]

This album is worth having just for Grantchester Meadows. Freaking love that song.

[@babylemonade2868]

The live album is an absolute masterpiece. No better version of those songs anywhere. The narrow way part 3 is awesome and there’s good bits on the studio album but not many

[@mikebull1972]

I disregarded this album for years, until Mason's 'Saucers' project took me back to those times.

[@theworldaccordingto4555]

I think that one of PF's most important albums (that was never released on vinyl or cd) is, 'Live at Pompeii'.

[@massimosaffioti8798]

Great review. I've always liked Umma Gumma... except, of course (you're right) the Nick Mason section. I consider this the first album by Pink Floyd. The previous one being by a psychedelic band called THE Pink Floyd. This album started a new chapter for the band. One that was previously hinted at by a handful of tracks ... the majority of which appear on the live disc of this album.. This new chapter, being the avant garde era that would develop into the prog rock era. To me, it's the beginning of the incredible run of albums that culminated with the wonderful Animals. It is one of my favoriye pre-Dark Side albums... second only to Meddle. Thank you for putting the spotlight on this one. Cheers!

[@pieterwestera903]

The period you refer to as "often seen as a bit lost" was actually their best phase.

[@classicalbum]

Agree

[@200405InVision]

I rate Rick Wright's taken for granted keys and atmospherics highly on this album. Also his solo piece is sublime genius. I guess you had to be there or thereabouts at the time to truly appreciate this seminal album. I first heard it in full 74 and before then on Saturday afternoon and late night FM radio shows. An album that showcases the potential to come and Syd's departure was the end of the beginning of it all.

[@davidsimon2096]

Someone I know once told me Ummagumma was the best album they ever produced. Believe it or not I never discussed music with him ever again.

[@davidwalsh390]

I sure wish the live side was longer

[@frankshailes3205]

John Peel had the live tapes of those Mothers/Birmingham sessions and there was another long track but they got stolen from him.

[@ChromeDestiny]

There is a bootleg of outtakes and alt mixes that adds Interstellar Overdrive.

[@HansRickheit]

As a youth, I found this double album in a flea market. Since it was pre-internet, I had no idea what the band's attitude was toward this release. I absolutely loved this record, and still do. Up until then, I never heard another rock album that remotely sounded like it. Years later ,when I heard Ron Geesin's first 2 albums, I could hear the connection and his influence on their approach to recording and sound-making at that period of time. If you listen to them back-to-back, Ummagumma really sound like a continuation of those albums.

[@jelk1188]

The live album is sacred to me; the atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife, there's the sense of courageous adventure, the unpredictability of the journey, and the musicality in all that abstract, sonic exploration is undeniable. It sounds like a band going for it and playing above their technical ability yet always in the zone, listening to each other, the outcome larger than the sum of their parts. If you add Cymbaline to this, 1969 is a pretty decent year for Pink Floyd altogether. The production isn't there, but better a modestly recorded flurry of magic than polished mediocrity. These five tracks make it to my desert island without a trace of doubt, as do the albums In the Court of the Crimson King, Liege and Lief, as well as Stand Up. 1969 is a special year for me, and it has withstood the test of time quite well.

[@elbertrandconner867]

A balanced and thoughtful critic, just wondering have you any comments or have maybe done a video of review of the band UFO?

[@classicalbum]

I've not done anything on UFO... which is shameful really

[@dilettanteink]

I have a signed print of this cover on my wall, but tend to agree, the live disc is wonderful, but I seldom play the studio disc.I also agree that Atom Heart Mother is genius. Fat Old Sun is a melancholic bliss.

[@rael2099]

The live album itself worth the purchase, it has the definitive versions, and also The Narrow Way and Grantchester Meadows worth the price of admision. The Narrow Way is just otherworldly and nightmarish. Avant Garde music was all the rage way back then, hence the unsavoury parts of Mason and Wright. This album was considered an essential listen for fans, now it's not which I find it unfair.

[@gjermundification]

Try to listen to Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun by Pink Floyd before or after Planet Caravan by Black Sabbath.

[@Dave-mb7kb]

I'm sure this is heresy to many, but I'd rather listen to all 4 sides of Ummagumma than The Wall

[@ChromeDestiny]

I like both but I'm more likely to put on Ummagumma these days. Some of Dave's part from the studio half were greatly transformed and improved during the Man and the Journey shows.

[@HonoraryGreek]

Agree about "The Narrow Way," and indeed about "Remember a Day." But then, Waters thinks the others have no talent so maybe we have no taste? I actually enjoy "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party." Do I need therapy? As an entirety, whatever the band says about it these days, this was a groundbreaking album that's still unique to this day. The only thing it lacks is sound quality in the recording. But then, what do I know? It's all subjective anyway. eh?

[@johncollier9280]

I bought this album when it was released. Always loved the 1-2 punch o' Grantchester Meadows 'n Several Species...spacey psychedelia...

[@fredericlatreille]

"Grantchester Meadows" is the best song from this album ... I love it!

[@UncleTonyGuitar]

I lifelong Floyd fanatic, I divide their work into two eras: before and after they started washing their hair. ("Live In Pompeii" is the apex of the former...)

[@calebhightower6676]

Although I have to admit it sounds like complete rubbish and potentially pretentious when I say this, but this album, along with More and Atom Heart Mother, really got me into Pink Floyd. I had first found the classics of Money, WYWH, and Another Brick in the wall pt. 2 etc. but when I first stumbled across it, the intrigue of these off the wall tracks was just interesting and exiting. There was something about the Englishness of it that I found entirely unique, and the absolute insanity that I kept witnessing each track after the next was something I could oddly relate to. During this time period there was definitely a lot of rubbish that resulted from the excesses of the 60’s, but with early Floyd like this album, the originality of each band members personality creates this other worldly landscape that’s not fused with fake happiness and ignorance like much of the bands of the time, yet feels offset, like they know something you don’t, The Narrow way pt. 3, which is one my favorite songs of all time, is full of this. In my opinion it is entirely forgivable to be bad or put on a bad performance, but it is inexcusable to be boring. And that’s why I love this album. Looking at the band’s transition from Barrett, to the post Barrett albums, then to their masterpieces in the 70’s, it’s clear they didn’t lose the originality and uniqueness evident in these early albums, but instead honed and crafted it, and better communicated it. That’s what makes their most famous albums so great.

[@charleskatholijr.1055]

The best version of the narrow way was on the late night BBC live session. It skipped the long acoustic baby blue shuffle part and the dull electric middle part and just focused on the melodic vocal section.

[@ChrisSmith-xh9wb]

Contrary to the opinion voiced on this video, I loved Grantchester Meadows when I first heard it and still do, It is one of my favourite Floyd songs, perfectly encapsulating the peaceful beauty of the English countryside on a summers day.

[@adamphillips6865]

Great video

[@classicalbum]

Thanks for the visit

[@MrNEILSUPERNAUT]

Peter 'Puddy' Watts was also the father of actress Naomi Watts.

[@CMI2017]

And he died in a house that Gilmour owned in Notting Hill as Gilmour was trying to help him through addiction.

[@Mr3Submarine]

I like “Ummagumma,” but if I had to pick my least favorite Pink Floyd album, it’s this one. I don’t hate it at all, it’s just the Floyd album I like the least. The live first half is awesome. The live version of “Careful With That Axe Eugene,” in particular, is mind-blowing. The live stuff alone is worth the price of admission. But the studio stuff on the second half, which is basically solo material from each band member, I think is a real mixed bag. I think Roger Waters fares the best with his pair of tracks, the lovely “Grantchester Meadows” and the wildly wacky “Several Species….”. As for the other guys, Richard Wright’s “Sysyphus” just sounds like aimless keyboard noodling to me. David Gilmour’s “The Narrow Way,” which even Gilmour admits he struggled to write, is good -as I’m listening to it- but when it ends, it just doesn’t stick in my head. Gilmour’s lead vocal is also kinda buried in the mix, which doesn’t help. And Nick Mason’s “The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party” is certainly interesting, with a couple of nice flute parts played by his first wife, but for the most part it just sounds like aimless noodling on the drum kit. “Ummagumma” is worth getting for the great live material and Roger’s fine pair of tracks, but the rest just doesn’t do much for me. At the very least, “Ummagumma” is an interesting experiment in Pink Floyd’s history, and I’ll give it a passing grade, but I’m glad the band never did this again.

[@colindunnigan8621]

"Music from household objects,"? Hmm...Pink Floyd and Eric Satie would probably get along grandly, I expect.

[@chutspe]

"Ummagumma's" biggest flaw is the omission of "Embryo" from the Live-disc. You have to go to obscure bootlegs to get a good recording of that, in a live performance, that is. The studio version of it on "Works" is much too tame. That said, a proper Pink Floyd Double Live Album from this period would be on par with "Made in Japan" for sure.

[@docsavage8640]

Wearing a Springsteen tee-shirt in 2023 cancels out anything you have to say. 😆 🤣 😂

[@neil1390]

Off topic, Any thoughts on Blue Oyster Cult? Love your channel!

[@marpsr]

It’s interesting to compare two different versions of Astronomy Domine, the original with Syd Barrett and the live version with David Gilmour.

[@j.dragon651]

After DSOTM they hit pay dirt, copying it over and over again becoming more depressing each time. I had to give up on them. I did get to see them three time though, once in Carnegie Hall.

[@meloralovesdarkness2495]

I think that this is a very underrated album for me. However I am kinda bias toward it as this is one of the first PF psychadelic albums that I experienced and had some trippy times with a long time ago. My favorite parts of this album is of course the Live stuff which is brilliant. The design of this album is priceless. I Love Ummagumma! It is sad that lots of PF fans do not even know about early PF like this and "Obscured by Clouds" or "MORE" etc.. All they know is Darkside, The Wall and newer stuff. Even Animals is kind of underrated by cassual fans, who only know the big hits. Pink Floyed in my opinion IS a PROG band.. Just not like the other PROG bands.. They are definatly ART Rock and Psychadelic in the early years for sure!

[@SpaceCattttt]

Those grooving furry animals with the Scotsman? GENIUS! The rest is pretty good as well. Especially the live album (and a couple of the wanky studio bits). But the pict is where it's at. You'll never be the same after you stumble out of the cave.

[@splifftachyon4420]

I think Nick Mason's solo piece could have been so much better if he'd mixed flute in with the percussion, making it kind of a duet, instead of just sticking it at the beginning and end. Maybe add in some field recordings of ambient sound as well.

[@adrianking475]

If Rick Wright’s piece would have been written by a classical composer such as Ligeti or Penderecki it would have been hailed a masterpiece.

[@Supremor-tj9dv]

I agree with the band’s assessment. I have the album for the live tracks I think are great. The studio portion is nigh on unlistenable aside from moments of actual music here and there.

[@MARK-co1ge]

Free jazz was getting big at the time and I wonder if that genre's cacophony gave them the idea for the studio sides.

[@lloydbraun6026]

The version of Astronomy Domine on this album is superior to the studio version

[@bonzodog6872]

The Ummagumma live version of Careful with that Axe Eugene is also much better than the single b-side

[@stevegreat7193]

Atom heart mother... I finally got to buy the cd not long ago as I liked the fat old sun song... Mostly the album to me is rubbish! HOWEVER.... Let's give the cover %100, both inside and out, I love it ☺.

[@davidreckamp8161]

If nothing else, Ummagumma at least gives an authorized indication of what their live shows were like at that time. Worth it for that alone. It would have been a more interesting, and probably a more successful package critically, if it had been released as a double-live record. The studio album sounds like a band that had absolutely no new material to bring to the table, so they collectively s--t the results comprising the second disc. And yet I can name a thousand other records by other bands that I like way less than this one. Damning with faint praise, I suppose....

[@PetraKann]

I have no issues with band lineups changing or members of the band being ejected or leaving. It happens regularly. In Pink Floyd's case however, once the founder of the band, Syd Barrett, was left behind and replaced by Gilmour, the band should have changed its name from Pink Floyd to something else. Waters, Wright, Mason and Gilmour simply lacked the personal courage to do that. It would be like Page, Plant, Jones and Bohnam calling their band Yarbirds or Yarducks rather than using Led Zeppelin after Keith Moon said that "...this band will sink like a lead Zeppelin: (or was it a Lead balloon?). And we all know how Led Zeppelin propelled itself as one of all time great musical bands. I think the Barrett ejection affected Gilmour on a profoundly spiritual or psychological level, even if his public comments are measured and supportive of Syd. The Syd Barrett demise in the late 1960s is one of the saddest stories I have heard in the music industry. It is not surprising that "Shine on you Crazy Diamond" is a masterpiece and the "Wish You Were Here" album is such a seminal musical production for the band and the music industry as a whole. It was the way that Syd Barrett was treated and how he was cancelled that was cruel in my opinion. When I heard Nick Mason talking about this I understood how ruthless the industry and the classic "stiff upper lip" British mentality could be. Nick said something like "I just recall that one day we just didn't drive by and pick Syd Up". For Syd to turn up at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of Wish You Were Here and for none of his former band members to recognise him due to his shaved head and eyebrows and obesity says it all. Syd jumped up and down in the control room with a toothbrush in his mouth. I think he understood exactly what happened and in his normal gentle and creative way, was expressing it to his former band members. When I first read about this over a decade ago and saw the photo of Syd in the studio during the recording of Wish You Were Here, I remember thinking, "this is not right, he's wounded". I then was able to understand the album better and where the lyrics and music came from. Everything we do that is wrong has a moral and spiritual penalty attached to it and it will catch up with us at some point. So if possible we should throw out as much love as we can into the world rather than toxic anger and hatred. Sermon endeth. Australia is a Prison

[@charleskatholijr.1055]

Grantchester meadows was classic. Part of the narrow way was good but the Nick Mason and Richard Wright parts were awful. The live stuff was remarkable and is the reason I still have a copy.

[@garypowell1540]

I must have liked the album because I played it often enough. IMO Ummagumma was the most underrated PF album of them all. In the context of its time anything PF was perfectly mind-blowing whatever some of it may sound like today. However commercial pressures get to even bands like PF, who I have little doubt, in common with all other PRBs at the time wanted a No 1 Hit. Indeed they once believed that Syd Barrat would help them deliver one. Recognition from a bunch of drugged-out hippies may be nice especially if they are female but this doesn't pay the bills and therefore fame and fortune are much better. No doubt their mothers would have liked some degree of personal notoriety, so they could show off to their friends and neighbors instead of apologizing for their son's dress sense and mindlessly staring eyes. The lure of the big bucks and cleaner nickers got to them all eventually, and some much sooner than others. Most especially Roger Waters has been trying and desperately failing to reconcile his utter selling out to the system ever since. Such is the serious mental issues/cognitive dissonance caused by a deeply paradoxical and necessary hypocritical English Middle-Class Cambridge Communist Single Parent upbringing.

[@thewordofgord]

Your dismissal of the live disc is so wrong headed I wonder when you last listened to it, or if ever. While other concerts are amazing in the 69-72 period, the live Ummagumma is definitely the template. A brilliant four movement suite, an otherworldly sonic landscape, it stands alone.

[@xtstevie]

Sorry Barry but this is a shocker of an album..... The live disc okish if nothing special & the studio solo guff i'll never listen to again as long as i live..... Now if what became Atom Heart Mother was the studio disc on here it would be close to a classic!!

[@glerp10000000000]

The idea that Roger took creative control as soon as Syd was outed is not accurate. About as accurate as the idea that 'Roger wrote all the songs.' They had no idea what they were doing. Trying to replicate Syd's thing, with the singles, proved to be a failure.A lot of the songs on Saucer were similar ideas to some of Piper's contents. The studio side of Ummagumma was an attempt to see what direction each member wanted the band to take. As were three of the songs of side two of Atom Heart Mother. The two band tunes were improvised, directionless, if mildly interesting , distractions. Echoes, on Meddle, pointed to the future, and the idea was carried on for Dark Side..or Eclipse, as it was for a while ,a long piece, consisting of various ideas by all of them, cobbled together. Breathe was not only reprised at the end of Time, but also in Any Colour You like. Roger wrote all the words for that, which was fine by David and Rick, who had no interest in writing lyrics. All the band played to their strengths, fleshing out all the tunes to maximum effect , and a master piece was born. Wish You Were here followed the same method, and that is my personal favourite Floyd album. The Waters Years began with the next release, Animals. Roger was not only choosing what the next 'concept' would be, but he was also writing all the songs to fit that story, pushing every one else's chances to contribute material out of the window, but the band still gave shape to what Roger brought, David managing to grab a songwriting credit for Dogs. I once saw someone on a Floyd forum, so in love with the idea that Roger was THE CREATIVE FORCE in the band, that he believed Roger wrote Rick's intro to Sheep, an important part of that song. David also didn't get credit for that songs outro. David and Rick did solo albums, sucking up all their ideas, except for Comfortably Numb in David's case. Then, when it came time for the next record, Roger turns up with The Wall AND Pro's And Cons, and told the rest of the band to choose one. That, I would say, is the evidence that you need, that the ego situation in the band lies squarely at Roger's feet. It took a lot of reworking, mainly by Bob Ezrin, to give shape to Roger's sprawling story, and once again, the band shaped the music. Then they had a big hit single, gained many more fans who bought the album, the cover of which has no mention of Rick or Nick, and so laid the foundations for the idea that Roger was the man, and all those other guys were his backing band. You may, of course not agree...

[@marpsr]

Well said

[@colinlimb2068]

Several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict....utter madness🤣

[@Gilmourfan11]

My experience with Ummagumma is Jekyll-and-Hyde-ish: I thoroughly enjoy the live record however, to date (I originally bought it c. 1980), I haven't been able to listen to the solo studio record all the way through. To be blunt, I find most of it cringe worthy. Returning to the live record, especially Astronomy Domine, Gilmour absolutely shines. His solo here is criminally overlooked when discussing his career bests. The original cut from Piper... leaves me flat and uninspired. This live version, chiefly thanks to Gilmour, has texture, a third dimension, if you will. When l listen to it I'm not just hearing it, I feel it resonating inside me.

[@garyfowkes8794]

Not quite their worst album but not far off

[@Don3PO]

In Lieu of Waterboarding would be a more appropriate name for this album.

[@Cookie-hg4xb]

The four live songs are fine and captures Pink Floyd's sound at the time. However the studio songs are completely experimental and not really worth listening to.

[@jupitermadcat]

I like the album I usually like albums that get a bad rap.

[@ArchieDuke.]

The studio album is not for sane people. Great for drug users or those in mental institutions, the rest of us will stick to other efforts by the Floyd.

[@markholmes2357]

Just for once, im going to have to disagree with you. I'm with some of the band that thought it was a bit of a mess (Gilmour and Mason). Thankfully the band would soon go from strength to strength.

[@davidkulczyk678]

I love all Pink Floyd lp's except the Wall... But I don't buy that the members of the band didn't take drugs like they are saying now.

[@mrkitewine7700]

The live half is superb, each of the 4 tracks being better than the studio version. The studio album is terrible

[@neilb224]

I think Pink Floyd are rubbish. An absolute shower. Can somebody, please, suggest an ‘introductory’ album to convince me otherwise. Much obliged.

[@jacquesarseneault4254]

In Waters’mind he was(is)Pink Floyd,he sued his band mates to keep them from using the name and lost.Gilmour,Mason and Wright went on to make 3 more Pink Floyd album without Waters.Unfortunately most of Waters solo album are very ordinary compare to Floyd’s album.Maybe he’s not the genius he thought he .Maybe Pink Floyd was a band after all. Maybe Waters should have given more credit to his band mates….

[@adrianking475]

I’d much rather listen to this than most of Roger Waters’ output.

[@darrylmars]

The live part may be my favorite record of all time, the studio part is drivel. Sad to see what is happening with Roger. A college friend ran lights for the Dark Side tour. I have listened to this music regularly for 50 years plus & love it every time.

[@MetalMan73100]

A most unlistenable album, which I haven´t played this century. I think I bought it in the late 1990s.

[@MikeDickson]

Nice stuff...just stop waving your hands like Eva Peron, yeah? :-)

[@michelzinger]

It's a very boring album but less than Atom Heart Mother. The mix between pop band and symphony has always been calamitous (remember Deep Purple). With the exception of Procol Harum with the Edmonton Orchestra, the only successful album in the genre, a real masterpiece.

[@donnix1192]

Waters really became the creative mind of Pink Floyd which Gilmour never accepted

[@jimmycampbell78]

Interesting take...

[@jimmycampbell78]

In all of Waters’ public pronouncements and interviews he makes it very clear that he agrees with you, he was the creative force of the band. You’re repeating what Roger says. But Roger Waters goes further- he says that his former bandmates contributed little, if anything. It’s that which Gilmour does not accept.

[@dont_follow5777]

That's why Roger is the divider. If Roger wasn't so public in stating his opinion, that Rick, Nick and David meant very little to band, the responses never would have to have happened. Roger wants a Pink Floyd where only he was right.

[@JasonSmith-jr7jh]

During this Era (after Syd), the band could/would have broken up without Roger's "force of will" and emerging songwriting abilities. However, as far as the Vox Populi goes, Gilmour's Guitar and Voice are the TITLE DEED to the PF Sound.

[@dont_follow5777]

@@JasonSmith-jr7jh that is one of the best descriptions of how the band found success and should be remembered. It's not devicive, like how many fans try to imply.

[@roywatson8133]

i like the album must say its the most dated of all there records highlight gilmours the narrow way

[@theokidokis]

The live disc is okay, the other one is a piece of crap.

[@dwightdhansen]

The live album is fantastic. The only good song on the second disc is The Narrow Way. The rest is garbage, especially Several Species which is just as unlistenable as Music from the Body.

[@kevinjohnson8993]

Sadly, useless.

[@clouddog2393]

Great cover design and the two live sides are great but the studio sides are nothing but self indulgent clap trap and not worthy of the band . Now if the whole double had consisted of live performances it could have been a classic .

[@joannitaxvi3386]

Ummagumma is their worst album ever, excluding More and Obscured

[@Kitski365]

Boring boring boring They were having a laugh,,,, what rubbish Kitski

[@Muni517]

The live songs sound amateurish and are kind of boring. The only interesting piece on this record is Grantchester Meadows. The cover is OK, too. :)