Track Listing

1. Arnold Layne
2. Interstellar Overdrive
3. See Emily Play
4. Remember A Day
5. Paintbox
6. Julia Dream
7. Careful With That Axe Eugene
8. Cirrus Minor
9. Nile Song
10. Bidin' My Time
11. Bike

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1763 in Music
• Released on: 1996-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
Pink Floyd achieved their greatest success after their enigmatic leader, Syd Barrett, left the band. Originally released in 1971, RELICS documents the transition from Barrett's LSD-influenced psychedelic rock to Waters' manic-depressive-psychedelic rock. The organ-laced "Arnold Layne", and "See Emily Play" with its harpsichord break and nonsensical lyrics, are representative of the mod-pop music coming out of Londoncirca 1967, at which Barrett excelled. The instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive", hints at the type of extended space-rock jams that Roger Waters and the rest of the band would seize upon once Barrett left.
Keyboardist Rick Wright contributes two tunes, "Remember A Day" and "Paintbox", showing that he was coming into his own as a songwriter before his creative voice was squashed by the overbearing Waters. By 1971it was clear that Pink Floyd was Roger Waters' band, with the occasional contribution by one of the other members, mostnotably guitarist David Gilmour, who replaced Barrett and carried on the band's name years after Waters had disowned it.

Customer Reviews

A Floyd album for Non-Floyd fans
This isn't 'The Wall' or 'Meddle' or 'Dark Side' or even 'Saucerful of Secrets' - this is largely Syd's Pink Floyd and gives full expression to our favourite Crazy Diamond. I'm proud to admit that this and "Piper at the Gates" are the only Floyd albums I now own and I play this often. Someone will doubtless point out Syd isn't involved on all of these tracks but they're all brushed with his influence and tainted by his maniacal vision. This is England's version of Roky Erickson & the 13th Floor Elevators but much better recordings.

Axe (as soundtracked on Zabriskie Point) is good, the singles Arnold Layne & Emily Play a perfect marriage but it's the mellow Cirrus Minor, Julia Dream, Paintbox and Remember a Day that really take me back to the years immediately after the Brit's summer of love. They're blissful (the perfect adjective here). Maybe I should give due credit to Roger Waters here. The Nile Song & Interstellar both rock and Paintbox ends up making you want to rip off all of your clothes, no matter who's in the room with you. Oops - time for me to be on me Bike!

Fab
This is a lovely, carefree little CD of some of Floyds 60's works. And the fact that it contains the fantastic non-album Syd Barrett compositions "Arnold Layne" & "See Emily Play" make it indispensible. Elsewhere the songs here are very strong, the Gothic-hippyishness of "Julia Dream" & "Cirrus Minor" are wonderful. Well worth having.

Early Floyd At Their Best
"Relics" is an early 'Best Of' album, featuring some of Pink Floyd's most popular songs of the time. This, however the first time that "See Emily Play" and "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" have appeard on an album. (Unless you own the Japanese version of "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" which has "See Emily Play")

This is a great album by a great band. A must have.