London 1966/1967

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London 1966/1967 album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK // LIVE

Total Tracks: 2   Total Length: 28:31

eMusic Review 0

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James McNair

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Nick, Rick, Roger and Syd setting the controls for the heart of the sun.
2007 | Label: Pucka / RSK Entertainment

To witness Pink Floyd at the UFO Club in 1966 was to explore a darker side of "swinging London." The time-bomb that was frontman Syd Barrett's daily acid use was already ticking, but the group's edgy, iconoclastic concerts — in-crowd affairs with kaleidoscopic light shows — were must-sees for the likes of Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend and Jimi Hendrix.

It made sense, then, when filmmaker Peter Whitehead opted to include footage of Floyd in his contemporaneous British Film Institute documentary Tonite Let's All Make Love in London. In so doing, the director trapped the nascent Floyd in amber, providing us with a potent snapshot of the band that pre-dates the release of their debut single “Arnold Layne.”

What we have here is an enhanced CD that draws on the audio/visual material that was nailed for Whitehead's film at London's Sound Techniques Studios in January 1967. The visuals include footage of Floyd playing all 16 minutes and forty-six seconds of “Interstellar Overdrive,” plus pertinent period interviews with the likes of Mick Jagger and the actress Julie Christie. The audio content comprises the same version of “Interstellar Overdrive,” plus the 12-minute improvised jam “Nick's Boogie.”

The "official" version of “Interstellar Overdrive” would… read more »

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It's a little hard to take but its the roots of a

dgarber

I loved Uma Guma and a few of the other early pieces with Syd - However this EP is just a little to grainy for me to really enjoy. But with all that said - you really need to add it to your catalog.

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It's Okay.

DontWannaNicknameDammit

Given that it's on eMusic and convenient, if you are a Floyd Fan, you'll want it. But there are better places to start.

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i wish i could find a live version of...

dougm

"the nile song" the best rocker floyd ever did is nowhere to be found on any of the bootleghs recordings that i know of. one of these days [punintended] i hope a live track surfaces. until then, this stuff is pretty cool too.

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Pink Floyd at their best!

peterfrederics

For those who like early Pink Floyd this is essential, particularly Interstellar Overdrive. And all for 2 downloads! Where else can you get this kind of value!?

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Good music

geoffreylee

I heard these guys got popular later on. These are 2 good tracks to have.

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Once again, Pink Floyd is tops!

EMUSIC-0136B3B2

I have seen Pink Floyd in concert at least 5 times, starting in Germany. And they are the tops in the music world too me. Sincerely Grandpa Rock

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Interstellar

Touchedbyanoodle

This epic recording of Interstellar is as freak-out psychedelic as it gets. And Nick's Boogie was long a mystery track, until this release. It's another spacey jam, which keeps the vibe going, even if it doesn't reach the heights of Interstellar's majesty. Interstellar Overdrive ranks as one of the Floyd's most impressive achievements. This recording is essential listening for any Floyd or Barrett devotee. Inspiration for countless rock bands.

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psychedelic roots of where the Floyd got to

hoboesque

not the Floyd of genius - the band that could link the musical intelligentsia with the DJs' playlists. but it's ok if you're a student of the first wave of psychedelic rock. don't download if you want to hear more of Wall or DSotM. do download if you like early Hawkwind etc. generally... ho hum

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old floyd the start

captaintrips

I grew up pink floyd. Listing to THe Wall, Animals etc... Then I heard "Pipers at the Gates of Dawn". If you like Pink Floyd(early,67) I suggest u listin to this. LIVE! YEA Like Primordial Oooze

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Classic Floyd with Syd

Porieux

I'm not quite sure what the reviewer below me is going on about but this is absolutely classic Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett on both cuts. Superlative, don't miss it!

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They Say All Music Guide

Essentially, London 1966-1967 is a single-disc version of the music used for director Peter Whitehead’s film Tonite Let’s All Make Love in London. Since all the music and footage weren’t used in the film’s final cut, they have been made available on various bootlegs and reissues of strange import. This Snapper disc is licensed, and contains both “Interstellar Overdive” and “Nick’s Boogie,” capturing the Syd Barrett era of the band at its loosest and most adventurous. The music is more than solid — it reveals in spades what the fuss was about with Floyd early on. The video portion of this disc is a bit of a letdown, however. It contains — viewable on your computer in ROM — footage of the full “Interstellar Overdrive” and interviews with Whitehead (who provides an overview) as well as actors Julie Christie and Michael Caine, artist David Hockney, and Mick Jagger, all talking about Swinging London at the time. Alas, to get the wild, woolly footage of “Nick’s Boogie,” one has to purchase the DVD, which has all sorts of extras. In essence, other than the music, the disc is a teaser for the DVD. – Thom Jurek

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