Today in Music (1967): Pink Floyd Releases Piper at the Gates of Dawn

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Pink Floyd

Released: August 4, 1967 Peak: 131 US, 6 UK, -- CN, -- AU Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, 0.1 UK, 3.5 world (includes US and UK), 5.58 EAS Genre: psychedelic rock

The original Pink Floyd: left to right – Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, and Richard Wright

Tracks (UK version): Click on a song titled for more details. Astronomy Domine [4:12] Lucifer Sam [3:07] Matilda Mother [3:08] Flaming [2:46] Pow R. Toc H. [4:26] Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk [3:05] Interstellar Overdrive [9:41] The Gnome [2:13] Chapter 24 [3:42] The Scarecrow [2:11] Bike [3:21] Total Running Time: 41:54 Tracks (U.S. version): Click on a song titled for more details. See Emily Play [2:53] Pow R. Toc H. [4:26] Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk [3:05] Lucifer Sam [3:07] Matilda Mother [3:08] The Scarecrow [2:11] The Gnome [2:13] Chapter 24 [3:42] Interstellar Overdrive [9:41] 40th Anniversary Bonus Disc: Click on a song titled for more details. Arnold Layne [2:57] Candy and a Currant Bun [2:45] See Emily Play [2:53] Apples and Oranges [3:11] Paint Box [3:45] Interstellar Overdrive (take 2, French edit) [5:15] Apples and Oranges (stereo version) [3:11] Matilda Mother (alternate version) [3:09] Interstellar Overdrive (take 6) [5:03] The Players: Syd Barrett (vocals, guitar) Roger Waters (bass, vocals) Nick Mason (drums, percussion) Richard Wright (keyboards)

Rating: 4.074 out of 5.00 (average of 25 ratings) Quotable: “One of the best psychedelic albums of all time.” – Steve Huey, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album Pink Floyd formed in London in 1965. They started out as an R&B combo, taking their name from blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. However, by the time of their first single, 1967’s “Arnold Layne,” they were at the forefront of the new psychedelic rock movement which was marked by sonic experimentation and the influence of psychedelic drugs. Sadly, drugs and mental illness led to one of rock’s greatest tragedies with original Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett. He only made it through one full album and part of the next before abandoning the band to live a reclusive life. One of the Best Psychedelic Albums of All Time Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, “successfully captures both sides of psychedelic experimentation – the pleasures of expanding one’s mind and perception, and an underlying threat of mental disorder and even lunacy; this duality makes Piper all the more compelling in light of Barrett’s subsequent breakdown.” SH It has been celebrated as “one of the seminal psychedelic rock albums of the 1960s.” WK Rolling Stone called it “the golden achievement of Syd Barrett” WK and Q magazine described it as “indispensable” and one of the “best psychedelic albums of all time.” WK The Title The title “is taken from a chapter in Syd Barrett’s favorite children’s book, The Wind in the Willows, and the lyrical imagery of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is indeed full of colorful, childlike, distinctly British whimsy, albeit filtered through the perceptive lens of LSD.” SH The Music “Barrett’s catchy, melodic acid pop songs are balanced with longer, more experimental pieces showcasing the group’s instrumental freak-outs.” SH “Even though Barrett’s lyrics and melodies are mostly playful and humorous, the band’s music doesn’t always bear out those sentiments – in addition to Rick Wright’s eerie organ work, dissonance, chromaticism, weird noises, and vocal sound effects are all employed at various instances, giving the impression of chaos and confusion lurking beneath the bright surface.” SH Reissues In 1973, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was paired with 1968’s A Saucerful of Secrets as A Nice Pair. In 2007, a 40th anniversary reissue of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn added a bonus disc which included some alternate takes of album cuts as well as non-album singles and B-sides from 1967. See track listing above. The Songs Here’s a breakdown of each individual song.

Astronomy Domine Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett, Richard Wright Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), Echoes (compilation, 11/6/2001) Peak: 15 CL, 13 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 23.55 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: On Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd often used “space travel as metaphors for hallucinogenic experiences – Astronomy Domine is a poppier number in this vein.” SH

Lucifer Sam Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 11.95 streaming

Matilda Mother Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett, Richard Wright Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: 41 CL Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 8.03 streaming About the Song: The 40th anniversary reissue of the album in 2007 featured an alternate version of “Matilda Mother.”

Flaming Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: single (11/6/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967) B-side: “The Gnome” Peak: 48 CL Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.19 streaming

Pow R. Toc H. Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason Lead Vocals: instrumental, wordless vocals by Barrett, Waters, and Wright Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 5.18 streaming

Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Roger Waters Lead Vocals: Roger Waters Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.70 streaming

Interstellar Overdrive Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason Lead Vocals: instrumental Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967), Relics (compilation, 5/14/1971) Peak: 33 CL, 18 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 20.15 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “The outsized instrumental Interstellar Overdrive,” BA – the “album’s most celebrated track,” BA represents one “of the earliest forays into what has been tagged space rock.” SH The 40th anniversary reissue in 2007 featured two additional versions of “Interstellar Overdrive.”

The Gnome Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: B-side of “Flaming” (11/6/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 5.89 streaming About the Song: Alongside instrumental freak-outs and space-themed psychedelia on Piper at the Gates of Dawn are “catchy-sounding, Gothic-themed pop songs such as …The Scarecrow and The Gnome.” BA

Chapter 24 Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.04 streaming

The Scarecrow Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: B-side of “See Emily Play” (6/16/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 4.06 streaming About the Song: Alongside instrumental freak-outs and space-themed psychedelia on Piper at the Gates of Dawn are “catchy-sounding, Gothic-themed pop songs such as …The Scarecrow and The Gnome.” BA

Bike Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barrett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (UK version, 8/4/1967), Relics (compilation, 5/14/1971), Echoes (compilation, 11/6/2001) Peak: 44 CL, 10 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 9.53 streaming

Arnold Layne Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: single (3/10/1967), Relics (compilation, 5/14/1971), Works (compilation, 6/18/1983), Echoes (compilation, 11/6/2001), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (bonus disc, 2007 reissue) B-side: “Candy and a Currant Bun” Peak: 6 CL, 20 UK, 7 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 19.35 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Candy and a Currant Bun Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: B-side of “Arnold Layne” (3/10/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (bonus disc, 2007 reissue) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.55 streaming

See Emily Play Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: single (6/16/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (U.S. version, 8/4/1967), Relics (compilation, 5/14/1971), Works (compilation, 6/18/1983), Echoes (compilation, 11/6/2001), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (bonus disc, 2007 reissue), A Foot in the Door (compilation, 11/7/2011) B-side: “The Scarecrow” Peak: 3 CL, 6 UK, 7 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 32.64 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Apples and Oranges Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Syd Barett Lead Vocals: Syd Barrett Released: single (11/17/1967), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (bonus disc, 2007 reissue) B-side: “Paint Box” Peak: 48 CL, 55 UK Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.94 streaming About the Song: The 2007 reissue features two versions of the song.

Paint Box Pink Floyd

Writer(s): Richard Wright Lead Vocals: Richard Wright Released: B-side of “Apples and Oranges” (11/17/1967), Relics (compilation, 5/14/1971), The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (bonus disc, 2007 reissue) Peak: -- Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2.80 streaming

Resources/References: BA Billy Altman, Amazon.com essential recording SH Steve Huey, AllMusic.com WK Wikipedia Related DMDB Pages: First posted 7/29/2011; last updated 8/22/2025.