Comments for Barrett, Syd, Opel

This raw, self-indulgent compilation is, like all of Syd's stuff, a cult-classic. His work can either be regarded as garbage or real art. Pioneering art, in my book...

An excellent album. Contains more of Barrett's brilliantly ingenious lyrics. Real gems on this album include Clowns & Jugglers, an electric version of Octopus performed with the Soft Machine, Rats, which is just Syd singing and playing acoustic guitar with no accompianment, and of course, Opel, one of Syd Barrett's best songs.

These alternate & unreleased, mostly technically flawed takes add up to what is probably Barrett's best album as it presents Syd in his natural environment, unadorned by musical window dressing. The songs are brilliant, the guitar & voice distinctive, and the package is nicely put together. "Madcap" has a few other good tracks not on here but this functions as the one Syd album to get, really. Frightening but worth hearing.

Tracks 3,4,5,6,7,9,10 & 13 produced by David Gilmour Tracks 8,11 & 14 produced by Peter Jenner Track 1 produced by Malcolm Jones Track 2 produced by Peter Jenner and Malcolm Jones Track 12 produced by David Gilmour and Roger Waters

Tracks 3,4,5,6,7,9,10 and 13 produced by David Gilmour Tracks 8,11 and 14 produced by Peter Jenner Track 1 produced by Malcolm Jones Track 2 produced by Peter Jenner and Malcolm Jones Track 12 produced by David Gilmour and Roger Waters

Now I know the reason why this is the best Syd Barrett album as many of you here have argued; Roger Waters is involved in only one of the tracks.

`Opel` contains much of the music that did not make it onto `The Madcap Laughs` or `Barrett` as well as alternate versionsof Syd`s other tunes. The sound on some tracks is somewhat rawraw with page turning heard on `Let`s Split` and "Dollyrocker`.Still, `Swan Lee` and `Milky Way` are wonderful. The linernotes tell an interesting the history of the recording sessions.And Syd`s imaginative lyrics are not missing in these additional songs.