Pink Floyd - M502 Germany 1971

This is another Pink Floyd concert that is hardly an exclusive for Beehive Candy, however the quality of this specific remastered version, the songs performed and the unique nature of this bootleg make it a must feature as far as we are concerned.

Copying from the notes that have been circulated with this remastered version we quote - M-502 is the matrix number of the original 2-LP vinyl set that was made in Europe sometime in the 70's (performance Grosser Saal Musikhalle, Hamburg, West Germany February 25, 1971). Although there are many different versions of this show, all of them are sourced from a M-502 vinyl copy. Some sound better than others, none of them sound anything like this. (Take Linda Surfin' was a popular one). This 2-CDR set comes from a mint condition original LP, and has been beautifully remastered by the Digital Floyd Archives. Not only is this one of the best sounding recordings (especially of this era), this is one of the best vinyl remastering jobs I have ever heard. An original vinyl find is almost unthinkable.

Known Flaws:
If there's any surface noise on this, I can't hear it. May be a little at the start of disc 2, but this is a non-issue. The original recording does sound slightly "overdriven"; there is some mild distortion on the loudest parts of the first set. Cymbaline fades in around the second verse. There is also a bit of static in 'green is the color'; this is mic noise caused by the taper, and is in the original. Overall sound quality is a solid 9 out of 10, with the only penalty being for the above flaws. ooh... those cymbals!

The performance:
Wow. This seems to be the only concert with the brass/choir on Atom Heart Mother where the brass section didn't make any mistakes! Also, the 18+ minute version of A Saucerful of Secrets is probably the definitive version of this song. Did I mention that this is my favorite version of Careful With That Axe, Eugene? Roger's doesn't scream, he roars. Hold on to your hat. 

Source: Audience (do not be put off - this is an incredible copy).

Sound Quality: Very good MP3 @256kbps.

Genre: Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, contemporary.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. Green Is the Color
2. Careful With That Axe Eugene
3. Cymbaline (missing first verse)
4. The Embryo
5. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
6. A Saucerful of Secrets
7. Atom Heart Mother

Website: Official HERE.

Replacement download links (two) in comments below (15 September 2011).

Pink Floyd - Meddler (London) 1971

This is Pink Floyd recorded live on the 30th September, 1971, at the BBC’s Paris Theatre, in London UK. Recorded for the John Peel Show, part of the concert was subsequently broadcast on the 12th of October 1971 on BBC Radio One.

This was the first time two songs from the then new album Meddle were performed for the BBC (Echoes & One of These Days), and Nick Mason's vocal debut in the band is characteristically commented on by host John Peel.

The version of 'Meddle' is quite funky and raw in a good kinda way. 'Fat Old Sun' is transformed into something quite special in this performance.

A number of CD boots have been circulated down the years including both through 'Swinging Pig' & 'Harvested 'Records'.

The Harvested version is complete and is probably the best boot version (from which this is sourced) and was put together from the sources below to become the full concert again.

Source: BBC Rock Hour transcription disc (show #214) / Westwood One CD / 2nd Generation WNEW recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@160kbps.

Genre: Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

01. Fat Old Sun
02. One Of These Days
03. Echoes
04. Embryo
05. Blues

Website: Official.

Comments:

The John Peel Show was only 55 minutes long. “Embryo” and “Blues” were never broadcast originally in the UK. They were only aired on WNEW-FM, New York City, USA sometime in 1971.

This WNEW portion was broadcast only once, unfortunately, and features the station’s call sign (“This is WNEW…”) in the middle of Embryo. As a result of this all earlier versions of Embryo in circulation either have a rough (or very smooth) edit, or contain the call sign. The 1971 show are rebroadcast nearly every year in the USA on the “King Biscuit Flour Hour.” However, it is a combination version of the two shows and is incomplete.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Pink Floyd - Studio Out Takes & Demos 1971 - 1972

Pink Floyd out takes and demos from 1971 and 1972.

There is plenty of Pink Floyd material around from this era, including studio out takes.

I plan to feature a couple of live concerts from the seventies in due course, however decided to start with these out takes for one specific reason.

The quality is really good, all mp3's are at 320kbps, and the journey from the original masters is a limited one, retaining much of the initial quality.

I am personally fascinated by the first track 'On The Run' and where this piece of music may have originally gone, alas - as with all musical history from bands like Pink Floyd there remain so many 'what ifs'.

Track listing is:

1. ON THE RUN (OUTTAKE) 1.44m
(Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, November 1972)

2. TIME (DEMO) 6.05m
(Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, June 1972)

3. MONEY (ACOUSTIC DEMO) 1.38m
(Recording location unknown, 1971)

4. US & THEM (DEMO) 5.27m
(Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, June 1972)

5. BRAIN DAMAGE / ECLIPSE (DEMO) 3.24m
(Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, June 1972)

6. BRAIN DAMAGE (OUTTAKE, PART 1) 1.24m
7. BRAIN DAMAGE (OUTTAKE, PART 2) 2.18m
(Both recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, November 1972)

8. ONE OF THESE DAYS (DEMO ONE) 4.50m
9. ONE OF THESE DAYS (DEMO TWO) 6.49m
(Recording studios unknown - 1971)

Reloaded - 03/June/2015 - download link in comments.

Pink Floyd - Psychedelic Sound Check - 1994

In my little world, a small claim to fame is having been in the audience with my eldest daughter, at Earls Court, London, when Pink Floyd recorded the Pulse DVD. Like I say my little world.

Turning the sad level up to eleven, I still have a guitar plectrum used in the show, and given to me after, in my possession. Did I mention little world?

The 1994 tour promoting the Division Bell album was no little thing! In my opinion it was a fantastic tour, a spectacle definitely, the musicianship well crafted, and the gig I attended, plus the footage, and recordings of others I have heard, suggest the tour as a whole, was really appreciated by the fans.

Oh, I know there are those who say it stopped being Pink Floyd when Roger Waters departed, or even when Syd Barrett was dropped, and those who hark back to the golden years, whenever they were. However do you know what? I really don't care. There are more important things in life than becoming retentive over music...

So to the purpose of this feature.

I am pleased to share some of the sound checks ahead of the shows. These are full songs, played obviously without the audience, and some of the banter before or after, with the sound crew.

If you listen closely you may also notice David Gilmour 'adjusts' some of the lyrics.

Soundcheck List:

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND
HIGH HOPES
BREATHE IN THE AIR
TIME
THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY
LOST FOR WORDS
WISH YOU WERE HERE
MONEY
US AND THEM

Recorded live May 5th 1994 at the Tampa Stadium FL. during the sound check rehearsals.

TAKE IT BACK

Recorded live Sept. 25th 1994 in Lousanne. This song is an outtake from Pulse.

ASTRONOMY DOMINE (I)
ASTRONOMY DOMINE (II)

Recorded live March 30th 1994 at the Joe Robbie Stadium Miami FL during the sound check rehearsals.

The sound quality is absolutely superb - via digital stereo soundboard and pro mixed.

REPLACEMENT DOWNLOAD LINKS (TWO) IN COMMENTS BELOW (29/05/2010).

Pink Floyd - Animal Moments

When 'Animals' was first released, I was disappointed, I expected another ' Dark Side of the Moon'.
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Over time however, I have to say that Animals has become a Pink Floyd favorite of mine. Sadly the live material of this album has been pretty poor in quality down the years.
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Not surprising really, the American leg of the tour to promote this album was not a happy affair, which must have been clear at a number of concerts, and audience recordings from that time were generally pretty poor.

I doubt the sound engineers were keen to risk the wrath of Roger Waters, however apparently there is an excellent sound desk recording somewhere, and here is a public grovel, for a copy if anyone can shed light on this.

Having laboured the quality point, I have two good copies of Animals live namely, 'With Bright Knives' and 'Animal Instincts'.

Cutting to the chase a pretty decent version of Sheep is available via the following link.

Pink Floyd - Sheep - Live.mp3

The Beehive Candy Store is HERE.

Pink Floyd - Dreams Factory

I have to start somewhere.

The first Pink Floyd concert I attended, was in 1975. I am pleased to say I was too young to have really seen them much earlier.

That said, by the time Dark Side of the Moon came out, I was already a fan.

Radio Caroline introduced me to Pink Floyd, and for that reason alone, I remain an anorak of Sky's 0199 Channel to this day.

However way before I was going to gigs, fans were flocking to see Pink Floyd, and some were recording what they heard.

Pink Floyd are up there with the most bootlegged of artists, maybe not as much as the likes of Led Zeppelin, but I would guess pretty much a top ten contender.

What really makes a difference, is the quality of recordings made. None usually touch the live albums released with the artists approval. Pink Floyd however, by their very nature, seem to have had as much emphasis on quality, as quantity, when it comes to 'unofficial' recordings.

Lets not get carried away here, there are some really awful Pink Floyd bootlegs around, I know I have some.

What really matters from my point of view, is not how many there are, but what are the good ones, the excellent ones, and those that sound engineers have copied from concert sound desks, and still remain under lock and key.

My personal answer to all of this is "I don't know". What I do know is that I am trying to write a blog piece, and have some samples to share.

So lets start at the first Pink Floyd bootleg I have that meets a basic criteria.

It is listenable, has some unique attributes, and gives me a chance to kick off this whole Beehive Candy thing without wishing I had not bothered later.

Enter 1972's Dreams Factory. Probably a mix of concert recordings from that era, and nothing that special in it's own right. Except that the recordings are of Pink Floyd playing with passion, and with the guitar prevailing in a really positive and good way.

So download Echoes, and hear it in a new light, one recorded a long time ago. When the band were up for a bit of rock'n'roll.

Pink Floyd - Echoes - Dream Factory - 1972.mp3

It has been referred to as the guitar version, whatever you think if you are at all interested in hearing the original and do not have a copy check here - Pink Floyd.

Like I said, I have to start somewhere, and as far as Pink Floyd are concerned, I make no apologies in whats to follow, if you like them, come back again.