Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey [Paperback]

Nicholas Schaffner
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback --  
Summer Reading
Summer Reading
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store.

Book Description

June 1, 1992
Saucerful of Secrets is the first in-depth biography of this very private group. At the heart of the saga is Syd Barrett, the group's brilliant founder, whose public decline into shattered incoherence--attributable in part to his marathon use of LSD--is one of the tragedies of rock history. The making of Dark Side of the Moon and Floyd's other great albums is recounted in detail, as are the mounting of "The Wall"  and the creation of the flying pigs, crashing  planes, "Mr. Screen" and the other elements of their spectacular stage shows. The book also explores the many battles between bass player/song writer Roger Waters and the rest of the group, leading up to Water's acrimonious departure for a solo  career in 1984 and his unsuccessful attempt to disolve the group he had left behind.

Saucerful of Secrets is an electrifying account of this ground-breaking, mind-bending group, covering every period of their career from  earliest days to latest recordings. It is full of  revealing information that will be treasured by all who love Pink Floyd's music.


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Saucerful Of Secrets is the first in-depth biography of this very private group. At the heart of the saga is Syd Barrett, the group's brilliant founder, whose public decline into shattered incoherence -- attributable in part to his marathon use of LSD -- is one of the tragedies of rock history. The making of "Dark Side of the Moon" and Floyd's other great albums is recounted in detail, as are the mounting of "The Wall" and the creation of the flying pigs, crashing planes, "Mr. Screen" and the other elements of their spectacular stage shows. The book also explores the many battles between bass player/song writer Roger Waters and the rest of the group, leading up to Water's acrimonious departure for a solo career in 1984 and his unsuccessful attempt to disolve the group he had left behind.

Saucerful Of Secrets is an electrifying account of this ground-breaking, mind-bending group, covering every period of their career from earliest days to latest recordings. It is full of revealing information that will be treasured by all who love Pink Floyd's music.

From the Inside Flap

Saucerful of Secrets is the first in-depth biography of this very private group. At the heart of the saga is Syd Barrett, the group's brilliant founder, whose public decline into shattered incoherence--attributable in part to his marathon use of LSD--is one of the tragedies of rock history. The making of Dark Side of the Moon and Floyd's other great albums is recounted in detail, as are the mounting of "The Wall"  and the creation of the flying pigs, crashing  planes, "Mr. Screen" and the other elements of their spectacular stage shows. The book also explores the many battles between bass player/song writer Roger Waters and the rest of the group, leading up to Water's acrimonious departure for a solo  career in 1984 and his unsuccessful attempt to disolve the group he had left behind.

Saucerful of Secrets is an electrifying account of this ground-breaking, mind-bending group, covering every period of their career from  earliest days to latest recordings. It is full of  revealing information that will be treasured by all who love Pink Floyd's music.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 348 pages
  • Publisher: Delta (June 1, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385306849
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385306843
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 61 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Hear the Floyd. Read the Floyd. September 29, 2001
Format:Paperback
For all Pink Floyd fans who would like to learn more about this extraordinary assemblage of talent, this is the book for you. Schaffner takes us from the earliest years, from before Dave Gilmour was a part of the band, all the way up to the tour for "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason" (the recording of which was later released as "The Delicate Sound Of Thunder").

After reading these pages, one is transfixed with the idea that he has actually known the Floyd personages first-hand. We feel sympathetic for Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett while he slowly (but not subtly) goes insane. We gain a newfound respect for the interchange between Roger Waters the poet & Dave Gilmour the musician. It is fascinating to trace the band's career thru the years as they get along, then don't get along, end up filing lawsuits and (eventually) start taking shots at each other via their music (as in the case of Gilmour's "High Hopes").

Most importantly, however, is attention levied on the Floyd's dedication to their craft. Unlike perhaps 90% of the rock bands of today, the Floyd was / is not about image. No dancing with pythons wrapped around their neck, or posters of them with Jack Daniels, or any other nonsense. No, the Floyd has always been about a group of serious musicians getting together to make great things happen. It is no wonder that the late great Leonard Bernstein was such a big fan of theirs. For that matter, it is also no surprise that the Floyd was a big fan of his as well. [You can read all about this relationship / correspondance here, too!]

Here is their story, laid out in a exquisite clairty and sensitivity that you will not find in other bios. Schaffner takes us thru the ups, the downs & the in-betweens of one of the most innovative and talented rock bands to ever grace vinyl, audiotape and compact disk. A must read for Pink Floyd fans everywhere.

Was this review helpful to you?
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets revealed July 1, 2000
By Kevin
Format:Paperback
Though the bad blood between Roger Waters and David Gilmour is no big secret, here we start to understand how it and the biggest band in "psychodelic" music came about. From its "crazy" founder Syd Barrett to the Roger Water's "The Wall" concert in Berlin, Schaffner shows how egos and talent built and tore apart this band.

"Saucerful.." seems a bit one sided at times. Waters is almost always depicted as a need-to-be-in-charge egomanic, and despite being kicked out of the band some 25 odd years ago, Barrett's story takes up almost half of the book. This doesn't however take away from the information that's presented here. All of the thoughts, feelings, and goings-on that were present during the making of "Dark Side...", "Atom Heart Mother", "Animals", "The Wall", and all the other great Floyd albums are well described here.

This book is a must read for any Floyd fan to see how it all became to be.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A balanced biography of Pink Floyd September 23, 2000
Format:Paperback
For those left on the dark side of the moon wondering what happened to Pink Floyd at the end of the 80's, this book goes to the heart. Reading a biography helps you listen to music in a whole different light, leaving you less a fanatic and more sympathetic to how a group of artists (first lesson, normal artists act alone) handle fame and relationships. The Floyd handled it predictably, with denial and immorality: the whole rock star life. Sadly, the life we long for but don't really understand. Nick portrays all this with a close attention to human nature. Not to mention he's followed the band all his life, and was rewarded with rare access on a few occasions. It is not a pleasant read in the fact that many of your preconceived notions of who Pink Floyd "are" will be demolished. Even the "evil" Roger Waters we have all come to love and stereotype is a family man with failings, and we see that his songs simply come out of that frustration with the everyday. His war stuff is just the war stuff we'd write if we put our office rants to paper. And he writes it much better. And Schaffner captures the flavor. This is a very good book.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite book for years
I missed having this book after losing it years ago. I really enjoyed reading it agian and I had forgotten many things about the band. The book arrived in perfect condition!!!
Published 5 days ago by POEM
5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book
This book was perfect for any Pink Floyd fan wanting to know more about their favorite band. It was very easy to follow and very honest in the portrayal of this trend setting... Read more
Published 4 months ago by adarknight81
5.0 out of 5 stars Tales from the Piper
A fantastic book to read if you are interested in the Floyd.From the start you get a sense that Nic wrote this as a labor of love for the music. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mystikeye
3.0 out of 5 stars Saucerful of Questionable Material
Two and One-half Stars

I don't trust this book. It doesn't feel like the author's talked to any of the band directly, except for Rick Wright. Read more
Published on May 6, 2011 by Suzinne Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars The best Pink Floyd book in existence...
Every Pink Floyd fan should own "Saucerful of Secrets". It a fascinating book about this very private, secretive group. The writing is skillfully done, and it's a quick read. Read more
Published on February 11, 2011 by Doug DePew
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!.
A Very well written and Complete history of Pink Floyd up to 1992. My only wish was that the Author would add a few Chapters on Newer things such as the G8 reunion, Richard... Read more
Published on December 30, 2008 by J. Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars Best overall Floyd biography out there
The recent demise of Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright was my impetus for reading this well-researched biography of the rock group. Read more
Published on October 7, 2008 by Glen Engel Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars great book!!!
As a true Pink Floyd fan I can sincerely say that the author of the book does a great job in telling the story of this great band.
Published on September 13, 2007 by I. Ibarra
2.0 out of 5 stars Saucerful of Secrets
Buy Nick Mason's "Inside Out" biographical book instead. Much better - great photos & the real story. This one's a snoozer.
Published on February 9, 2007 by Steve C.
5.0 out of 5 stars What do I have to say to make you buy this book??
Its incredible, best book about Pink Floyd you will ever read.

If you're a fan, whether it is an avid fan or a casual fan, you will enjoy this book. Read more
Published on January 4, 2007 by J. Bell
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews




What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category