Relics [Original recording remastered]

Pink Floyd

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 6, 1996)
• Original Release Date: May 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000002U0D
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,461 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This compilation and "greatest hits" package has the odd distinction of being released well before the band hit its stadium-filling prime in the mid-to-late '70s. This album essentially bridges the considerable gap between original leader Syd Barrett's baroque psychedelic pop-single bent (exemplified here by the band's first chart hit "See Emily Play" and the cross-dressing mini-epic "Arnold Layne," both stellar singles left off the band's debut album) and the more ponderous musical pretensions of Roger Waters, the band's de facto leader after mental illness sidelined Barrett early on. It's a good introduction to the band's foundations for Floyd novices, and the inclusion of the early singles and two early outtakes ("Julia Dream" and "Biding My Time") make it a must for aficionados. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Original Release Date: May 1971 Track Listing: 1. Arnold Layne 2. Intersteller Overdrive 3. See Emily Play 4. Remember A Day 5. Paintbox 6. Julia Dream 7. Careful With That Axe, Eugene 8. Cirrus Minor 9. The Nile Song 10. Biding My Time 11. Bike

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pink Floyd: The Early Years, April 21, 2005

By	Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Relics" is a collection of very early Pink Floyd singles and rare tracks, covering the band's first couple of years from 1967 to 1969. Consider it "Pink Floyd: The Early Years," if you like. Five tracks come from the group's first three albums: the classic, trippy instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive" and the half children's song/half freak-out number, "Bike" (both from "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"), the breezy "Remember A Day" (from "A Saucerful Of Secrets"), and a pair of tunes from the "More" movie soundtrack: the eerie "Cirrus Minor," and the thunderous rocker, "The Nile Song." All superb stuff, but the main selling point of "Relics" are the six rare Floyd tracks that make up the remainder, such as the classic early singles "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play," both great little blasts of late-60's psychedelic pop, the jaunty "Paintbox," and the lovely, mysterious atmosphere of "Julia Dream." Also included is the original studio version of "Careful With That Axe, Eugene," an outstanding Floyd instrumental that's probably more famous in it's live version from the "Ummagumma" album. Although the live version of "Eugene" IS more monstrous and powerful, as the Floyd were able to slowly build it up and expand on it in concert, the slightly-faster studio version is nothing to sneeze at either, and the band give it a studio performance that's very impressive, skillful, and passionate. And finally, there is what is quite possibly the happiest, most upbeat song in the entire Pink Floyd catalog, "Biding My Time." Although the song starts out softly, before long the band turn it into a full-throttle jazz-rock rave-up, complete with horn section! Sounds to me like the Floyd had a grand ol' time in the studio when they recorded this number, and it shows. Love it! Pink Floyd's "Relics" may indeed be, as the album cover says, "a bizarre collection of antiques & curios," but oh, is it good. Floyd fans everywhere should definitely add this album to their collection.

75 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The LP was better, August 29, 2004

By	Steven L. Grace - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not going to comment much on the music; you've probably been able to gather that "Relics" contains five tracks from the first three Pink Floyd albums plus six non-album tracks from the same time period (1967-69). It's somewhat of an odd collection that I'd give 3-1/2 stars to for just the music.

HOWEVER...I'd like to point out some issues that none of the previous reviewers have mentioned. First, this CD has obvious audio defects. "Interstellar Overdrive" has at least five audio dropouts. "Paint Box" and "Julia Dream" each have a moment where one channel loses the high end. To add insult to injury, the track times printed on the CD seem to correspond to the "More" CD, not "Relics", and the booklet is a complete waste of paper that omits the minimal information (recording dates) from the original US LP.

I bought this CD to replace the LP, but in this case the LP was better. Capitol Records should be embarrassed.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unearth this Relic, March 21, 2001

By	The Minister of Martinis (Olive Grove) - See all my reviews

During the early days of Punk, Johnny Rotten was famed for his "I hate Pink Floyd" T-shirt. Ironically, the Sex Pistols tried to enlist the band's founder, the elusive Syd Barrett, to produce their first album. Why? Because the '67-era Floyd were every bit as groundbreaking as the Pistols were in '77.

Proof comes in the form of Relics, re-released as part of Capitol's remastering of the group's back catalog. A collection of singles and album tracks, this disc kicks off with three Barrett diamonds, "Arnold Layne," the awe-inspiring "Interstellar Overdrive," and "See Emily Play." Barrett's drug-induced psychological breakdown led to his replacement by David Gilmour in 1968, but not before he graced Rick Wright's "Remember a Day" with mournfully loopy slide guitar work.

Relics' Roger Waters-era highlights include "Cirrus Minor," "The Nile Song," and a personal favorite, "Careful With That Axe, Eugene." The disc closes with Barrett's "Bike," further proof that Syd wasn't like the rest of us anymore.

Relics surprises at every turn, mixing pop songcraft, avant-garde deconstructionism, and eerie melody. It's a much-needed boarding pass to a place few minds have dared journey.