Lucifer Sam
| "Lucifer Sam" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Pink Floyd from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | ||||
| Released | 5 August 1967 | |||
| Recorded | April–June 1967 | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, space rock,[1] hard rock[2] | |||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | Columbia/EMI (UK) Capitol (US) | |||
| Writer | Syd Barrett | |||
| Producer | Norman Smith | |||
| The Piper at the Gates of Dawn track listing | ||||
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"Lucifer Sam" is a song by British psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd, featured on the debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967).
Contents |
[edit] Music and lyrics
The song is built around a descending riff, with the dominant instrument being composer Syd Barrett's electric guitar, fed through an echo machine; the resultant sound has been likened to a "sinister" Duane Eddy.[3] This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects.[4]
Though the lyric frequently refers to Lucifer Sam as a cat, some speculation has arisen as to whether this was in fact 1960s slang ("a hip cat") for a man, real or imagined, in some type of relationship with Barrett's then-girlfriend, Jenny Spires (referred to in the song as "Jennifer Gentle").[4] However, Sam was simply Barrett's domestic feline; the track was originally called "Percy the Rat Catcher" during the recording sessions, which took place during April–June 1967.[5]
[edit] Personnel
- Syd Barrett – guitar and vocals
- Richard Wright – keyboards
- Roger Waters – bass
- Nick Mason – drums and percussion
[edit] Live and cover versions
"Lucifer Sam" was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967[5] and featured as an encore during many performances, mostly notably at the Games for May concert.
The Lightning Seeds covered the song as a B-side to their 1992 single "Sense"; it also appeared on their 2006 best of collection.
Neils Children released a limited edition 7" single featuring a cover of "Lucifer Sam" in tribute to Syd after his death.
The track has also been covered by the Black Crowes, Electric Hellfire Club, The Minders, The Flaming Lips, True West, Jay Farrar, Love and Rockets, Voivod, Shockabilly, The Sadies, The Three O'Clock, MGMT, and Spirits in the Sky.
[edit] Notes
- ^ A. Robbins, The Trouser Press Record Guide (Collier Books, 1991), ISBN 0020363613
- ^ "Allmusic review". Stewart Mason. http://www.allmusic.com/song/lucifer-sam-t1530786. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
- ^ Toby Manning (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd: p.155
- ^ a b John Cavanagh (2003). The Piper at the Gates of Dawn: pp.39–41
- ^ a b Vernon Fitch (2005). The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia: p.186
[edit] External links
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