Pink Floyd
Pink FloydThe song's title character is a transvestite whose primary pastime is stealing women's clothes and undergarments from washing lines. According to Roger Waters, "Arnold Layne" was actually based on a real person. Waters: "Both my mother and Syd's mother had students as lodgers because there was a girls' college up the road so there were constantly great lines of bras and knickers on our washing lines and 'Arnold' or whoever he was, had bits off our washing lines."
However, despite finding a place in the Top 20, the song's unusual transvestism theme attracted the ire of Radio London, which deemed the song too far-removed from "normal" society for its listeners before eventually banning it from radio airplay altogether.[1]
Producer Norman Smith wanted the band to re-record the Joe Boyd-produced song after they had signed up with EMI. While Waters and keyboardist Richard Wright were willing to do this, Barrett, on the other hand, was entirely satisfied with the existing studio cut, and argued against recording another version. Attempts were made to re-record the song at the insistence of EMI (who at the time only wanted to use in-house producers) but, perhaps due to Barrett's indifference to doing so, the re-recordings never got very far and the Boyd-produced session was used.
Boyd mentioned in several interviews over the years that "Arnold Layne" regularly ran for 10 to 15 minutes in concert (with extended instrumental passages), but the band knew that it had to be shortened for use as a single.
A black and white promotional film of "Arnold Layne" was made the same year, and featured members of Pink Floyd dressing up a mannequin before showing it around a beach. Recently, an alternative promotional film was unearthed, which featured the band goofing around in a forest and in front of a church. It is also the only known footage of Syd Barrett lip synching to the song.
David Gilmour, during his solo tour promoting On an Island, unexpectedly added the song to the setlist near the end of the American tour on the April 17, 2006 show at the Oakland Paramount Theatre. Pink Floyd had a habit of unexpectedly reviving songs when playing at Oakland; in 1977 they played "Careful with That Axe, Eugene" and in 1994 they abruptly revived "One Slip". This incarnation of the song was sung by Richard Wright and remained in the setlist until May 31.
On 26 December 2006, two live recordings of the song, from David Gilmour's May 2006 On an Island shows at the Royal Albert Hall were released as a live single, which peaked at #19 on the UK Singles chart. One version had guest vocals by David Bowie. Both versions are featured on Gilmour's DVD/BD, Remember That Night (Bowie's version on disc 1 and Richard Wright's version as a bonus on disc 2).
| "Arnold Layne" | |||||
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| Single by Pink Floyd | |||||
| B-side | "Candy and a Currant Bun" | ||||
| Released | March 11, 1967 (UK) April 24, 1967 (US) | ||||
| Recorded | January 29, 1967 Sound Techniques Studios, London February 27, 1967 EMI Studios, London | ||||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, psychedelic pop | ||||
| Length | 2:52 | ||||
| Label | Columbia (EMI) (UK) Tower/Capitol (US) Capitol (Canada) | ||||
| Writer(s) | Syd Barrett | ||||
| Producer | Joe Boyd | ||||
| Pink Floyd singles chronology | |||||
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"Arnold Layne" was the first single released by British Psychedelic rock group The Pink Floyd, shortly after landing a recording contract with EMI. The song was written by Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd's co-founder and original front man. Although not included on the band's debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (though it is included on the bonus disc of the CD version), "Arnold Layne" has come to be popular within fan circles, and is featured on numerous compilation albums of the band.
Barrett wrote most of Pink Floyd's early material. He was also an innovative guitarist, using extended techniques and exploring the musical and sonic possibilities of dissonance, distortion, feedback, the echo machine, tapes and other effects; his experimentation was partly inspired by free improvisation guitarist Keith Rowe. One of Barrett's trademarks was playing his guitar through an old echo box while sliding a Zippo lighter up and down the fret-board to create the mysterious, otherworldly sounds that became associated with the group. Barrett was known to have used Binson delay units to achieve his trademark echo sounds. Daevid Allen, founding member of Soft Machine and Gong has cited Barrett's use of slide guitar with echo as a key inspiration for his own "glissando guitar" style[33].
Barrett brought the guitar in a new direction. His free-form sequences of sonic carpets pioneered a new way to play the rock guitar.[34] He played several different guitars during his tenure with Pink Floyd, including an old Harmony hollowbody electric, a Harmony acoustic, a Fender acoustic, a single-coil Danelectro 59 DC,[35] several different Fender Telecasters, and a white Fender Stratocaster used in late 1967. However, a silver Fender Esquire with mirrored discs glued to the body was the guitar he was most often associated with and the guitar Barrett himself "felt most close to."[16]
Many artists have acknowledged Barrett's influence on their work. Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Marc Bolan, and David Bowie were early fans; Jimmy Page, Brian Eno, and The Damned all expressed interest in working with him at some point during the 1970s. Bowie recorded a cover of "See Emily Play" on his 1973 album Pin Ups. Townshend called Barrett legendary.
Barrett's decline had a profound effect on Roger Waters's songwriting, and the theme of mental illness would permeate Pink Floyd's later albums, particularly 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon and 1975's Wish You Were Here which was a deliberate and affectionate tribute to Barrett, the songs "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and the title track being specifically about him. The title track borrows imagery of a "steel rail" from Barrett's solo song, "If It's In You," from The Madcap Laughs album.
In 1986, Camper Van Beethoven released a version of Interstellar Overdrive, which was co-written by Barrett and the other Pink Floyd members, on their third album.
In 1987, an album of Barrett cover songs called Beyond the Wildwood was released. The album collected songs from Barrett's Pink Floyd albums and his solo albums. Artists appearing were UK and USA indie bands including The Shamen, Opal, The Soup Dragons, and Plasticland.
Other artists that have written tributes to Barrett include his contemporary Kevin Ayers, who wrote "Oh Wot a Dream" in his honour (Barrett provided guitar to an early version of Ayers' song "Religious Experience: Singing a Song in the Morning"). Barrett fan Robyn Hitchcock has covered many of his songs live and on record, and has paid homage to his forebear with the songs "The Man Who Invented Himself" and "(Feels Like) 1974". The Television Personalities' track "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" from their 1981 album And Don't the Kids Love It is another tribute. (The Television Personalities became the subject of controversy and derision when, as they had been selected as the opening act on David Gilmour's About Face tour in the early 1980s, lead singer Dan Treacy decided to read aloud Barrett's real home address to the audience of thousands. Gilmour removed them from the tour immediately afterwards.)[36] In 2008, The Trash Can Sinatras released a single in tribute to the life and work of Syd Barrett called "Oranges and Apples", from their 2009 album In The Music. Proceeds from the single go to the Syd Barrett Trust in support of arts in mental health.[37]
Johnny Depp has shown interest in a biographical film based on Barrett's life.[38]
British punk and goth rock band The Damned paid tribute to Barrett on their 2008 album So, Who's Paranoid? with the fourteen minute work "Dark Asteroid".[citation needed] They had unsuccessfully tried to get Barrett to produce their second album Music For Pleasure, which was eventually produced by Nick Mason. The Damned have also covered Lucifer Sam live and recorded a demo version of Arnold Layne.[citation needed] The band's guitarist and co-founder Captain Sensible won critical acclaim for his rendition of Astronomy Domine at the Syd Barrett tribute gig on Thursday 10 May 2007.[citation needed]
Barrett is also portrayed briefly in the opening scene of Tom Stoppard's play Rock 'n' Roll (2006), performing "Golden Hair". His life and music, including the disastrous Cambridge Corn Exchange concert and his later reclusive lifestyle, are a recurring motif in the work. Barrett died during the play's run in London.
Syd BarrettBarrett was born in the English city of Cambridge to a middle-class family. His father, Arthur Max Barrett, was a prominent pathologist, and both he and his wife, Winifred, encouraged the young Roger (as he was known then) in his music. When Barrett was three years old, his family moved to 183 Hills Road. After his brothers and sisters left home, his mother rented out rooms to lodgers, including a future Prime Minister of Japan.[1] Barrett acquired the nickname "Syd" at the age of 14, a reference to an old local Cambridge jazz Double Bassist, Sid Barrett. Syd Barrett changed the spelling in order to differentiate himself from his namesake.[2] His father died of cancer on 11 December 1961, less than a month before Barrett's 16th birthday. He attended Cambridgeshire High School for Boys and Cambridge College of Arts and Technology. He then enrolled in Camberwell Art School in South London in 1964 before forming his first band in 1965.[3] During this time he wrote such songs as "Effervescing Elephant" to play at local parties.[4][5]
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.| 1969 7" single (US: Atlantic 45-2690, Angola: Atlantic ATS 485, Australia/New Zealand: Atlantic AK 3412, Belgium: Atlantic BE 650186, Bolivia: Polydor 508007, Canada: Atlantic Oldies Series OS 13116, Chile: Atlantic 2164 002, France: Atlantic 650 186, Germany: Atlantic 70409, Greece: Atlantic 255 017, Holland: Atlantic ATL 2690, Italy: Atlantic ATL NP 03145, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-2550A, Mexico: Atlantic AT 45-52, Philippines: Atlantic ATR 0046, Sweden: Atlantic ATL 70409, Uruguay: Atlantic 2164002)
1969 7" radio edit (UK*/Lebanon: Atlantic 584309, Canada: Atlantic AT 2690, South Africa: Atlantic ATS 485)
1969 7" radio edit (Brazil: Atlantic 205.025, Peru: Atlantic ALT 7035)
1969 7" single (Japan: Nihon Gramophone DT-1139)
1970 7" single (Costa Rica: Atlantic 70.020, Portugal: Atlantic ATL 10058, Spain: Atlantic H 523)
1970 7" single (Turkey: Atlantic 70501)
1970 7" EP (Bolivia: Atlantic AX 11695)
1970 7" EP (Holland: Atlantic ATL 2091 208)
1970 7" EP (Mexico: Atlantic Gamma GX07 762)
| 1970 7" EP (Mexico: Atlantic 2207 002)
1970 7" EP (Australia/New Zealand: Atlantic EPA 200)
1970 7" EP (Australia: AX 11695 (MX 34022))
1970 7" single (France: Atlantic 10236, Germany: Atlantic Oldies Series ATL 10236)
1997 CD single (UK: Atlantic AT 0013 CD (7567 84014 6), Australia: Atlantic 7567 84014 2, Brazil: Atlantic LZ 1997, Germany: Atlantic A 4014 CD, Japan: Atlantic AMCY 2403, Korea: Atlantic 84014 2, South Africa: Atlantic 7567 84014)
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| "Whole Lotta Love" | |||||
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| Single by Led Zeppelin | |||||
| from the album Led Zeppelin II | |||||
| B-side | "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" | ||||
| Released | 7 November 1969 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | May 1969, Olympic Studios, London | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal, Hard rock | ||||
| Length | Album Version: 5:33 Single: 5:33 (1st pressings) 3:10 (2nd pressings) | ||||
| Label | Atlantic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Willie Dixon | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Certification | Gold | ||||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | |||||
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| Alternate Cover | |||||
| Led Zeppelin II track listing | |||||
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"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the US (and Japan) as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it sold one million copies.[1] As with other Led Zeppelin songs, no single was released in the UK, but singles were released in Germany (where it reached number one), the Netherlands (where it reached number four), Belgium and France.
In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Whole Lotta Love" at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[2]
"Whole Lotta Love" was recorded at various studios in New York and Los Angeles during the band's second concert tour of the United States and assembled by Jimmy Page at Olympic Studios in London. Already part of their live repertoire, it saw its first official release on the LP Led Zeppelin II on 22 October 1969 (Atlantic LP #8236).
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.The song has been widely covered by many artists. It was famous in the United Kingdom for having been the theme music for the long-running television programme Top of the Pops during the 1970s and 1980s. It also featured in the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on 24 August 2008, in a rewritten version with Jimmy Page on guitar and Leona Lewis providing the vocals. Both Lewis and the organizers requested that some of the lyrics be changed, notably "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love". Lewis felt that the line made little sense coming from a female singer.[9]
Single - 2. Whole Lotta Love.Upon release of the LP, radio stations looked for a track that would fit their on-air formats from the quickly successful LP with the pulsing lead track "Whole Lotta Love" being the prime contender. However, because many radio stations saw the freeform middle section as unfit to air they simply created their own edited versions. Atlantic Records was quick to respond and in addition to the release of the regular single in the US (coupled with "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" from the same LP as the B-side) released a 3:10 version of the track with the freeform section cut and an earlier fade-out on 7 November 1969. Both versions were released as Atlantic #45-2690. The edited version was intended for radio station promotional release but some copies were apparently released commercially in the US and are a collector's item for fans. The song was released as a single in the US, France, Germany (as No 1), Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Australia (where it was also issued as an EP) and Japan (countries where the band had less control). The edited version was withdrawn.
In the United Kingdom, Atlantic Records had expected to issue the edited version themselves, and pressed initial copies for release on December 5, 1969. However, band manager Peter Grant was adamant that the band maintain a "no-singles" approach to marketing their recorded music in the UK, and he halted the release. An official statement from the band added that they had written a special number which they intended to be their first British single. This never materialised, and despite much record company pressure, they declined to issue official singles in the UK throughout their career.[3]
Several years later, Atlantic Records reissued "Whole Lotta Love" (with its original B-side "Living Loving Maid") on its Oldies Series label (OS-13116) with a slight error. The edited 3:10 version was used for the reissue, but the labels were printed with the unedited running time of 5:33.
In 1997 Atlantic Records released a CD-single edited (to 4:50 this time) from the original 1969 recording of the song. This version charted in the UK where the band had maintained control over single releases during their existence.
| "Whole Lotta Love" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Led Zeppelin | |||||
| from the album Led Zeppelin II | |||||
| B-side | "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" | ||||
| Released | 7 November 1969 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | May 1969, Olympic Studios, London | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal, Hard rock | ||||
| Length | Album Version: 5:33 Single: 5:33 (1st pressings) 3:10 (2nd pressings) | ||||
| Label | Atlantic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Willie Dixon | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Certification | Gold | ||||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | |||||
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| Alternate Cover | |||||
| Led Zeppelin II track listing | |||||
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| "Whole Lotta Love" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Led Zeppelin | |||||
| from the album Led Zeppelin II | |||||
| B-side | "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" | ||||
| Released | 7 November 1969 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Recorded | May 1969, Olympic Studios, London | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal, Hard rock | ||||
| Length | Album Version: 5:33 Single: 5:33 (1st pressings) 3:10 (2nd pressings) | ||||
| Label | Atlantic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Willie Dixon | ||||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | ||||
| Certification | Gold | ||||
| Led Zeppelin singles chronology | |||||
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| Alternate Cover | |||||
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| Led Zeppelin II track listing | |||||
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