Ummagumma is a Progressive Rock album by Pink Floyd.

Background

Ummagumma is a double album. One disc was recorded live at Mothers Club, Birmingham, on April 27, 1969 and the following week at Manchester College of Commerce , on May 2; the other included four solo segments, one by each of the band, recorded in the studio.

It had a definite impact to the new rock movement (sometimes called "Prog Rock").

It did show that the new, more "british" rock formula was essentially able to sustain more experimental approaches to popular music while still being able to sell acceptably.

Many English and Continental European rock groups have referred to it in interviews as "a ground breaking exercise in studio management".

The album was released in the UK on October 25, 1969 and then in the USA on November 10. The album would reach #5 on the UK album charts and #74 on the US album charts, marking the first time the band reached the top 100 in the US. The album would be certified Gold in the US in February, 1974 and Platinum in March, 1994.

In 1987, the album was re-released on a two CD set. A digitally re-mastered two CD set was released in 1994 in the UK and 1995 in the US. Neither CD release includes the picture of Waters' first wife, which had appeared on the original vinyl issue.

The cover of the album varies between the British (and Canadian) and American releases. The British version has the album 'Gigi' laying against the wall immediately above the 'Pink Floyd' letters. On the American version, however, this has been airbrushed to a plain white sleeve, possibly due to copyright concerns.

Personnel

• David Gilmour - Guitar, Vocals, All Instruments and Vocals on The Narrow Way(guitars, vocals, keyboards, drums and bass guitar)
• Roger Waters - Bass Guitar, Guitar on "Grantchester Meadows" and Vocals, All Tape Effects on Several Species.....
• Nick Mason - Drums, Percussion, All Instruments on Grand Viziers...
• Richard Wright - Keyboards, Vocals, All Instruments on Sysyphus(Keyboards, Drums, Guitar and Voices)
• Lindy Mason (Nick's wife) - Flute (uncredited)

Track listing

Live album

1. "Astronomy Domine" - 8:29
2. "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" - 8:50
3. "Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun" - 9:12
4. "A Saucerful of Secrets" - 12:48

Studio album

1. "Sysyphus: Part 1" (Wright) - 1:03 (4:29)
2. "Sysyphus: Part 2" (Wright) - 3:30 (1:49)
3. "Sysyphus: Part 3" (Wright) - 1:49 (3:07)
4. "Sysyphus: Part 4" (Wright) - 6:59 (3:38)
5. "Grantchester Meadows" (Waters) - 7:26
6. "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict" (Waters) - 4:59
7. "The Narrow Way Part 1" (Gilmour) - 3:27
8. "The Narrow Way Part 2" (Gilmour) - 2:53
9. "The Narrow Way Part 3" (Gilmour) - 5:57
10. "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part 1 (Entrance)" (Mason) - 1:00
11. "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part 2 (Entertainment)" (Mason) - 7:06
12. "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party: Part 3 (Exit)" (Mason) - 0:38

On the original vinyl release, "The Narrow Way" and "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" were single tracks. On the remastered re-release, Part 1 of "Sysyphus" was split into two tracks and labelled "Part 1" and "Part 2". Part 2 on vinyl became "Part 3" on CD, while "Part 4" of the re-release consists of Parts 3 and 4 ("Part 4" beginning with the large orchestral thud.) Original track times are listed in brackets above.

Quotes

"What was your inspiration for The Narrow Way (on Ummagumma) your first major Floyd composition?"

"Well, we'd decided to make the damn album, and each of us to do a piece of music on our own...it was just desperation really, trying to think of something to do, to write by myself. I'd never written anything before, I just went into a studio and started waffling about, tacking bits and pieces together. I haven't heard it in years. I've no idea what it's like." - David Gilmour - Sounds "Guitar Heroes" Magazine, May 1983

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

External links

• Album lyrics, trivia and more