''Opel'' is a 1988 album

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from recordings made by former

Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics an ...

frontman

Syd Barrett Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Barrett was their original frontman and primary songwriter, becoming known for his ...

between 1968 and 1970. The album is a compilation of unreleased material and alternate takes of recordings from sessions for Barrett's solo albums, '' The Madcap Laughs'' and '' Barrett''. Before they were vetoed by Pink Floyd, the album was to include two unreleased tracks that Barrett had worked on while with Pink Floyd, "

Scream Thy Last Scream "Scream Thy Last Scream" is a song by Pink Floyd, written by frontman Syd Barrett and scheduled to be the band's next single after "See Emily Play". Its first official release was on '' The Early Years 1965-1972'' box set in November 2016. Record ...

" and "

Vegetable Man "Vegetable Man" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, written by the frontman, Syd Barrett, and recorded in 1967. It was considered for a release as a single or for inclusion on their second album, ''A Saucerful of Secrets'', but went unr ...

". ''Opel'' was released in October 1988 on

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in the UK, and on

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of not ...

in the US. The album was remastered and reissued in 1993, along with Barrett's other albums, ''The Madcap Laughs'' and ''Barrett'' (both 1970), independently and as part of the ''

Crazy Diamond ''Crazy Diamond'' is a 1993 triple-CD boxed set of Syd Barrett's two 1970 albums ''The Madcap Laughs'' and '' Barrett'', and ''Opel'', an out-takes compilation from 1988. All discs are further augmented by various alternate takes. "Our main p ...

'' box set. A newly remastered version was released in 2010.

Background

The album was originally set to include the unreleased Barrett Pink Floyd songs "

" and "

", which had been remixed for the album by Jones. However, the two songs were pulled by Pink Floyd before ''Opel'' was finalised. While Barrett only released two albums, '' The Madcap Laughs'' and '' Barrett'', both in 1970, the existence of unreleased studio work was widely reported. After years of demand from Barrett's considerable fan base, ''Opel'' was compiled and released. Barrett personally approved the new release.

Release and content

''Opel'' consists of eight previously unreleased songs and alternate versions of six already released songs. The album was released due to the constant pressure from '' The Madcap Laughs'' producer, Malcolm Jones. Despite its positive reviews, it failed to chart.

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reviewer

Richie Unterberger Richie Unterberger (born January 19, 1962) is an American author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing. Life and writing Unterberger attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he wrote for the university newspaper '' ...

said the album was "charming", with the title track, "Swan Lee (Silas Lang)", "Dark Globe" and "Milky Way" as highlights. ''Opel'' (along with ''The Madcap Laughs'' and ''Barrett'') was reissued both independently and as part of the ''

'' Barrett box set, on 26 April 1993. A newly remastered version was released in 2010.

Track listing

All songs written by Syd Barrett, except "Golden Hair" (music by Barrett, based on a poem by

James Joyce James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13 January 1941) was an Irish novelist, poet, and literary critic. He contributed to the Modernism, modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important ...

). All track information is taken from the ''

'' version of ''Opel''.

Original release

1993 reissue

Personnel

– guitar, vocals, producer *

David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour ( ; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1967, shortly before the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. P ...

– producer * Peter Jenner – producer *Malcolm Jones – producer *

Roger Waters George Roger Waters (born 6 September 1943) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the bassist, but following the departure of singer-s ...

– producer *Gareth Cousins - mix engineer Guest musicians on "Clowns and Jugglers": * Mike Ratledge –

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

Robert Wyatt Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945) is a retired English musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming pa ...

– drums * Hugh Hopper – bass

References

;Footnotes ;Citations {{Authority control Syd Barrett albums 1988 compilation albums Albums produced by David Gilmour Harvest Records compilation albums EMI Records compilation albums