Masters of Rock (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Masters of Rock
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Pink Floyd


Released = 1974
Recorded = 1967-68
Genre = Rock
Length = 29:40
Label = Columbia/EMI
Producer = Norman Smith and Joe Boyd
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Adyk0ikb6bb19 link]
Chronology = Pink Floyd compilations
Last album = "A Nice Pair"
(1973)
This album = "Masters of Rock"
(1974)
Next album = "A Collection of Great Dance Songs"
(1981)

"Masters of Rock" is a compilation album of early Pink Floyd music, concentrating on singles and album tracks from 1967 to 1968. On the back cover it says, "Originally issued as "The Best of Pink Floyd", but that album (which is actually titled "The Best of THE Pink Floyd" – emphasis added) and this one each contain tracks that are not on the other.

"Masters of Rock" was released in 1974 in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, to capitalise on the success of "The Dark Side of the Moon". It is one of a series of budget EMI compilations with identical titles, each volume for a different artist. Two different sleeve designs were used: one based on the picture from the centre of the album sleeve for "Meddle", with Syd Barrett's face superimposed over the original photo of David Gilmour, who had not yet joined the band during most of the period covered by the album; and a later edition with the title filling the front cover. The latter edition is titled "Masters of Rock, Volume 1"; subsequent volumes of "Masters of Rock" featured other artists.

This record was notable as containing the first stereo release of "Apples and Oranges", and together with "The Best of the Pink Floyd" was the only LP source of "It Would Be So Nice" prior to the era of CD re-issues and compilations. The version of "It Would Be So Nice" appearing on this album is the altered version made for airplay, with lyrics mentioning "the Daily Standard" in place of "the Evening Standard". Although this album uses the stereo mix of "Paintbox" which previously appeared on "Relics", "Julia Dream" is the original mono mix which is significantly different from, and longer than the "Relics" stereo mix.

Track list

All songs written and sung by Syd Barrett, and are taken from singles, unless otherwise noted.

ide one

#"Chapter 24" (from "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn") – 3:36
#"Matilda Mother" (misspelled "Mathilda Mother" on this album; from "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn") – 3:03
#"Arnold Layne" – 2:51
#"Candy and a Currant Bun" – 2:38
#"The Scarecrow" – 2:07

ide two

#"Apples and Oranges" (stereo mix) – 3:01
#"It Would Be So Nice" (alternative version for radio) (Richard Wright) – 3:39
#"Paint Box" (stereo mix) (Richard Wright) – 3:27
#"Julia Dream" (Roger Waters) – 2:28
#"See Emily Play" – 2:50

Credits

*Syd Barrett - Guitar and vocals
*David Gilmour - Guitar and vocals on "Julia Dream"
*Richard Wright - Keyboard, piano, organ and vocals
*Roger Waters - Bass and vocals
*Nick Mason - Drums and percussion