"Scream Thy Last Scream" is a song by
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 ...
, written by 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 ...
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.
Recording
Only two takes are complete.
[ It was recorded in the same sessions as "]Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, appearing on their second album, '' A Saucerful of Secrets'' (1968). It was written by Roger Waters, taking lyrics from a Chinese poetry book, and features ...
", on 7–8 August 1967.[
]
Music and lyrics
The song features several changes in tempo, a sped-up double-tracked vocal part by Barrett, while drummer Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member since its formation in ...
simultaneously sings the normal part[Mason, Nick. ''Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd'' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004). .] a range of bells,[
]
Aborted release and other versions
The two tracks were arranged to be released as a single on 8 September 1967, before it was vetoed by the band's record company, EMI.Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member since its formation in ...
," noted David Gilmour in 2002. "We did actually perform that one a few times in my very early years with Pink Floyd. I don't know if they Scream Thy Last Scream' and 'Vegetable Man'">Vegetable_Man.html" ;"title="Scream Thy Last Scream' and ' Scream Thy Last Scream' and 'Vegetable Man'were ever finally Audio mixing (recorded music)">mixed."
A late-Barrett era rendition was recorded live in Rotterdam">Vegetable Man">Scream Thy Last Scream' and 'Vegetable Man'were ever finally Audio mixing (recorded music)">mixed."
A late-Barrett era rendition was recorded live in Rotterdam in November 1967, at the Hippy-Happy Fair.Spike Hawkins
Spike Hawkins (1943-2017) was a British poet, best known for his "Three Pig Poems", included in his one book, the Fulcrum Press collection ''The Lost Fire-Brigade'' (1968). He was part of the poetry scene in Liverpool during the 1960s and much of ...
.[ A final studio cut of "Scream Thy Last Scream" was completed along with a somewhat different BBC radio version (which features both Barrett and Mason on lead vocals)][http://pinkfloydhyperbase.dk/unreleased/index.html#SCREAM THY LAST SCREAM] All are widely available on bootleg recordings.
Personnel
*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 ...
– guitar, sped-up double-tracked vocals, vocals
*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-so ...
– bass guitar
* Richard Wright – Farfisa organ
Farfisa (Fabbriche Riunite di Fisarmoniche) is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy, founded in 1946. The company manufactured a series of compact electronic organs in the 1960s and 1970s, including the Compact, FAST, Professiona ...
, Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs ...
*Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and a founder member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member since its formation in ...
– drums, lead vocals
See also
*" Jugband Blues"
* List of unreleased Pink Floyd material
References
{{Authority control
Pink Floyd songs
Songs written by Syd Barrett
2016 songs