Arnold Layne
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| “Arnold Layne” | |||||
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| Single by Pink Floyd from the album The Early Singles |
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| B-side | "Candy and a Currant Bun" | ||||
| Released | March 11, 1967 (UK) April 24, 1967 (US) |
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| Recorded | January 29, 1967 Sound Techniques Studios, London February 27, 1967 EMI Studios, London |
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| Genre | Psychedelic rock | ||||
| Length | 2:52 | ||||
| Label | Columbia (EMI) (UK) Tower/Capitol (US) |
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| 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 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, many consider "Arnold Layne" to be one of the finest psychedelic pop songs of its time.[citation needed]
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[edit] The song
The 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, and that this person routinely stole underwear from the mothers of Barrett and Waters during their childhood days in Cambridge.
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.
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 young Floyd 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.
[edit] Arnold Layne (Live 2006)
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 latest DVD, Remember That Night (Bowie's version on Disc 1 and Richard Wright's version as a bonus on Disc 2).
[edit] Track listing
- "Arnold Layne" (with David Bowie) 3:30
- "Arnold Layne" (with Richard Wright) 3:23
- "Dark Globe" 2:23
[edit] Personnel
- Syd Barrett - Guitar and Vocals
- Roger Waters - Bass
- Richard Wright - Organ and Backing vocals
- Nick Mason - Drums and Percussion
[edit] References
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