20,000 vinyl LPs 389: Pink Floyd ~ A Saucerful of Secrets

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Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP front cover 

 cover design by Hipgnosis 

photo of album cover by Styrous®

On June 28, 1968, the second album by Pink Floyd, A Saucer Full of Secrets was released by EMI Columbia in the UK and in the US by Tower Records. I'm having a hard time realizing it was over fifty years ago! I didn't actually discover Pink Floyd until 1971 with their Meddle album. A Saucer Full of Secrets, was my second album purchase by the English rock band.             

 

    

 

 

 

 

Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP front cover details 

 cover design by Hipgnosis 

detail photos of album cover by Styrous®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP back cover 

 cover design by Hipgnosis 

photo of album cover by Styrous®

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP back cover details 

 cover design by Hipgnosis 

detail photos of album cover by Styrous®

 

Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP, side 1 

photos by Styrous®

 

 

Pink Floyd  ~ A Saucer Full of Secrets

vinyl LP, side 2 

photos by Styrous®

 

   

Tracklist:
       
Side 1:

        

1 - Let There Be More Light, written by Roger Waters - 5:32
A2 - Remember A Day, written by Rick Wright* - 4:27
A3 - Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, written by Roger Waters - 5:23
A4 - Corporal Clegg, written by Roger Waters - 4:07

       
Side 2:
       
B1 - A Saucerful Of Secrets, written by Gilmore*, Mason*, Wright*, Waters* - 11:52
B2 - See Saw, written by Rick Wright* - 4:30
B3 - Jugband Blues, written by Syd Barrett - 2:57
        
Companies, etc.
       
    Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Published By – Essex Music, Inc.
        
Credits:
       
    Producer – Norman Smith
       
Notes:
       
Second pressing from 1968, "MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.A. BY CAPITOL RECORDS, INC." printed at the bottom edge of labels.

Rear jacket includes number, "6" in bottom right corner.
Other jacket text: "Printed in U.S.A." (in circle), "Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, Calif. · Factories: Scranton, PA., Los Angeles, Calif., Jacksonville, Ill."

Typos and misprints:
David Gilmour's last name is misspelled as, "Gilmore" on jacket and labels
Catalogue number shown on jacket is "ST-5131" with "ST 5131" shown on labels
Track B2 is titled, "See-Saw" on the jacket and "See Saw" on the label

       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        

    Matrix / Runout (Side A, variant 1): ST1 5131
    Matrix / Runout (Side B, variant 1): ST2 5131
    Matrix / Runout (Side A, variant 2, etched): ST 1 - 5131
    Matrix / Runout (Side B, variant 2, etched): ST 2 - 5131
    Rights Society: ASCAP 

 

Pink Floyd – A Saucerful Of Secrets
Label: Tower – ST 5131, Tower – ST-5131
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock

         

Viewfinder links:        

        

all things Pink (Floyd)         

David Gilmore        

        

Rick Wright         

        

Net links:        

        

         

        

        

         

        

        

YouTube links:        

        

Let There Be More Light          

Remember A Day           

Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun            

Corporal Clegg                  

A Saucerful Of Secrets         

See Saw           

Jugband Blues           

        

         

        

        

        

Styrous® ~ Saturday, June 28, 2025        
       

 

 

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Hipgnosis articles/mentions

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mentions:      

     

Led Zeppelin ~       

             Led Zeppelin III                        

             Presence 

Pink Floyd ~        

              Dark Side of the Moon   

              Division Bell CD    

              Division Bell vinyl LP 

              Wish You Were Here              

Wishbone Ash ~ Wishbone Four      

 

Hipgnosis logo  

date & photographer unknow     

   

     

     

        

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Art people 

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
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20,000 vinyl LPs 374: Led Zeppelin ~ Presence

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Led Zeppelin  ~ Presence 

vinyl LP front cover 

cover Artwork by Hipgnosis

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Last month was the birthday of Robert Plant, which was August 20. Plant was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin! How could I possibly have missed that? OK, I'll make up for lost time.            

 

This article is not so much about the music as it is about the record album cover, so, it belongs in my "Just the cover, Ma'am" category (link below).         

The title came from the strong presence the group felt as they worked together. The LP's artwork from Hipgnosis featured several photographs focused on a mysterious black object, called "The Object".      

 

"The Object"

cover Artwork by Hipgnosis

detail photo of album cover by Styrous®

 

 

Presence is dominated by compositions by Page and Plant, with only one track credited to the entire group; unlike other Zeppelin albums, it features no keyboards and with the exception of a rhythm track on Candy Store Rock, no acoustic guitar.           

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Tracklist:
       
Side 1:

        

A1 - Achilles Last Stand, written by Page*, Plant* - 10:26
A2 - For Your Life, written by Page*, Plant* - 6:21
A3 - Royal Orleans, written by Page*, Bonham*, Jones*, Plant* - 2:58

       
Side 2:
       
B1 - Nobody's Fault But Mine, written by Page*, Plant* - 6:15
B2 - Candy Store Rock, written by Page*, Plant* - 4:10
B3 - Hots On For Nowhere, written by Page*, Plant* - 4:42
B4 - Tea For One, written by Page*, Plant* - 9:27
       
Companies, etc.
       
    Copyright © – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Record Company – Swan Song Inc.
    Pressed By – PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN
    Distributed By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Recorded At – Musicland Studios
    Mixed At – Musicland Studios
    Published By – Flames Of Albion Music Inc.
    Designed At – Hipgnosis (2)
    Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Copyright © – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Copyright © – Swan Song Inc. – "The Object"
    Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
       
Credits:
       
    Design [Sleeve] – Hardie*, Hipgnosis (2)
    Engineer [Tape] – Jeremy Gee
    Engineer, Mixed By – Keith Harwood
    Executive-Producer – Peter Grant
    Producer – Jimmy Page
       
Notes:
       
℗© 1976 Atlantic Recording Corp.
"THE OBJECT" © 1976 Swan Song Inc.

PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN - Denoted by A "PRC" etching will most often be found in the runout etching 'deadwax' of the vinyl. Also the Atlantic pressing plant code "RI" will usually appear at the end of of the matrix number printed on the center labels of Atlantic.

Recorded and mixed at Musicland Studios, Munich, West Germany.

Gatefold Cover with embossed title on the front cover and embossed Swan Song logo on back cover.
Printed rough inner sleeve.

Promotional copies known to exist.
These copies come with a promo sticker "Promotional Copy NOT FOR SALE" and a sticker with songs' title on front jacket (see pic).

The "PRC" in the runouts are upside down when compared to the other text in the runouts.

Lacquer Cut At credit for Atlantic Studios denoted by the "AT" stamping in the Side B runout.

       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        

    Rights Society: ASCAP
    Price Code (Spine): 0698
    Pressing Plant ID (Sides A&B Etched): PRC
    Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): ST-SS-763559-RI
    Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): ST-SS-763560-RI
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 1): ST-SS-763559-EEE-1 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 1): ST-SS-763560-EEE++-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 2): ST-SS-763559-FFF++-1 WITH HELP FROM TOM PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 2): ST-SS-763560-EEE-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 3): ST-SS-763559-EEE+-1 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 3): ST-SS-763560-FFF+-1 -11 AT ATLANTIC STUDIOS PRC
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 4): ST-SS-763559-EEE-1-111 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 4): ST-SS-763560-EEE++-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 5): ST-SS-763559-EEE+-1-11 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 5): ST-SS-763560-EEE+-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 6): ST-SS-763559-EEE-1 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 6): ST-SS-763560-EEE-1-111 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 7): ST-SS-763559-E EE-1 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 7): ST-SS-763560-E EE-1 -11 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 8): ST-SS-763559-EEE+++-1-11 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 8): ST-SS-763560-FFF+-1-11 AT ATLANTIC STUDIOS PRC
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 9): ST-SS-763559-EEE++++ - 1-11 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 9): ST-SS-763560-EEE ++-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 10): ST-SS-763559-EEE - 1 - 11 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 10): ST-SS-763560-EEE - 1 - 11 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 11): ST-SS-763559-FFF++-1 WITH HELP FROM TOM PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 11): ST-SS-763560-EEE+-1 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 12): ST-SS-763559-EEE - 1 - 11 PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 12): ST-SS-763560-EEE ++-1 -11 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side A - Variant 13): ST-SS-763559-FFF++-1 WITH HELP FROM TOM PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS
    Matrix / Runout (Etched Runout Side B - Variant 13): ST-SS-763560-EEE-1-11 AT PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS   

        

Led Zeppelin – Presence
Label:    Swan Song – SS 8416
Format:    Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, RI - PRC Pressing, Embossed, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Mar 31, 1976
Genre:    Rock
Style:    Hard Rock, Classic Rock
        

         

Viewfinder links:        

        

"Just the cover, Ma'am"          

Hipgnosis            

Led Zeppelin        

Jimmy Page        

Robert Plant        

        

Net links:        

        

         

        

        

         

        

        

YouTube links:        

         

Candy Store Rock          

Immigrant Song         

        

        

         

        

        

        

Styrous® ~ Saturday, October 5, 2024       
       

 

 

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20,000 vinyl LPs 319: Pink Floyd ‎~ Ummagumma

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Pink Floyd ~ Ummagumma

vinyl LP front cover 

cover by Hipgnosis

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Fifty-one years ago today, on the 7th of November in 1969, Pink Floyd released their fourth studio album, Ummagumma, on Harvest Records. The album's title supposedly comes from Cambridge slang for sex, commonly used by Pink Floyd friend and occasional roadie, Iain "Emo" Moore, who would say, "I'm going back to the house for some ummagumma". According to Moore, he made up the term himself.           

The artwork for the album was designed by regular Floyd collaborators Hipgnosis and features a number of pictures of the band combined to give a Droste effect. It was the last album cover to feature the band. For this reason, this is in the "Just the cover, Ma'am" category (link below).                   

The album also holds the distinction of containing one of the strangest titled Floyd songs: Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict by Roger Waters. There's been much debate on what, in fact, a pict is. According to the Echoes FAQ, a pict is "a member of a possibly non-Celtic people who once occupied Great Britain, carried on continual border wars with the Romans, and about the 9th century became amalgamated with the Scots."       

     

The photograph below was used for the back cover of Ummagumma. It features roadies Alan Stiles and Peter Watts with the band's equipment laid out on a runway at Biggin Hill Airport in London.         

 

Pink Floyd ~ Ummagumma

vinyl LP back cover 

photo by Hipgnosis

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Pink Floyd ~ Ummagumma

vinyl LP Gatefold interior

photos by Hipgnosis

photo of album gatefold by Styrous®

           

The first disc consists of live recordings from concerts at Mothers Club in Birmingham and the College of Commerce in Manchester that contained part of their normal set list of the time, while the second disc contains solo compositions by each member of the band recorded at Abbey Road Studios.    

       

 

 

 

   

Tracklist:
       
Side 1:

        

        Live Album   
A1        Astronomy Domine, written by Barrett* - 8:25
A2        Careful With That Axe, Eugene, written by Gilmour*, Mason*, Wright*, Waters* - 8:47

       
Side 2:
       
B1        Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, written by Waters* - 9:21
        A Saucerful Of Secrets, written by Gilmour*, Mason*, Wright*, Waters* - (12:51)
B2a        Something Else   
B2b        Syncopated Pandemonium   
B2c        Storm Signal   
B2d        Celestial Voices   
       
Side 3: 

 

        Studio Album   
        Sysyphus, written by, Featuring – Wright*

C1        Part I    4:29
C2        Part II    1:45
C3        Part III - 3:07
C4        Part IV - 3:38
C5        Grantchester Meadows, written by, Featuring – Waters* 7:23
C6        Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict, written by, Featuring – Waters* - 4:47

       
Side 4:
       
D1        The Narrow Way - Parts I, II & III, written by, Featuring – Gilmour* - 12:14
        The Grand Vizier's Garden Party, written by, Featuring – Mason* - (8:55)
D2a        Part I - Entrance   
D2b        Part II - Entertainment   
D2c        Part III - Exit   
       
Companies, etc.
       
    Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
    Recorded At – Mothers Club, Birmingham
    Mastered At – Capitol Studios, New York City
    Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester
       
Credits:
       
    Bass Guitar, Vocals – Roger Waters
    Composed By – David Gilmour (tracks: D1), Nick Mason (tracks: D2), Richard Wright (tracks: C1 to C4), Roger Waters (tracks: C5, C6)
    Design [Sleeve], Photography By – Hipgnosis (2)
    Engineer – Brian Humphries (tracks: A1 to B2), Peter Mew (tracks: C1 to D2)
    Lead Guitar, Vocals – David Gilmour
    Organ, Keyboards, Vocals – Richard Wright
    Percussion – Nick Mason
    Producer – Norman Smith (tracks: C1 to D2), Pink Floyd (tracks: A1 to B2)
       
Notes:
       
First US pressing with no EMI logo on front cover and pink Harvest Records sticker.

Winchester, Virginia pressing.

       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
       
    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): STBB 1-388
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): STBB 2-388
    Matrix / Runout (Label side C): STBB 3-388
    Matrix / Runout (Label side D): STBB 4-388
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, Var 1): STBB-1-388-X7
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, Var 1): STBB-2-388-X7
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side C, Var 1): STBB-3-388-W6
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side D, Var 1): STBB-4-388-X2
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, Var 2): STBB-1-388-P8 ─◁
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, Var 2): STBB-2-388-X7
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side C, Var 2): STBB-3-388-X2 #2 ─◁
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side 3, Var 2): STBB-4-388-X2 ─◁
    Rights Society: ASCAP

 

Pink Floyd – Ummagumma
Label:    Harvest – STBB-388, Capitol Records – STBB-388
Format:    2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Winchester Pressing
Country: US
Released: November 7,1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

         

Viewfinder links:        

        

“Just the cover, ma’am!”         

all things Pink (Floyd)         

David Gilmour        

Nick Mason        

Roger Waters         

Richard Wright            

        

Net links:        

         

Classic Rock ~ How Pink Floyd searched for direction after Barrett  

Echoes ~ The Piper at the Gates of Dawn        

Floydianslip ~ Ummagumma       

Pinkfloydz ~ Thank Heavens For Ummagumma        

        

         

        

        

YouTube links:        

        

Astronomy Domine         

Careful With That Axe, Eugene         

Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun              

A Saucerful Of Secrets               

Sysyphus             

Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict             

The Narrow Way            

The Grand Vizier's Garden Party          

              

        

        

         

        

        

        

Styrous® ~ Sunday, November 7, 2021       
       

 

 

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