Astronomy Domine
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| "Astronomy Domine" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:PinkFloyd-album-piperatthegatesofdawn.jpg | |||||
| Song by Pink Floyd | |||||
| Album | The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | ||||
| Released | August 5, 1967 | ||||
| Recorded | April 11-13, 1967 | ||||
| Genre | Space rock, psychedelic rock | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | ||||
| Label | Columbia/EMI (UK) Capitol (US) | ||||
| Writer | Syd Barrett | ||||
| Producer | Norman Smith | ||||
| The Piper at the Gates of Dawn track listing | |||||
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"Astronomy Domine" is a song by British Psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd. The song, written and composed by original vocalist/guitarist Roger 'Syd' Barrett, was the first track featured on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967). The lead vocal was sung by Barrett and keyboard player Richard Wright.
The song has an unusual chord progression: E E-flat G A. The sound of this chord progression, in conjunction with the use of a Binson echo machine for the guitar, has a very distinctive psychedelic character.
The track includes their manager at the time, Peter Jenner reading the names of stars through a megaphone for the introduction. "Domine" (meaning "Lord") in the title is correctly pronounced as it is in Latin ([ˈdɒmɪneɪ], rather than [dəʊˈmiːn] or [dəʊˈmaɪn]).
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[edit] Alternative and live versions
It was a popular live piece, and regularly included in the set, appearing as the first track on the live side of the album Ummagumma in 1969. By this time, David Gilmour was singing the lead vocals together with Wright, the song had been extended to include the first verse twice, and the instrumental in the middle included a very quiet organ solo before getting louder again back to the last verse.
It was dropped from the live sets in mid 1971, but eventually reappeared as the first song in some sets on the band's 1994 tour. A version from a concert in Miami appears as the B-side on the "Take It Back" single, and a version from one of the London concerts appears on the live double CD P*U*L*S*E. David Gilmour played the song at some of his appearances during his 2006 tour, again sharing the lead vocal with fellow-Floyd member Rick Wright.
- The Ummagumma live disc has an extended version of the song, somewhat reflecting the band's progressive style at the time. Verses are repeated and the keyboard section is extended leading to an 8 minute version of the song. Vocals are sung by Richard Wright and David Gilmour instead of Syd Barrett and Wright. This version can also be found on the American release of A Nice Pair, a compilation album made in 1973.
- The P*U*L*S*E version reverts back to the original 4 minute length, with Gilmour taking lead vocals.
- The song was also played by David Gilmour's solo band (which includes Rick Wright with Guy Pratt on Bass and Steve DiStanislao on Drums) at the Abbey Road Studios sessions, which has just recently been released as part of a CD/DVD On An Island package.
[edit] Cover versions
- VoiVod covered this song in their 1989 album Nothingface.
- The track is also featured on the 2001 Floyd compilation album, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd.
- A cover of the song by the Mike Keneally Band also is included on the 2003 Floyd tribute album, A Fair Forgery of Pink Floyd
[edit] Personnel
- Syd Barrett - Fender Esquire and vocals
- Richard Wright - Farfisa Organ and vocals
- Roger Waters - Rickenbacker 4001 bass
- Nick Mason - Drums and percussion
with
- Peter Jenner - Intro vocalisations
[edit] External links
fr:Astronomy Domine hu:Astronomy Domine pl:Astronomy Domine
