Fat Old Sun

I agree, Thor. This extended version would have been perfect in the album.
Awhile back, I downloaded from Audiogalaxy (page 13 in their PF file) a version of this titled "F O S (Live, Best of the BBC, 1971)". It has terrible microphone placement; in the part where Rick does his organ solo, it is almost totally drowned out by Nick's drums and Rogers bassline. When Dave starts his guitar solo, the volume clips the mic's and it is distorted as hell. Yesterday, however, I downloaded (AG page 23) a version titled "F O S (rare live)". It is the same performance, but the mic's were placed far better, and the sound quality is much improved (although Dave's solo is still distorted). BUT, the great thing about this version is you can hear Rick's solo very clearly, and to me, (about 7 minutes into the song) the very first notes he played of it popped a mental image of Manzarek's LMF extended solo. I'm not saying the whole solo sounds like the Doors, but I thought this one bit was similar enough that I had to dig up this thread which I read a couple of months ago and defend Oneslip. If anyone else thinks Oneslip and I are crazy (after listening to the"rare live" version), I will quietly submit myself to the looney bin.

I downloaded the above version of Fat Old Sun (the 'rare live' version). Damn, that is cool. I espcially like the organ solo.

It does sound a bit like Ray Manzerek...

Thanks for the affirmation, Shane.
Yeah, Rick really cooks on the old Hammond. (F-W would probably like this version too). After listening to it, the original studio FOS sounds kinda lame by comparison.

Yeah... the studio version does seem a bit lame after this version.
BTW, was this version recorded for the BBC? It seems like the sound quality is too good for a live concert recording.

Yeah, Shane, the other version of the same performance has a lead-in where some BBC doofus explains that it was recorded by the BBC in 1971, and was part of the first live performance of the songs on Meddle (which album was soon to be released). F O S in this form was part of the program, I figure because the Floyd were embarassed that they had not done the song like this in the first place (my speculation). True, the recording quality is very good, except you wouldn't think the BBC sound engineers would goof up and put a mike where Nick would drown out Rick. Dave's guitar playing is very dominant on the BBC 71 version, except I guess they didn't expect him to solo at 250 Db and blow the needles off the peak meter.
You otta record the BBC 71 version too, it sounds like a different performance because of the mike placement. The only way I knew it was the same is the sound of the audience reaction at the end, which of course, was identical.

i have one version that is terrible but another that is good. i'm not sure if one is from the bbc and the other from another concert or if they are both from the bbc. but the one that drowns out the organ pisses me off.

That sounds like the same two I'm talking about. Yeah, it's infuriating when all you can hear is a loud roar of drums and cymbals and the thump of the bass.

The organ is quite listenable on my version. During it's solo, it almost seems to drown out the other instruments.
I think this one was recorded for the BBC, because the sound quality is so good. And it's also in stereo... the guitar is coming out of the left speaker, and the organ out of the right.
The drums or bass don't drown anything out in my version. I think every instrument is mixed good... but it could use a little more bass.
And I think Dave's guitar is distorted on purpose... it doesen't sound horribly overdriven (at least on my version).

Noooooo!!!!!! Alan's Breakfast is the best track on the album! Best PF song ever!

:o

Is Dazed&Confused just your user name or does it also relate to your state of mind?

He's evidently joking

We all know the best PF song ever is Corporal Clegg.

That "BBC doofus" is DJ John Peel, and the definitive recording of this performance is on the Harvested Recordings CDR007 "BBC Archives 1970-1971" 2-cd set. It's been cleaned up for CD quite a bit, and also features the best performance of Embryo I've ever heard (not to mention a fantastic Echoes seagued into a nice 5-minute blues jam).

hi another part of my random thread tour, Fat Old Sun is good song I think. Reply please, trying to get some old threads revived!

You sure know how to ignore good advice, Big Boy!