Opel (album)

{{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 17 October 1988 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Syd Barrett:
The Peel Sessions1987Octopus: The Best of Syd Barrett1992CompilationOpelSyd_barrett-opel.jpgSyd Barrett17 October 1988Abbey Road, 14 May 1968 – 17 July 1970Psychedelic folk, psychedelic rock45:53 (original release)
65:05 (Crazy Diamond reissue)Harvest (UK)
Capitol (US)Syd Barrett, Peter Jenner, Malcolm Jones, Roger Waters and David Gilmourx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Opel is a 1988 album compiled from recordings made by former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett between 1968<ref group="nb">The earliest recorded material being "Lanky (Part One)" and "Golden Hair", recorded mid-May 1968.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref></ref> and 1970.<ref group="nb">The latest recorded material, released on the standard edition of Opel, being "Word Song", the first of three tracks recorded mid-to-late July 1970.<ref name=B2010_2>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> On the Crazy Diamond reissue, however, the latest material is "It Is Obvious", the final of three tracks recorded during the last session.<ref name=B2010_2/></ref> The album is a compilation of unreleased material and alternative takes of recordings from sessions for Barrett's solo albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett.

Opel was released in October 1988 on Harvest in the UK, and on Capitol Records in the US. The album was remastered and reissued in 1993, along with Barrett's other albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett (both 1970), independently and as part of the Crazy Diamond box set. A newly remastered version was released in 2010.

Background

The album was originally set to include the unreleased Barrett Pink Floyd songs "Scream Thy Last Scream" and "Vegetable Man", which had been remixed for the album by Jones.<ref name=Globe419/> However, the two songs were pulled by Pink Floyd<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> before Opel was finalised.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

While Barrett only released two albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, both in 1970, the existence of unreleased studio work was widely reported. After years of demand from Barrett's considerable fan base, Opel was compiled and released. Barrett personally approved the new release.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release and content

Template:Album ratings Opel consists of eight previously unreleased songs and alternative versions of six already released songs. The album was released due to the constant pressure from The Madcap Laughs producer, Malcolm Jones.<ref name=Globe419>Template:Cite book</ref> Despite its positive reviews, it failed to chart. AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger said the album was "charming", with the title track, "Swan Lee (Silas Lang)", "Dark Globe" and "Milky Way" as highlights.<ref name=AM/>

Opel (along with The Madcap Laughs and Barrett) was reissued both independently<ref group="nb">UK EMI Harvest 7243 8 28908 2 9 / CDGO 2055<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref></ref> and as part of the Crazy Diamond Barrett box set,<ref group="nb">UK EMI Harvest 0777 7 81412 2 8 / SYD BOX 1<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref></ref> on 26 April 1993.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A newly remastered version was released in 2010.<ref group="nb">Europe EMI Harvest 5099991755629<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref></ref>

Track listing

All songs written by Syd Barrett, except "Golden Hair" (music by Barrett, based on a poem by James Joyce). All track information is taken from the Crazy Diamond version of Opel.<ref name="Crazy Diamond">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Personnel

• Syd Barrett – guitar, vocals, producer
• David Gilmour – producer
• Peter Jenner – producer
• Malcolm Jones – producer
• Roger Waters – producer
• Gareth Cousins - mix engineer

Guest musicians on "Clowns and Jugglers":

• Mike Ratledge – organ
• Robert Wyatt – drums
• Hugh Hopper – bass

References

Footnotes

Citations