June 23, 2012
This is the debut album by the English rock group Pink Floyd made under founder Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics along with psychedelic instrumental songs.
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
12” LP 33 rpm 1967 – ST 5093
Released by Columbia/EMI in the UK & Tower/Capitol in USA
Up-and-coming society photographer Vic Singh was hired to photograph the band for the album cover. Singh shared a studio with David Bailey, and asked Jenner and King to dress the band in the brightest clothes they could find. Singh was also friends with Beatles guitarist George Harrison, and once the band had been relaxed with several joints, he shot them with a prism lens that Harrison had given him (see photo).
As per his own words about the creation of the cover:
“I was spending the afternoon with George Harrison at his house in Easher near London as I was leaving he gave me a prism lens, saying he did not know what to do with it, perhaps I could use it for something. The prism lens was lying around unused in my studio for some time until one day the manager of the Pink Floyd (who were a new group at that time) rang me and asked me if I could shoot the record cover for The Piper. I had met the band at a party previously so I agreed and asked their manager what they had in mind for the cover? He said it was up to me to work something out.
After listening to The Piper music, which was very different and far out at that time, the prism lens seemed to be the answer. As the lens splits the image it goes a bit soft, so I asked the band to bring bright trendy clothes (fashionable at the time) which would stand out with color and contrast in the photos. The photos were taken in my studio on a white background evenly lit with David Cecil studio strobe, Camera was Hasselblad with the prism filter stuck over a 50mm Planar lens. I first shot quite a few Polaroid images using a polaroid back, it was a bit tricky positioning the band as the 4 figures split up and melted into each other. Finally I was happy and shot the cover on Kodak Ektachrome 100ASA Daylight color film.”
Singh also goes on to say: “It was unusual and different, and they were delighted with it, and Syd did his own little drawing on the back cover.”
Go to www.ricsrecordsrack.com for more information. All these singles are in super mint condition and still available.
Picture of the actual prism used to photograph cover by Vic Singh. Below that is the cover itself. I have also included a video of "The Scarecrow".
This is the debut album by the English rock group Pink Floyd made under founder Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics along with psychedelic instrumental songs.
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
12” LP 33 rpm 1967 – ST 5093
Released by Columbia/EMI in the UK & Tower/Capitol in USA
Up-and-coming society photographer Vic Singh was hired to photograph the band for the album cover. Singh shared a studio with David Bailey, and asked Jenner and King to dress the band in the brightest clothes they could find. Singh was also friends with Beatles guitarist George Harrison, and once the band had been relaxed with several joints, he shot them with a prism lens that Harrison had given him (see photo).
As per his own words about the creation of the cover:
“I was spending the afternoon with George Harrison at his house in Easher near London as I was leaving he gave me a prism lens, saying he did not know what to do with it, perhaps I could use it for something. The prism lens was lying around unused in my studio for some time until one day the manager of the Pink Floyd (who were a new group at that time) rang me and asked me if I could shoot the record cover for The Piper. I had met the band at a party previously so I agreed and asked their manager what they had in mind for the cover? He said it was up to me to work something out.
After listening to The Piper music, which was very different and far out at that time, the prism lens seemed to be the answer. As the lens splits the image it goes a bit soft, so I asked the band to bring bright trendy clothes (fashionable at the time) which would stand out with color and contrast in the photos. The photos were taken in my studio on a white background evenly lit with David Cecil studio strobe, Camera was Hasselblad with the prism filter stuck over a 50mm Planar lens. I first shot quite a few Polaroid images using a polaroid back, it was a bit tricky positioning the band as the 4 figures split up and melted into each other. Finally I was happy and shot the cover on Kodak Ektachrome 100ASA Daylight color film.”
Singh also goes on to say: “It was unusual and different, and they were delighted with it, and Syd did his own little drawing on the back cover.”
Go to www.ricsrecordsrack.com for more information. All these singles are in super mint condition and still available.
Picture of the actual prism used to photograph cover by Vic Singh. Below that is the cover itself. I have also included a video of "The Scarecrow".
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