Lucifer Sam

"Lucifer Sam" is a song by British band Pink Floyd, featured on their 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

"Lucifer Sam"
Song by Pink Floyd
from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
PublishedMagdalene Music/Essex Music
Released5 August 1967 (1967-08-05)
Recorded12–18 April 1967
Genre
Length3:07
Label
Songwriter(s)Syd Barrett
Producer(s)Norman Smith

Music and lyrics

The song is built around a descending riff, with the dominant instrument being composer Syd Barrett's electric guitar, fed through an echo machine; the resultant sound has been likened to a "sinister" Duane Eddy.[3] This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects.[4]

Though the lyric frequently refers to Lucifer Sam as a cat, some speculation has arisen as to whether this was in fact slang ("a hip cat") for a man, real or imagined, in some type of relationship with Barrett's then-girlfriend, Jenny Spires (referred to in the song as "Jennifer Gentle").[4] However, Sam was simply Barrett's Siamese cat (and is referred to as such in the first line: "Lucifer Sam, Siam cat"); the track was originally called "Percy the Rat Catcher" during the recording sessions, which took place between April and June 1967.[5]

Personnel

Live and cover versions

"Lucifer Sam" was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967[5] and featured as an encore during many performances, mostly notably at the Games for May concert.

Barrett later performed the song with his 1972 band Stars.[6]

Lightning Seeds covered the song as a B-side, and it appeared on their 2006 best of collection.[7]

The track has also been covered by the Black Crowes, Electric Hellfire Club, the Minders, the Flaming Lips, True West, Jay Farrar, Love and Rockets,[8] Shockabilly, the Sadies, the Three O'Clock, MGMT, Spirits in the Sky, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Cat's Eyes, Bauhaus, Southern Culture on the Skids and Chris & Cosey.

Nick Mason played this during his 2018 Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets tour of Europe.

References
  1. Swanson, Dave (4 August 2015). "How Pink Floyd Set the Psych-Rock Standard With Their Debut". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  2. Wyman, Bill. "All 165 Pink Floyd Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. Toby Manning (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd: p.155
  4. John Cavanagh (2003). The Piper at the Gates of Dawn: pp.39–41
  5. Vernon Fitch (2005). The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia: p.186
  6. "Syd Barrett Pink Floyd Psychedelic Music Progressive Music: Syd Barrett Stars - Everything (So Far)". Sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. Mawer, Sharon. "The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds - The Lightning Seeds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  8. Palacios, Julian (2010). "Home". Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe (Rev. ed.). London: Plexus. p. 418. ISBN 978-0859654319.
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