Pink Floyd mandolin covers, and general musings

**Jim MacDaniel** · Sep-16-2009, 9:47pm

I was wandering around youtube when I found this interesting cover of Breathe featuring mandolin. This stood out to me since it is one of the few mando-centric covers of a Floyd song other than Wish You Were Here (which BTW Jim Richter covers quite well on OM, also on youtube) and thought I would post it for your listening pleasure. Has anyone out there played around with other Floyd tunes with your bands or on solo mandolin?

This vid then got me thinking about what other Pink Floyd songs might make for a nice mando tune, which got me thinking about their discography in general. What I kept looping back to is how incredible David Gilmour's many outstanding guitar solos still sound today. I know there are many Syd Barrett and Roger Waters fans out there, but to me, when I think of Pink Floyd, more often than not I think of the tunes with my favorite Gilmour solos in them. For that matter, when I build a list of my favorite rock guitar solos, Gilmour also shows up on those lists several time.

Which leads me to ask, what was the force behind your favorite Pink Floyd memories and albums; Syd Barrett's writing and guitar; Roger Water's writing, vocals, and amazing vision; or Gilmour's always guitar work and memorable solos?

**Santiago** · Sep-16-2009, 10:03pm

Gilmore's guitar redefined the instrument as capable of a soaring melody. I am always surprised at what notes he chooses to play in any situation, electric or acoustic, that takes the music a step further than you may have anticipated.

**JimRichter** · Sep-17-2009, 8:20am

Well, this thread got me inspired to arrange one of my favorite Floyd numbers to octave (will work on mando too). I think it makes a very good mandolin piece. If there's the interest, I'll tab it out in the future.

**mandopete** · Sep-17-2009, 9:43am

Originally Posted by Jim MacDaniel

Has anyone out there played around with other Floyd tunes with your bands or on solo mandolin?

This vid then got me thinking about what other Pink Floyd songs might make for a nice mando tune

A couple of years ago at a bluegrass festival a couple of friends of mine pulled out San Tropez which has a really nice feel to it. Seems like it would be a good choice for mando.

Jim Richter - Excellent as always man!

**Jim MacDaniel** · Sep-17-2009, 9:50am

Jim - Very nice, and I for one would enjoy getting the tab or notation for that on mando.

Pete - that's a good one. Coincidentally, when I saw Spinal Plug Live, Unwigged and Unplugged earlier this year here in Oakland, I thought they would have a blast covering that tune as well.

**mandopete** · Sep-17-2009, 9:54am

Originally Posted by Jim MacDaniel

Which leads me to ask, what was the force behind your favorite Pink Floyd memories and albums; Syd Barrett's writing and guitar; Roger Water's writing, vocals, and amazing vision; or Gilmour's always guitar work and memorable solos?

Yes, David Gilmour is probably the most melodic guitar in rock music to be sure. But my favorite memory is not really music or performances, but an album cover (shows my age).

As a kid in a rock band I was always obsessed with equipment and I used to stare at the cover of Umma Gumma and think how cool it was to have all of that suff.

Wierd, huh?

**JimRichter** · Sep-17-2009, 11:50am

Actually, one that would make a great mandolin piece would be Echoes. I started on this once and shelved it. I used to play it in a trio with my brother (me on guitar).

And, Fearless is a great one for mandolin. I did this as the opening to my version of Wish You Were Here.

Of course, I'm waiting for someone to do "Careful with that Mandolin, Eugene"

JR

**JimRichter** · Sep-17-2009, 2:32pm

I was in the mood. Now, eat your pudding.

**mandocrucian** · Sep-17-2009, 2:55pm

Since the late 70's.....
"Granchester Meadows" which I still like to play
"Arnold Layne" (Barrett era Floyd)
"The Gnome" (Barrett era Floyd)
"Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun"

messed with the guitar lead (on mando) for "Echoes"

My younger brother sang a bunch of Syd Barrett/early Floyd things: "The Scarecrow", "Rats", "Gigolo Aunt", "Octopus Ride", "Bike", "Flaming" etc. This was back in the early 80's; we had a pretty bizarre repertoire mix: lots of Dan Hicks ("Laughing Song", "O'Reilly At The Bar", "Crazy Cos He Is", "Milk Shakin' Mama", "News From Up The Street", "Jukie's Ball"..... the Dawg music followers really resented our assertions that Dan 'got there 10 years sooner'), some Nick Drake, Bonzos, Slim Gaillard, early Kinks ("Summer Afternoon", "Dedicated Follower of Fashion", "Dead End Street", 'Death Of A Clown"...). Never did "Vegetable Man" though - the ultimate Syd Barrett number.

**Santiago** · Sep-17-2009, 4:36pm

Fantastic version of GBBS Jim. (would love those tabs too!)
I love that the kids in Another Brick never got paid and wound up suing. I guess they got an education afterall.

**Howard33** · Sep-17-2009, 4:42pm

Count me in for tabs Jim. I'm pick'en up whatever your laying down brother.

**Jim MacDaniel** · Sep-17-2009, 5:44pm

Wooo hooo! Me too please!

**Jim MacDaniel** · Sep-17-2009, 5:50pm

Originally Posted by mandocrucian

Since the late 70's.....
"Granchester Meadows" which I still like to play...

Good one Niles -- I like it...

**mandopete** · Sep-17-2009, 7:17pm

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict?

Anyone?

**journeybear** · Sep-17-2009, 7:37pm

There seem to be a few bands fooling around in this way. Here's Greensky Bluegrass:

Then there's Poor Man's Whiskey. Looks like these guys do the entire DSOTM in Wizard Of Oz costume ...

Once upon a time I used to do "See Emily Play" solo, but not bluegrass style ...

**JimRichter** · Sep-17-2009, 8:03pm

I'm not a fan of doing rock covers in bluegrass style. Sometimes they work out (like Fox on the Run or when NGR did L. Russell's Prince of Peace), but other times they sound hokey. Frankly, I think the Time cover sounds novel, rather than bona fide. Part of the flavor of the original tune was the rhythm, which is lost in the bluegrass straight beat. I'm not knocking the guys cause they're sound like a talented band, but it's just my personal taste. I like rock rhythms and try to see that they're preserved.

**Santiago** · Sep-17-2009, 8:38pm

I do without Dorothy in the dress too. :-)

**journeybear** · Sep-17-2009, 10:25pm

I wasn't saying either of these bands was any good, just sayin', here 'tis.

There are more PF renditions by them, as well as others; I just picked a couple at random. These were pretty easy search results. Personally, I'd like to see this treatment applied to material other than DSOTM. I don't know why people keep going to that. Dig a little deeper, I always say. Y'all are on your own with this stuff!

**Jim MacDaniel** · Sep-18-2009, 7:34am

JB's Time vid reminded me of my favorite Floyd tribute/cover ever, The Easy Star All Stars' Dub Side of the Moon, which is an all Dub/Reggae version of Dark Side. It is very well done, and retains the mood and feel of the original, but puts a unique twist/beat to it -- yet it still tracks to the Wizard of Oz.

Here is their version of Time, live...

(If you dig this, this a many other tracks from Dub Side are on youtube, both studio and live versions.)

**JEStanek** · Sep-18-2009, 7:51am

The Dub Side of the Moon is a highly recommended CD by me. It's in regular summer rotation for my commute to work.

Jamie

**Dan Hoover** · Sep-18-2009, 8:13am

once again mr.richter...wowzer's!! that blew me away...very cool..how do you do this???
i agree..david gilmour one of the most outstanding guitarist in rock,totally defined the floyd sound,maybe mostly in the later years??love to hear what he can do on a mando???
years ago,when i was a pup, i use too to stare at the ummagumma LP sleeve..sometimes too long,i probably use to stare at a lot of their records too long??? along w/darkside and the beatles white album and abbey road,i've had them on every format...lp,cassette,8-track,reel-reel..and lastly cd...actually,other than a nina simone song,pink floyd is the only thing on my ipod too...
floyd song i'd like to hear a mando version of??? "Remember a Day"...one of my fav's...
great thread jim mac...thank's...cheers me up...i'll have to look up the dub side....i think it's going to be one of those weekends again...

**Dan Hoover** · Sep-18-2009, 8:52am

If you dig this, this a many other tracks from Dub Side are on youtube, both studio and live versions.

just watched 3 you tube vids...The Dub Side....wow...i need this...why haven't i heard this before??? thanks ..

**journeybear** · Sep-18-2009, 9:26am

Originally Posted by Dan Hoover

... years ago,when i was a pup, i use too to stare at the ummagumma LP sleeve..sometimes too long,i probably use to stare at a lot of their records too long??? along w/darkside and the beatles white album and abbey road,i've had them on every format...lp,cassette,8-track,reel-reel..and lastly cd...actually,other than a nina simone song,pink floyd is the only thing on my ipod too...

This explains so much ...