Not going to go into why I am writing about Joe Boyd – suffice to say – there is a reason.
To me – he is famous for putting the Floyd on the map – that would be back in around 66/67 … I am serious – a single produced BEFORE their debut album Piper at the Gates of Dawn. (Norman Smith – an EMI producer) got that gig – I think because Joe was ‘outside the system’.
Norman BTW was also engineer on the early Beatles albums – and is the same person as one ‘Hurricane Smith’ – who had a short lived career as a performer in the early 70s – and since then, as far as I know, disappeared from the public eye.
I was a late adopter of Floyd – Atom Heart Mother was my first exposure – and within a month went in to the back catalogue and bought Ummagumma, Saucerful of Secrets and Piper At The Gates of Dawn in pretty quick succession. Even then I was interested in the connections inside the music business. I used to buy albums by solo artists that connected to bands I knew …. so for example ‘The Nice’, lead me to ELP that reversed me back into KIng Crimson (not so much Atomic Rooster) that took me on to bands too many to recall … in some ways Crimson came to be to English Progressive as Fairport was to Electric Folk.
But back to Joe.
Curiously, as far as I can tell Joe has always done it is his way – and over the years produced John Martyn, Richard (and Linda) Thompson, The Incredible String Band, oh – and of course Fairport Convention – you see how it all connects ? Joe (an American) was essentially responsible for the sound of the British Fold Rock scene – and how did that start with Pink Floyd ? I mean they aren’t exactly described by the media as ‘Electric Folk’ – are they ?
But then again – think back. Arnold Layne and Piper could readily fit into that genre with the whimsical Barrett always pushing in different directions. I mean if you took an average of Astronomy Domine, Bike, See Emily Play and Interstellar Overdrive – you kind of see what I mean.
And again – Joe – not part of the deal when The Floyd signed up with EMI (Piper was recorded in Abbey Road at the same time that The Beatles were recording Sergeant Pepper’s next door – I mean – talk about creative forces !!
So Joe – unlike ‘Hurricane’ – stayed outside the system – and brought us some awesome music over time. I mean AWESOME. And seemingly never had anything to do with the Floyd ever again. Except he did. He obviously stayed in touch and close – and I assume that because of this :
Sadly – out of Focus – - this is the last live performance, not only of PInk Floyd (sans Roger) – but also of Arnold Layne. It comes from a tribute concert that Joe put on in memory and honour of Syd Barrett.
Think about that – all those years later (actually pretty close to 40 years exactly), the Barrett Tribute concert at the Barbican was put on by Joe Boyd – and whether planned or not – I have no idea – but he was responsible for the last song they ever played together. And that my friends – is the sandwich – Joe Boyd – produced the Floyd’s first single ever – Arnold Layne – and their last live performance ever – Arnild Layne. Now how cool is that !!!
BTW – I know that might still change … the problem is that Syd and Rick are both playing the Great Gig In The Sky and Dave and Roger – well – you know … and besides wouldn’t it be such a shame to break such serendipitous closed loop perfection!
Anyway – enough of the connections and sandwiches of life – to read more about Joe go check out his web site.
