1971-10-30
Meddle
Pink Floyd
By Maeve C.
A single piano note, played by Richard Wright through a Leslie speaker, gave Pink Floyd the sonar-like ping at the start of “Echoes”. The band could not recreate the sound in the studio, so the demo stayed, and the piece grew to fill the whole second side of Meddle.
Sessions moved from EMI Studios to AIR and Morgan, where sixteen-track machines were available. For “One Of These Days”, David Gilmour fed his bass through a Binson Echorec, and he and Roger Waters play the line on two bass guitars. “Seamus” features Steve Marriott’s dog howling along, and “Fearless” fades out with Liverpool supporters on the Kop singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
Sources
Official Pink Floyd archive timeline: 30 October 1971, Meddle released in the US, a week ahead of the UK (UK release 5 November 1971). Earliest territory used.MusicBrainz release event: US, Harvest, 1971-10-30 (Canada 1971-10-31). American Songwriter's 31 October US date conflicts; the artist archive and MusicBrainz US event agree on 30 October.
Recording at EMI, AIR and Morgan; Echoes piano note through a Leslie speaker; One of These Days basses and Binson Echorec; Seamus (Steve Marriott's dog); Fearless with the Kop singing You'll Never Walk Alone. Gives UK date 5 November 1971.