The Piper at the Gates of Dawn cover art

  Studio Album · No. 1

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn Songwriting Credits by Pink Floyd

1967 Columbia 11 tracks 42 min

Produced by Norman Smith  ·  Engineered by Peter Bown

Columbia Psychedelic RockSpace RockExperimental Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Pink Floyd carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
11 trackswritten by Pink Floyd 0 tracksoutside writers
Pink Floyd's roles on this album

Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist82%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

11
Tracks
3
Lyricists
1
Producers
1967
Released
Data Insight

This debut is almost entirely Syd Barrett's record. He wrote and sang the bulk of it as sole composer, including 'Astronomy Domine,' 'Lucifer Sam,' 'Matilda Mother,' 'The Gnome' and 'Bike,' shaping the band's whimsical English psychedelia. Roger Waters made his first writing mark with 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk,' while 'Pow R. Toc H.' and the extended 'Interstellar Overdrive' were credited to the full group. Norman Smith produced and Peter Bown engineered at Abbey Road.

"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the 1967 album by Pink Floyd, a psychedelic rock and space rock record built around the whimsical songwriting of Syd Barrett, who played guitar and sang alongside Roger Waters on bass, Richard Wright on organ and piano, and Nick Mason on drums. Produced by Norman Smith at Abbey Road Studios, it features the songs "Astronomy Domine," "Interstellar Overdrive," "Lucifer Sam," and "Bike," mixing acid pop with extended instrumental experiments. The album reached number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and number 131 on the US Billboard 200, where it was released simply as Pink Floyd. It later earned gold certification in the UK for sales above 100,000 copies. The title comes from a chapter in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, and Rolling Stone ranked it number 253 on its 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Astronomy Dominé
Syd BarrettRichard Wright Roger Keith BarrettRichard Wright Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
2
Lucifer Sam
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
3
Matilda Mother
Syd BarrettRichard Wright Roger Keith BarrettRichard Wright Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
4
Flaming
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
5
Pow R. Toc H.
Not documented Roger Keith BarrettRoger WatersRichard WrightNick Mason Norman Smith -
6
Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk
Roger Waters Roger Waters Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
7
Interstellar Overdrive
Not documented Roger Keith BarrettRoger WatersRichard WrightNick Mason Norman Smith -
8
The Gnome
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
9
Chapter 24
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
10
The Scarecrow
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)
11
Bike
Syd Barrett Roger Keith Barrett Norman Smith Syd Barrett (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors

More from Pink Floyd

Frequently Asked Questions The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Did Syd Barrett write The Piper at the Gates of Dawn?
Yes, Syd Barrett wrote the large majority of the album as sole composer. He authored tracks like 'Astronomy Domine,' 'Lucifer Sam,' 'Matilda Mother,' 'The Gnome' and 'Bike.' The only non-Barrett solo composition is Roger Waters' 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk,' with 'Pow R. Toc H.' and 'Interstellar Overdrive' credited to the whole band.
When was The Piper at the Gates of Dawn released?
The album was released on 4 August 1967 by EMI Columbia. It was recorded between February and May 1967 at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was Pink Floyd's debut studio album.
Who produced The Piper at the Gates of Dawn?
Norman Smith produced the album, with Peter Bown as recording engineer. Smith had previously worked as an engineer for the Beatles at Abbey Road. He went on to produce Pink Floyd's next album as well.
What is Astronomy Domine by Pink Floyd about?
'Astronomy Domine' was written by Syd Barrett and opens the album. It is regarded as Pink Floyd's first move into space rock, with cosmic lyrics referencing planets such as Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. Barrett sang it alongside keyboardist Richard Wright.
What is Interstellar Overdrive by Pink Floyd?
'Interstellar Overdrive' is a nine-minute instrumental credited to all four members of Pink Floyd. It was a centerpiece of the band's live shows and reflected their experimental, improvisational side. It stands apart from Barrett's more song-based material on the record.
How did The Piper at the Gates of Dawn chart?
The album reached number 6 on the UK Albums Chart in 1967. In the US it peaked at number 131 on the Billboard 200. It was later certified Gold by the BPI in the UK.
Where does the album title The Piper at the Gates of Dawn come from?
The title comes from 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,' a chapter in Kenneth Grahame's novel The Wind in the Willows. Syd Barrett, who chose the name, drew on English literary and storytelling imagery throughout the album. The whimsical, pastoral tone matches several of his lyrics.

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