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.[4] This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects.[5]
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").[5] 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.[6]
"Lucifer Sam" was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967[6] 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.[7]
^Swanson, Dave (4 August 2015). "How Pink Floyd Set the Psych-Rock Standard With Their Debut". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
^A.Robbins "The Trouser Press record guide" (Collier Books, 1991), ISBN 0-02-036361-3
^Wyman, Bill. "All 165 Pink Floyd Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
^Toby Manning (2006). The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd: p.155
^ abJohn Cavanagh (2003). The Piper at the Gates of Dawn: pp.39–41
^ abVernon Fitch (2005). The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia: p.186
^. Sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^Mawer, Sharon. "The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds - The Lightning Seeds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
^Palacios, Julian (2010). "Home". Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe (Rev. ed.). London: Plexus. p. 418. ISBN978-0859654319.
External linksedit
Allmusic review
Full lyrics of this song at Allmusic
January 01, 1970
lucifer, song, english, rock, band, pink, floyd, featured, band, debut, album, piper, gates, dawn, 1967, song, pink, floydfrom, album, piper, gates, dawnpublishedmagdalene, music, essex, musicreleased5, august, 1967, 1967, recorded12, april, 1967genrepsychedel. Lucifer Sam is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd featured on the band s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn 1967 Lucifer Sam Song by Pink Floydfrom the album The Piper at the Gates of DawnPublishedMagdalene Music Essex MusicReleased5 August 1967 1967 08 05 Recorded12 18 April 1967GenrePsychedelic pop 1 space rock 2 garage rock 3 Length3 07LabelEMI ColumbiaTowerSongwriter s Syd BarrettProducer s Norman SmithAudio Lucifer Sam on YouTube Contents 1 Music and lyrics 2 Personnel 2 1 Pink Floyd 3 Live and cover versions 4 References 5 External linksMusic and lyrics editThe 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 4 This is augmented by bowed bass and increasingly agitated organ and percussion effects 5 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 5 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 6 Personnel editPink Floyd edit Syd Barrett vocals guitar slide guitar Richard Wright Farfisa organ piano Roger Waters bass guitar bowed bass Nick Mason drums maracas timpaniLive and cover versions edit Lucifer Sam was only performed live by Pink Floyd in 1967 6 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 7 Lightning Seeds covered the song as a B side and it appeared on their 2006 best of collection 8 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 9 Shockabilly the Sadies the Three O Clock MGMT Spirits in the Sky Unknown Mortal Orchestra Obits with different lyrics as Widow of my Dreams Cat s Eyes Bauhaus Southern Culture on the Skids The Horrors and Chris amp Cosey Nick Mason played this during his 2018 Nick Mason s Saucerful of Secrets tour of Europe References edit Swanson Dave 4 August 2015 How Pink Floyd Set the Psych Rock Standard With Their Debut Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 23 December 2018 A Robbins The Trouser Press record guide Collier Books 1991 ISBN 0 02 036361 3 Wyman Bill All 165 Pink Floyd Songs Ranked From Worst to Best Vulture Retrieved 15 August 2020 Toby Manning 2006 The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd p 155 a b John Cavanagh 2003 The Piper at the Gates of Dawn pp 39 41 a b Vernon Fitch 2005 The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia p 186 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 Mawer Sharon The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds The Lightning Seeds Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 29 October 2012 Palacios Julian 2010 Home Syd Barrett amp Pink Floyd Dark Globe Rev ed London Plexus p 418 ISBN 978 0859654319 External links editAllmusic review Full lyrics of this song at Allmusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucifer Sam amp oldid 1199033275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
