Had to give it only a 4 of 5 rating - ONLY because Pink Floyd was in a transition stage in my opinion. The orchestrative work on the album is really really good - unique. David Gilmour's steel guitar ads a nice touch. The song " If " , gives you a clue to the future greatness of Pink Floyds albums like Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. This Album is a must for those who like Pink Floyd and classsical type rock melody music! Many melodic sounds...& sound effects also...
This is a very enjoyable album. If you're looking for the Dark Side of the Moon, this ain't it. Still, it has some good songs, like Fat Old Sun, and some interesting experimentation. Good stuff!!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Most consider this to be the worst of the 14 original recordings of Pink Floyd. I do not agree. Even though, most of Pink Floyd's records are meant to be listened to from start to finish to get the full sense of what they were meaning, this CD is not like that. There are two, traditional long instrumental pieces. The six part Atom Heart Mother and the three part Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast are the bookends for this recording. My favorite part is the three 5 minute songs that were written by each of the principal song writers, Waters, Wright and Gilmour. Water's song "If", is a beautiful piece of music about self analysis. Roger's voice is soft on this piece, unlike the harder vocals that he is traditional known for. Wright's song "Summer of 68", has great instrumental and seems very biographical of what Rick may have gone through during their 2nd US tour in the summer of 68. Gilmour's song "Fat Old Sun", is amazing. If one wants music to be visual and to escape into, this is the piece. Will put me in a good mood no matter what my day has been like. Gilmour plays this on his solo tours in a little different arrangement, and that is also amazing, but the original recording is my favorite. I believe any of the three songs could have been released as singles at the time of the original release of the albumn. If someone only knows Pink Floyd by their radio songs, they probably wouldn't guess any of these individual songs were Floyd.Read full review
This is one of the better early Pink Floyd albums. I had this one ias a teen and wore the record out. It is easy to listen to. None of the songs were big hit and you will never hear them on the radio but that is what I like about this album. If you are a true Pink Floyd fan you will have this album. If you are just discovering the band then this will be a great one to explore. Some of the very early Pink Floyd albums can be hard to listen to but that is not the case with Atom Heart Mother
Straightaway I'll say that I would like to award this album 4/5, but I'm only too aware that many people will hate it. My first reaction on hearing it was bafflement. Not only is the title track (occupying half the album) unlike any other Pink Floyd track, but it's not like anything else, ever. Containing horns, orchestration and a choir (amongst other things), the band almost seem to be playing second fiddle during much of it, but Richard Wright and Dave Gilmour do manage a nice spot of interplay during the centre section. "If", "Summer '68" and "Fat Old Sun" are quiet accoustic numbers which are pleasant enough but very, erm, pastoral? "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" is, well, Alan cooking and having his breakfast and occasionally musing about things interspersed with musical interludes. Most odd. Whatever your taste in music, however extensive your music collection, buy this in the sure knowledge that it won't fit in. [Quote from BBCs "The Fast Show":- "Uncategorisable. Is that a word? It is now."]Read full review
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