SYD BARRETT/"THE MADCAP LAUGHS" AND "BARRETT" SHDW 404 (-74) UK

2-LP reissue compiling his first two albums. Made by EMI to cash in further on Pink Floyd's successes with "Dark Side Of The Moon" and "A Nice Pair". I'm always looking to find the 1969 and 1970 originals at a price I can afford though no luck so far. But this is far more than a mere substitute. Just a couple of years after the fact and made from the same early UK matrixes as the originals - "Barrett" A-1G/B-1G with 1/1 mothers and "Madcap" A-2G/B-2G with 1/1 mothers. The audio is tophole - big, strong and well separated - and there are so many exclusive pics and winks (e.g. fruit on front cover is supposed to remind of Barretts first acid trip) it's more like an early alternative to the first press albums than a reissue. So even if I should be lucky enough to find any of the originals in the future this will remain as a necessary complement. Musically it's a shaky ride, going from the truly catchy to more madcapish moments. Not always good in a common sense, but 100% honest. I've always preferred the "Barrett" album and then mainly because of two cuts - "Gigolo Aunt" and "Baby Lemonade" showing he still got it 1970. With a little better backing and production they could have made it to 45:s and sold quite well I guess. First US (Harvest SABB-11314) released some months before UK, so most sold in Britain initially was the US import. It managed #163 on Billboard, but had less success in UK. Seventies releases also in Australia, Japan (EMI EMS-67014-5) and a couple of European countries. UK 2003 2-CD on Harvest (582346 2) came with thirteen alternative takes as bonus tracks. Because of the early matrixes I thought this was the 1st UK 2-LP press, though according to comment by Gary Thompson below it's only the second as the first didn't have the "Heritage" branding. But since it still uses the original matrixes with top audio I guess it's a pretty early 2nd. (PÅX*) (HÄVL*) (SÄSÄ*)