Pink Floyd-A Saucerful Of Secrets (1968)

Due to Syd Barrett's erratic and increasingly erratic behavior, the three remaining members of Pink Floyd decided to bolster the band by hiring a second guitarist, a position that would fall to David Gilmour, who would ultimately replace Barrett near the end of 1968. Thus, with Syd Barrett constantly in and out of recording studios, unable to stay sober even for a single night, the band recorded their second album, "A Saucerful of Secrets", in mid-1968 the only Pink Floyd album to feature five active members. These somewhat chaotic and confusing recording sessions are not reflected in the final result, which, for some mysterious reason, would become one of their most brilliant albums. On this occasion, given Barrett's lack of commitment, Roger Waters took center stage, composing most of the tracks on this album. Gilmour, for his part, contributes a more sophisticated, subtle guitar touch, while the instrumental arsenal of Richard Wright's psychedelic keyboards and Nick Mason's persistent percussion lead down more earthly musical paths than the previous, surrealistically cosmic "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn". Esoteric pieces like "Let There Be More Light", hypnotic canvases like "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun", psychedelic intricatees like "Corporal Clegg", experimental avant-gardism like "A Saucerful of Secrets", and mental digressions with the improvised "Jugband Blues" (written by Syd Barrett), result in one of the masterpieces of 20th-century psychedelic-avant-garde rock.