Radio FREE Chicago!

Tonight I caught one of WFMT’s live from the studio concerts. The performance was from a trio consisting of piano, flute, and violin. This interlude convinced me of two things. One, I haven’t been listening to enough classical music lately. Two, I need to stop being lazy and seek out live performances. One measure of inspired live music is worth more than an hour of Pro-tools perfection. I continue to be amazed by the sound quality that our current FM standard is capable of if the broadcaster cares and the person receiving the signal has a good antenna and tuner. I continue to be in love with the Tandberg 3011A. This reminds me that I should listen to the recording that I made off of WXRT that consists of performances from David Gilmour and Roger Waters solo tours. I listened to it at the time of the broadcast and recorded it because I continue to be obsessed with all things concerning “The Floyd." Perhaps at some point I’ll do a shoot out between the Tandberg 3011A and the Sansui TU-217 that currently resides in my bedroom system.

Speaking of Sansui recently I discovered this site that lovingly covers the company’s golden era. It provides high resolution scans of many of the pieces of sales literature that the company produced for it’s products. Also featured on the site are high quality photos for many components. It also provides schematics for many of the products free of charge, which is quite admirable. Anything that demonstrates passion for excellence in audio reproduction is always heartwarming to see.

"By the way, which one's Pink?"

Today the death of one of the most important musicians of the 20th century was announced. You may never have heard of him, Syd Barrett. Mr. Barrett was a founding member of Pink Floyd and responsible for writing all of their early singles and most of their first album, “The Piper At the Gates of Dawn.” “Piper” is one of the most if not THE most original debut albums. Not even The Floyd have done anything like it since, even though their second album “A Saucer Full of Secrets” was an attempt to copy that magic. Shortly after the release of their first album Syd’s behavior became increasingly erratic. At first this behavior was written off as being humorous rebellion against the establishment. No one suspected the truth until it was too late. Syd’s family history and his use of LSD proved to be a volatile mixture. Most agree that Syd was susceptible to becoming scizophrenic, the Acid guaranteed his massive break with reality.

After Pink Floyd Syd released some solo albums that contain flashes of brilliance, but it is well hidden under layers of chaos. Early Pink Floyd fans that loved them before they had a record deal believed that the band died with Syd’s departure. That of course is an opinion, but there is little doubt that without Syd Barrett there COULD NOT be a Pink Floyd.

Mr. Barrrett was such a larger than life figure his influence on the band would be felt long after the band decided NOT to pick him up for a gig and let their then rhythm guitarist, David Gilmour take center stage. Syd is the lunitic on the grass in “Dark Side of the Moon.” Syd is the Crazy Diamond and in fact the entire inspiration for the Pink Floyd masterpiece “Wish You Were Here.” Syd is at least half of the Pink character that is the protagonist/anti-hero of “The Wall” album.

Today, WXRT Chicago’s most progressive radio station played “See Emily Play” in tribute to the lost genius. It was great to hear that on the radio, too bad it had to be under such unfortunate circumstances.

"Shine on You Crazy Diamond!"