Jun 3, 2011 Playlist

THE ANIMAL SHOW
   
"Animals" by Pink Floyd (1977)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Pink Floyd  "Animals"  1977 (UK)
We're celebrating our friends in the animal kingdom on this month's special, and I doubt there is a record more perfect for this week's CAOTW than Pink Floyd's George Orwell-inspired masterpiece from 1977.  This dark concept album posits that there are three types of people in the world:  Dogs, Pigs and Sheep.  Although this is arguably the album where controversial bassist Roger Waters took over the band (leading to their eventual nasty breakup in the early 1980's), it is also their last album where all members contribute equally in creating the uniquely symphonic space rock sounds that define the classic period of Pink Floyd.
Most of this album had been performed in concert for several years before taking its final form in the studio -- here's an early version of "Sheep" under its original title "Raving And Drooling".  Unfortunately, there is surprisingly little video footage of Pink Floyd during the heighth of their popularity in the middle and late 1970's, but here are some earlier clips of the classic quartet lineup:  "Cymbaline" was performed on American TV around 1970, and the group's more avant-garde side can be seen in this rare TV improvisation from 1972.  But the best footage of the group comes from their Live At Pompeii movie, also of 1972.
Here's a couple more animal-themed tunes from this week's special:  the Japanese hard rock trio Gedo was incredible, but is little known outside of their homeland -- here's their epic jam "Yellow Monkey".  Van der Graaf Generator was one of the greatest UK prog-rock bands, and the classic lineup reunited this decade and a version of the group is still making records today -- here's their most popular tune "Killer", which is about the romantic problems of a shark.
 
(L) = Busking live in the studio (to get around DMCA limits)
(W) = restored to webcast version on this site (only)
    
Artist Song Album Year Country
Spirit Animal Zoo Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus 1970 USA
Sly & The Family Stone I'm An Animal Life 1968 USA
Meat Puppets Animal Kingdom Up On The Sun 1985 USA
Talking Heads Animals Fear Of Music 1979 USA
Ohio Players The Funky Worm Pleasure 1972 USA
Rufus Thomas The Funky Bird Crown Prince Of Dance 1973 USA
 
 
Bent Wind The Lions Sussex 1969 Canada
Tiger B. Smith Tiger Rock Tiger Rock 1972 Germany
Quicksilver Messenger Service Bears A-side 7" single (Anthology compilation LP) 1968 USA
Van der Graaf Generator Killer H To He, Who Am The Only One 1970 UK
 
 
The Monkees Porpoise Song Head 1968 USA/UK
The Churls Fish On A Line The Churls 1969 Canada
Simply Saucer Mole Machine Cyborgs Revisited (compilation CD) rec. 1974, rel. 1989 Canada
The Dukes of Stratosphear
(XTC)		 The Mole From The Ministry 25 O'Clock EP 1985 UK
 
 

Pigs On The Wing (part one) Busking live on the air (L)

Pink Floyd (W) Dogs Animals
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1977 UK
Pink Floyd Pigs (Three Different Ones) Animals
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1977 UK
Pink Floyd Sheep Animals
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1977 UK

Pigs On The Wing (part two) Busking live on the air (L)

   
 
The Shandells Go Go Gorilla Wavy Gravy (various artists compilation) rec. 1960's USA
Gedo Yellow Monkey Best Gedo (compilation CD) rec. 1975 Japan
Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 Monkey Banana Zombie 1976 Nigeria
   
 
The Osmonds Crazy Horses Crazy Horses 1972 USA
Throbbing Gristle The Worm Waits Its Turn Part Two: Endless Not 2007 UK
Caravan The Dog, The Dog, He's At It Again For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night 1973 UK
Frank Zappa It Must Be A Camel Hot Rats 1969 USA
   
 
Van Morrison Listen To The Lion Saint Dominic's Preview 1972 UK (N. Ireland)
   
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