Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - 40th Anniversary Reissue

I'm sure there isn't VERY much to say about this release that hasn't already been said.
It is super to see the mono and stereo versions side by side. I know it isn't the first time this has happened, but I think with the extras on the third disc it may be first time many people have been lured into buying another version of what I imagine most Floyd fans already have.
I'm no audiophile geek, but you don;t have to be one to hear that there are significant differences between several songs on the mono and stereo versions.
The Interstellar Overdrive particularly is a much rawer and some would say exciting version on the mono disc.
I for one loved this version much more than the rather over-cleaned stereo mix.

Having seen Norman Smith talking in the flesh as it were on a recent dvd documentary about the making of the Piper At The Gates Of Dawn I can now see why he and Roger/Syd didn't see eye to eye on producing the songs!
By his own admission he is coming very much from a Jazzzzzzzzzz... background.
While some might say that there is a spirit of Jazz in the Floyd, their sensibilities were at rather opposite ends of the experimental poles. ( He says politely!)

There is one issue I would like to clarify - and that is the omission of the 13th page of the Fart Enjoy booklet.
I have seen on some forums comment that the censorship of this page may have some from my family, and not from EMI.
I must just point out that we have had no input at all into this publication, and the omission is not influenced by any Barrett. To be honest, there are more important things in life to worry about than a few swear words!
I think the concerns about copyright on the image used is far more likely to be a concern. bearing in mind the young lady in the image is exposing more than just raw talent I can understand why she might want this exposure to remain as minimal as possible.
As the booklet was made in 1965 as far as I can gather, she is probably old enough now to not want pictures of her naked body printed and sold in record shops across the globe!

Anyway - it is a nicely packaged piece of history and it is good to see EMI finally add at least a few unreleased tracks. Not many, but a couple is better than none at all.