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Norman Smith, born 22 February 1923 in North London, was a pivotal figure in 1960s and 1970s rock music. As a producer and sound engineer, he shaped iconic albums like Pink Floyd's *The Piper at the Gates of Dawn* (1967) and *A Saucerful of Secrets* (1968). Known for his innovative techniques, Smith's work helped define the progressive rock genre, leaving a lasting legacy.
Norman Smith a renowned record producer and sound engineer, left an indelible mark on the music industry during the 1960s and 1970s. While his contributions to various artists were significant, his collaboration with Pink Floyd stands out as a testament to his visionary approach. With his expertise and innovative techniques, Smith played a pivotal role in shaping the distinctive sound and success of one of rock music's most influential bands.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Born on 22 February 1923, in Edmonton, North London, England, Norman Smith developed a deep passion for music from an early age. After serving in World War II as a pilot, he channeled his musical aspirations and joined EMI Studios in London as a sound engineer in the 1950s. Smith's technical prowess and dedication to his craft propelled him into the spotlight.
Collaboration with Pink Floyd:
Smith's journey with Pink Floyd began in the late 1960s when he was assigned to produce their debut album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" (1967). Recognizing the band's experimental and progressive inclinations, Smith seamlessly merged his production skills with their innovative musical vision.
"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" remains an iconic album that captured the essence of Pink Floyd's psychedelic sound. Smith's meticulous attention to detail and willingness to push boundaries resulted in a sonically rich and immersive experience. His expertise in achieving distinctive guitar tones and capturing the band's atmospheric compositions helped establish Pink Floyd's artistic identity.
Following the success of their debut, Smith continued to collaborate with Pink Floyd on their sophomore album, "A Saucerful of Secrets" ( 1968). Once again, Smith's production finesse enabled the band to explore new sonic territories. He skillfully balanced the band's evolving experimental tendencies with their signature sound, creating a cohesive and captivating album.
Smith's contribution to Pink Floyd's early discography extended beyond production. He also provided backing vocals and even played piano on some tracks. His versatility as a musician complemented his role as a producer, further enhancing the creative synergy between Smith and the band.
Legacy and Impact:
Norman Smith's work with Pink Floyd showcased his ability to understand and amplify an artist's vision. His collaboration with the band during their formative years played a crucial role in shaping their sound and setting them on a path to become one of the most influential rock acts of all time.
While Smith eventually transitioned away from production and pursued a solo career, his legacy as a pioneering producer remains significant. His contributions to Pink Floyd's early albums laid the foundation for the band's subsequent success and influenced the development of progressive rock as a genre.
Norman Smith's commitment to innovation and his unwavering dedication to capturing the essence of an artist's vision made him a revered figure in the music industry. His work with Pink Floyd exemplifies his ability to push boundaries and create timeless recordings that continue to inspire generations of musicians and producers.
Norman Smith's extraordinary collaboration with Pink Floyd has left an enduring impact on the band's legacy and the evolution of rock music as a whole. His innovative production techniques and artistic sensibilities continue to be celebrated and appreciated by music enthusiasts worldwide.
Below is the Index of albums released by the British Acid/Psych band Pink Floyd. As we have a large collection of Pink Floyd albums this index will have entries pointing for each album to the detailed listings. For example: "Animals" clicking the "Show Index" button will bring up listing of this album with information on the various countries it was released and collector's information on how to identify a particular release.
1977
"Animals" is the tenth studio album by Pink Floyd, and was released in January 1977. A concept album, it provides a scathing critique of the social-political conditions of 1970s Britain, and presents a marked change in musical style from their earlier work.
Show Index Page1970
"Atom Heart Mother" is the fifth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in 1970 by Harvest and EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, and reached number one in the United Kingdom, and number 55] in the United States charts, and went gold in the U.S. in March 1994.
Show Index Page1981
"A Collection of Great Dance Songs" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released on 23 November 1981 on Harvest/EMI in the UK and Columbia Records in the United States.
Show Index Page1973
"The Dark Side of the Moon" is the eighth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. The concept album built on ideas explored by the band in their live shows and earlier recordings, but it lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure in 1968 of founding member, principal composer and lyricist Syd Barrett.
Show Index Page1988
"Delicate Sound of Thunder" is a Pink Floyd live double album from the David Gilmour-led era of the band which was recorded over five nights at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York in August 1988 and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in September 1988.
Show Index Page2001
"Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd. It was released by EMI Records on 5 November 2001, in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States through Capitol Records.
Show Index Page1983
"The Final Cut" is the twelfth studio album by Pink Floyd. A concept album, The Final Cut is the last of the band's releases to include founding member and longtime lyricist Roger Waters.
Show Index Page1974
This compilation album of Pink Floyd contains the hard to find tracks
Show Index Page1971
Meddle is the sixth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in October 1971. This album was recorded at Morgan Sound Stusdios, London
Show Index Page1987
"A Momentary Lapse of Reason" is the thirteenth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in the UK and US in September 1987. In 1985 guitarist David Gilmour began to assemble a group of musicians to work on his third solo album.
Show Index Page1969
Pink Floyd's More movie soundtrack is a classic album that remains highly influential to this day. The album's unique blend of progressive rock, psychedelic, and experimental elements helped to establish Pink Floyd as one of the most important bands of the 20th century.
Show Index Page1973
The "Nice Pair" was released in December 1973 by Harvest and Capitol in the United States and the following month in the United Kingdom by Harvest and EMI.
Show Index Page1972
"Obscured by Clouds" is the seventh studio album by Pink Floyd, based on their soundtrack for the French film "La Vallée", by Barbet Schroeder.
Show Index Page1967
"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the firs album by the Pink Floyd, and the only one made under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics about space, scarecrows, gnomes, bicycles and fairy tales, along with psychedelic instrumental songs.
Show Index Page1978
Relics is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released in 1971. The album was released on 14 May in the UK and 15 July in the United States.
Show Index Page1968
"A Saucerful of Secrets" is the second studio album by Pink Floyd. It was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on various dates from August 1967 to April 1968. It is both the last Pink Floyd album on which Syd Barrett would appear and the only studio album in which all 5 band members contributed.
Show Index Page1990
Early Live recordings, complemented with interviews
Show Index Page1969
Ummagumma is a double album by Pink Floyd, released in 1969 by Harvest and EMI in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. Disc A is a live album of their normal set list of the time, while disc B contains compositions by each member of the band recorded as a studio album.
Show Index Page1979
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd The Wall.
Show Index Page1975
"Wish You Were Here" is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. Inspired by material they composed while performing across Europe, it was recorded over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios.
Show Index PageEMI , 1997 , United Kingdom
This is a box-set of 7 albums with in total 8LP. Each album is issued in a ( FOC ) Fold Open Coveraka Gatefold cover.
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This Pink Floyd box-set includes 10 Pink Floyd albums with in total 13LP's as well as a large poster.
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Here you will find several European releases of David Gilmour's debut solo album.
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Here you will find several European releases of Roger Waters solo albums.
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