Syd Barrett: “Two of a Kind” (Peel Session): Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — August 13, 2023

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

922) Syd Barrett: “Two of a Kind” (Peel Session)

A few nights ago, I saw the sad, wistful Syd Barrett doc Have You Got It Yet. While it provides terrific insights into Syd, he still remains an enigma to me.* I do love Syd’s solo albums, and I adore the versions he performed on John Peel’s show. Here is the delightful “Two of a Kind”, which Richie Unterberger says is “bouncy, easygoing [and] doesn’t appear on any . . . release [other than a recording of Peel’s BBC Show]; it’s since been claimed that this was actually a composition by Pink Floyd organist Rick Wright.” (https://www.allmusic.com/album/peel-sessions-mw0000200801)

As to the Peel show, Unterberger adds “In February 1970, Syd Barrett performed five songs for John Peel’s show on the BBC, accompanied by Jerry Shirley on drums and Dave Gilmour on guitar. Besides reprising ‘Terrapin’ from his first album, the session featured three of the strongest tunes from his second LP, ‘Gigolo Aunt,’ [see #87] ‘Baby Lemonade,’ [see #315] and (a very brief) ‘Effervescing Elephant.'” (https://www.allmusic.com/album/peel-sessions-mw0000200801)

Chris M recalls that “David [Gilmour] has also said Two Of A Kind was a Rick Wright composition.” (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/syd-barrett-two-of-a-kind.212965/) But Jack Son #9 Dream argues that:

I’ve heard this, too, but I don’t believe it. ‘Two Of A Kind’, to me, doesn’t sound musically or lyrically like Wright’s style. Especially the ‘I knew it when I saw you’ part – that, to me, sounds totally like Barrett’s writing style. He would throw those weird little bridges in his songs. Kind of reminds me of the ‘isn’t it good to be lost in the wood’ part in ‘Octopus’.

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/syd-barrett-two-of-a-kind.212965/

* I wrote those words before reading Glenn Kenny’s review in the New York Times that says “And while the film . . . illuminates Barrett to a greater degree than any other account I’ve come across, it maintains the artist’s enigma.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/13/movies/have-you-got-it-yet-the-story-of-syd-barrett-and-pink-floyd-review.html)

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