The legacy of Syd Barrett is up in the air. Madman or Acidhead? Trickster or oddball? Of these things, rarely is he remembered as a great songwriter, never mind a guitar hero. He founded Pink Floyd, one of the best art/progressive rock bands in history, yet he remains unexplored by most Pink Floyd fans that wholeheartedly swallow the acid casualty tale. When he died last year, the media super highway lit up with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” styled remembrances, and that’s unfortunate. I think that Syd would have been bummed that the mass media was harping on this cheesy song he didn’t even write, which he claimed sounded “rather old.”

And for good reason! Those mean bastards in Floyd stole his band, his sound, destroyed his good name, and have withheld releasing some of his best material. This is not a conspiracy theory. This is a fact. So, while remembering the man on the anniversary of his passing, and in the interest of his considerable legacy, buy all of Syd Barrett’s records (that would be The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, The Madcap Laughs, Barrett, and Opel), let the expansiveness of them wash over you, and then get on the internet super highway and find the following recommended choice cuts. By the way, did you know he wrote the Piper songs when he was like 18?! And “Golden Hair” from Madcap Laughs was written at 14. He couldn’t even grow a ‘stache at that point.

Here’s the wishful playlist:

“Scream Thy Last Scream”

Remember Alvin and the Chipmunks? Well, they totally ripped this song off. So did Ween. This song sounds like a demented ghost crawled under the covers to whisper nonsense in your ear as a band of chipmunks diligently repeat each syllable uttered. It features a primo Waters bass groove and some wah-wah organ that sends the song soaring into the cosmos as the ghost/Syd declares “oh sock it to me” (followed, then, by the chipmunks’ climax). Turn this one up and try to pick out everything that is uttered. It’s a challenge. All I know is he says, “scream thy last scream, old woman with a casket, fling your arms madly old lady with a daughter” plus “watching the telly ‘til all hours” plus “she’ll be scrubbing bubbles on all fours.” Syd’s guitar mimics his vocal throw-offs to tremendous effect.

“Vegetable Man”

“In my paisley shirt I look a jerk, and my turquoise waistcoat is quite out of sight, but oh-oh my haircut looks so baaaaaaaaaad.” Does Pink Floyd not want to be recognized for weirdly shepherding the idea of punk rock? ‘Cause this song is punk. The feel, the words, everything about it is direct and confrontational. Syd is fashion-conscious as he runs down his outfit, after which he philosophizes, “and all the lot it’s what I’ve got, it’s what I wear, it’s what you see, it must be me, it’s what I am! VEGETABLE MAN”, and then wonders where exactly he fits in, “I’ve been looking all over the place for a place for me, but it ain’t anywhere, it just ain’t anywhere.” The song features a badass James Bond/Mighty Mouse bridge where Syd chants the title, and then it’s done in a little over two minutes. This is a classic, covered by the Jesus and Mary Chain and Soft Boys (by the way… Robyn Hitchcock, did anyone tell you that when you cover a song you’re supposed to change it up?)

“Candy and a Currant Bun”

This song was out at one point as a single, but EMI made them change the line “I’m high” to “I lie” so Syd, in typical Syd fashion, inserted the words “oooh don’t talk to me please, just fuck with me” (pronounced FAHWWWWK), and the man didn’t even notice. Awesome! However, this song isn’t officially available anymore. It’s a good one too…classic early Floyd sound. Organ’s awesome, bass is solid, guitar is wild, Barrett is the anchor. The “I’m high, good to see you Mum” version also exists for all you stoners out there.

“Apples andOranges”

This is another song that was released as a 45 yet remains in limbo at the moment. Supposedly this song is about a day when Barrett was day trippin’ and decided to follow a foxy lady around, admire her from afar, and jot down her movements in his mind, later transferring them to song. She dug grocery stores and feeding ducks. Apparently his stalker love was unrequited, but he got a great song out of it.

September 1967 Pink Floyd went on the BBC

… and did a bunch of Piper songs. This set highlights just what a working unit they were at that point. It’s unplugged and underscores the solid melodic songs Syd wrote, even without the epic psychedelic production (which, by the way, Pete Townshend disdains because he was lucky enough to see Barrett in the flesh soloing for 45-minutes at a time, flooding the gates of his unconscious mind).