Pow R. Toc H.
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| "Pow R. Toc H." | |
|---|---|
| Instrumental by Pink Floyd | |
| from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | |
| Published | Magdalene Music/Essex Music |
| Released | 5 August 1967 |
| Recorded | March–April 1967 |
| Studio | Abbey Road Studios, London, UK |
| Genre | Experimental[1] |
| Length | 4:26 |
| Label | EMI Columbia (UK) Tower (US) |
| Songwriter(s) | Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason |
| Producer(s) | Norman Smith |
"Pow R. Toc H." is an instrumental, with vocal effects, by the English rock band Pink Floyd on their 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.[2][3] In addition to the vocal effects, the piano is a prominent instrument in the piece.
Background[edit]
Toc H. was the army signallers' code for "TH", representing Talbot House, a club where officers and enlisted men were equals, which later became an interdenominational Christian fellowship organization serving the community.[4] (The emblem of Toc H. is an oil lamp, so a "power Toc H." would be an electric torch—probably with a dim bulb, as per the saying "as dim as a Toc H. lamp".)[citation needed]
According to Nick Mason, the original four members of Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Mason) were present at Abbey Road Studios and watched the Beatles record "Lovely Rita" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.[5][6] Voice effects and noises similar to those used in "Lovely Rita" could be heard in "Pow R. Toc H.", recorded in the next studio during the same period.
Waters also uses the "scream" he later used in "Careful with That Axe, Eugene".
Alternative and live versions[edit]
"Pow R. Toc H." was renamed "The Pink Jungle" in the "Journey" part of The Man and The Journey. Pink Floyd performed the song live from 1967 to 1969.
Personnel[edit]
- Syd Barrett – acoustic guitar, electric guitars, vocal percussion
- Roger Waters – bass guitar, screams
- Richard Wright – Farfisa organ, piano, additional vocalisations
- Nick Mason – drums, percussion
References[edit]
- ^ Guesdon, Jean-Michel; Margotin, Philippe (2017). Pink Floyd All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-316-43923-7.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 1177. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
- ^ Mabbett, Andy (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
- ^ "The GreatWar 1914-1918 The Story of Talbot House (Toc H), Poperinge". THe Great War 1914-1918. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Mason, Nick (2004). Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd.
- ^ Runtagh, Jordan (29 May 2017). "Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' at 50: When Pink Floyd, David Crosby Visited 'Lovely Rita' Sessions". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
