Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast

Infobox Song
Name = Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast


Artist = Pink Floyd
Album = Atom Heart Mother
Released = October 10, 1970
track_no = 5
Recorded = August 1970
Abbey Road, London
Genre = Progressive rock, musique concrète
Length = 13:00
Writer = Roger Waters
Nick Mason
David Gilmour
Richard Wright
prev = Fat Old Sun
prev_no = 4"Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" is a three-part instrumental track from the 1970 Pink Floyd album "Atom Heart Mother". It features Pink Floyd playing in the background as Alan Stiles (a Pink Floyd roadie, who appeared on the back cover of "Ummagumma") speaks about the breakfast he is preparing and eating, as well as breakfasts he has had in the past ("Breakfast in Los Angeles. Macrobiotic stuff..."). There are significant breaks before the first, and in between all three, instrumental parts where only Alan's muttering and movements, with occasional exterior background noise, are heard. Much of Alan's speech is overdubbed throughout the piece in gradually fading echoes e.g. "Macrobiotic stuff" is repeated every couple of seconds, more quietly each time. It was performed live three times in the UK during the winter of 1970.

In addition to the talking, the sounds of Alan making breakfast — such as lighting the stove, cooking bacon, pouring milk and cereal (which makes a popping sound associated with Kellogg's Rice Krispies), loudly gulping and drinking milk or juice, and loudly and vigorously eating cereal — are clearly audible in the background, which adds a conceptual feel to the track. Alan can be heard entering the kitchen and gathering supplies at the start of the track, and washing up and exiting the kitchen at the end; a dripping tap can be heard during both of these instances. On some copies of the vinyl version, the dripping tap at the end of the song is cut into the run-off groove, so it plays on infinitely until the listener removes the stylus from the album, an effect obviously lost on the CD release, though the dripping continues for approximately 17 seconds after all other sounds have ceased.

ections

Rise and Shine

This piece consists of piano, organ, steel guitar, cymbals and electric guitar fed through a Leslie speaker.

During the opening of this section, Alan can be heard muttering to himself, deciding what to have as he begins to prepare his breakfast. He can be heard saying the following: "Oh... Er... Me flakes... Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, toast, coffee... Marmalade, I like marmalade... Yes, porridge is nice, any cereal... I like all cereals... Oh, God."

unny Side Up

This piece was written and performed entirely by David Gilmour on two acoustic guitars and a steel guitar.

Morning Glory

This piece was performed by the entire band. The main instrument is Rick Wright's piano, which was overdubbed three different times (one in the left channel, one in the centre, and one in the right channel). The piece also features very prominent bass, electric guitar, ADTed drums, and Hammond organ. At the end after saying "Well, my head's a blank", Alan picks up his car keys and leaves via the door. Faintly, a car can be heard starting and driving away.

Personnel

* David Gilmour - steel guitar, acoustic and electric guitar
* Roger Waters - tape effects, tape collage, bass
* Richard Wright - piano, organ
* Nick Mason - drums, percussion, tape edits, tape collage, additional engineering
* Alan Stiles - voice, sound effects

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