I just pulled out some vinyl that I haven’t listened to in a while: Syd Barrett’s The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. I browsed through the credits and, in addition to Syd, there’s Gavid Gilmour on bass and Richard Wright on organ & piano. David Gilmour and Roger Waters produced The Madcap Laughs; David Gilmour and Richard Wright produced Barrett.
Soooo… why isn’t this a Pink Floyd album? What’s the story with Syd Barrett’s solo stuff vis-à-vis his leaving Pink Floyd?
When Syd leaves Pink Floyd in the spring of '69, he is in a state of mental turmoil, a condition which builds up over a number of years prior to this, and this turmoil gives way to disintegration as his life proceeds.
Dave Gilmour is recruited in the winter of '68, maybe in anticipation of Syd’s departure, so the band still functions as a sound proposition.
Syd is assisted by the other three guys on the two recordings you mention, but he is now officially solo because the Floyd do not rely upon him as a band member.
Anyway, the taking of large quantities of illegal substances such as heroin, and I don’t know what else, never helps Syd, who slowly fades into oblivion, and who at one stage is practically a recluse.
Floyd include a tribute to Syd in the form of ‘Shine On You Crazy Diamond’, a pleasing song which features prominently on their later album, ‘Wish You Were Here’, but maybe you know this anyway.
It is possible to write a book concerning the legend of Syd, but this database is by no means unlimited in capacity.
And fortunately, someone already has: ‘Syd Barrett: Crazy Diamond’ by Mike Watkinson and Pete Anderson (Omnibus Press, 1991). I don’t know how available it is - I’m looking at my own copy now.
For an inside story, see For a classic essay, see Making the Madcap Laughs
Also check out a classic article written by Nick Kent here. Read the introduction first, though.
Finally, a nice, historical essay (from the very nice Barrett 3CD box set) can be found here
Happy reading, and listening!