Chris Welch

Pink Floyd: Learning To Fly

Category :Books Devoted to Pink Floyd
Publication: Pink Floyd:Learning To Fly
Author: Chris Welch
Published: Castle Communications Plc, 1994
Distributed: Penguin Books (ISBN 1-898141-70-3)
Language: English
Number of Errors/Comments: 39
Errors
Pages: [9] [12] [23a] [23b] [24] [27] [35] [41a] [41b] [74] [75] [78] [79] [86] [87] [88a] [88b] [89] [92] [98] [110] [112] [113] [115] [116] [121] [130] [131] [134] [138a] [138b] [138c] [138d] [138e] [139a] [139b] [143] [148a] [148b] [152]
Page 9
Book
says "Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Rick Wright, Nick Mason, and Dave Gilmour were the founder members...."
Fact
Gilmour was not a founder, but joined the band in 1968
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page 12
Book
says ... would in later years become torn apart--first by drugs...."
Fact
Category: Unclear Statement
Analysis/Comments
This attribution of the band's breakup to drugs is highly debatable and not certain enough to simply state offhandedly like this.
X-Ref

Page 23
Book
"Sigma 6 then changed their name to the T-Set, then the Meggadeaths...."
Fact
The correct spelling of the last name is The Megadeaths (only one "g").
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
Perhaps just a typo.
X-Ref

Page 23, 24, 27, 35
Book
talks about Bob Klose
Fact
The correct spelling of his lastname is Close
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref
see also entry for page 9 of Cliff Jones' book for more info on this.

Page 41
Book
"...because the PA wasn't up to much..."
Fact
should be "too much".
Category: Non-Floyd/ Typo
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page 41
Book
"We did a rock opera called 'Flower Men' you can't get more psychedelic than that!"
Fact
This is a grammatical error. Text above should have been two senteces (i.e. ...'Flower Men'. You....)
Category: Non-Floyd/ Typo
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page 74
Book
"In a sad postscript to this period in Floyd history, Syd was seen sitting in the reception area of the studio, waiting for the call to play."
Fact
Category: Unclear Statement
Analysis/Comments
This is in reference to the period of time after or during (it's not clear by the text) the recording of A Saucerful Of Secrets. It is not clear if this really happened or if it's being confused with the well-known Wish You Were Here incident.
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Page 75
Book
"They also received a great accolade when BBC TV used Pink Floyd records as a background music to their coverage of NASA's Moon landing...."
Fact
BBC TV Moonlanding special had a piece called Moonhead performed by Pink Floyd as its background music. This composition had not been officially released on any record.
Category: Unclear Statement
Analysis/Comments
The use of the word 'record' is strikingly specific as if the author knows that the BBC actually cued up vinyl which is highly unlikely; this is probably just inattentive writing.
X-Ref

Page 78
Book
"Only 'Careful With That Axe Eugene' showed much of a creative spark, one of the first Floyd songs to deal with the subject of madness."
Fact
Category: Factual Error / Unclear Statement
Analysis/Comments
The debate about the meaning of Careful With That Axe Eugene is still continuing, but out of the possible explanations of this composition none has anything to do with madness. Author's assumption seems to lack proper factual support. The comment about only that composition showing creative spark also seems to be author's personal opinion.
X-Ref
See Echoes FAQ, Ver 3.5, Vol 2, Q. 8 for more discussion about the origins and meaning of Careful With That Axe, Eugene.

Page 79
Book
"While their lead singer now lived underground, supported by royalties from his past records,.Pink Floyd became...."
Fact
Category: Non-Floyd / Typo
Analysis/Comments
Extra period in the middle of the sentence; editorial gaffe.
X-Ref

Page 86
Book
"It took a while to get the album started, as they had spent a lot of time on an uncompleted project called 'The Sounds of Household Objects' where they tried to record kettles boiling and gas fires lighting."
Fact
Category: Unclear Statement / External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
This text implies that this happened prior to the recording of Meddle. It is not clear when exactly this work started as different sources mention different times (alternative one being after Dark Side Of The Moon was released).
X-Ref

Page 87
Book
says about the creation of Echoes: "Then Rick Wright sparked off the new work with a single piano note on his piano, played while fooling around in the studio one day. Roger Waters decided to record the note through a Leslie speaker cabinet...."
Fact
Category: External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
Different sources contain different information concerning the origins and the process of creation of what later became Echoes
X-Ref

Page 88
Book
"'Meddle' saw them cut back and streamline some of looser aspects of their work, and focus their direction in a way that is now seen as a forerunner to 'Dark Side of the Moon.' It was put together from various demo tapes and the concept was to create a continuous piece, going through different moods."
Fact
Category: Unclear Statement / Typo
Analysis/Comments
Author uses the album name Meddle where it sounds like he's describing the song Echoes. There is also a grammar error in this paragraph: "some of [the] looser".
X-Ref

Page
Book
Fails to mention Obscured By Clouds
Fact
Obscured By Clouds was a soundtrack to Barbet Schroeder's movie La Valee (a.k.a. The Valley Obscured By Clouds) which Pink Floyd scored in 1972
Category: Incomplete Info
Analysis/Comments
Obscured By Clouds is not mentioned in the book at all, which seems like an improper thing to do in such a book.
X-Ref

Page 89
Book
states about Dark Side Of The Moon that it "... began with the lines 'Breathe, breathe in the air, don't be afraid to care...' and closed with 'All that you touch and all that you see....'"
Fact
'Breathe, Breathe in the air' is the beginning of the song Breathe which is the second song of the album, first composition being Speak To Me. By the same token, after Eclipse ends with 'All that you touch and all that you see....' phrase, a voice says the famous words "There is no Dark Side on The Moon. 'Matter of fact, it's all dark."
Category: Factual Error
Analysis/Comments
The phrases given by the author are first and last lyrics sang on the album, but definetely not its begining or end.
X-Ref

Page 92
Book
states about Dark Side Of The Moon: " When it was first reissued on compact disc in the Eighties, a special CD plant was set up in Germany solely devoted to producing copies of the Pink Floyd classic."
Fact
????
Category: Factual Error (????)
Analysis/Comments
Is this fact or legend ?
X-Ref

Page 98
Book
"One the whole, the album was a good concept...."
Fact
Category: Non-Floyd /Typo
Analysis/Comments
Should read : "On the whole ..."
X-Ref

Page 110
Book
"I first saw it in the record chop...."
Fact
Category: Non-Floyd / Typo
Analysis/Comments
Typo. Should be "record shop".
Freudean slip ?
X-Ref

Page 112
Book
"1974 was spent carrying out protracted experimental recordings with a brief summer tour...."
Fact
Category: Unclear Statement / Factual Info
Analysis/Comments
What experimental recordings? If author means Household Objects then the date is wrong as it was autumn 1973 that it happened.
X-Ref

Page 113
Book
calls the song Ravin' And Droolin'
Fact
The name of the song was Raving And Drooling.
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref
see also entry for page 121 of this book.

Page 115
Book
states about Roger Waters "It was during this tour that he began to realise that there was a barrier between the band and the audience. He thought of turning this into a tangible thing--a physical wall--and his first idea was to construct one out of black polystyrene."
Fact
Category: Factual Error / External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
The tour author refers to took place in 1974. This is the only known reference to Roger coming up with the idea of The Wall this early. Roger himself and other sources usually mention later tours (In The Flesh tour in particular) as the starting point for The Wall concept.
X-Ref

Page 116
Book
"'Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky' were among the sorrowful lines delivered by Roy Harper...."
Fact
Roy Harper sings only on Have A Cigar. The lines mentioned above are from Shine On You Crazy Diamond and are sung by Waters.
Category: Factual Error
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref See Vocallist file for the information on who sings which song.

Page 121
Book
calls the song You Gotta Be Crazy
Fact
The correct name is Gotta Be Crazy
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref
see also entry for page 113 of this book.

Page 130
Book
The tracklist for The Wall omits Vera.
Fact
Vera comes between Nobody Home and Bring The Boys Back Home on the album.
Category: Oops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page 131
Book
"Waters'"
Fact
Category: Non-Floyd / Typo
Analysis/Comments
Grammar error: there should be no apostrophe on Waters.
X-Ref

Page 134
Book
"After Wright had been away on holiday, Waters called him to a meeting in America where he issued an ultimatum. Either Rick resigned after the album was finished or Waters would walk out and take the tapes of 'The Wall' with him, in which case there would be no money for any of them to pay off their own personal debts."
Fact
???
Category: External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
There is plenty of controversy concerning Rick Wright's ouster during/after The Wall . While some other sources contain information that is coherent with the story presented here, there are some that present it differently.
X-Ref

Page 138, 139
Book
refers to Michael Champing
Fact
this is a reference to Michael Kamen
Category: Factual Error
Analysis/Comments
Champing ?????
X-Ref

Page 138
Book
talks about the song Fleecier Memorial Home.
Fact
The correct title is Fletcher Memorial Home
Category: Ooops
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref
see next entry for this page.

Page 138
Book
Roger's father is referred to as Eric Fleecier Waters
Fact
The name's Eric Fletcher Waters
Category: Factual Error
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref
see previous entry for this page.

Page 138
Book
"The lyrics clamoured to know what 'Magpie' had done...."
Fact
The lyrics to The Final Cut (the album) contain a number of references to Maggie - Margaret Thatcher, including the following one : "Maggie what have you done".
Category: Oops / Factual Info/ Typo ?
Analysis/Comments
Magpie ?????
X-Ref

Page 138
Book
"...and sexist David Saner"
Fact
This refers to David Sanborn, famous jazz saxaphone player.
Category: Factual Info/ Typo
Analysis/Comments
this should obviously read " ... and saxist David Sanborn".
X-Ref

Page 139
Book
"Bu,t said Gilmour later..."
Fact
Category: Typo
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page 143
Book
"The album told the story of a ficticious US radio station, KAOS and its rebellious disk jockey who fights against 'format radio' by enlisting the air of Billy a 'phone-in listener'. Together they set out to fight 'market forces'. A real radio station KMET in Los Angeles had just been closed down after a battle by the staff to fight a switch from rock to disco policy."
Fact
Read liner notes to Radio KAOS for background story of the characters of Radio KAOS.
Category: Factual Error/ Unclear Statement/External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
This statement sounds like author's own creation. Neither liner notes to radio KAOS nor Roger Waters never stressed anti-format radio sprit of the album. Even more so, the album seems to be about much bigger things, such as communication between people etc...
X-Ref

Page 148
Book
"In the event it proved a spectacular affair, watched by 200,000 at the concert and televised live around the world."
Fact
Category: Typo/ Non Floyd
Analysis/Comments
Sentence makes no sense. Perhaps, it should read "In any event...." .
X-Ref

Page 148
Book
states about Amused To Death "It included a fresh polemic this time against the Almighty himself on a stomping, angry 'What God Wants'...."
Fact
Category: Factual Error / Typo
Analysis/Comments
It's rather obvious it's not a polemic against the Almighty, but rather the followers of. Also, 'himself' should be "Himself."
X-Ref

Page 152
Book
says about The Division Bell: "Work began on the project at the beginning of 1993 when they spent a couple of weeks improvising together, resulting in some forty song sketches."
Fact
David Gilmour has been quoted in Guitar Magazine that it was approximately 65 bits of music.
Category: Fectual Error/ External Contradiction
Analysis/Comments
X-Ref

Page
Book
Fact
Category:
Analysis/Comments
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Errors provided by Rick Karhu

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