Interstellar Overdrive
"Interstellar Overdrive" is an instrumental composition written and performed by the English rock band Pink Floyd. The song was written in 1966 and is on their 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, clocking in at almost ten minutes in length. It features long sections of free-form instrumental improvisation reflective of the group's live performances.
| "Interstellar Overdrive" | |
|---|---|
B-side label of the French Arnold Layne EP, featuring an edit of "Interstellar Overdrive" | |
| Instrumental by Pink Floyd | |
| from the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn | |
| Released | 5 August 1967 |
| Recorded | March and April 1967 |
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| Length | 9:41 (album version) 16:49 (London '66-'67 version) 3:02 (Tonite Lets All Make Love in London version) 14:57 (1966 recording) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Norman Smith |
The song originated when guitarist Syd Barrett heard the band's manager Peter Jenner humming a song, which Barrett tried to interpret by playing it on his guitar. Sharing the same emphasis on chromaticism with "Astronomy Domine", the piece was recorded in several takes during March and April 1967. An earlier, longer recording of the song can be heard on the soundtrack to the film Tonite Let's All Make Love in London, which was recorded at Sound Technique Studios in early 1967 and was released in the same year. Other versions of the track appear on various bootleg recordings. The piece has been covered by acts such as T. Rex, Pearl Jam, Camper Van Beethoven, Hawkwind, the Melvins, and Simon House.