Curious to know what you guys think/like about Pink Floyd's early work

There probably would have been more interest or excitement in the music forum. Anyway, to me The Pink Floyd ('the' was dropped after Syd left) is a totally different band than Pink Floyd without Sid. The Piper album was all Barrett's song writing in a style that fit the psychedelic mood of the time, but was a very personal mixture of experimentalism and playfulness. It was recorded in Abbey Road at about the same time as Sgt. Pepper and there are stories about the Beatles 'taking note' of what was going on 'in the other room'. Probably folklore, but Piper was hugely influencial when it came out. And of course Arnold Layne and See Emily Play had already been released. Barrett was probably not more of a drug addict then any other of his peers, but he did become the most famous LSD casualty in rock history. His solo albums are harrowing documents of his mental breakdown.

Pink Floyd never recovered and after some artistically uneven records they reinvented themselves as the heavy handed prog outfit they eventually became. But Syd's spirit hung around until Wish You Were Here, which was nothing less than a tribute to their 'lost' friend and collegue. After that it was Roger Waters who called all the shots and we know what he's like......

Yes Pink Floyd’s early work is less accessible, with all the comments about Sid’’s style accurate.  But there is some great stuff.  Gems like Arnold Layne, see Emily Play,  Cymbaline  and Careful with that Axe Eugene are great examples of their early work.

Then the album Atom Heart Mother is amazing start to finish, with the first side one long concept, and excellent singles on side 2.  Meddle is a classic, also with one long concept song and great individual songs on side 1.  Who can resist Semus, the dog outside the kitchen?

Obviously their later albums are more polished and commercially accessible.  I listen to very little after  The Wall.  Animals is another album that does not get much love, but is fantastic.

if you don’t get it, you don’t get it.  Anyone want to bash Yes’ first two albums?

If you like Pink Floyd at all, then you owe it to yourself to listen/watch Live at Pompeii.

Archive. org -https://archive.org/details/pink-floyd-live-at-pompeii-1972-remastered

This is Floyd as they transition from the Syd days to DSOTM and beyond. 

Can also stream the compilation 1972 Obfusc/ation which contains the live tracks-Qobuz, Tidal, etc.

@edgewear 1+ There are some bright spots in all the early albums, indications of what was to come.  I listen to Atom Heart Mother on occasion, more frequently than the others. Animals remains my favorite followed by The Wall. Dark Side got played to death on me in college. I album I dislike the most is Wishing You Were Here. Syd was a sad case of self destruction and I see no reason to ruminate on him. He never became a "diamond" , but who knows how he would have developed. 

I like the stuff with Syd. I like the stuff after Syd. The only version of Pink Floyd I don't much care for is the post-Roger PF.  Also saw Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, and that was great interpretations of older material....

You might get even more response by posting this under 'Music' as well as 'Misc Audio'.