Introduction 3
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To discover the origins of "Opel" we need to know that some notes of the intro already existed in a recording dated 4th September 1967, the first session after a holiday on the beaches of Formentera, a controversial period where Syd, it seems, had had a breakdown, rather than a break.
As his magic songs spun on turntables across Britain, and Floyd’s album sat in the Top Ten, no one outside their immediate circle knew where Syd had gone. Jenny Fabian was told he was sent off on holiday, while rumours spread that he’d left Pink Floyd or was hospitalised.
— Julian Palacios, Dark Globe
To understand what Syd's state of mind and feelings might have been back then, I recommend – apart from listening to the above songs – the quotes below, in particular Syd's own words:
I feel now that having left art school that there are a lot of things... that I could do. A lot of things I see now, a lot of things went in to me, into my head and thinking that these would, perhaps, changing and altering things. … So... maybe... this would be very valuable, this break.
He couldn't do anything in Formentera. I think he had nightmares – I mean, real living nightmares, trying to climb up walls – and the biggest change for me, his eyes, used to have so much life in him and then his eyes just went dead. I mean, we were all hoping that he was just basically burnt out and needed a complete break, but it clearly was much more serious than that. It was very scary, very upsetting.
Palacios, Julian. Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd: Dark Globe. London: Plexus Publishing Limited, 2010. 266. Print. http://books.google.com/books?id=DvgH58uEPFAC&pg=PA266
Jones, Mark. "Transcription of Interview with Syd from 1967." Web. http://www.sydbarrettpinkfloyd.com/2007/11/transcription-of-interview-with-syd.html
lorraine. "'The Thing About Syd': Part Ten." The Blog. David Gilmour Music Ltd, 24 July 2007. Web. http://davidgilmourblog.co.uk/2007/07/blotto-winner.html