Pink Floyd’s “Atom Heart Mother,” one of the band’s most-debated works, is getting an elaborate rerelease in Japan. It marks the 50th anniversary of the “Japanese Woodstock,” starring the English band.
Sony Music Japan’s “Hakone Aphrodite 50th Anniversary Edition” includes a CD and a Blu-ray, along with extensive artwork extras.
The Blu-ray does not have a high-res version of the studio album, alas, but there is restored audio and video of some of the band’s performance at Japanese rock festival Hakone Aphrodite (summer 1971).
Pink Floyd’s first visit to Japan resulted in three concerts, the first two in Hakone, about two hours south of Tokyo. Songs included a 15-minute “Atom Heart Mother” suite as well as “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and “Echoes.” The Blu-ray’s live footage appears limited to “Atom Heart Mother” as well as some festival environmental footage (see footage below).
Hakone Aphrodite was Japan’s version of Woodstock, with Pink Floyd and Buffy Saint-Marie topping the bill. The third concert on that tour was at the Festival Hall in Osaka.
The new “Atom Heart Mother” can be ordered by U.S. customers via Amazon Japan and (the well-regarded) CD Japan. Cost is about $55 before shipping. The Blu-ray plays in all regions. Release date: Aug. 4 but preorders are under way.
“The (concert footage) was digitized from 16mm film using the latest technology and restored and remastered after three years of work. … This is the first time in the history of Pink Floyd that a Japanese original video and sound source have been recorded in Japan. … Newly discovered B-roll-like ‘Scott & Watts’ is also included as bonus footage.”
The combo pack comes with Pink Floyd’s first 7-inch cardboard sleeve cover with a “reprint of the commemorative obi from the band’s first visit to Japan.”
Package goodies include “an original 60-page booklet featuring unreleased shots,” as well as reprints of the Hakone Aphrodite pamphlet, venue map flyer, Osaka concert poster and a Hakone Aphrodite ticket. There’s also access to a digital booklet, “Recollection Hakone Aphrodite.”
No detail on the CD of the studio album, which was last reworked in the West for the 2011 Pink Floyd campaign. That mastering was used for a Sony Japan repressing in 2017, so best to expect the same here.
Yeah! I remember when I first saw PF at the Santa Monica Civic, in October of 1971. When they played Atom Heart Mother live it blew me away, no orchestra, just PF. The chanting that Roger Waters did in the mid section was actually pretty hott. Atom Heart Mother, for some reason, got my total attention that night and, I must say, was a total delight. Now don’t get me wrong, Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun fuckin’ blew me away too.
Yeah, PF ‘71, you should’a been there.
Yep I happened to be there as well I lived on Venice beach and I went to the gig on my Vespa. I hadn’t taken any grass but it didn’t matter as joints we’re passing around. The audience was so quiet no arm waving just pure enjoyment