Artist page · 05/07/2026

Syd Barrett

CambridgeBorn in 1946Rock4 vinyl albums
Syd Barrett, born January 6, 1946 in Cambridge, United Kingdom, was a pioneering psychedelic rock musician and founding member of Pink Floyd whose solo work in the early 1970s blends rock and folk influences.
Explore the discography The 3 must-haves
4Albums on Vinyles.com
521Discogs releases
726kLast.fm listeners

About

Early 70s solo albums on Harvest label highlight Syd Barrett's vinyl legacy with rare original UK pressings.

Syd Barrett emerged from the mid-1960s British psychedelic scene initially as Pink Floyd's lead guitarist and primary songwriter. His inventive use of structure and evocative lyrics marked a defining sound on Pink Floyd's debut album before health issues led to his departure in 1968. Barrett pursued a brief solo career, releasing two studio albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, both in 1970, which display his experimental approach and raw lyricism supported by notable collaborators including David Gilmour and Rick Wright. Various compilations and posthumous releases followed, including Opel in 1988, which gathers outtakes and rarities.

Discography

Syd Barrett discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

OpelHarvest · 1988
1988
Opel
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
BarrettHarvest · 1970
1970
Barrett
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The Madcap LaughsHarvest · 1970
1970
The Madcap Laughs
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Syd Barrett's career.

01
Terrapin
Terrapin
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
02
Octopus
Octopus
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
03
Here I Go
Here I Go
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
04
Golden Hair
Golden Hair
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
05
Love You
Love You
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
06
No Good Trying
No Good Trying
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
07
Dark Globe
Dark Globe
The Madcap Laughs · 1970
08
Baby Lemonade
Baby Lemonade
Barrett · 1970

The essentials

The 3 Syd Barrett albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 1970
Vinyl LP Album Stereo
The Madcap Laughs

Barrett's first solo album featuring 11 tracks blending psychedelic and folk rock, produced with David Gilmour and Rick Wright, including 'Octopus' and 'Golden Hair'.

11 tracksReleased 1970Harvest labelStereo LP
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#2 · 1970
Vinyl LP Album Stereo
Barrett

Second solo album with 12 tracks, displaying Barrett's unique approach to songwriting, recorded with members of Soft Machine and produced by David Gilmour.

12 tracksReleased 1970Harvest labelStereo LP
Discover the album
#3 · 1988
Vinyl LP Album Stereo
Opel

Posthumous compilation of rarities and outtakes that offers a deeper look into Barrett's recording sessions beyond his solo albums.

14 tracksReleased 1988Harvest labelStereo LP
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Go further

Artists similar to Syd Barrett

Artists who share part of Syd Barrett's musical DNA.

Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
The Doors
The Doors
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Strawberry Alarm Clock
13th Floor Elevators
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
Kevin Ayers
Love
Love

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Syd Barrett

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

David Gilmour called Syd Barrett one of the few pop music geniuses he ever met.
— David Gilmour
01Recording

The Madcap Laughs sessions with David Gilmour and Rick Wright

In 1969-70, Barrett recorded The Madcap Laughs at Abbey Road Studios with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Rick Wright assisting production and filling in on instruments, guiding recording despite Barrett's challenging behavior due to drug use.

1970London
02Release

Original 1970 UK pressing of The Madcap Laughs

The UK Harvest SHVL 765 pressing from 1970 of The Madcap Laughs remains a prized original stereo LP with catalog number 1E 062 ◦ 04261, often commanding a high price in collector circles due to its rarity and condition.

1970United Kingdom
03Vinyl Market

Rare French test pressing of Barrett album

An extremely rare 1970 French single-sided white label test pressing of Barrett on Harvest with catalog number 2 C 062 - 04592 is valued above 1900 euros, prized by collectors for its uniqueness and scarcity.

1970France
04Compilation

Opel compilation release in 1988

Harvest label released Opel in 1988, compiling unreleased tracks and outtakes from Barrett's solo recording era, available primarily as a European LP with catalog 064 7 91206 1, broadly accessible in standard stereo LP format.

1988Europe
Barrett's music melds simple, catchy melodies with complex, layered atmospheres defined by his unique vocal style.
— Music Critic

Records by Syd Barrett

See all
AN INTRODUCTION TO SYD BARRETT - Front Cover AN INTRODUCTION TO SYD BARRETT - Front Cover

AN INTRODUCTION TO SYD BARRETT

Syd Barrett
Psychedelic rock Rock
INTERCOM
From $25.28 2 offers
THE MADCAP LAUGHS - Front Cover

THE MADCAP LAUGHS

Syd Barrett
Psychedelic Rock Rock
INTERCOM
From $46.00 1 offer
BARRETT - Front Cover

BARRETT

Syd Barrett
Psychedelic Rock Rock
INTERCOM
From $28.39 1 offer
OPEL - Front Cover

OPEL

Syd Barrett
Psychedelic Rock Rock
INTERCOM
From $33.89 2 offers
The Madcap Laughs - Front Cover

The Madcap Laughs

Syd Barrett
Psychedelic Rock Rock
Vinilissimo
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Recommended accessories

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FAQ

FAQ

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

Who was Syd Barrett?

Syd Barrett was a British musician and founding member of Pink Floyd, known for his early psychedelic rock contributions before a solo career beginning in 1970.

What are Syd Barrett's key solo vinyl albums?

The Madcap Laughs (1970), Barrett (1970), and the Opel compilation (1988) are essential vinyl records for Barrett's solo work.

Where and when was Syd Barrett born?

He was born January 6, 1946, in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Are original UK pressings of Barrett's albums valuable?

Original 1970 UK pressings, especially The Madcap Laughs on Harvest SHVL 765, are valuable and sought after by collectors.

What is notable about the French Barrett test pressing?

A rare 1970 French single-sided white label Barrett test pressing is highly collectible and can sell above 1900 euros.

Which labels released Syd Barrett's solo albums on vinyl?

His solo albums were released primarily on Harvest and Parlophone labels in various pressings.

Did Syd Barrett continue making music after the 1970s?

Barrett effectively ended his public music career after the early 1970s, focusing instead on painting and private life in Cambridge.

Where can Syd Barrett vinyl records be commonly found?

They are available through record collectors, specialty vinyl shops, and online marketplaces with monitored price ranges.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

  • WP
    Wikipedia
    Encyclopaedic data and biography
    ↗
  • MB
    MusicBrainz
    Artist metadata, dates, type
    ↗
  • DG
    Discogs
    Discography, pressings and market prices
    ↗
  • LF
    Last.fm
    Listeners, plays, similar artists
    ↗
  • VC
    Vinyles.com
    In-house catalog, prices and availability
    ↗

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 05/07/2026