I've been thinking about the song recently.

I assume that most Fans of PF love the song.
The song is almost 40 years old, and I swear it still sounds ahead of its time, now and then. Nobody has ever made anything like it, I don't know if its ever been covered.
It was also never truly on any real studio release, I consider Relics a Compilation.
It still shocks people when they first hear it too.
I dunno just thought I'd throw that out there, see where the discussion goes.

Actually, your wrong that every PF fan loves the song, I don't particular enjoy the studio release, although the Live at Pompeii version has always been one of the standout highlights in a video full of them.

It certainly is original though, and perfectly encapsulates everything about PF, the obscurity, beautiful musicianship and, most of all, the atmosphere that no other band has really ever created.

i should have been more specific, The Live Versions are what I am referring to.

I love the track, Come In Number 51, Your Time Is Up is a better studio version and "Live in Pompeii" is the best live version. But it kinda reminds me of the crap my brother listens to now; bands like Trivium and such who do that mental screaming thing which gets on my nerves. I just tell him Pink Floyd did it first, just to annoy him.

DGilmourFan82 Wrote:i should have been more specific, The Live Versions are what I am referring to.

Oh right. In that case, it's a great track.

We do Careful with that Axe at our shows very often. The audience loves it! It was obviously created to be a live performance and visual piece.
There are a few live versions- studio versions etc. We take all of them together and do our own thing with it. Sometimes faster or slower.. the scream in the middle always seems to creep out the audience in a good way as they are bathed in a wave of Red lights.......
Def a live song .....intense.

It is one of my favourite compositions. I love its melody and Roger's scream. The single version is not so good as Pompeii Version and other live versions.

On my Pompeii video, which I don't watch anymore now I have the DVD, when it gets to Roger screaming the sound always jitters a bit. I don't know if it's because of the noise level or just a problem with the video, but I have always found that quite funny.

I have many live versions of CWTAE and I have to say that Ummagumma is still the best; Pompeii a very close second.

Also the last time they ever did it live was in Oakland 1977. On this version, Rick does not use the Farfisa organ(he uses something else. what that is I don't know), so the song has a very different feel to it. Not as eerie. Not the version I reach for when I want this song, but interesting to listen to nonetheless.

You know, ironically enough, that's what I have cued up on YouTube right now. How fortuitous.


I happen to love the version they did at Pompeii as well, and I think it's better than the studio version by a good mile.