SUNDAY SHOWDOWN: Remember A Day vs Jugband Blues

[stonytokes]

ALRIGHT, R&D!!! IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER SUNDAY SHOWDOWN!!! Do you like movies about gladiators? Do you like mimes? Well, neither do I, but this week's bout features two mimed performances of tracks which contain audio from the same session with Syd. In this corner...we welcome for the first time to the ring...Richard Wright and his wistful musings on days of bygone youth...REMEMBER A DAY!!! And in the opposing corner...Syd's missive to the rest of the Floyd thanking them for making it clear he's not here...JUGBAND BLUES!!! Which wistful wit will win the week? MAKE SURE TO WEIGH IN, BECAUSE YOUR VOTE DECIDES THE WINNER!!!

vs

[Alan Smithee]

Remember A Day. Syd sliding his Zippo on his strings...possible 5 man Floyd,,,It was recorded in 1967 so maybe not

[stonytokes]

From what I read on Wikipedia, Syd overdubbed his guitar part onto the completed track for RAD on the same day that Jugband Blues was recorded in studio. Was Dave even in the picture at that time?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_a_Day

[Emdy]

Remember A Day. Syd sliding his Zippo on his strings...possible 5 man Floyd,,,It was recorded in 1967 so maybe not

Not even a 4 man Floyd, Nick didn’t play the drums.

[m20gull]

I think it's been established that Nick's memory was at fault and that it's See-saw he didn't play on. So he is on Remember A Day.

[Emdy]

Possibly. The main drum part sounds like quintessential Nick, but the overdubbed snare tapping away at 32nd notes or whatever it is do not.

[Alan Smithee]

Yeah.. I remember reading that Norman Smith did the drums on Remember A Day,...Could have fooled me. It sounds like Nicks style

[stonytokes]

The judges have this contest dead even on points currently, ladies and gentlemen! Will it be Syd or Nick who reigns supreme? What a fantastic contest we have here this afternoon, folks. Sound the bell for the next round.

[daemonspudguy]

I prefer Jugband Blues to Remember a Day. Especially coming right after Let There Be More Light, my favorite track on Saucerful, Remember a Day is just kind of a disappointment. Like, it's fine, but it's nothing special. Sorry, Rick.

[DaveTheRave]

Remember A Day is a better song and still holds up many years later.

[Son of Nothing]

Another tough one. I went with Remember a Day partly because, along similar lines to DaveTheRave point, it's made more of an impression on me as I've gotten older, while Jugband Blues appealed more to the teenage, impressionable me. But it's close, because that whole brass band interlude in JB is a pretty genius move.

[stonytokes]

Yep. Another great matchup I think, and tough to choose, but...

[stonytokes]

Since Jugband Blues is winning the bout on points currently, I'll cast my vote for Remember A Day. I love Jugband Blues, especially the line where Syd says, "And I'm wondering who could be writing this song..." completely breaking the fourth wall, but Remember A Day is pure Floyd for me, the evocative lyrics, the hypnotic vocal melody, that ascending chord hit Rick does contrasted with the descending drum part, Roger making sound effects with the mic, the last verse of lamentation, then Rick singing "Blow awaaayyy..." over the psychedelic ending...classic. Easily my favorite Rick song.

[Son of Nothing]

[...]Easily my favorite Rick song.

Not so easily for me, but very close. I think Paintbox is actually a smidge more interesting to my personal tastes. But they're both great tracks IMO.

[thespitwasduringmoney]

sorry to revive this thread after 3 days but without a doubt Jugband Blues is the better song. Remember A Day is a fine enough Rick song with good piano work and some neat time signatures changes but it’s kinda boring and the lyrics aren’t anything that special. JB on the other hand is incredibly idiosyncratic (to a detrimental degree for some), with soul crushing lyrics by Syd. the very first and final lines of the song always get to me the hardest.

plus the live versions kick serious ass with them all improvising in the middle and the memeworthy kazoo playing.

[keleven]

Remember a Day is a good song, Jugband Blues is a great one, but they are too different to compare alongside each other. The theme of the first one is wistful nostalgia. The theme of Jugband Blues is wrenching, paralyzing pain and alienation. The better comparison would be Jugband Blues vs. Nobody Home, or The Final Cut.