Careful with That Axe, Eugene

It’s the one where Syd Barrett’s replacement, David Gilmour, whispers and then screams through a distorted vocal effect. “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” was originally a B-side in 1968, but it became a live monster through the early ’70s—often stretched to 10+ minutes with that iconic, unsettling buildup. On Relics, it’s the clear highlight for anyone wanting to hear Pink Floyd at their most unhinged before they went all spacey.

The distortion isn’t a gimmick either—it’s the vocal equivalent of the screeching guitar feedback they’d use on stage. If you’ve never heard it, think “The Great Gig in the Sky” on a bad acid trip. That song is the reason the album is worth owning.