Rain in the Country (Pink Floyd Album) (A Jet-Propelled Soft Machine)

Rain in the Country is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 14 January 1970 by Harvest Records in the United Kingdom and released in the United States by Capitol Records. It is their first album without any Syd Barrett contribution. It was produced by Norman Smith.

Part of the tracks of the album were recorded during the The Man and The Journey sessions but remained unreleased due to the group not find any part to insert the songs. These tracks, The Embryo and Cirrus Minor were remixed to be included on Rain in the Country, with The Embryo being prolonged with an instrumental section.

At the same time, former frontman Syd Barrett was recording his debut solo album, The Madcap Laughs, being produced by Roger Waters and David Gilmour, with the participation of members of Soft Machine in some tracks. Barrett ended up spying some sessions of Rain in the Country and contributed to Soft Machine's Songs for Insane Times.

Rain in the Country was well-received by the critics and the fans, citing the steps of Pink Floyd on conventional rock music, heavy metal and experimental characteristics of the previous album. Ibiza Bar was the lead single of the album, peaking with success in number 3 at UK Album Charts backed by Party Sequence, topped the Billboard Top Rock Chart, but reached number 21 in Hot 100. The Red Queen was released a few months later being successful in Europe. The album rose to the number 1 in UK Album Charts and number 60 in Billboard 200.

Alongside with Animals, the album is noticed by the heavy-oriented sound in their tracks. It is considered the major turning point between the psychedelic era of the group (ending with The Man and the Journey) and the progressive rock era (starting with Atom Heart Mother).

Pink Floyd

 * Roger Waters - bass guitar, tape effects, percussion, lead vocals [10]
 * David Gilmour - acoustic, electric, slide guitars, percussion, lead vocals [1-5; 9]
 * Richard Wright - Farfisa Combo Compact Duo organ, Hammond M-102 spinet organ, piano, vibraphone, lead vocals [1]
 * Nick Mason - drums, percussion

Additional personnel

 * Norman Smith - executive producer
 * Brian Humphries - engineering
 * Hipgnosis - sleeve design