This week, on October 11th, special "booklet editions" of Syd Barrett's 'The Madcap Laughs', 'Opel', and 'Barrett' have been released.

'Barrett' and 'Madcap' both now have "correct" front and back artwork, as per the original vinyl releases (albeit each with expanded tracklistings - the new editions have, respectively, seven and six bonus tracks each). This of course sees the removal of the original plain EMI back, for an interesting shot from the original cover sessions. 'Opel' has revised rear art, and again six bonus tracks compared to the original CD.

The disc labels now have Harvest logos, ditching the bland EMI labels of the originals, and within the booklets themselves, the artwork has better printing, and the narrative on Syd's career which appeared in the 1993 reissues has been factually corrected, and expanded on where necessary. The masters used for the 2010 editions are the same acclaimed masters done for the 1993 editions.

The albums get US releases on November 9th, 2010. You can order any or all of these now from the Syd Barrett stores at Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Canada, France or Germany.

Just a quick reminder for you that Sir Alan Parker, the director of Pink Floyd's The Wall, the 1982 film starring Bob Geldof and based on the group's classic album, will make a rare special appearance at The Space event, held in Brighton, England, this coming Monday (October 18th) at 7:30pm.

Sir Alan Parker is one of Britain’s most successful filmmakers. In a career spanning forty years, he has worked with some of the movie world’s most respected actors, such as Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Nicolas Cage and Gene Hackman. Parker’s notable successes include Fame, The Commitments, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone and Birdy. Music has been a key theme throughout much of his work, and he has collaborated with Pink Floyd (The Wall), legendary producer Giorgio Moroder (Midnight Express), Madonna and Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita). As an active figure within the British film industry, Parker was a co-founder of the Directors Guild of Great Britain and the UK Film Council, and he is a former Chairman of the British Film Institute.

The event is being held at Brighton's Komedia venue, in the heart of the city and just five minutes walk from the main railway station. Tickets are now on sale through this link. The Space is a monthly music, film and arts event, which features a line-up of highly successful special guest interviewees from the creative industries. Previous guests include Guy Pratt, Glastonbury Festival’s Michael Eavis, EMI A&R boss Nick Gatfield and Jeff Wayne, among many others.

Nick Mason, as part of his appearance as keynote speaker at this week's In The City music conference in Manchester, again answered the question about the possibility of a Pink Floyd reunion in some form. "I think all of us would like the idea of repeating the Live 8 concept," he said, adding that they could do "something that's not necessarily for us, but do something for the right reasons and enjoy doing it. That's what I'd like, and I think the others might well see eye to eye."

At the conference, Nick said that Live 8 could be a "template for something we would do again. I think it would be a very nice way for a band to gently move towards retirement, by doing shows absolutely for charity rather than for more income."

He later told the BBC that, like Live 8, any shows would be to help others. "In a way the best thing would be to do a number of shows and have some sort of foundation," he said. "We all individually have pet projects and what we did at Earls Court [in October 1994] was we pooled the money and each of us decided which particular things they would like some of the money to go towards, which was brilliant. That's the way to do it."

You can read the full BBC report here.

To tie in with the release of "An Introduction to Syd Barrett", today's issue of The Sun newspaper in the UK includes a two-page special spread that has interviews with Nick Mason, Storm Thorgerson, and Syd's sister Rosemary Breen.

Rosemary said of the compilation: "I'm really pleased with it and delighted that his work with Pink Floyd sits alongside his solo work. It does him proud". Nick talks about the early days of the Floyd with Syd, and mentions Piper At The Gates of Dawn. "I know it was only the first album of a band that has staggered on for 40-odd years but if it hadn't been for Syd, we wouldn't exist in the form we do or probably any form. I think it is nice to credit him with that".

Storm talks about childhood days with his friend, and also explains the thinking around the package design for "An Introduction to...". He said that it was "Firstly, to be vivid and colourful to reflect Syd's creative imagination. Secondly, to be varied and diverse, which is why there are illustrations to all his songs, and thirdly to hint at the darker, sadder side of Syd's life, hence the mirror which is not a mirror, the feather trees of autumn, and the escaping swan, breaking free from the confines of upbringing and education".

Click here for more information on "An Introduction to Syd Barrett".