A Saucerful Of Secrets found Pink Floyd in transition - not just musically, but in personnel. With this album, it was assumed by many that it is the first post-Syd Barrett work.

At the start of 1968 David Gilmour joined the band, and a few concerts took place featuring both Gilmour and Barrett, before the latter left the band for good due to his struggles. With recordings beginning in August 1967 and running until April 1968, the album does include Syd on three songs: Remember A Day, Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, and Jugband Blues.

Musically, whimsy had been replaced with more serious and considered pieces, taking the earlier improvisational approach and adding more structural elements (befitting the ex-architectural students within the band).

The title track in particular was planned out as an architectural diagram on paper by Nick Mason and Roger Waters, with the piece plotted out in dynamic form before considerations as to the music itself were made.