Wish You Were Here (1997) (RMST) (COLUMBIA) (ANNIVERSARY EDITION) Pink Floyd
Album Description:
WISH YOU WERE HERE is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. It is the second Pink Floyd album to use a conceptual theme written entirely by Waters, and echoes his feeling at the time that the camaraderie that had served the band previously, was largely absent. The album explores themes of absence, the music business, and former band-mate Syd Barrett's mental decline. Inspired by material they composed while performing across Europe, Pink Floyd recorded it over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios. The album begins with an eight minute thirty seconds instrumental preamble, before segueing into the lyrics for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Early sessions were a difficult and arduous process but it was Roger Waters' idea to split the centrepiece track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in two, and join each half with three new compositions. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was a tribute to Barrett (Barrett is fondly recalled with lines such as "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun" and "You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon"), who, in an ironic twist, made an impromptu visit to the studio while it was being recorded. The band failed initially to recognise Barrett, who had gained weight and changed in appearance. Drug-induced breakdown had forced Syd Barrett to leave the band several years before. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" has its roots in earlier pieces like "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "Echoes." But rather than just another Floydian soundscape, its lyrics make it a paean to Barrett's genius and a requiem for his subsequent breakdown. The first five of the song's nine movements open the album with sax player Dick Parry wailing as effectively as he did on THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. The final four sections, which close the album, form a reprise that starts with the sound of wind and David Gilmour's guitar screaming and crying. The band then settles into a laid-back jam that ends with Richard Wright's billowing synth delicately fading out.
As in their previous work, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, the band made use of studio effects and synthesizers. The mechanized throb of a VCS3 synthesizer, fed through a repeat-echo unit, signals the opening bars of "Welcome to the Machine," a diatribe against an industry more concerned with money than creative music-making. "Have a Cigar" further establishes Waters' contempt by bringing in singer Roy Harper to play the role of a "faceless suit," who none-too-innocently asks, "Which one's Pink?"
The album packaging, again designed by Storm Thorgerson, featured an opaque black sleeve inside which was hidden the album artwork. WISH YOU WERE HERE premiered at Knebworth in July 1975. It was an instant success: record company EMI was unable to print enough copies to satisfy the demand. Initially receiving mixed reviews, the album has since been voted to the 209th place on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour have each declared WISH YOU WERE HERE their favourite Pink Floyd album.
Pink Floyd: David Gilmour (vocals, guitar); Richard Wright (vocals, keyboards, VCS3 syntheszier); Roger Waters (vocals, bass); Nick Mason (drums).
Additional personnel: Roy Harper (vocals); Dick Parry (saxophone); Venetta Fields, Carlena Williams (background vocals).
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England from January-July 1975. Digitally remastered by Doug Sax (The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, California).
Produced by Pink Floyd.
Track Listing:
1. Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-5 - 13:40 2. Welcome to the Machine - 7:31 3. Have a Cigar - 5:08 4. Wish You Were Here - 5:34 5. Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 6-9 - 12:31
Wish You Were Here (1997) (RMST) (COLUMBIA) (ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
ReplyDeletePink Floyd
Album Description:
WISH YOU WERE HERE is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. It is the second Pink Floyd album to use a conceptual theme written entirely by Waters, and echoes his feeling at the time that the camaraderie that had served the band previously, was largely absent. The album explores themes of absence, the music business, and former band-mate Syd Barrett's mental decline. Inspired by material they composed while performing across Europe, Pink Floyd recorded it over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios. The album begins with an eight minute thirty seconds instrumental preamble, before segueing into the lyrics for "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Early sessions were a difficult and arduous process but it was Roger Waters' idea to split the centrepiece track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" in two, and join each half with three new compositions. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was a tribute to Barrett (Barrett is fondly recalled with lines such as "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun" and "You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon"), who, in an ironic twist, made an impromptu visit to the studio while it was being recorded. The band failed initially to recognise Barrett, who had gained weight and changed in appearance. Drug-induced breakdown had forced Syd Barrett to leave the band several years before. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" has its roots in earlier pieces like "Atom Heart Mother Suite" and "Echoes." But rather than just another Floydian soundscape, its lyrics make it a paean to Barrett's genius and a requiem for his subsequent breakdown. The first five of the song's nine movements open the album with sax player Dick Parry wailing as effectively as he did on THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. The final four sections, which close the album, form a reprise that starts with the sound of wind and David Gilmour's guitar screaming and crying. The band then settles into a laid-back jam that ends with Richard Wright's billowing synth delicately fading out.
As in their previous work, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, the band made use of studio effects and synthesizers. The mechanized throb of a VCS3 synthesizer, fed through a repeat-echo unit, signals the opening bars of "Welcome to the Machine," a diatribe against an industry more concerned with money than creative music-making. "Have a Cigar" further establishes Waters' contempt by bringing in singer Roy Harper to play the role of a "faceless suit," who none-too-innocently asks, "Which one's Pink?"
The album packaging, again designed by Storm Thorgerson, featured an opaque black sleeve inside which was hidden the album artwork. WISH YOU WERE HERE premiered at Knebworth in July 1975. It was an instant success: record company EMI was unable to print enough copies to satisfy the demand. Initially receiving mixed reviews, the album has since been voted to the 209th place on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour have each declared WISH YOU WERE HERE their favourite Pink Floyd album.
Pink Floyd: David Gilmour (vocals, guitar); Richard Wright (vocals, keyboards, VCS3 syntheszier); Roger Waters (vocals, bass); Nick Mason (drums).
Additional personnel: Roy Harper (vocals); Dick Parry (saxophone); Venetta Fields, Carlena Williams (background vocals).
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England from January-July 1975.
Digitally remastered by Doug Sax (The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, California).
Produced by Pink Floyd.
Track Listing:
1. Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-5 - 13:40
2. Welcome to the Machine - 7:31
3. Have a Cigar - 5:08
4. Wish You Were Here - 5:34
5. Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 6-9 - 12:31