They changed their name several times and at the end of '65 they ended up with Pink Floyd.
The name Pink Floyd comes from two of Syd Barret's blues idols : Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. At first they did play blues -music. (Some say they still do, when they give their unofficial gigs in small obscure places) Later on the psychedelic turn appeared.
The Band members at the age of my mum, so I don't blame them if they're not so keen on releasing new albums and touring anymore .
The first thing Pink Floyd released was a single titled Arnold Layne. It was released March 1967 and actually reached a 22.place on the charts. June another single was released See Emily Play and this climbed as high as 5. on the charts.
August same year, they released their first LP The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and that brought the band to both Danish radio and TV here in tiny Denmark only the month after. .
Syd Barret was at this time high on numerous drugs. (I believe he was from the very beginning) so January 1968 David Gilmour was introduced as a band member "because the band wanted to experiment with new instruments ". Take a look at the band picture to the left. A new face in front - Gilmour - and Barret symbolically in the background.
When A Saucerful of Secrets was released June same year, it was to be the first Floyd project without Syd Barret.
The Sound track for the movie with same title, was released July '69. They had never made music for movies before, but where offered quite a sum to do it. Late on they also made the music forZabriskie Point (1970) and Obscured by Clouds (1972)
You may like it or not, (Parts of Echoes sounds as if someone is on a "bad trip") but first track one side 1 "One of these Days" is a completely awesome track, that Pink Floyd also chose to use for their "Momentary Lapse of Reason" tour in the late 80'ties.
Meddle
November 1971
Same director as in More. The name of the film was La Vallée. I wouldn't call it an exciting album.
However big a fan of the
Pink Floyd I might be, I have to admit that I listen very little to the
music from back then. I've seen this Pompeii-movie but I don't care to
by it, though besides from that I've got every release from The Floyd.
Those tracks from 1965 to 1973, that are worth listening to, happens to
those released on the collection album "Echoes";
with very few exceptions.
Now we're talking music!. An album that blows the charts.
A Concept album that, if you didn't know otherwise, could be considered one long track. The definition of Pink Floyd; both psychedelic and rock. The track Money would probably be the best known outside "pink-floyd-circles" but also the track "The Great Gig in the Sky" goes beyond anything previously known to the history of rock. Clare Torry (under the guiding of Wright) really takes the music to the skies.
is a time less album. It is also (I believe) the first album on which someone from outside the band sings. Roy Harper is lead vocal on Have a Cigar. This has without any doubt been a pain in the ... to Roger Waters who believes that he is the only one to do it right.
"Shine on You Crazy Diamond" begun with just a guitar-rif from Gilmour and then evolved into a track that fills half the album.
Again what I'd call a concept-album with one track sliding smoothly into the next.
Barret just walked in there and sat there saying and doing nothing.
I wouldn't call it that as many tracks are well worth listening to several times. I'm talking about tracks like "Pigs on the Wing" and "Sheep". And I understand that Waters still use tracks from Animals on his solo tours.
November the real big album was released. Waters had thought out the big scheme. Double album, concert and a movie.
"This is where... I came in." This is when I got to know what everybody else already knew : There was a band called Pink Floyd . In my eyes the top album of both Pink Floyd and every other band in the world for that sake. I was talking about concept albums, but this is so much more. This holds such a powerful story that it grips most people in this world - Who can say they've never had "bricks building up around them" ? Most of us deal with it before they become a wall, but still we know the feeling.
The Who once made the rock-opera "Tommy" and yes, it was great and definitely psychedelic too, but The Wall goes far beyond that.
The music is in it self a league of its own, but the lyrics/the story about this mad man (Waters) takes this album to even higher grounds.
It has often been said that genius and insanity lies close, and I do believe that this goes for Waters. The fact that he had a band like Floyd to finish his masterpiece is just pure luck for all of us. Gilmour's screaming guitar on tracks like "Run Like Hell" and Comfortably Numb" just to mention some, must make people like Satriani envious.
As always, Waters is not completely satisfied with the outcome but I am. Don't try to understand the entire story behind "The Wall", cause it is so packed with he thoughts of a mad man. Just sit back, enjoy and comprehend what you can.
As with everything else Waters didn't like the movie as it was done. He didn't "feel with the guy in the film". As always, only what he made himself is perfect.
The rest of us, on the other hand, are able to enjoy the movie to the full. As with the album, it can be quite a mouthful to grasp the whole story, but thats ok too. There are so many great scenes and not to mention the sound track, that watching the movie always is gives you a new experience. a few tracks have been altered from the album, so basically this is one long music video.
Bob Geldof plays Pink brilliantly and Gerald Scarfes animations are divine. In case you haven't seen this movie yet - GO SEE IT ! Have you already seen it - see it again.
"What have we here laddy ? Mysterious scribblings ? Secret codes ? No ! Poems no less. Poems everybody. The laddy here makes himself a poet"
Yes some of us do consider him a poet.
Many consider this an album filled with leftovers from the Wall. I can see the point but I don't agree. This is a collection of some great tunes and I find it hard to fit any of them into The Wall.
.
Waters thought he had excluded the others, but came to realize that he'd thrown himself out instead.
Gilmour and Mason had started planning a new album. Wright was invited in later as Waters technically had thrown him out of Floyd.
A momentary Lapse of Reason 1987
As something new to Floyd they used MTV to promote the forthcoming album. The Video "Learning to Fly" was in "heavy rotation" for a while and there was a contest by the same name, in which the winner would meet Pink Floyd and go to two concerts with Floyd - also backstage.
Guess who won........
This is not a concept album - I guess that's a Waters thing to do. Still this is a collection of great tracks. My favorite track would be Sorrow, since it's the most psychedelic tune.
Of course Gilmour wrote most of the materiel and he's a great poet. I'm sorry to say that I still miss the mad mans touch - Waters.
At this point it's funny to think about who started Floyd, and when Gilmour came in. 20 years is a long time.
A truly great album. Lots of the old stuff and the cream of the newer. You can really since that the band swings - and that everyone including "the hired musicians" really can play some great music.
The album is a joy and brings back memories from the concerts, that where the best I ever experienced.
The track "One of These Days" from Meddle is performed live too, which I see as daring compared to the relatively young audience and the rest of the set - but still a success
1994
Again an album that lies miles away from the Waters dominated days of Floyd and this is therefore in no way a concept album. But no doubt, this is a Floyd album in the psychedelic way that only the Floyd manages and thus a pleasure to have streaming out of your speakers.
The greatest thing on this album is in my eyes (ears) Gilmour's guitar on "Comfortably Numb" that just goes on and on. I still recall that night in "Parken" (Copenhagen) as this great ball of light rose from the middle of the arena and Gilmour took this already great tune to even higher places. I believe the word is ecstasy.
This time though nor new or live music. This time the collection album Echoes.
I think this is a hint, that there will be no more new music from Pink Floyd. According to Gilmour they're too old to travel around the world on yet another tour. I accept that, but still they could release some new material. If you look around, other people in the business are "still going strong". Take B B King, Roger Waters (Who's that ?) Bob Dylan to mention a few that still stand up to the pressure.
On the net I see that Gilmour still manages to perform live :
David Gilmour at Meltdown 22 June 2001
