NFT: Random Pink Floyd musings

Hard to top

Is the most underrated Pink Floyd song of them all IMO.

Echoes is probably my favorite. Plus Anrew Lloyd Webber stole from it to write Phantom of the Opera!

In comment 15237195 chopperhatch said:

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Is the most underrated Pink Floyd song of them all IMO. Echoes is probably my favorite. Plus Anrew Lloyd Webber stole from it to write Phantom of the Opera!

Wow thank you! For the longest time there was something familiar about the riff in Echoes and I could never put my finger on it.

Dark Side
Wish You Were Here
Animals
Meddle

I have a soft spot for earlier Floyd:

Ummagumma, Piper.. etc

love Floyd. I never listened to any band back when I was a teenager more frequently or more deeply than Floyd.

Division bell is ok but it's a far cry better than the trash and mercenary type quality of momentary lapse of (t)reason.

Starting with Meddle and ending with The Wall. That was their peak. 70-80. I do like the final cut but it's more a solo project with Gilmour and Mason providing some instrumentals. Waters wrote and directed that baby soup to nuts.

animals is underrated and so is meddle. Their first album, Pipe is a gem, and really was ahead of its time. Syd just couldn't keep his head, sadly. He was a true pioneer from rock n roll history.

PS, Waters' last solo album (Is this the life we really want?) from around 2017 is really good. I think it's his best solo album since pros and cons.

that blue cassette tape, The Division Bell for the first time. It's a memory that always sticks out.

The Final Cut is one of my favorite albums.

I could pick a top 5 as it probably changes day to day. Let me think about that.

I think Gilmour historically was in the right. Waters was a genius but also a gigantic douchebag. And I agree that once Waters seemed to realize he fucked up that I wish Gilmour could have been a little more forgiving, but who knows what went on all those years behind the scenes. I think Division Bell has grown to be a little underrated but I don't think it (or Momentary Lapse) approach the greatness of the albums that came before.

Having seen both the Gilmour Floyd and Waters in concert, it still pisses me off that they couldn't see eye to eye. They are two enormously talented people who made each other better, and they each suffer a little on their own.

They did all play CN at the Live 8 show. That was the last chance - with Rick dead I don't think they will ever play together again (although DG did have that surprise appearance on RW's Wall tour in London).

In comment 15237207 djm said:

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love Floyd. I never listened to any band back when I was a teenager more frequently or more deeply than Floyd. Division bell is ok but it's a far cry better than the trash and mercenary type quality of momentary lapse of (t)reason. Starting with Meddle and ending with The Wall. That was their peak. 70-80. I do like the final cut but it's more a solo project with Gilmour and Mason providing some instrumentals. Waters wrote and directed that baby soup to nuts. animals is underrated and so is meddle. Their first album, Pipe is a gem, and really was ahead of its time. Syd just couldn't keep his head, sadly. He was a true pioneer from rock n roll history. PS, Waters' last solo album (Is this the life we really want?) from around 2017 is really good. I think it's his best solo album since pros and cons.

yea .. read my reply.. we agree. I grew up in the 70s.

I listened to Dark Side for the Supermoon two nights ago.

My all-time favorite Floyd song is Echoes, and the period spanning Live in Pompeii through Wish you were here is my favorite.

I picked up three of the archive box sets when they were released a few years ago, there is so much great material from that era that never saw the light of day for 50 years. The live versions of Careful With That Axe, Eugene and Saucerful Of Secrets are fantastic. Its too difficult to pick a top 5.

In comment 15237202 DC Gmen Fan said:

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In comment 15237195 chopperhatch said: Quote: Is the most underrated Pink Floyd song of them all IMO. Echoes is probably my favorite. Plus Anrew Lloyd Webber stole from it to write Phantom of the Opera! Wow thank you! For the longest time there was something familiar about the riff in Echoes and I could never put my finger on it.

Waters sued Webber over that, it ended up being settled out of court. Score one for Rog! :)

In comment 15237202 DC Gmen Fan said:

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In comment 15237195 chopperhatch said: Quote: Is the most underrated Pink Floyd song of them all IMO. Echoes is probably my favorite. Plus Anrew Lloyd Webber stole from it to write Phantom of the Opera! Wow thank you! For the longest time there was something familiar about the riff in Echoes and I could never put my finger on it.

Here is
A nice write up on it from last year. Interesting that Webber never commented on it. - ( New Window )

In comment 15237215 truebluelarry said:

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In comment 15237202 DC Gmen Fan said: Quote: In comment 15237195 chopperhatch said: Quote: Is the most underrated Pink Floyd song of them all IMO. Echoes is probably my favorite. Plus Anrew Lloyd Webber stole from it to write Phantom of the Opera! Wow thank you! For the longest time there was something familiar about the riff in Echoes and I could never put my finger on it. Waters sued Webber over that, it ended up being settled out of court. Score one for Rog! :)

No....he never did.

Both come out of the psychedelic era but go in different directions.

The Dead more improvisational and their psychedelia springs out of American roots music, bluegrass, blues etc..

Floyd more composed and fixed with influences that seem more classical and european. kind of psychedelia via orog.

The album had just come out and my roommate and I had cranked it up somewhat (laughter). We were both in Navy in Charleston, SC and lived near the Air Force base. We both flew out the door and looked up in the sky for the helicopter sound that was blasting out the speakers. Needless to say, but of us has a healthy buzz on at the time. <wink>

Hated listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" in 70s on 8-track. Very lengthy pauses for some songs. :-(

The album I listen to the most is Final Cut. A lyrical masterpiece.

Run Like Hell
Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Time
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
One of These Days or Young Lust (...tied, can't pick).

correction

1) Comfortably Numb
2) Time
3) Welcome To The Machine
4) When The Tigers Broke Free
5) Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict

but Shine On You Crazy Diamond is a mainstay in my top 5.

1) Echoes
2) Dogs
3) Pigs (3 Different Ones)
4) Comfortably Numb
5) Is There Anybody Out There?/Nobody Home (sorry to cheat, these are inseparable for me)

we now know what will be blaring through my airpods for the remainder of this glorious workday.

let's explore the psychedelic side of accounting this afternoon, kids....

In comment 15237208 Jim in Scranton said:

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that blue cassette tape, The Division Bell for the first time. It's a memory that always sticks out. The Final Cut is one of my favorite albums.

I'd argue The Final Cut is their greatest album!

first - wow the riff from Echoes also piqued my curiosity and thought they were eerily too close but I thought it was my imagination. I also thought Bobby Brown's Humping Around was stolen from Led Zeppelin's Dancing Days so I just chalked it up to insanity.

Like Chris said - it changes depending on when I come across a song or youtube video.

If this is common knowledge then I apologize but I just learned that "Have a Cigar" is not Roger Waters but rather an associate of the band that was in the studio who basically did an impression of Waters on the track. There is a YouTube video on "Wish You Were Here."

also I love the original "Travel Sequence" that was originally going to be the 2nd track after Breathe on Dark Side of the Moon. They wound up going with "On the Run" with the synthesizers.

It might be. It drags in a couple of spots and but if you're a Gilmour fan it delivers exactly what you want from him. I never quite understood why they chose "Keep Talking" as the lead single. I feel like there's 3-4 songs that are clearly better. But that's just my personal preference.

there's audio recordings but hardly any video footage of their shows in the 70s.

In comment 15237275 dlauster said:

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In comment 15237208 Jim in Scranton said: Quote: that blue cassette tape, The Division Bell for the first time. It's a memory that always sticks out. The Final Cut is one of my favorite albums. I'd argue The Final Cut is their greatest album!

that take is an outlier. I'm a big Floyd fan and have rarely listened to it. I remember when it was released. That is like saying Two Against Nature is the best Steely Dan record.

?

have been a point 10-15 years ago when there was at the very least a glimmer of hope for some sort of reunion, but the acrimony seems to have returned in recent years. And, at the end of the day, neither Gilmour nor Waters needs the money.

live CD/DVD from last year is very nice. All pre-Dark Side songs.

My favorite Floyd is the Pompeii movie.

In comment 15237300 Britt in VA said:

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?

Maybe one of top 10 songs overall. Got a chance to see Nick Mason two years ago at the Beacon, just an outstanding show filled with early Floyd.
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets YouTube - ( New Window )

Gilmour was the virtuoso, but..

Waters was the visionary.

I highly suggest it. Check them out on youtube as well. Most amazing PF tribute band.
Brit Floyd Comfortably Numb - ( New Window )

better than The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

In comment 15237300 Britt in VA said:

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?

I was just going to post that.

It's hard for me to name my top 5, but Fearless is def. one of my fave Floyd songs.

In comment 15237315 DC Gmen Fan said:

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I highly suggest it. Check them out on youtube as well. Most amazing PF tribute band. Brit Floyd Comfortably Numb - ( New Window )

I saw Brit Floyd a couple years ago and it was outstanding.

It was my wife's idea to see them. I've seen Waters solo and Floyd sans Waters, so I didn't think much about seeing a tribute band. My wife had never seen either so we went and I was very glad.

Brit Floyd did a fantastic job and performed at least one song from every single album, including the early stuff. I would happily see them again.

Great GiG in the Sky
Echoes
Wish You Were Here
Shine on You Crazy Diamond

In comment 15237232 Producer said:

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Both come out of the psychedelic era but go in different directions. The Dead more improvisational and their psychedelia springs out of American roots music, bluegrass, blues etc.. Floyd more composed and fixed with influences that seem more classical and european. kind of psychedelia via orog.

It's funny, when I was younger and a lot of people in my grade were following the Dead, I really didn't appreciate them at all. When we started covering some of their music in a band when I was in college (my drummer had a music degree and was really into them) I really came to appreciate them greatly. I think people actually don't give enough credit to how well Weir and Garcia played together... lots of cool counterpoint to their playing. And they actually got along... lol.

With Floyd they were a little before my time (although the Wall was HUGE when I was in HS) I always thought that Waters and Gilmour's personalities were just too big to stay together for very long. Kinda like the Beatles. Seems like so many great bands are great because of multiple strong creative personalities... that ultimately have to drift apart for that same reason. But that collaborative conflict while together really pumps out some great music.

The louder the better.

In comment 15237216 chopperhatch said:

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Here is A nice write up on it from last year. Interesting that Webber never commented on it. - ( New Window )

Saw Water-less Floyd in the fall of 1987 at the Carrier Dome. I've seen some really great shows, but that concert remains my all-time favorite. It's hard to imagine it being topped, at this point.

About chopper's link ... wow. I've wondered since '93 (Amused to Death) why Waters wished harm on Webber in the the song "It's a miracle." Good context.

sounds like the same string parts were used in Comfortably Numb. Great song

But to mix it up a bit from what’s been mentioned:
- Brick in the Wall 1 (for the solo, and 1st PF I heard)
- Money (solo is my fave)
- See Emily Play (love the pop psychedelic of early PF)
-Time
- Dogs

Learning to Fly doesn’t hold up that well IMO, I think Dogs of War is better on that album.

I just love DG on guitar. Amazingly he would just improv solos and then learn them from what made the album. The whole band history is a bit rough, with Waters going off in his self indulgent streak, Dave being unforgiving, booting out Nick and hiring back as a session player, not crediting the soloist on Great Gig, suing over the name. I saw Waters in 88 and a DJ on stage said “we know who the REAL Floyd fans are...” Douche. Saw PF sans Waters later and it was good, but felt a bit like “hello insert name of city here,” just overproduced to get all the bells and whistles in.

In comment 15237340 Johnny5 said:

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In comment 15237232 Producer said: Quote: Both come out of the psychedelic era but go in different directions. The Dead more improvisational and their psychedelia springs out of American roots music, bluegrass, blues etc.. Floyd more composed and fixed with influences that seem more classical and european. kind of psychedelia via orog. It's funny, when I was younger and a lot of people in my grade were following the Dead, I really didn't appreciate them at all. When we started covering some of their music in a band when I was in college (my drummer had a music degree and was really into them) I really came to appreciate them greatly. I think people actually don't give enough credit to how well Weir and Garcia played together... lots of cool counterpoint to their playing. And they actually got along... lol. With Floyd they were a little before my time (although the Wall was HUGE when I was in HS) I always thought that Waters and Gilmour's personalities were just too big to stay together for very long. Kinda like the Beatles. Seems like so many great bands are great because of multiple strong creative personalities... that ultimately have to drift apart for that same reason. But that collaborative conflict while together really pumps out some great music.

Yes, the Dead were really special. I liked them growing up and went to many shows with my Deadhead friend but my appreciation has grown over the years. I rank them very high on my list, these days, even ahead of Floyd now.

In comment 15237337 noro9 said:

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Great GiG in the Sky Echoes Wish You Were Here Shine on You Crazy Diamond

Reading your list game me an acid flashback

AND Waters. I think Final Cut is terribly underrated, it's title track makes my top 5:

1) Time (one of my favorite solos ever)
2) Echoes
3) Wish You Were Here
4) Comfortably Numb
5) The Final Cut

I rented a stream of a Peter Green/early Fleetwood Mac tribute concert that was held in the London Palladium pre-Covid last year, and Gilmour came on to play on a couple of tunes, "Oh Well, Part 2" and "Albatross". He sounded great.

although i did see them multiple times in 87-88 and 94. even met the big 3 in 94. Division Bell was better than MLOR, but both dont hold up with that 70s stuff. neither does Roger solo, but ive also seen him every time he goes on tour too.

id have to go:

1. Echoes
2. Time-Breathe reprise
3. Comfortably Numb
4. Marooned
5. Welcome to the Machine

and damn, id love to find a way to put Us & Them in there as well as Pigs.

1. Us and Them
2. Time
3. Sheep
4. Mother
5. Comfortably Numb (my former #1, but slipped a lot due to sheer over-listening)

I really can't stand Division Bell. Of course it has some good guitar work -- that's inevitable any time you record David Gilmour. But man, it has no soul whatsoever.

In comment 15237382 DC Gmen Fan said:

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sounds like the same string parts were used in Comfortably Numb. Great song

Agreed. I always wondered if Waters wrote it as part of The Wall, but decided that it was too duplicative of "Numb". It does have a similar sound and the themes certainly fit.

In comment 15237694 Section331 said:

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In comment 15237382 DC Gmen Fan said: Quote: sounds like the same string parts were used in Comfortably Numb. Great song Agreed. I always wondered if Waters wrote it as part of The Wall, but decided that it was too duplicative of "Numb". It does have a similar sound and the themes certainly fit.

I somehow get the sense that between Waters and Gilmour, Waters was always more interested in the lyrics whereas for Gilmour it was the music. The Final Cut included songs that didn't make it onto the Wall, which explains some of the similarity between the songs.

Also if memory serves some of the same musical structure is on "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking".

One album I really liked of Waters was "Amused to Death". Speaking of Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the songs (It's a Miracle) has the following lyrics:

We cower in our shelters
With our hands over our ears
Lloyd-Webber's awful stuff
Runs for years and years and years
An earthquake hits the theatre
But the operetta lingers
Then the piano lid comes down
And breaks his fucking fingers
It's a miracle

Run Like Hell
Time
Shine on you Crazy Diamond
Comfortably Numb
Eclipse/Brain Damage

and try to tackle Gilmour's work? I've made a lot of progress on the solo from Time and it's fun as hell to bust that out at loud volume, but his tone is just so damn elusive! How'd he get that in 1973?