Wish You Were Here was released after the huge success of Dark Side of the Moon, and so there was a lot of pressure on Pink Floyd to produce an excellent album. Floyd came up with this masterpiece, a memoir to Syd Barrett, their previous singer/guitarist/vocalist who had left after having a mental breakdown.
This album, in some ways, is better than Dark side of the Moon and stays as my favourite Floyd album of all time.
-------------------------------------- Those tracks --------------------------------------
Shine On You Crazy Diamond part1--
Originally over 25 minutes long, this song, maybe Pink Floyd’s best, was split in two hence part one and then part two at the end of this album. This is a masterpiece of epic proportions and for the most part is instrumental. When the lyrics do pop up they are some of the most moving ever heard. David Gilmour is a god on the guitar. The melody to this is amazing and Syd Barrett is immortalized by the song. A great tune.. 10/10 (20/10!!!!)
Welcome to the Machine--
Crazy Diamond fades out and into this, which begins with the whirring noise of machinery. This is my least favourite song on the album and I still play it regularly! It is actually a great song! Roger Waters lyrics are cold and haunting and at first you won’t like this, but it creeps up on you and consumes you. 9/10
Have A Cigar—
Yes, the Foo Fighters did a cover of this for the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack. Have a Cigar is bluesy and stinks of irony. It is basically on the same topic as Welcome to the Machine but I think it’s better and slightly more accessible.
“And did we tell you the name of the game, boy? We call it riding the gravy train.” 9.5/10
Wish You Were Here—
Everyone has heard this heartfelt song. It was covered by Wyclef Jean but he couldn’t top this version. Gilmour sings this and steals the show here. Priceless 10/10
Shine On You Crazy Diamond part 2
This is a continuation of part 1. And yes, it is brilliant also. The whole song is based around four notes that, as Floyd say, just fell out of Gilmour’s guitar. Amazing. You can’t help shouting out the lyrics with Roger as it reaches the climax- Shine!!!!!!! The fingerpicking of the guitar give the image of a diamond shining bright. I repeat, Amazing! 10/10
So there you have it. After that album Roger really took over with the experimental The Wall and they were never the same after.
You must own this historic album from this historic band. You know you’re onto a winner when every track gets over 9/10.
I suggest you buy Dark Side of the Moon first and then this gem. You won’t regret it.
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