In their early years, with vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Syd Barrett at the helm, Pink Floyd were the psychedelic Pied Pipers of the “London underground” scene. What George Orwell and Ray Bradbury were to literature, Pink Floyd is to popular music, forging an unsettling but provocative combination of science fiction and social commentary. The group carried rock and roll into a dimension that was more cerebral and conceptual than what preceded it. Pink Floyd’s hallucinatory presentation of lights and music at London’s Roundhouse in 1966 brought psychedelia to the U.K. Inductees: Syd Barrett (guitar, vocals born Janudied July 7, 2006), David Gilmour (guitar, vocals born March 6, 1944), Nick Mason (drums born January 27, 1945), Roger Waters (bass, synthesizer, vocals born September 9, 1944), Rick Wright (keyboards, synthesizers born Jdied September 15, 2008). Recorded January – July 1975 at Abbey Road, London Roy Harper, lead vocals on “Have a Cigar” Richard Wright, Hammond organ, ARP String Ensemble, Minimoog, Steinway piano, EMS VCS 3, Hohner Clavinet D6, Wurlitzer EP-200 electric piano, Rhodes piano, glass harmonica, backing vocalsĭick Parry, tenor and baritone saxophone on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” Nick Mason, drums, percussion, timpani, cymbals, tape effects Roger Waters, vocals, bass guitar, EMS VCS 3, additional guitar, glass harmonica, tape effects And while it's short on actual songs, the long, winding soundscapes are constantly enthralling." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)ĭavid Gilmour, vocals, guitars, pedal steel guitar, EMS Synthi AKS, additional bass, glass harmonica, tape effects Musically, it's arguably even more impressive, showcasing the group's interplay and David Gilmour's solos in particular. The record unfolds gradually, as the jazzy textures of "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" reveal its melodic motif, and in its leisurely pace, the album shows itself to be a warmer record than its predecessor. "Pink Floyd followed the commercial breakthrough of Dark Side of the Moon with Wish You Were Here, a loose concept album about and dedicated to their founding member Syd Barrett. Since then, the record has sold over 20 million copies. It reached number one in the US and UK, and Harvest's parent company, EMI, was unable to keep up with the demand. It has retrospectively received critical acclaim, hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time, and was cited by keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour as their favourite Pink Floyd album. Wish You Were Here received mixed reviews from critics on its release, who found its music uninspiring and inferior to their previous work. To promote the album, the band released the double A-side single "Have a Cigar" / "Welcome to the Machine". Guest singers included Roy Harper, who provided the lead vocals on "Have a Cigar", and Venetta Fields, who added backing vocals to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Like their previous record, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Pink Floyd used studio effects and synthesisers. The album's themes include criticism of the music business, alienation, and a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, who left seven years earlier with deteriorating mental health. Based on material Pink Floyd composed while performing in Europe, Wish You Were Here was recorded over numerous sessions throughout 1975 at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 12 September 1975 through Harvest Records and Columbia Records, their first release for the latter. Info for Wish You Were Here (2011 Remaster)