Who Is Pink Floyd?

Pink Floyd first formed in the late 1960s as the psychedelic music scene was exploding and as the 1970s got under way the band evolved into progressive music. What started as Syd Barret's band, was taken over by Roger Waters by the mid 1970s and after his departure in 1984 David Gilmour took command. All "three phases" of this band are unique from each other while always remaining true to the Pink Floyd sound. What does that mean dedicated readers? Read on to find out and keep checking back as I review each song, one at a time.


Pink Floyd in 1968 (from left to right):
Nick Mason, Syd Barrett, David Gilmour (seated in front), Roger Waters, Richard Wright

Sneak Peak - "Sorrow"

OK I know I just completed 1994's "The Division Bell" and I have no intention on starting my song by song review of 1987's "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" until later this month however I decided to talk for a moment about the final track on that LP, "Sorrow". This evening while walking and running this song came on and I have to say that although this 1987 Pink Floyd album may not be among the band's best it does have "Sorrow" which I have always felt could work on ANY of their previous albums. Even Gilmour includes this among his best and the opening lines were appropriated from John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath", proving that no Pink Floyd song is what it first appears. The "drum sound" was created by a drum machine again written & programmed by David Gilmour.

Here is Pink Floyd performing "Sorrow" during their 1994 "Pulse" tour.


More to come when I review "Momentary of Lapse" in detail later this month.

High Hopes

This is the final song on "The Division Bell" and sadly the last original Pink Floyd song as well. The song speaks to all of us as it discusses what all of us human beings gain and lose through our lives. This is a typically long Floyd song clocking in at almost 9 minutes and uses sound effects which go all the way back to 1967.

The author Douglas Adams (The Restaurant at the End of the Universe) chose the album title from a line in this song.

Lost for Words

This song strangely has always intrigued me. Maybe its because I can see specific situaions from my past in the lyrics and the manner in which Gilmour performs it seems just right. The song stills rings true to this very day and proves the relevance of the band for a long time to go. The lyrics to this song are actually printed on the steel heads on the album cover which is cool.

Keep Talking

This is what I am talking about friends. Any band that can get the great Stephen Hawking to allow his vocals to be included on a song has got to be doing something right. This strangely science minded song opens with Hawking's lyric about the human race and is followed up by Gilmour answering questions from his backup singers. Wow.

The song was written by Gilmour, Wright and Polly Samson and actually went to #1 in the USA, remaining there for 6 weeks.

The electronic voice of Stephen Hawking is credited in this song.

Pink Floyd performing "Keep Talking" in 1994.

Coming Back To Life

David Gilmour wrote this song with his wife, Polly Samson. This one has great guitar solos with some dark and sad vocals by Gilmour. Another song that I never tire of.

"Coming Back To Life" performed during 1994's "Pulse" tour.

Taking It Back

This is another favorite of mine on "The Division Bell". The music and Gilmour's vocals and e-bow guitar play are great "modern" Pink Floyd. This is one of those songs I never tire of.

This is a song about Mother Earth, and how sooner or later, sick of the way we humans treat her, she will go into self protection mode and extinct (take back) the human race.

Wearing the Inside Out

Wow. Here you have Richard Wright on lead vocals. This is a first since "Dark Side of the Moon" and it truly represents Wright's strongest involvement in a Pink Floyd release since 1973.

Here is the song as performed by Wright who sadly recently passed away.

A Great Day For Freedom

This song has both reflections of the (at the time) recently torn down Berlin Wall as well as finding Gilmour reflecting on his painful past with Waters. Gilmour insists he is not discussing Waters here however the cool thing about music is it means different things to those listening.

Marooned

“Marooned” is an instrumental track and again was written by Gilmour and Wright. Anyone aware of the Pink Floyd's history and the way Wright had been earlier kicked out of the band by Roger Waters must take delight in the fact that this little instrumental garnered a Grammy in 1995.

Poles Apart

This is the first song I really love on “The Division Bell”. “Poles Apart” starts off with a line obviously about their old band mate, Syd Barrett and in the second verse Roger Waters is noted. You have to respect a band that does not forget or disregard their past even when it is painful.

The song at mid point has a circus sound to it that has me taking a double take every time. After a few moments the song starts up again. This is actually quite a sad song and Syd Barrett's memory is intertwined throughout the lyric.

What Do You Want From Me?

This is a slow moving rock song with a nice drum roll. Knowing the tension that was going on between David Gilmour and ex-band mate Roger Waters at the time it would not be a stretch to wonder what Gilmore's lyrics were about here. Richard Wright again has writing credits with Gilmour on this one.

Cluster One

"Cluster One", the first song on Pink Floyd's final release, "The Division Bell" is beautiful piece of instrumental music which hearkens back to early Floyd. Richard Wright is credited with David Gilmour on this one. This is a first since 1972's "Mudmen" which may explain the old Floyd sound here.