The If Sessions (later known as the Echoes Sessions) began shortly after Pink Floyd's second world tour in March of 1971. These sessions would be a turning point in Pink Floyd's history as this album would start the short-lived Waters-Ayers Era. Like Escapade, these sessions would be a mixture of Piper era playfulness and Atom Heart Mother's acousticness.
Yet the If Sessions would be remembered as the most divided sessions so far. For instance, Kevin Ayers thought he was undervalued, and thus wanted more writing credits. On the other hand, Roger Waters (who was producer at the time) also wanted more writing credits. In between this bickering, Syd Barrett stop showing up to recording, and eventually said he would be leaving the band. Both Rick Wright and Nick Mason could only watch as their lifelong friends where slowly drifting apart.
Syd Barrett would not appear on a Pink Floyd album until years later. In the time in between then Syd would give up music for a while and he became an avid painter and gardener. His only album released during this time was Green and Red Abstract (1977) which its cover is his 1971 piece by the same name.
Meddle is the fifth album by British rock band Pink Floyd. It was recorded from March 1971 to September 1971 at Abbey Road Studios, and was released on October 20, 1971, by Harvest Records in the U.K. and on October 23, 1971, in the U.S. The album is the last to feature Syd Barrett as a member. No singles were released from the album. The final track Echoes features session musician David Gilmour on guitar.
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Producer: Roger Waters
U.K. Album Charts: #1
U.S. Billboard 200: #34
Total Time: 45:00
Side A: 22:29
1: San Tropez 3:44 (Waters) [1]
2: If 4:31 (Waters) [2]
3: Stranger in Blue Swede Shoes 3:24 (Ayers) [3]
*4: Burning Bridges 7:49 (Wright, Waters) [4]
5: Here I Go 3:11 (Barrett) [5]
As a way to make extra money, Pink Floyd would look to find somewhere to film a concert film. Most members wanted to film with a minimum audience so it might sound better. Many possible venues were suggested (The Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, among others), but the selected venue was found after Roger Waters was in Naples, Italy where he found the Pompeii Amphitheater. After telling the band of his discovery, they flew to Naples and began film. Filming lasted from October 2 to October 6 and mixing lasted from the rest of October in Paris, France. The film would be played occasionally at Pink Floyd gigs.
The Meddle Tour would be the shortest in Pink Floyd's catalogue, both for the touring and the sets. It would only last from early November 1971 to mid-January 1972 and shows would only be in the U.S. All shows would not feature Syd Barrett. The first show was at the Paramount Theater on November 2, 1971, and the last at Carnegie Hall on January 17, 1972.
Setlist:
Set 1:
1: San Tropez
2: If
3: Embryo
4: Singing a Song in the Morning
Set 2:
5: Echoes
Encore:
Atom Heart Mother (all but December 16 and 28, 1971)
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Producer: Roger Waters
U.K. Album Charts: #1
U.S. Billboard 200: #34
Total Time: 45:00
Personnel: Syd Barrett: Lead Vocals (5,6), Electric Guitar (4,5), Slide Guitar (1,2,4)
Kevin Ayers: Lead Vocals (3,6), Bass (1,2,3,5), Acoustic Guitar (3,5)
Roger Waters: Lead Vocals (1,2,6), Bass (4,5,6), Acoustic Guitar (1,2)
Rick Wright: Lead Vocals (4,6), Keys (1,2,3,4,6)
Nick Mason: Percussion (1,2,3,4,5,6)
David Gilmour: Electric Guitar (6)
Above (Left to Right): Nick Mason, Roger Waters, 1972
The premise for the recordings after Meddle came from a meeting of Roger Waters and Nick Mason, in which Waters brought up an idea for a concept album. Waters wanted to create an album around the central idea of lunacy, or what "make people mad" (many believe this was a call out to Syd Barrett, and for him to join the band). Mason along with the other bandmates agreed... except Kevin Ayers.
Ayers liked the idea as sort of a tribune to Syd Barrett and his mental state as he left the band in late 1967. But he had many complaints such as writings credits, low album sales, among others. This caused a bigger gap in the band from Meddle.
Official recording began on February 24, 1972 (at Abbey Road Studios), since Waters had a good idea of what the album would look like, the band had plenty of time to perfect their music. It would also mean they could promote the album much time before the album's release. Thus, the first tour to promote the album began on March 21, 1972, with the first show being at the Rainbow Theatre to a crowd of critics, many review were mixed, one critic stated it was "bringing tears to the eyes." While another critic said "[The] sound effects reminded me of a bird exhibit from the London Zoo."
Also, around this time David Gilmour was recording his 2nd solo album along with Roger Waters as producer and Richard Wright on keys.
Obscurities is the second solo album by British guitarist David Gilmour. Obscurities was recorded from January 1972 to March 1972 at Abbey Road Studios and was released on May 6, 1972, by Harvest Records in the U.K. and on May 18, 1972, in the U.S. No singles were released from the album.
David Gilmour - Obscurities
Producer: Roger Waters
U.K. Album Charts: #9
U.S. Billboard 200: #49
Total Time: 35:24
Side A: 19:49
*1: Obscurities 3:03 (Gilmour, Waters) [1] 2: When You're In 2:18 (Gilmour, Waters, Wright) [1]
3: A Pillow of Winds 5:13 (Gilmour, Waters) [2]
4: The Gold it's in the... 3:07 (Gilmour, Waters) [1]
5: Fearless 6:08 (Gilmour, Waters) [2]
Side B: 15:35
6: One of These Days 5:57 (Gilmour, Waters, Wright) [2]
7: Childhood's End 4:31 (Gilmour) [1]
8: Wot's... Uh the Deal? 5:08 (Gilmour) [1]
References: [1]: Obscured by Clouds (1972)
[2]: Meddle (1971)
Other Notes: Obscurities is Obscured by Clouds, and to make things clear La Vallee is never made.
Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon Tour began on March 21, 1972, at the Rainbow Theatre in London. The band would play in the U.K. until mid-April when they would travel to mainland Europe. They would stay there until late May before crossing the Atlantic and began their Noth American leg.
After one show in Chicago on July 18, Kevin Ayers told his band mate he would be on his way after the band ended the leg. As expected, the rest of the band panicked. They found themselves in a rut almost the same as 5 years ago. But all other bandmates knew who would take Ayers's spot... David Gilmour.
Pink Floyds North American leg ended in early July and when they arrived in England, as stated Kevin Ayers left the band. Gilmour was soon contacted and added to the band. Also, during this time the band recorded more for the upcoming album (at Abbey Road Studios) before hitting the road again in August. They began in England then traveling to America. After a while in America Floyd would play in Japan before ending the tour on December 11, 1972, Palais des Sports in Paris, France. After the tour was over, Pink Floyd would work more on their album, now titled Eclipse.
Kevin Ayers would never have the fame that he did with Pink Floyd. After his time with them he became a solo artist all the while appearing in many other musician's albums (most notably David Bowie's Station to Station and "Heroes"). Later in his career he would join Pink Floyd on a tour.
Set 1: Meddle/Obscurities
1a: Atom Heart Mother (Before September 1, 1972; without brass)
1b: One of These Days (After September 1, 1972)
2a: Gemini Child (Before July 2, 1972)
2b: Childhood's End (After July 2, 1972)
3: If
4: Embryo
5: Careful with that Axe, Eugene
Set 2: The Dark Side of the Moon
1: Speak to Me
2: Breathe
3: The Travel Sequence (On The Run)
4: Time / Breathe (Reprise)
5: The Morality Sequence (The Great Gig in the Sky)
Eclipse is the sixth album by British rock band Pink Floyd. The album was recorded from February 1972 to December 1972 at Abbey Road Studios. Eclipse was released on February 10, 1973, in the U.S. by Capitol Records and on February 22, 1973, in the U.K. by Harvest Records. The album was last to feature Kevin Ayers and was first to feature David Gilmour (both on guitar). Singer Claire Torry and saxophonist Dick Parry are both present on the album. Two singles were released from Eclipse, Money / Breathe released in April of the same year (charted at #9 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100) and Us and Them / Time released in November of the same year (charted at #80 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100). Eclipse is one of the highest earning albums of all time.
Pink Floyd - Eclipse Producer: Roger Waters U.K. Album Charts: #1 U.S. Album Charts: #1 Total Time: 41:44
Side A: 19:09
1: Speak to Me 1:05 (Mason) [1] 2: Breathe 2:49 (Waters, Ayers, Wright, Gilmour) [1] 3: On The Run 3:45 (Waters, Gilmour) [1]
*4: Time 5:32 (Waters, Ayers, Gilmour, Wright, Mason) [1] *5: Breathe Reprise 1:21 (Waters, Wright, Gilmour) [1]
6: The Great Gig in the Sky 4:43 (Wright, Torry) [1]
Side B: 22:35
7: Money 6:22 (Waters) [1]
8: Us and Them 7:49 (Wright, Waters) [1]
9: Any Colour You Like 3:26 (Gilmour, Mason, Wright) [1]
10: Brain Damage 3:46 (Waters) [1]
11: Eclipse 2:12 (Waters) [1]
References: [1] The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Other Notes: Time / Breathe Reprise is Time on Dark Side of The Moon.
Claire Torry originally did not have a writing credit on The Great Gig in the Sky, but does on this TL.
Kevin Ayers co-wrote Breathe and Time before departing in this TL.
Pink Floyd's second Dark Side of the Moon Tour began on February 10, 1973, the same day as the U.S. release of their album Eclipse. The band began the tour in United States with the first show being at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. After a month the band traveled England and then Europe. The Floyd would tour in North America again before ending the tour in Japan on October 13, 1973, with the last gig being at the Festival Hall in Osaka.
After their second Dark Side of the Moon Tour, the members of Pink Floyd would settle down for the remainder of 1973. The Floyd would get back into the studio in late January of 1974. None of the band members knew what they would record next, they had just made their Magnum Opus of the time (Eclipse) and the next album had to reach expectations if they would continue together. During this time band chemistry would decrease, the member inflicting the most was Roger Waters. Waters was the main writer on the previous album, and he thought his duty was to lead the band to another excellent album. Waters would lash out at bandmates regularly (mostly Rick Wright), but David Gilmour was always there to ease him down. In these frantic times Household Objects was formed.
Household Objects was an album brought up during these sessions where the premise was most of the music was made from household objects. The band had mixed opinions on the concept, Roger Waters saying, "It would have killed us." While Nick Mason saying, "Would have been a good album." Along with Rick Wright stating, "It would have been a high of experimentation since Meddle." The Album was quickly shelved but before it was many demos where made, one titled "Wine Glasses" would make its way on a Pink Floyd album twice.
By June of 1974 the band wanted to hit the road again for another tour. Before they could three lengthy demos where created (two of which seen on the tour), Raving and Drooling, You Gotta be Crazy, and a 9-part untitled piece which included Wine Glasses. The Summer 74' Tour as it would be later known began on June 20, 1974. The tour started with seven shows in France. Pink Floyd would cross the English Channel and begin the English leg of the tour on July 14. A total of 25 gigs were played in England with the last being the most known at the Empire Pool on August 22, 1974.
Set 1:
1: One of These Days
2: Raving and Drooling
3: You Gotta be Crazy
4: Careful with That Axe, Eugene (Before August 14, 1974)
Above (Left to Right): David Gilmour, Syd Barrett, 1974
After the Summer 74' Tour, Pink Floyd members would take a month off to be with their families or to vacation. During this time Roger Waters read George Orwell's novel Animal Farm. Waters took great inspiration from the novel and came up with a concept album that had the same themes in Animal Farm. Also, around this time Waters got the idea of songwriting about the negatives of the music industry. When he presented his album (then titled Animals) to the band they to a liking to it. Raving and Drooling along with You Gotta be Crazy were proposed to be on the album (these songs would be re-named Sheep and Dogs respectively.)
Recording began in October and lasted up to the holiday season before starting back up in January. On the last day of recording before the break, Syd Barrett visited the band. After learning the premise of the upcoming album, he and the band rehearsed Vegetable Man (an old single that had similar themes). Vegetable Man would not added to the album however. Barrett's visit raised morale and brought the band together during trying times.
Welcome to the Machine is the seventh album by British rock band Pink Floyd. The album was recorded from October 1974 to April 1975 at Abbey Road Studios. Welcome to the Machine was released on May 19, 1975, in the U.K. under Harvest Records and on the same day in the U.S. under Columbia Records. Welcome to the Machine was the last album by Pink Floyd recorded at AbbeyRoad Studios. One single was released from the album, Have A Cigar / Welcome to the Machine released on September 12, 1975, and peaked at #89 on U.S. singles charts. The song Have a Cigar features Roy Harper.
Pink Floyd - Welcome to the Machine Producer: Pink Floyd U.K. Album Charts: #1 U.S. Billboard 200: #1
Total Time: 51:28
Side A: 24:32
1: Welcome to the Machine 7:28 (Waters) [1]
2: Dogs 17:04 (Gilmour, Waters) [2]
Side B: 26:56
3: Have a Cigar 5:08 (Waters) [1]
4: Sheep 10:20 (Waters, Wright) [2]
5: Pigs (Three Different Ones) 11:28 (Waters) [2]
References: [1] Wish You Were Here (1975)
[2] Animals (1977)
The In the Flesh Tour began shortly after Pink Floyd's release of Welcome to the Machine on June 1, 1975. The first leg of the tour was in England that lasted until July 5, 1975, where the Floyd played the Knebworth. After the English leg, they would begin their North America tour lasting from late July to late August. The European leg of the tour lasted the whole month of September. On September 22, David Gilmour had an aching migraine and couldn't play the show that night in Munich. Snowy White, a session musician for the band during Welcome to the Machine played for him. Both Roger Waters and the sidelined David Gilmour took a liking to Snowy. In the Flesh would be known for its elaborate marketing and stage plays, for instance, inflatable pigs and sheep were flown throughout the city they would perform in. These inflatables would also be flown inside the venue, along with many pyrotechnics. The final show played on the tour was on September 30, in West Berlin, West Germany. After the tour Pink Floyd would go their separate ways until January 1976.
Set 1: Welcome to the Machine
1: Welcome to the Machine
2: Have a Cigar
3: Sheep
4: Pigs (Three Different Ones)
5: Dogs
Set 2: Eclipse
1: Speak to Me
2: Breathe
3: On The Run
4: Time / Breathe (Reprise)
5: The Great Gig in the Sky
6: Money
7: Us and Them
8: Any Colour You Like
9: Brain Damage
10: Eclipse
Encore:
1: Careful with That Axe, Eugene (sometimes after Echoes)
2: Echoes (sometimes before Careful with That Axe, Eugene)
The Pigs on the Wing Tour (as it was later known) began after Pink Floyd's Fall / Winter Break of 1975 / 1976. The basis of the tour was to further capitalize on their pervious album, Welcome to the Machine's success. The tour had no set name but was referred to the 1976 tour then it was later named the Pigs on the Wing Tour (after the song which was first played live during the tour.) The tour started out with a European leg starting in late January of 1976. The European tour lasted a month before beginning their first North American leg. Since the Floyd were playing larger venues with more fans, Roger Waters began to wear headphones to better hear his bandmates (although many in attendance took it as a sign of isolation.) After a month the band would travel to England for an English leg which would also last around a month. Pink Floyd's second North American leg would be the most chaotic. During a show in Anaheim, Waters was given pain killers for cramps, those pain killers made the pain even worse, and Waters stated later "I couldn't feel my hands." Also, during the final show at Soldier Field in Chicago on April 25, Waters spat on a heckler. The Pigs on the Wing Tour is remembered as the most infamous tour in Pink Floyd's history.
After the Pigs on the Wing Tour, Pink Floyd would waste no time getting back into the studio. At this Roger Waters was very mad at the band, but David Gilmour was most of the time the glue to keeping the band together. The Floyd had no idea to what they would record next. Waters, inspired by his experiences during their last tour presented Bricks in the Wall Bricks in the Wall was yet another concept album, but not of death or greed, but of the rockstars life. The album was close to autobiography, both Roger and the main character had their father killed in WW2, both (at least) wanted to build wall around themselves, and both a reaction to drugs given on a tour. In some ways this concept album was closer to a rock opera. Around this time Roger Waters met producer Bob Ezrin, who agreed to produce the album, The band loved the idea, and the first sessions began in May of 1976 at Abbey Road Studios. Also, around this time Waters meet Michael Kamen who would do orchestral arrangements.
Recording at Abbey Road Studios would last only a month, however. Pink Floyd's financial firm had been laundering money and later disbanded. They would rack up a large debt so the band would flee to France to further work on the album now regarded as The Wall. In France the band would record at Super Bear Studios in Nice and Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville. by this time Rogers idea of the album would be too big to fit on a single LP but was recorded for a double LP. Recording ended in January 1977 and mixing would last from January to April 1977 in the United States.
The Wall is the eighth album by British rock band Pink Floyd. The album was recorded from May of 1976 to April of 1977. The Wall was recorded at many studios most notably Abbey Road Studios, Super Bear Studios, and Château d'Hérouville. The album was released on June 1, 1977, by Harvest Records in the U.K. and on the same day in the U.S. under Columbia Records. Three singles were released form The Wall, the latest was Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 / Hey You (June 14, 1977), Comfortably Numb / Run Like Hell (August 20, 1977), Young Lust / The Trial (December 21, 1977). The album was the first to feature Bob Ezrin as producer. The Wall is remembered by some as the greatest Pink Floyd album, and even the greatest album of all time.
Pink Floyd - The Wall Producer: Pink Floyd, Bob Ezrin
U.K. Album Charts: #1
U.S. Album Charts: #1
Total Time: 82:32
Side A: 20:11
1: In the Flesh? 3:16 (Waters) [1]
2: The Thin Ice 2:27 (Waters) [1]
3: Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1 3:11 (Waters) [1]
4: The Happiest Days of Our Lives 1:46 (Waters) [1]
5: Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 3:59 (Waters) [1]
6: Mother 5:32 (Waters) [1]
Side B: 20:23
7: Goodbye Blue Sky 2:45 (Waters) [1]
8: Empty Spaces 2:10 (Waters) [1]
9: What Shall We Do Now? 1:40 (Waters) [2]
10: Young Lust 3:25 (Waters, Gilmour) [1]
11: One of My Turns 3:41 (Waters) [1]
12: Don't Leave me Now 4:08 (Waters) [1]
13: Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3 1:18 (Waters) [1]
14: Goodbye Cruel World 1:16 (Waters) [1]
Side C: 20:09
15: Hey You 4:40 (Waters) [1] 16: Is There Anybody Out There? 2:44 (Waters) [1]
17: Nobody Home 3:26 (Waters) [1]
18: Vera 1:35 (Waters) [1]
19: Bring the Boys Back Home 1:21 (Waters) [1]
20: Comfortably Numb 6:23 (Gilmour, Waters) [1]
Side D: 21:39
21: The Show Must Go On 1:36 (Waters) [1]
22: In the Flesh 4:15 (Waters) [1]
23: Run Like Hell 4:20 (Gilmour, Waters) [1]
24: Waiting for the Worms 4:04 (Waters) [1]
25: Stop 0:30 (Waters) [1]
26: The Trial 5:13 (Waters, Ezrin) [1]
27: Outside the Wall 1:41 (Waters) [1]
References: [1] The Wall (1979) [2] Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980-1981 (2000)
The Wall Tour began on August 19, 1977. The first venue was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles where Pink Floyd played eight back-to-back shows. The band would then play at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale from September 4 to September 6. The final shows in the U.S. were two shows on September 14 and 15 at Madison Square Garden. The band would then cross the Atlantic and play their first five shows at Earls Court in England starting on November 10. Pink Floyd would play seven nights at West Germany's Westfalenhallen through February 3, 1978, to February 9, 1978. The final leg was once again at Earls Court this time for 4 shows from March 13 to March 16.
