September 12, 1975 - Wish You Were Here

A mere two days since my last release, but a long 2 and a half years since "The Dark Side Of The Moon", Pink Floyd finally released their ninth album "Wish You Were Here" on September 12, 1975. Just like their very successful previous album, bassist Roger Waters wrote all the lyrics on this album. It's not exactly a concept album, but the name of the album is a reference to former band member Syd Barrett whose mental health had been deteriorating for years. The first and last track of the album is also about Barrett as the band pay tribute to the man who once was the face of the band. Waters also makes his feelings known about the music industry as several songs lament the corporate greed of the music business. The band went through a rough patch during recording sessions as they were all drained from an extensive tour for their previous album and Nick Mason's marriage was also ending at the time. Syd Barrett actually showed up at Abbey Road studios one day but only Richard Wright recognized him. The other members couldn't believe it was him as he was very overweight and had shaved his head and eyebrows. He hung around the studio for a bit, but they say he "wasn't really there" mentally. This situation brought Waters to tears and may have contributed somewhat to the writing of the epic first/last song. That's a lot of emotion surrounding the recording of this album. How would Pink Floyd respond? Let's find out!

The album begins with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5)" which starts off very slow with some epic keyboards by Wright. He carries this slow opening with several different keyboards that's led by some pretty cool synths. David Gilmour joins in with some slow, equally epic guitar and it sounds great. It gets very quiet as we hear four epic notes on guitar that start up this new part. Mason's drums enter and this sounds like a great Floyd riff with Wright keeping pace on keyboards while Gilmour delivers some sweet lead guitar. After some wonderful stuff Wright takes lead again with some more cool synths. Gilmour's back for some more great guitar and at almost the 9-minute mark we finally hear some vocals. Waters sings lead on this song but Gilmour joins him to sing the title. Waters does a pretty good job singing lightly along to this awesome riff and his lyrics are all about Syd Barrett. How he shone too brightly, too early and burnt out too soon. It's really well done and after a few really good verses we hear our old friend Dick Parry, who contributed so much great saxophone to "Dark Side", as he features on this album as well. As you'd expect, his sax sounds amazing and it just adds another wonderful layer to this beautiful 13 and a half minute song. The guitar and bass sound great as well as Parry takes it away with some fantastic stuff. The sax fades away as we hear what kind of sounds like a space-y motor that segues right into the next track, "Welcome To The Machine". It has a very trippy opening with space-y bass and keyboards. Gilmour adds a cool guitar lick and Wright steps it up with some cool synths. Gilmour sings this song and I love his voice so much. His yelling vocals sound amazing as Wright plays lots of trippy keyboards. Gilmour starts an acoustic riff that mixes surprisingly well with all the trippy, space-y music. Wright plays some truly amazing stuff on synthesizer, it's unlike anything I've ever heard before and it's simply mesmerizing. Gilmour's guitar carries the beat and his singing is fantastic as they play another verse. Then it's time for some more amazing synths as Wright continues to blow our collective minds. It's pretty freakin' great and Pink Floyd are really giving it their all so far this album! The song seems to end after a long trippy noise but we hear what sounds like a party going on; there's a bunch of talking and laughter that closes out the side. A bit of a weird way to end this song, but it was still incredible!

Side two kicks off with "Have A Cigar" and Roy Harper, who was a friend of the band, features on lead vocals for this song. Waters plays some cool bass to start this one off and Wright joins in with some awesome synths. Gilmour adds some pretty good guitar as well as this riff sounds really good. Harper's vocals sound good as well as he fits the mood of the song nicely. He sings about someone from a record company telling an up-and-coming band that they have what it takes and the world will be theirs if they just sign with the label. Waters shows his distaste for how the industry treats bands and I love the line "oh by the way, which one's Pink?", a question the band had been asked before. Harper delivers Waters' lyrics very well and Wright plays some pretty cool piano to back him in the verses. After the second chorus Gilmour goes off for a guitar solo that is not especially flashy, but it just sounds so well done! He is really good at making anything sound amazing when he plays it as his guitar just has such an epic feel to it. The band keeps the cool riff in the background as Gilmour continues his wonderful extended solo that goes right to the end of the song. They just keep churning out gems on this album! Track 4 is the title track, "Wish You Were Here" and it opens quietly with someone turning a radio dial as we hear some different things. Waters plays guitar on this song and he sets the tone with a slow riff that will carry this whole slow, sad song. Gilmour joins in on lead acoustic guitar and once again he makes anything sound spectacular. His simple playing just sounds so good and when he starts singing it's a beautiful thing. He sings so well along to his guitar and Wright comes in with some wonderful piano that completes this amazing riff. He plays some cool synths as well as everything these guys do turns to gold on this record! "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl"! Everything sounds so well done and Pink Floyd prove that they are always on the top of their game no matter what style they're playing. The song fades to a stop as we hear what sounds like wind that brings us to the album closer, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9)". Waters had originally wanted all 9 parts together in another side-long epic track, but the others voted to split into two parts and have it open and end the album. I really like this idea as the song never feels dull and ties the whole album together really nicely. Waters plays a cool bass riff in the background as Wright takes lead with some more great synths. Gilmour adds some cool guitar and Mason keeps pace with a slow beat. Gilmour and Wright both play some really great stuff in this extended instrumental opening and it flows right back into the verse from the beginning. Waters sings a whole new verse with the same amazing chorus and it sounds just as great as earlier but this time Gilmour's guitar segues nicely into a new part with some cool bass by Waters and organ by Wright. The bass sounds really good driving the riff while Wright's trippy synths and organ wander. Gilmour joins the funky riff with some cool guitar as once again these guys take a different style and make it sound it's best. The song seems it might be over but there's still 3:30 to go in this 12 and a half minute song. Wright plays some nice piano and Mellotron in this cool new part that has him playing all kinds of keyboards to great effect. The final minute is one long drone of cool effects as Wright continues to play some really cool Mellotron that slowly brings this amazing song and album to a finish.

That is the end of "Wish You Were Here" and I thought it was an absolutely amazing piece of work. All 5 songs are not just good, they're all fantastic as this might be one of the most complete, amazing albums ever made! Pink Floyd stepped it up considerably with their last release and it would seem very difficult for them to climb even higher, but I believe they have achieved an incredible masterpiece. I thought "The Dark Side Of The Moon" was not only Pink Floyd's beat album before, but it was the best album of the year as well. I think"Wish You Were Here" is even better, and that is a real accomplishment. They've outdone themselves, AGAIN. I don't think it would be possible to top this, but I thought that last time too and I hope to be proven wrong once again!