Back in January my friend Trevor, who plays in local tribute band “Wish We Were Pink Floyd,” ran down his five favourite unmissable PF tracks. It was a selection that sparked a bit of debate - there are loads of great songs to choose from obviously, but Trevor’s selection didn’t include such heavyweights as “Another Brick In The Wall” or “Wish You Were Here”. Some people agreed, some disagreed, and some suggested choices of their own. I’ve been promising for a bit to run down those other people’s choices too, and with my 50th blog now looming large, I kinda feel like I need to get on with it….
Trevor's choices were...
5. Money
4. Learning To Fly
3. Sheep
2. Time
1. Us And Them
So let’s get down to those others!
Rob Batho suggested...
#1. See Emily Play
"See Emily Play" was released as Pink Floyd's second single in 1967. Written by original frontman, Syd Barrett, it was released as a non-album single, but appeared as the opening track of 'Pink Floyd', the US edition of the band's debut album 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn'.
Rob also suggested 'Wish You Were Here'.
Adam Power suggested...
#2 Fat Old Sun
"Fat Old Sun" was written and sung by David Gilmour, and appears on their 1970 album 'Atom Heart Mother'. The song was performed live by the group from 1970-71 in a different arrangement to that performed here during Gilmour's 2016 Pompeii concert.
Adam gave me a whole top 5 of real fan choices, so I'm going to give him a second choice too with "Grantchester Meadows" from 'Ummagumma'...I'd never heard this before...very cool.
Adam also suggested 'What's Uh The Deal?' 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' and 'Dogs'.
#3 Grantchester Meadows
Tony Kerr suggested...
#4 Fearless
"Fearless" is the third track on the 1971 album 'Meddle'. It's a slow acoustic guitar-driven song written by Roger Waters and David Gilmour, and the original includes audio of football fans singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" Again it's one I hadn't heard before, but I really like it! It has made me realise though that the riff in "Here Comes A Soul Saver" by The Charlatans" is an absolute rip off of this! I've also discovered the song's in an open 'G' tuning, which is something I'm playing with at the moment, so... lots of good stuff!
I've included a live version by Nick Mason's 'Saucerful Of Secrets'...and yes, that is Gary Kemp from Spandau Ballet...
Tony also suggested 'Bike' and 'Arnold Layne'.
Steve Williams suggested...
#5 Shine On You Crazy Diamond
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is a nine-part composition appearing on the 1975 album 'Wish You Were Here'. The song is written about and dedicated to founder member Syd Barrett who departed from the band in 1968 after dealing with mental problems and substance abuse.
Steve also suggested 'In The Flesh', 'Mother' and 'Comfortably Numb'.
Steve Twinley suggested...
#6 The Trial
"The Trial" (working title "Trial by Puppet") is a track from Pink Floyd's concept album 'The Wall'. Steve describes it as 'brilliant, but terrifying"...
Steve also suggested 'Comfortably Numb', 'Brain Damage' and 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond'.
He also gave me a whole top 5, just like Adam, so I'm going to give him the last choice too... those appear to be the rules today...
#7 Echoes
"Echoes" is the sixth and last track on the 1971 album 'Meddle'. It is 23 1⁄2 minutes long and takes up the entire second side of the original LP. The track evolved from a variety of different musical themes and ideas, including instrumental passages and studio effects, resulting in the side-long piece. Steve suggests the David Gilmour live in Gdansk is the version to check out, so here we go...
Thanks to everybody who liked, commented or contributed to either of these Pink Floyd blogs. It's been a bit of an epic rundown, but I've certainly discovered some new stuff, and perhaps rediscovered some old stuff too. If you've got a top 5 for your favourite band you'd like to share, let me know. Cheers.
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