Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
1975
Album Summary
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. Based on material Pink Floyd composed while performing in Europe, Wish You Were Here was recorded over numerous sessions throughout 1975 at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London. The album's themes include criticism of the music business, alienation, and a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, who had left seven years earlier due to his deteriorating mental health; Barrett coincidentally visited the band during the album's production. Like their previous record, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Pink Floyd used studio effects and synthesisers. 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". To promote the album, the band released the double A-side single "Have a Cigar" / "Welcome to the Machine". On its release, Wish You Were Here received mixed reviews from critics, who found its music uninspiring and inferior to their previous work. 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. It reached number one in the US and UK, and Harvest's parent company, EMI, was unable to keep up with the demand. Since then, the record has sold over 20 million copies.
WikipediaI mean, it's a masterpiece. It's just so good I don't even care that there's a saxophone solo in it. Three monster hits (Welcome to the Machine, Have a Cigar, and Wish You Were Here) bookeneded by two 12+ minute pieces of some of the best prog-rock music ever written. No complaints, only positive vibes for this one.
This is the band your uncle puts on at the end of a family BBQ when he wants to get deep about his divorce.
Loved it. Listened to it with a blanket and read a couple chapters of the Hobbit. Pink Floyd is best enjoyed by the album rather than the song.
“Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd (1975) Music for thinking—heavy, synthetic, slow, deep, expansive. Languid chord progressions providing space for lament and reflection. This is a concept album in the purest sense: Pink Floyd wishes founding former member Syd Barrett were here, and bemoans the reasons why he isn’t (his mental illness and the dehumanizing realities of the recording industry). These are reasons why, in answer to Rodney King’s famous plaint, “we can’t just get along”. “The Machine” you see, welcomes you, sucks you in, rolls you around on the tongue, chews you up, and spits you out. And the sooner in life we learn this, folks, the better. Pessimism, skepticism, and cynicism are justified justified by their aborted progeny. Contentment is only a commodity for those willing to invest in wisdom. On the negative side, this album lacks the depth of the preceding “Dark Side of the Moon”, and the later “Animals” and “The Wall”. Also, it is too (communally) self referential, and relies too much on the inside backstory, so its feelings translate to the uninformed listener but obscurely. And comparing this to the rest of the Pink Floyd oeuvre reveals a certain unfortunate reliance on a repeated tropes and grooves (Haydn had the same problem. Beethoven definitely did not). But the precision, musicality, superlative studio work, and virtuosity of Waters and (especially) Gilmour make this a very good album. Sagacity is wasted on the young. 4/5
Solid album. Not my favourite Floyd but I totally understand why it's considered one of their best. The Shine on the Crazy Diamond, all parts are unforgettable and a great way to begin and end the album.
If there’s ever a list compiled of albums that should be listened to before you die, I reckon this one should be on there. A great mix of synth & guitar that they kind of ply on think compared to the normal amount of vocals on an album
Brilliant album. One of my favorite things about Pink Floyd is that they let their songs breathe as it were. Each musical passage is allowed to be savored and developed in its own timing. David Gilmour is one of my favorite guitarists for his ability to craft melodies and solos that are exactly what the song needs. Furthermore, the lyrical makeup is at once specific to Sid Barrett’s mental breakdown, yet universalizing in some of its themes of exploitation, genius, longing, and sadness.
It was early 2010's. Life was fairly simple. Youtube and Spotify are not yet swarming with ads so this particular young man decided that exploring new music is more worth it than exploring new porn vids. He discovered "Hotel California," as well as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Stairway to Heaven," "Nothing Else Matters," and the Glee version of "Hey Jude" because the original was geo-blocked. But all of those infamous songs are nothing compared to what he eventually discovered: "Comfortably Numb - Live at Pulse." His mind was blown away. He was never moved by music in that way before. "Definitely better than porn," he thought. So it went on. He slowly got into some album about the moon, then he got absorbed in a 22 minute colossal song, then something about a wall... But no matter how mind-blowing those Pink Floyd treasures that he found, a particular song still stands out: Shine on You Crazy Diamond. And no, he didn't even know some guy named Syd exists. But there he was, amazed beyond words. The slow build-up, the haunting four notes, the melancholic lyrics and theme, and the incredible and emotional latter parts... he was captivated by it all. ... ... ... Years later, the man remembered those moments. He wished he could experience them for the first time again. The thing with Pink Floyd is, while there are other legendary and influential artists, none of them transformed his perception of what music can be in such degree as Pink Floyd did. As of now he heard things about a piper, as well as the moon, a wall, some bell, a cow, a submerged ear, some animals, and even that "ummagumma" thingy. But that burning man shaking hands with someone still remains the best for him. It has the Pink Floyd equivalent of "Yesterday," and two sharp tracks, sandwiched with the best song of all time. A masterpiece. . . Yeah, it's a bit overhyped. But with such experience, it's understandable I guess?
This is one of my all time favorite albums. One of the very few I would consider to be perfect 10/10s. I can't say a single bad word about this. There are no dull moments, no bad songs. It's honestly kind of scary how absolutely amazing this entire album is, and it just gets better the more you read about it. The story behind this is incredible and I can't believe there hasn't been a huge Syd Barrett movie yet. Shine on.
Somehow it's both unfairly overlooked (which is inevitable considering it's the follow up to Dark Side Of The Moon) and still a bit overrated. The title track is a classic, and your mileage may vary on the Syd Barrett bookend tributes. Sometimes these can sound like something The Doors would do after losing Jim Morrison. If I can listen again after finding a suitable edible, the overall score will likely jump to a 5. But that's probably the result with every Pink Floyd album. I enjoy this album heaps more than The Wall, edibles be damned. And on some days, I even prefer it to Dark Side Of The Moon. As of this writing, Wish You Were Here is one of the Top 10 best reviewed albums on the list. Seems high.
Sprawling and Epic and in my opinion far superior to the hugely overrated "Dark side..". Written as a tribute to Syd Barrett it holds the attention and is moving throughout. Is it a bit over the top and overly produced with not enough songs? Probably. Am I going to deduct a point due to the prevalence of Prog rock in the non singles? Of course I am. But its a genuine classic none the less. 4/5
Fantastic, epic rock album. Equal parts beautiful and bombastic. Fave tracks: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (1 and 2) and Wish You Were Here.
I have a hard time picking a favorite Pink Floyd album. In my mind, they can almost do no wrong. If you put a gun to my head, I'll probably say this one. Or maybe it's The Wall. Or maybe Animals (I'm aware this is an unpopular opinion). No, it's probably this one. Best track: Wish You Were Here
I don't think it's as high level conceptually as The Wall or even Dark Side, but as an enjoyable collection of tracks it's hard to beat this in Pink Floyd's discography.
This one is a masterpiece. I've listened to it a ton, every song is great. Best enjoyed by listening to the whole album
I wish I could give this album an 11. Of all the Floyd albums (Including Dark Side), this is still my favorite.
Wish You Were Here quizá no fue un disco que cambiara el destino de la música (como lo fueron otros discos de Pink Floyd u otros discos de la lista) sino que es el disco que lleva a la cima las ideas de la banda y lo que pueden hacer en música y en letras. En particular, años de escuchar 'Shine On I-V' y aún me encanta cada detalle que oigo. Amo las subidas, bajadas, cambios de instrumentación, todo. Algo así con 'Wish You Were Here'. Pese a ser una canción que he oído miles de veces y que podría ya estar quemada en mi cabeza, cada vez que empieza la disfruto y aprecio.
Difícil dar una reseña de un disco que he escuchado decenas de veces, en éste mes por lo menos lo escuché unas 6 e inclusive esperé a que llegaran mis audífonos nuevos sólo para estrenarlos con este disco. La primer vez que escuché el disco completo fue por curiosidad ya que un viejo amor me dedicó y me cantaba wish you were here allá por el 99 o 2000 y quedé marcado de por vida tanto por la canción como por la banda ya que de ahí partió una búsqueda del sentimiento que he de confesar aún tengo hacia ésta persona. Cada canción tiene su sentimiento por qué más que sentido o ritmo o compás para mí cada canción de Pink Floyd es un sentimiento. El disco es un viaje de sentimientos tan profundos hacia diferentes direcciones. Tal vez la canción fue escrita para Syd pero bien ya ha sido tomada para hacerle saber a alguien que se le extraña. Hay una versión de Mandowar con mandolina que le da una vuelta más al coro que es como creo yo que debería ser por qué es muy corta la versión original y siempre quieres más wish you y más Pink Floyd https://open.spotify.com/track/3uTNBjOrKWhBfEL1Ii8kay?si=pF0lCkkpT8WyeOt3P_yMCw&dl_branch=1 también hay una versión alterna con Stephane Grapelli https://youtu.be/8sAF-7F4m2E Simplemente es Pink Floyd y punto
Dar una reseña de este disco va a ser complicado. ¿Qué podría decir que no se haya dicho ya en otras reseñas? Me gustan mucho los arreglos y el uso de sintetizadores, especialmente en “Shine on”. Me recuerda a la música de Naranja Mecánica; un uso vanguardista de los efectos y la tecnología disponible en la época. Es una delicia escuchar este disco, pero confieso que me gusta más Dark Side of the Moon.
Syd y sus problemas, maldita industria y los problemas que traemos. Es impresionante como un disco de 576 palabras puede comunicar sentimientos de manera tan marcada y clara. Shine on, a mi gusto, comienza más espacial, más nostálgica y termina con algo de enojo, stress; quieres, te duele y te enoja Syd. Maldita industria cínica, nos vamos a juntar a grabar un disco porque tenemos y al menos aprovecharemos para morder la mano que nos da de comer, Welcome y Have a cigar. Me gustaría que estuvieras aquí, tú amigo que te atacó la psicodelia, tú amigo que sigues conmigo desde el inicio, desde antes del Piper, tú amigo genio emergente que viene a salvar y revolucionar las cosas. Pero con los problemas de salud y los de la propia industria, puedes estar físicamente y no estar realmente en el cuarto. No estar y si lo estás, para qué estarlo? Para pelear? Para venderte? Todo envuelto en un genio musical bestial y lo muestran de forma eléctrica, espacial y acústica. Songs: Wish You Were Here, Shine 1-5, Welcome to the Manchine
Pink Floyd nunca hubiera podido haber sido lo que fue sin Syd Barrett... Pink Floyd nunca hubiera podido haber sido lo que fue con Syd Barret. Es cierto, buena parte del disco es sobre la ausencia de Syd pero, a mi parecer el disco que realmente habla sobre su partida es DSOTM, aquí, aunque anímicamente se encontraran en un lugar bajo durante su composición, se siente más como una carta de despedida y un cierre a una situación tremendamente triste. A sabiendas de la historia son claros los paralelos pero creo que la temática patente de entrada del disco lo sostiene por completo sin necesidad de saber la historia subyacente. En el momento en que habían explotado después de DSOTM hacen el que, a mi parecer es su mejor disco; con una temática brutalmente incisiva sobre el trato de las disqueras a los artistas. Siempre me ha gustado tanto la idea de la biografía prefabricada que la disquera quiere inventarle al artista para que venda más en Welcome to the Machine y la línea "By the way, which one's Pink?" en Have a Cigar es simplemente brillante y creo sintetiza por completo de qué trata el disco. Musicalmente no hay forma de que fuera mejor, absolutamente nada le falta ni le sobra. Shine On en todas sus partes y tan larga como es jamás se siente lenta, ese sonido undulante del sintetizador que es exacto y característico, presente tanto aquí como en Welcome to the Machine, esos solos brillantísimos blueseados, esas letras escuetas pero perfectas y al punto. Creo que a la fecha no hay banda de progresivo que pueda acercarse a la simpleza y perfección de esa suite completa. Las otras canciones igualmente de brillantes, inventivas y centradas. Para cuando llega la canción titular todo desaparece y queda una canción con guitarra acústica que si bien relata y se crea con un sentido específico es universalmente familiar para creo toda persona y aplicable de manera personal, no hay persona a quien esa canción no le "llegue." Termina con la segunda mitad de SYD que igualmente se va como agua. No quiero explayar demasiado, es un disco que inevitablemente me es demasiado subjetivo, lo he escuchado literalmente completo cientos y cientos de veces en 25 años que tengo de conocerlo. Sin la complejidad a veces barroca del Dark Side se siente incluso a mi parecer como un disco más sólido y de concepto más sólido, a mi gusto personal este es el mejor disco de Pink Floyd (sin pretender quitar lo brillante del otro proyecto, realmente del 73 al 79 estamos hablando de cuatro discos seguidos perfectos o casi perfectos). Un punto interesante es que como mencioné, he escuchado esto cientos de veces e incluso hoy en día sigo encontrando cosas que no había notado... En esta ocasión fueron dos: Durante Have a Cigar el ritmo se lleva entre bajo y sintetizador escuchandose uno al lado izquierdo y uno en el derecho, en un ritmo de 4/4; excepto que en el tiempo "7" a veces se mete un tiempo acompasado adicional y en ese momento las pistas cambian de lado y así se van intercambiando, nunca lo había notado y se me hizo muy interesante. Otro punto nuevo.... Al final del disco, ya al cerrar la última parte de Shine On se puede escuchar en el fondo a alguien tocando una parte de la canción See Emily Play, nunca había notado esto y siento le da ese cierre triste pero en homenaje a todo el asunto de Syd Barret. Disco de 10 o 5 o como le quieran llamar, es un disco sin un solo fallo en mi opinión.
I've loved this album for far too long to have any objectivity. Flawless. Fave track - "Wish You Were Here", I guess, but really I think the whole album should be consumed as one cohesive unit...
One of my favorite albums - if not my favorite - of all time. The title song is the first song I learned to play on guitar and is still my go-to “noodling” song when I pick up the instrument. I love everything about the album and all of its weird little idiosyncrasies.
Great record! Really enjoyed listening to it again, start to finish. Good soundtrack to a chill morning frying bacon and eggs for the fam.
I’ve only ever heard radio edits of these songs, and album is much better than I thought it’d be.
What should I say - one of the best album ever. A milestone in the music history I saw Pink Floyd in Dortmund operating "The Wall"
I have listened to this vinyl more than 10x in the last week. This is a gemstone, a travel through the ages, sadness, nostalgia, joy, and every feeling in between. A political, social and cultural statement that breaks chains and gets you through a vortex of timeless music.
I love this music; I've listened to it many times before so I'm pretty biased. Pink Floyd albums are an immersive experience. This album in particular takes me back to driving through southern Utah deserts in the middle of the night, helping to make me feel like I was on a different planet. This music is so intense, so surreal, so expansive. Plus so much history behind these songs. This is why people still love Pink Floyd.
Such a drastic change in quality compared to the other prog rock record from yesterday. Pink Floyd was in their prime with this one, and this a huge fucking stride to hit. Instrumentally rich, compositionally unmatched, structured perfectly. Only gripe I have is with David Gilmour's occasionally strained vocals, but man is it easy to look past. One of the best albums ever.
Rustgevend album met goeie, opbouwende nummers. Er zou wel een moment kunnen komen dat ik deze nog eens opzet
Dit is en blijft zo'n goed album. Pink Floyd heeft zo'n typische stijl die je meevoert.
Ill give it a five just for wish you were here, the shine on you crazy diamond is a 4.
Definitely Top 5 of all time. Planetarium Rock. It's a celebration of grand transience and wistful recognition of the fleetingness of all things combined with some serious guitar solos/rocking out.
Herregud vad bra detta är. Ett av deras flera mästerverk. Det är ett album med relativt få spår, men oj vilken kvalite. 3 av låtarna har jag redan innan lyssnat otroligt mycket på innan så dom var jag redan medveten om vilken kvalite dom höll. Sedan har vi "Welcome to the machine" och "Have a cigar" som jag direkt förknippar med barndomen. Introduktionen till Pink Floyd kom tidigt pga min pappa. Men när jag var så ung var jag inte redo för den typen av musik, det var inte så att jag inte tyckte om det. Men jag förstod inte storheten. De där två låtarna känns det som att jag inte hört sedan jag satt i bilen med pappa och han körde igång Wish you were here. Jag blir alldeles varm inombords när jag hör dom för vad som känns som första gången på 10 år. Magi! Bäst: "Shine on you crazy diamond, Pts. 1-5"
5! If I was high it would be a 10 and I'd be spending an hour trying to figure out how to find the 10. One of the classics. One of rock's masterpieces. Beautiful.
In high school Pink Floyd was my favourite band. And this is my favourite album from them. I have moved on from my high school tastes but this album is still great. 5 stars
I think that more has been said about this album than ever needs to be said about any album, probably, so just take my five stars.
Probably didn’t enjoy it quite as much as Dark side of the moon but it’s still great. Shine on you crazy diamond is really awesome
A lot has been said about this album so I don’t need to repeat it. I would say that Meddle, DSOTM, Animals and The Wall are all excellent but Wish you were here may just edge out the others, ever so slightly.
When I first heard this I was a bit disappointed - I guess I was expecting more aggressive and innovative synthesizers and effects that they had laid down on Dark Side and its predecessors - but I got over it.
this is another album that's very difficult to be even remotely objective about. it came into my life at a time that should be impossible to be nostalgic about, but somehow this album makes it not only possible, but inevitable. also, knowing the bookend tracks are all about syd really gives the whole thing weight. plus, the title track - every guitarist learns that opening at some point, i'm sure. this album is of its time, but timeless.
The album before my fave. I can hear the vocal transitions happening, and the soundscape elements that I love so much really begin to blossom here.
My favorite album from (one of) my all-time favorite groups. Dark Side of the Moon may get more glory, and it deserves the praise it gets, but this album is the Pink Floyd at their best for me, especially Richard Wright. The synths on this project are so massive, but so emotional at the same time. This band really just has a way of grabbing a hold of you and whisking you away into whatever world they are crafting in the music. And when you add the inspiration to most of the lyrics and the story of Syd Barret into it all, you get the cherry on top of this sweet, sweet dessert.
Over the years Shine On and Have a Cigar have only grown in my estimation, though my enthusiasm for Welcome to the Machine has waned. Still, pretty unimpeachable record you got here, Mr. Floyd.
One of my favorite albums. In my opinion Pink Floyd’s second best album but my personal favorite. It’s so easy to get lost in the sounds of shine on. Wish you were here is a beautiful song. Have a cigar really rounds out the album, helping it transition from the beginning to the end. Everyone about this album is outstanding. 9.8/10
What can I say? An absolute classic. The only question is whether this is a 4.75 or a straight 5 for me. I find this album more personally enjoyable than Dark Side or Animals, which are the consensus and music nerd picks for the best late era Pink Floyd album respectively. All three are great. (The Wall doesn't belong in this discussion, IMO. There's a number of great songs on it, but it's one of the most blatantly bloated albums of all time.)
One of my most-listened albums ever. I don’t go back to it super often anymore, but every time I do it’s like a breath of fresh air. 10/10
That's a 10. I don't know if I like this or The Wall best, as they are both phenomenal but very different
What happens when you have to top one of the biggest albums ever made: you just get better. Musically it's more Gilmour than Waters, and the better for it. Excellent tone and a tide of both grandeur and ennui. (Also, that 'Have a Cigar' intro is one of the most porno-sounding things ever recorded. Class.) Definitely higher in the pile than Dark Side, deservedly so.
This is still the perfect album for when you want to stargaze on a cloudy day. Close your eyes and melt into the everything.
This was really nice to listen to on a block where I just needed to get some work done. It flows incredibly well end-to-end and takes you to different places along the way without being jarring or pretentious. Loved hearing this again after a long hiatus.
I could just give this the 5 stars it deserves and move on, but before I do so I will note there are 3 other Pink Floyd albums I consider superior to this one. Yet Wish You fully deserves 5 stars: For the performances, For successfully doing this themed album (even if I don't necessarily sympathize with the suffering created by the music industry), But most of all for the great music. The title song is, easily, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Now it's time to sit back, have a cigar, and listen to this great album once more.
Sublime as ever. While Dark Side might have better stand-out tracks, this is their most cohesive album, and such a gorgeous soundscape! Fav new track: N/A, but old is ofc Wish You Were Here.
This album is straight up iconic. One of the greatest albums of all time. Love the theme throughout the entire album. So sad that the band was missing one of its members and were feeling the weight of carrying on. Favorite tracks? Probably the title track of the album or the heavy ass rock your face of “have a cigar” Seriously though. If you like music you must listen to this album
After getting Floyd's debut album earlier this week (and still not really enjoying it all that much) it's nice to get this one for the weekend. Interesting meta-album concept to me ... I just listened to the Stones' "Exile on Main Street" which is an album I don't particularly like, one of the reasons being that rather than a collection of decent songwriting I found that album more of just a vibe (A bluesy drugged out communal country house vibe if that's your thing). To be consistent - I should say the same of "Wish You Were Here" - this is definitely a vibe album, but instead this one being a slow space travel vibe...? It's different because even if the longest song tracks in at over 20 (!) minutes, it still works as a *song* as do the 3 shorter ones. Right off the bat this album draws you in: the almost eternally-long instrumental intro to "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" doesn't give us any vocals until nearly 9 minutes in. But it's right for this music - it sets up tension before "that riff" comes in at about 3:55, slowly repeating into a crescendo before the band kicks in for a bit, backs off, etc. Perhaps a bit of confirmation bias here but this never could have worked as a shorter song. I don't think you can fully appreciate the (overplayed?) singles until you hear them within context of the full album. Which...of course just means playing them between the cut 20 minute "Shine On..." Random note: I never knew until many decades later that the vocalist on Have A Cigar wasn't anyone from the band but English musician Roy Harper. A word or two about the production - this is prime-era Floyd where the mix sounds gorgeous...the great 70s analog synths blending perfectly with Gilmour's perfectly restrained guitar, clarity in vocals and acoustic guitars - the overall sound is just as much what makes this a classic as the music itself. This might not be for everyone (but shouldn't everyone enjoy a 20 minute song now and again) and may not be in my favourite ~50 albums ever but for what they were going for it's perfection - turn the lights down, turn the volume way up, and this is a vibe I can always get behind. 9/10 5 stars.
This was definitely the easiest 5 of this list so far, as I've listened to this album quite a number of times the last few years. Pink Floyd in general and Wish You Were Here in particular is one of the most biggest influences for some of the bands I love most today, especially in progressive rock & metal and atmospheric metal. Despite its now considerable age its still a fantastic album in its own right. It's soothing yet moving, accessible yet deep, haunting yet uplifting. It's an album that has a soul. The title track is among my favorite songs of all time, but I also really love all parts of Shine On.
Classic top tier Floyd album. Love the music and the themes. “Have a Cigar” is great commentary on music biz and life in general. Another thing I like is the cover - that’s a real dude on fire with real fire. They didn’t have photoshop back then…
This album has a lot of nostalgia for the frequent trips back to my Dads hometown visiting my grandparents when I was little. On the way there, a Pink Floyd cassette; and on the way back, Carpenters for my mum. For him there was already a strong connection as the band is also from his hometown, Cambridge; and he made sure to remind me every single time that he went to the same school as some of the band members (albeit different years, haha). I never understood the impact and influence of Pink Floyd until many years later and can completely understand why some people find this album overrated. That in between stage of childhood and adulthood, that was me. I got tired of it, it was 'uncool' dad rock that was played too often, went on too long, I wanted to listen to something new. None of my friends even knew what Pink Floyd were. When I rediscovered it in my 20s, something just clicked. I don't think this is their best album but for me this album is timeless. I can put it on almost any day of the year and it never gets old. With only five tracks on the album, the length is surprising. Each track feels like it has its place in the album, bringing all the emotion that could possibly be shown, building up and winding down. The bluesy tunes over drones and steady beats serving to reinforce the messages. Two of the songs (Welcome to the Machine & Have a Cigar) very clearly describe the music industry and the whole album seems a tribute specifically for the troubled former member Syd Barrett. Even knowing this, the songs still feel relatable, especially to early adulthood and trying to find your feet in the world. Promises made by employers never come to fruition. The pressure to fit a mould. Making mistakes. The guilt of leaving people behind who had been a formative part of our lives and the sorrow of losing them completely. Discovering nothing really changes.
A masterpiece. One of the best pieces of music ever recorded. Beautiful, emotional, and universal even though the subject matter is very personal to the band. The song “Wish You Were Here” is, in my opinion, a perfect piece of music.
Another childhood album of mine. I loved shine on you crazy diamond and wish you were here as a kid but now I’ve come to appreciate the rest of the album more
Re-listening for the generator. Was delighted to see some Floyd appear as my next record. Part 2 of 4 in Pink Floyd’s legendary 1973-79 run, Wish You Were Here is a mesmerizing ride down a winding river. The sweeping two big pieces of Shine On…, the rollers Welcome to the Machine and Have a Cigar, and above all else the heart-rending title track, this album is simply exquisite. Perhaps too short for a perfect score, perhaps too unvaried, but it maintains. 10/10
A fantastic album, brilliantly produced. The opening 9 mins of Shine on You Crazy Diamond is just incredible. Overall, it's a stone cold classic.
An open double album cover with stems and seeds in the bend. Billowing baby blue bong smoke. Fast food drive-thru. OK, just so you know, I’m probably going to give a five star rating to most of Pink Floyd’s recordings until 'Final Cut,' including the early Syd Barrett years. Pure Gold. Or should I say Columbian Gold? Because weed and Pink Floyd go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. I was having a conversation with a group of friends and colleagues once when a fellow expressed that he just didn’t ‘get’ Pink Floyd. Another dude asked him if he had ever smoked pot? And when he replied in the negative, the rest of the entire gathered assembly suggested, in unison, ‘There’s your problem!’ That’s not to say you can’t enjoy the Floyd sober- of course you can. But… One of the first times I got really, really high was at a high school party in an expansive and beautiful house way up in the mountains of Snowmass, CO, and 'The Dark Side of the Moon' was playing on a quadraphonic stereo. They don’t have enough stars to rate that. I had transcended the fucking stars. The second occasion was in Houston. I was 18-19 years old, and attending a midnight movie at some theatre with a wild girlfriend who loved to have sex in my car while parked in random persons’ driveways (which was not really to my taste); but, more to the point, always had the best weed (which was to my taste.) The movie was 'Live at Pompeii.' I knew nothing about it, she had arranged the whole thing. She had said something about 'Wish You Were Here' being her favorite song, and I thought she was referring to the soft rock hit by Chicago, ‘Wishing You Were Here.’ So imagine my surprise, super-high, when the lights dimmed and the movie began. Obviously, none of this is really a proper review of 'Wish You Were Here'- Roger Waters’ continuing expression of grief over the loss of his friend and founding Floyd member, Syd Barrett, to mental illness exacerbated by copious amounts of LSD ingestion. So, here’s mine in a nutshell: How does one follow up 'The Dark Side of the Moon,' one of the greatest LPs EVER recorded? 'Wish You Were Here,' that’s how. I currently live in Denver, CO, the first of these United States to legalize recreational marijuana. And this ain’t your 1975 pot anymore. These young blood hipsters have taken things to a whole other level. Which can only mean that a random sampling of their reviews of 'Wish You Were Here' will surely reflect their enjoyment of it, too; and, perhaps even more than mine when I was their age… and high.
One of the albums I'm most familiar with on this list. "Wish You Were Here" is one of the first things I learned to play on guitar, so this album has a special place in my heart. All killer, no filler. Still sounds crisp and gorgeous. RIP Bob. Favorite tracks: "Have a Cigar", "Wish You Were Here"
It’s somewhat ironic that an album about desperation, loss, distance, and isolation is also the Floyds most inclusive, accessible, and straight forward record. It’s expansive and it takes its time, but while it’s short on songs, it’s long on great guitar solos and the band is in top form. ‘Wish You Were Here’ is just one of those universal records that almost everyone loves.
Even though this is not fully my thing, this is an absolute classic in its genre. From start to finish this is, for me, the best that Pink Floyd has to offer. And Wish You Were Here is just the best song they've ever made. 5*
I could write a 1000 word essay here on why Wish You Were Here is 5 stars. But like the album, its better to use words sparingly for maximum effect. Simply put, it's flawless to me. Fantastic lyrics about Pink Floyd's success and their troubled former bandmate Syd Barrett, along with a palette of flavours on the musical front. The title track and Shine On are the highlights of 4 great songs. Probably my favourite album ever.
Another great one from Pink Floyd filled with beautiful guitar and lots of meaning. I’ve loved the song Wish You Were Here for a while now and enjoyed getting to hear the whole album.
“Shine On You Crazy Diamond” reminds me of two things. The first is in its entirety, for as it is a song broken into two parts and separated, it reminds me of Rush’s “Cygnus” suite. It’s multi-sectional, sprawling, beautiful, mysterious, gripping. The other song it reminds me of is Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say?” It’s all in the build up, teasing you at where he is going to finally, at last, come in and cry, “Hey, Mama, don’t you treat me wrong...” Same goes with “Diamond”. Such a build up, teasing you, tricking you into singing a stanza before Waters croons, “Remember when you were young.” I love the simplicity of “Wish You Were Here,” one of the first songs I, like so many others, learned to play on guitar. Basic yet beautiful.
You've already listened to it, you already know what the fuck is up. If you haven't listened to it, why are you reading this? Hurry up and give your ears some sweet guitar licks and atmosphere!
You ever ordered the 7 layer cake for dessert at a restaurant? You ever wondered why there are so many layers? Why not 3, 4, or, 5? You can’t even fit all 7 layers in your mouth at once anyway. But my are they all good. Cake…icing…cake…maybe a layer of fruit filling thrown in. Then the last bit of icing is extra thick. This album reminds me of that 7 layer dessert. The pianos, synths, and organ provide a vast, beautiful chocolate cake base. Layered between is a purposeful, graceful lead guitar. The bass, percussion, and even saxophone add accent layers, resulting in a multi-Michelin star palette. I could listen to this album over and over. I’m involuntarily letting out a “Mmmmm” after every sweet, mouthwatering bite. Bonus: Because we ARE HERE, I’ll put a plug in for Obscured by Clouds, Pink Floyd’s album just before Dark Side of the Moon. It served as the soundtrack for the French film La Vallée. It’s not talked about much, but it is worth checking out.
2 perfectly crafted Shine ons, 2 shorter tracks that bring out the menacing direction of what's next on Animals, and the campfire classic tribute to where it all started with Syd
I know this well. I put it on trying to Hear it with new ears, and first- well, that’s impossible. But to the extent I succeeded at all, it’s still brilliant, unique, gloomy, sorrowful, and beautiful. IMHO. Worst I can say about it is that the transition from Have a Cigar to the title track is really awkward. Second-worst thing I can say is that it’s not even one of this band’s top three…
Get a decent pair of headphones and listen to Shine On You Crazy Diamond. You cannot deny that it's one of the best songs ever composed. From the slow build up, the emergence of \"Syd's Theme\", the overwhelming guitar from David, and the lyrics, there is not a single flaw in this song. The album is an absolutely stunning ballad to Syd Barrett that explains how the machine that is fame and the music industry broke him into an unrecognizable person. You can also sense Roger's admiration for Syd and his deep regret that his personal hero fell victim to his mind. Not everybody is a fan of Have A Cigar but I thought Roy Harper did an excellent job with guest vocals and the song writing wittily exposes record label executives. Welcome to the Machine and the titular track, Wish You Were Here are both amazing songs as well, furthering the tragedy of Syd at the hands of the record industry with the title track carrying a gorgeous acoustic line. Wish You Were Here is unique in that it is the most personal story Pink Floyd ever told, as they often strived to demolish society on other albums but instead opted to tell the story of a single man. But it is so unimaginably beautiful in its depiction of the spark we all have, how it fizzles, and ultimately what will always remain of that spark in those who love or even just know us, that this album may be the biggest statement they've ever or will ever put out.
Amazing album that pushed cemented Pink Floyds status as one of the greatest bands right after their groundbreaking Dark Side of the Moon. Some say Wish You Were Here is better but to me their basically equal but most importantly different. DSotM is more immediate while WYWH takes it's time to build up. Either way amazing stuff all around.
Considering this is the follow-up album to Pink Floyd's masterpiece, Dark Side Of the Moon the expectations were huge with this record. I always felt, Wish You Were Here was the low-key classic, that in many ways is just as good or even better than Dark Side. I heard a lot of this music in my late teens and of course, it still holds up today. I feel I should explore their earlier works to fairly compare all their albums. One of their best regardless and one of the better albums of the 70's, for sure!
Stvarno neću duljiti za ovaj album, nema potrebe. Ovaj album je zajedno sa još dva-tri mjera ocjene čiste petice, savršenstva.