Wish You Were Here

When I was in college if you didn’t like Pink Floyd you didn’t “get it” - according to self proclaimed music experts. The same experts who would light up a joint and listen to The Dark Side of the Moon with the lights off. These people also claimed you had to listen to their entire albums and not just singles. I like some of their music but I do not worship at the alter of Pink Floyd. I may like them better were it not for those pretentious a-holes in college.

If your track has 5 parts maybe it should be 5 tracks

Yeah, 4. Can’t say much more than what has already been said.

I may be more impressionable because this is the first Pink Floyd album I've listened to in full, but wow. Most enthralling album experience I've had in a hot minute.

I liked it…when they sang.

Unbelievably good, I could listen to this all day. Actually, I think I did.

Completely deserving of its status as one of the best albums ever made.

My favorite Floyd album. 5 stars.

This album is amazing. I didn't realize it was so packed with hits - only 5 songs and every one of them is great.

It was interesting listening to this two days after “Gates of Dawn.” You get a real sense of how they evolved and progressed as a band, in this much superior outing.

Probably top 5 album for me, just perfection

De cover van dit album blijft ook werkelijk legendarisch! Wat een album, ik heb dit gewoon 3 keer geluisterd vandaag. Soms wat lang, maar elke keer genieten. 6 sterren.

Ik heb de hele dag niets anders willen luisteren dan dit album. Shine on you crazy diamond raakt diep. Wat een impact heeft die song, kan er haast om janken, en alleen daarvoor zou ik t al 5 sterren willen geven. Ik heb er haast geen woorden voor, ik vind het zó mooi. Het is ook niet dat ik het allemaal voor de eerste keer hoor, maar door de challenge leer je wel je aandacht terug te brengen naar de muziek, en wat dat betreft heb ik de muziek van dit album nooit zo beseft als vandaag. Ik vind de gitaar van David Gilmour magisch, ik vind de synths en keys subtiel en gelaagd. De saxofoon in shine on you voelt alsof je weer door je neus kan ademen nadat tie een week lang verstopt heeft gezeten. De composities zijn zo mooi uitgedacht dat je haast vergeet dat t maar 5 nummers zijn. Ook vet dat shine on you crazy diamond aant eind nog terugkomt. man man man, wat een song, ik ga t weer aanzetten.

Just 2 lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

Ihan hyvä meditatiivinen kokemus

The best of the Floyd albums I've heard so far (although I've not had Dark Side of the Moon yet). I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it was enough to get a 5.

פשוט מופת

Best album of one of the greatest bands of all time. Every note, every sound as you move up the guitar string is intentional, a band operating at a completely different level.

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975) On Day 302, this monumental record arrived during a heavy, personal time of mourning following the sudden loss of my high school seatmate and friend. In the midst of processing that absence, the album's core themes of empty space, grief, and lost souls resonated with immense emotional weight. While differing in narrative scale from The Wall, this project stands tall on its own ground through flawless thematic focus and immaculate production. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (All Parts)" exemplifies the peak Floyd experience—sprawling past the ten-minute mark with towering synthesizer textures, weeping guitar motifs, and the unforgettable, haunting tribute of "Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun." The mechanical pulse and technical ambition of "Welcome to the Machine" offered a chilling sonic departure, while "Have a Cigar" delivered a poetic, cynical funk groove exposing the naked reality of industry exploitation. Anchored by the fragile, universally aching title track, the record functions less like standard music and more like a transformative theatrical journey. #LLG. A timeless, deeply moving masterpiece. A definitive 5/5.

I’ve heard this before and I own it. This is probably my favorite post-Syd Barrett album of theirs, though it might be Meddle, and now I’m gonna have to listen to both of these to decide. I had this on tape in middle and high school and listened to it a lot as a sullen teen before getting into punk. My brother in law uploaded his entire Floyd collection on our itunes some years back and I’ve relistened a number of times since then but probably last heard this maybe four years ago. I like how they split Shine On You Crazy Diamond into two sections that bookend the album, and it’s a pretty great song with the mix of psychedelic drones and prog blues and the three song in the middle are all great as well, with a good mix of psych droning, classic rock, and just the right amount of prog where it doesn’t get overindulgent. And it’s just a little over 40 minutes so it doesn’t drag on like some 70s prog does. I’m probably letting nostalgia take hold but this album still sounds fantastic to me.

What if we tried to capture the same lightning in the bottle that we got for comfortably numb? We can do that slow build-up, some spacey noises, a subdued vocal that fits Roger Waters' range, then we'll make it 5 songs but two of the songs will also be five songs? Great idea man, have a cigar! [scene] Ok this album is just fine. It's got that standard Pink Floyd soundscape with the synths and the guitar and everything's flowing together and you're smokin' weed and you're into this spiritual groove and before you know it 45 minutes has passed and you had a good time with your buddies. And that's about it. The lyrics are not good and it doesn't really go anywhere, but I guess it's fun while you're hanging out. I dunno, doesn't seem particularly special. If you like Pink Floyd, great, you're getting more of them.

Just like most of pink floyd, i think the actual songwriting and playing here is incredible, but its just too slow for me to find enjoyable. Not to be one of those people whos like "wahhh the intro is too long so i hate the song" but man some of these songs REALLY drag on. I dont have a lot of time in my day to sit down and intentionally deeply listen to music, so when i spend it listening to a 10 minute pink floyd instrumental, its just not pleasing. Theres definitely some emotion-evoking bangers here though. I cant say a lot about Shine On You Crazy Diamond because i just didnt enjoy that ~25 minute total song that i feel didnt have a lot to it. my favorites were 'Have A Cigar" and 'Wish You Were Here' just because they're short and sweet, which is crazy im calling it that because they're still 2 minutes above the average song length, with a very lengthy solo at the end. Pink Floyd almost always feels like it could be a emotional ending to a movie or something, this is great music if i was like hiking and just had a bunch of time to soak in some cinematic music. I do kind of respect it for not making the vocals a focal-point of every song. Some of these songs make the vocals feel like a surprise instrument solo that adds to the song rather than carrying it. Overall, sounds pretty cool. 'Wish You Were Here' is one of the greatest sounding vocals/lyrics ive ever heard in a song.

a fucking gem

Да, мне понравилось, это было красиво, но... просто но, немного не мое, но я еще буду слушать их

This is one of my favorite Pink Floyd albums and one of the greatest albums out there. Just two quick comments: - The production still sounds great and current in 2026! - Richard Wright doesn't get enough credit.

1975 experimental rock Welcome to the machine Have a cigar Wish you were here

There was not NEED to listen to this again. It’s one of the few albums I own in every format except maybe wax coil, though I am looking. I chose to listen again because it’s one of the Top Pink Floyd albums and one of my all-time favorite albums. I had heard Wish You Were Here early on and liked it. I had heard Shine On Pt 1 on the K-2 soundtrack but didn’t appreciate either until it was in context of the full album. This album had the perfect mix of instrumentals and vocals. David Gilmore’s guitar tone is perfect. Roger Water’s lyrics are personal and enduring. Wish You Were Here is a classic written for Syd Barrett, made only better by the entire album. I honestly could listen to Shine On Pt’s 1 & 2 back-to-back and be perfectly content. This is a near perfect album (okay, …perfect) that will stand the test of time. If I wanted to introduce someone to Pink Floyd, I’d use the Wall. If I wanted to solidify their respect, I’d give them this on headphones. I think I’m going to listen again right now….

Perfect album

Prog rock continues to be a genre that I'm unsure of. On the one hand, I'm not against mostly instrumental songs, and it's even okay when they're long sometimes. I guess I just can't say that I love it like everyone else seems to. This album has good instrumentation that borders on beautiful at times. I'm already familiar with the Foo Fighters cover of "Have A Cigar", which I've decided I like better than the original because it's more hard-hitting and straightforward and less spaced-out (also the original seems to end kind of abruptly). The best songs were the ones that were the longest and seemed to have the most care put into them (both of the "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" tracks). Certainly, it's an album that requires multiple listens, I think.

Awesome and anyone who disagrees is wrong.

Favourite songs: Have a Cigar, Wish You Were Here. Really hard to pick a least fav. I grow to appreciate David Gilmour with each day.

This is one of those rare perfect albums. I’ve listened to it hundreds of times and never get tired of it. Brilliant.

On the one hand, 2 of the 5 tracks on this album (Welcome to the Machine, Have a Cigar) are basically just filler compared with the rest. On the other hand, the remaining 3 tracks are amazing. Music to test speakers/headphones/drugs to.

This was an amazing journey. The production is next level, some of my favourite sounding drums and band I’ve ever heard, songs are so well put together, the open and closer are a vibe and I can’t get enough of it.

Pretty good, I really liked the +10 minute songs

Favorite Floyd. Love the crazy diamond book ends, welcome to the machine, does some of the coolest shit sonically you’ll ever hear, mostly if not all analog synths creating new sounds, beautifully weaving into traditional rock band elements is the apex of what this band does best. Have a cigar is, no research take, but the perfect sequel to Money, and not sure if it’s a different time sig (drums sound 4/4 but the bass and keys are throwing me off) and genuinely a top 5 bass line for me. Last note, maybe the greatest album cover of all time. 5 out of 5 10 out of 10.

Another one of my desert-island records. The first and last tracks, the two halves of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” might be this band’s absolute high-water mark. Which is effusive praise considering the album that preceded this one is, rightfully, considered one of the greatest records in the entire rock canon. But the atmosphere here. The searing guitar leads, the sinister lyrics, the madness and tragedy of Syd Barrett, the synths, the sheer weight of it all. Gorgeous. A cathedral of rock. Just when you think David Gilmour can’t bring you any closer to the edge with his playing, he grabs you and rips you over it. That opening verse is brutal. Kills me. This is the ultimate stoned-with-really-good-headphones experience, which happens to be one of my favorite experiences. The way the chorus of “Shine On” hits like a full fucking heavenly choir. Then a sinister laugh and a sneer, followed by an absolutely incredible saxophone solo. As it fades, we’re left with the low rumble of machinery. Something ejects. Something whirs and buzzes. I can hardly catch my breath. It feels otherworldly, like something is hovering just beyond our perception. And then those ominous acoustic chords announce the arrival of “Welcome to the Machine.” And that’s just the opening track. “Welcome to the Machine” is a sinister exploration of the mind. The processed vocals, the searing synthesizers, everything building and escalating until I can practically feel my heart beating. It’s frightening in this post-apocalyptic, science-fiction kind of way. The age of the machines. Humanity enslaved. Terminator robots scouring a devastated landscape for the last remnants of human resistance. We jack into a neural simulation and dream of the world before. The machines keep humming. Something speeds away. Something is ejected. It’s terrifying and magnificent. And then “Have a Cigar.” That funky riff! One of Gilmour’s best. The cynicism of the lyrics is delicious. The band is fantastic, that’s really what I think, and oh, by the way, which one’s Pink? We’re riding the gravy train! Gilmour tears the house down again with his solos. So melodic. You can sing every single note. Those bends! That tone! Nobody makes a guitar speak quite like this man. And the way it all zaps down to near silence at the end, the channel changes, and suddenly we’re listening to a tinny radio playing the opening guitar of “Wish You Were Here.” Fuck. Just hearing that G-centered acoustic riff breaks my heart. The little acoustic solo that follows is so simple, so pretty. And then some of my favorite lyrics of all time. That devastating sequence about trading your heroes for ghosts, hot ashes for trees, cold comfort for change, and ultimately exchanging a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage. What an extraordinary way to describe the surrender of your ideals and freedom for the illusion of success. Fuck. Fuck. The slide guitar after the first verse has George Harrison written all over it. So restrained, so achingly beautiful. And then the culmination into the chorus. Huge. Massive. Heartbreaking. Cathartic. I want to sing this with 100,000 people in a stadium, the way people sing Oasis songs, every voice joining in until the whole place shakes. And then the wind blows fiercely. Waters taps out those ominous bass notes. Something is coming again. The second half of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is a perfect preview of where Floyd is going next with Animals, another one of my favorite records. In so many ways, this album is the ideal midpoint between Dark Side and Animals. Synth-driven, progressive, electronic, satirical, biting, but still maintaining the tight songwriting and radio-friendly melodies without disappearing completely into an acid trip. Screaming guitar harmonies over synthesizer leads. Everything building and building, settling into an irresistible groove. The riff returns, followed by those heartbreaking lyrics wondering where this lost soul has gone, whether he’s near or impossibly far away. And then the absolute ecstasy of that enormous, shouted chorus. Shine on, you crazy diamond. From there, we’re drifting again, fading into space and time. Funky jamming. Dark Star and Terrapin Station at once. The music rises and falls in these extraordinary instrumental passages, everything peaking and receding, wave after wave. Just when you think the band has reached its climax, another wave comes crashing down. Until finally we’re washed over by vibrations. Sinister vibrations. Sorry, Brian Wilson. These aren’t good vibrations. This is music for the moment the villain takes his throne in hell and places a crown of thorns upon his head. And yet, beneath all that darkness and grandeur, there’s this overwhelming sadness. A band mourning its lost friend, mourning its innocence, raging against the machine that made it successful, and producing something almost impossibly beautiful in the process. The whole record feels enormous and deeply personal at the same time, somehow both a warning about the future and an elegy for the past. Fuck, dude. Is this better than The Dark Side of the Moon? Jesus la weez. 10/10

cara só wish you were here presta kkk álbum bizarro

Masterpiece on grief. Never been into Pink Floyd but Wish You Were Here is magnificent.

This is a 5 all day long. Full stop. Not sure anything more needs to be said. The more reasoned debate is which Pink Floyd album is their best. With each passing year I come to appreciate more and more their earlier material but there can be no denying this is at or near their top form. How these two sat down and created this - the notes, the pacing, just all of it: pure genius. Perhaps its best they couldn’t figure out how to age together so that what we do have couldn’t be diluted (ala Rush). 5/5

4.5/5. Great album. Not my absolute favorite Floyd but it’s very iconic. The band are in tip top shape and the songwriting here is masterful. Roger’s lyrics are heartbreaking, yet relatable. The shine suite and title track are the true highlights to the album, but every song is great. Took me awhile to get into the Roy Harper led Have a cigar, but the riff has really grown on me. Gilmour’s solos are all masterful, encapsulating the slow but tasteful style he’s known for. Richard Wright’s keyboard modalities are the true hero of the band, and this is no different for this album. Not my favorite Floyd album overall, but its strengths are undeniable, and its universal accessibility no doubt make it very personal to many people.

reminds me of my son; love him so much and this is one of his favorite bands… i cNt help it that i am biased…. however this is classic Pink Floyd and is a great record…. next to Dark Side of the Moon it is one of their best.

This music is moody, heady and meanders. I wonder if they play the songs the same way twice. It encourages daydreaming.

9 out of 10 album and Gilmore is God

Love this album

such a surreal album, 'welcome to the machine' was my favourite. the synth on that song was amazing

I’ve had a couple of Pink Floyd albums in the past few months, and I think that the over saturation does them a disservice on the list. When there’s so much emphasis on how great all their albums are, it simultaneously makes them all feel interchangeable in how much you need to pay attention or care. The music wasn’t bad, but I just don’t really see anything that amazing here like other people seem to see.

Another listener - on this very site regarding this very album - said PF was better to hear albums than songs. After having this one on heavy rotation yesterday, I agree, dear reader! Can't wait to hear it again in the proper room of sound.

Peak

Nice.

it's true, i was raised by a dad who listened to dad music. and i loved this at a young age. sue me.

10/10

Underwhelmed, honestly.

I have always really liked "Wish You Were Here" (the song) but have never listened to this album in full. Absolutely couldn't have told you there's only 5 songs. Some meandering moments but also some classic moments.

PEAK

I do not understand the allure for Pink Floyd. This felt incredibly average and borderline boring. 2.5/5

Some classic stuff on here if you are a fan of Floyd. 3.5

Not bad, actually

not my first time listening to it!! amazing album one of the pioneers for the rock genre 10/10, no complaints :)

Very calming

4.5

Classic Pink Floyd album. They have others I enjoy more but honestly this really nothing wrong with this “Shine On You Crazy Diamond I-V” and the title track are both classics but honestly I think the song that makes the album stand out even more for myself is “Welcome To The Machine” it’s the song that made me buy this album back in the day in the first place. “Half A Cigar” is a good fun track but think this type of song was done better on “Animals” album with “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” but this is still great The next section of “Shine On Your Crazy Diamond” to end the album is good but isn’t as great as first time around. Definitely weakest track but again still good Gonna go 4.5/5

Spectacularly and beautifully built album. Truly a privilege to get to listen to it.

7/10 - I get why Pink Floyd are so big but really one of the best albums out there? Maybe I need another listen

My college roommate used to run music in phases. There would be a band and that is what we would listen to. A lot. On repeat. At some point, it was Pink Floyd. And specifically this album. Shine On You Crazy Diamond was the song. It didn't take long to really burn out on Pink Floyd. But listening now, many years removed from always picking that CD in the changer, it's obvious why. This is good. Really good. Probably better than Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall good. How I wish, how I wish you were here We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl Year after year Running over the same old ground, what have we found? The same old fears, wish you were here That right there. That may be one of the best verses ever written. Five stars, no guilt.

Cried

RIP Michael.

I think I’ve heard more dudes at bars and parties and in the wild cover wish you were here more than I’ve heard the actual song. Pink Floyd is one of those bands that it is undeniable that they’re one of the best bands of all time, this album is indisputably incredible, I just do not care about it. I’ve never meant it more when I say I fully get it, I see it, I appreciate it, but Pink Floyd just does not click for me. Dark side does more than most but even still, you have to be in such a specific vibe for this and I have never found myself in that vibe.

Skvelé

Nothing to talk about, just Pink Floyd and the pure juice of progressive rock, sorry for that, but easily 10 out of 10

This is #day789 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my fourth and final record by Pink Floyd. My favorite Pink Floyd album, which I only heard for the very first time in what must have been 2008, when I got the Internet at my parents' home. I was 18 then. I don't know what there is to say about this album, really, that hasn't already been said. Put it on and get carried away by the music. Otherwise, this is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day790.

Spacious synth based prog that is obviously technically very good, but also incredibly dull at the same.

Uno de los mejores álbumes de todos los tiempos y en lo personal, mi favorito de Pink Floyd. De los pocos discos que considero un 10 absoluto

Damn good

'Wish You Were Here' is an album carried by its title track, which has poetic and thought-provoking lyrics as well as one of the coolest guitar riffs ever, which my dad often plays. I enjoyed how reflective the music was of the 70s, but its futuristic vibe was not fleshed out enough to make the synth inclusions not cartoonish ('Shine On You Crazy Diamonds'). Bringing occasional acoustic moments to the forefront was nice, but I often found myself bored waiting for these fresh moments. The vocals were quite strained and unpleasant at times ('Welcome to the Machine') although I did enjoy the crescendos built by winding synths. I wish there had been more of the lyricism displayed on the title track in the rest of the project, which is predominantly a looping and one dimensional soundtrack.

Gay Pink Floyd be like “How I wish you were queer”

The epitome of everything great about Floyd. One of the greatest albums of all time. I don't think I need to add anything else.

Awesome album! Have a Cigar was my favourite song

Long time since I listened to this. Back then I wasn't keen as I was still mainly into short punchy songs with a strong hook. How will it fare now I'm more into longer tracks and have the context of 345 other albums listened to? First struck by the production, particularly the guitar tone is gorgeous and every bend (and there are many!) pitch-perfect. 2nd thing is how ballsy PF are to have a 5-6min slow build to the opening track. Pushing the boundaries of prog. I don't remember a sax solo on Shine On! Welcome to the Machine sounds like Comfortably Numb. Very interesting user of synths with a phaser (I think). Around this time Kraftwerk sounded like robots while this synth is very emotionally expressive Wish You Were Here has long been one of my favourite PF tracks. Best track - Welcome to the Machine, Wish You Were Here 4 stars - it is very hard to look past the history, fame, and prior knowledge of an album like this. I may just be paying lip service

holy fuck that synth trumpet is crazy for a 13 minute song it's doing a great job of keeping my attention OOH THOSE HARMONIES Wish You Were Here is truly the standout, everything else is aight not a big fan of Welcome to the Machine 3.5/5

I always felt this album's reputation as one of the all time greats was a hard sell for me. "Have a Cigar" is a fine rock track, but being one of only 5 songs on an album of this magnitude, it definitely sticks out as a little underwhelming. Similarly, "Welcome to the Machine" has always felt a little weird in the tracklist, which is a (cheesy) synth odyssey, with some really clunky lyrics. It's just a little too dramatic for its own good, although I think the climactic synth solo is captivating. I always felt this song would work better on a longer album, one with more opportunities in the tracklist to not make the All-Synth-Melodrama track stick out. Perhaps more songs that have synth workouts to make it more cohesive. That leading into a straightforward blues rocker is just weird. Title track? No notes there. The first half of "Shine On" is great, emotional, and sets a tone that it just swims in. The second half, while good too, of course, kind of loses the emotional momentum of the title track (and the I suppose even the first half) when it hits the bluesy soloing section. Feels much less epic than it could've been. I love Pink Floyd, and I feel weird giving this album either a 3 OR 4. But this album just isn't cohesive enough to live up to its reputation. I still listen to this album a couple times a year, though!

Absolutely a great album.

oooo definitely loved it and good album to introduce an album. First song, the instrumentals was off the chart

Probably one the best albums ever made. If not the best album ever made. Easy one! So: 5/5

A great album... Every song is a classic. Pink Floyd at their most heartfelt, with great lyrics throughout. And maybe the best album cover in rock music.

SO ENJOYABLE.

Easy 8 (I clicked the 5th star 3 times). All time classic, up there with Dark Side.

One of the easiest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I will give out in this whole project.

Great vibe, not for casual listen. Would be good with a light

Fantastic album, one of PF's best

Well, what can you say about this? One of their greatest albums. Yes I can understand that if Prog is not your thing you might not appreciate this album. But I do. Supposedly an allegory or tribute to original band member Syd Barrett he turned up at the studio unexpectedly and unannounced on the last day of recording. Shine On is a classic piece of music. And after Roger Waters tried many time in vain to get the vocals right on Have A Cigar. Mr Gilmour got his mate Roy Harper, who was always hanging around the studios, to give it a go. And he nailed it first time. Any way, this is one of my 2 favourite Floyd albums. So there can only be one score from me.

An absolute masterpiece from start to finish. Immersive stuff.

Could this be better than DSOTM? Its close! The title track is probably their finest song, both parts of 'Shine On...' were a great example of predominantly instrumental experimental tracks which just make you float in a virtual SDT. My only gripe is the vocals on 'Have a Cigar' I'm not sure they were Gilmour's, unless he had throat problems or something when they recorded it.

Another absolute classic. Pretty much the pinnacle of what Progressive Rock can be. Haunting, emotional, captivating- it really draws you in and keeps you motivated. Combined with the lore behind the album- it really is top tier. Even my least favorite on the album (Welcome to the Machine) is still a good song with interesting motifs. Overall- fantastic album

Individually, tracks are great. But a little redundant over an entire album

#248 I love this album, and I’m a passive fan at best. Like this is one of those albums you put on to hang out and chop it up with people. That’s the case with a lot of Floyd which is hard to say about a lot of bands. Like I am not a big prog guy but Pink Floyd definitely get a pass because it feels like their music is atmospheric and welcoming than a band like King Crimson or Yes , where the latter feels like nails on a chalkboard. I’m not going to do a hit or a miss, or gem because the album only has a handful of songs. Just enjoy the thing.

I think I listened to this 3 times in a row. So good... No notes.

One of my favorite Floyd albums, and with such beautiful music. The tribute to Syd Barrett is touching. Some of David Gilmore’s best guitar work. Roger Waters best song writing.

I love it

My favorite band. One of the best songs of all time in the title track, and the others are amazing too. Shine On drags just a little at parts, but still.