Top 10 Pink Floyd Albums...

[JIF]

I'll focus on the ones I really like. I agree with the earlier post that anything pre-Meddle doesn't work for me.

1) Animals
2) Dark Side Of The Moon
3) Wish You Were Here
4) Meddle

bigger gap

4) The Wall
5) The dreaded Final Cut

Even bigger gap

6) Momentary Lapse of Reason
7) Division Bell

I agree that if Amused to Death, Radio Kaos, or Pros and Cons were included that would round out my 10 with Amused To Death eviscerating The Wall.

I don't get it? You call The Final Cut dreaded, but it's higher than the two made after Roger left.

[Jubal]

"There's only 13 studio albums, right (counting Ummagumma despite a live disc and counting More and Obscured By Clouds)."
Nope. 14. Count 'em. Although, I surely wouldn't disagree with the argument that The Final Cut is a Roger Waters solo album.

Studio albums

1. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
2. A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
3. Soundtrack from the Film More (1969)
4. Ummagumma (studio and live, 1969)
5. Atom Heart Mother (1970)
6. Meddle (1971)
7. Obscured by Clouds (1972)
8. The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
9. Wish You Were Here (1975)
10. Animals (1977)
11.The Wall (1979)
12. The Final Cut (1983)
13. A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
14. The Division Bell (1994)

[Tangram]

I liked Relics a lot but I had it when you couldn't get the non-album stuff anywhere else and I NEEDED it.

Exactly!! 5 tracks were not on the studio albums and Careful a with that axe Eugene is the studio version which is not on a previous studio album. Great album, love Biding My Time with Richard Wright on trombone!

[rcarlberg]

I'm rather surprised that Obscured by Clouds figures on almost every list. Not that I don't like it, but I tend to think of it as the most "minor" release by the classic-era Floyd.

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

[NogbadTheBad]

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

Cos it's great!!

[rcarlberg]

Cos it's great!!

Oh, well, I forgot that.

[Trane]

Quote Originally Posted by happytheman View Post
Curious why Embryo was left off of Relics?

Not sure if this is true or not, but I recall reading that the band never considered it a finished recording and they were pissed that it got released at all. I think it's great, myself; better than most of those other non-LP tracks (except for the wonderful "Point Me at the Sky").

Yup, I believe Embryo never reached the "final' stage they wanted it to??? same thing for Cymbalene, despite the More OST version

But even with Embryo on Relics, this wouldn't make it anything more than a compilation (sort of who's Odds & Ends or a Big Meaty & Bouncy-type of album), never a full-fledged album
(but then again I ranked atpo Floyd at Pompeii as their best album

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

Cos it's great!!

and it fucking rocks my boat.... even the weaker tracks are miles above the end of side-A of Meddle

In my book, classic Floyd era starts with AHM....

[PeterG]

when the space could have been used for, as you noted, "Point Me At The Sky," "Apples And Oranges," "It Would Be So Nice," or even "Embryo."

Exactly, and we had to wait for the PF album from the Masters of Rock series in the 70s, which included: Apples & Oranges and Candy and a Currant Bun. Then Works in 83, which included Embryo as the only previously unreleased track. Then all the way up to Shine On, for the rest to be officially released on that digipack singles disc.

Actually, other than Biding My Time, I believe every single song on Relics has been released elsewhere,

Incorrect! It is a known fact amongst older pre-CD Floyd fans that most of Relics was only released on Relics in 71 and not again until decades later. Also another fact to remember is that later LPs often changed the tracklisting of orignal releases. So for example, original copies of Piper don't contain Bike. It was added to new pressings of Piper AFTER the release of Relics. In addition to Bike of course, also only originally on an album (as opposed to singles) i.e. Relics are: Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, Paintbox, Julia Dream, Biding My Time. So a total of 6 songs. How those songs were released in the 90s, thirty years later is totally irrelevant.

There are some songs on Relics, that you won't find anywhere else - the excellent Biding My Time, for example. And, some compilation albums have the special atmosphere - Relics I believe is one of such albums. JT's Living in the Past is another...

Spot on! And I consider neither as a collection album, as they weren't made in that spirit back in the day, they were made to make some unavailable tracks avaialble not to cash in on "greatest hits".

BTW, what were the differences between the US and Euro versions of Relics? Wiki doesn't mention any.

There aren't any differences in songs, only different covers. I've got US, UK, French, Australian, German and Dutch copies - all the same tracks & in the same order.

Ummagumma is on every list so far. Nice to see, I love that thing to pieces and it's always baffled me how slagged it can get.

It's always baffled me too. I think it was because a lot of fans didn't understand the concept. But for me the purchase price was worth it if only for Roger's 2 wonderful tracks Grantchester Meadows & Several Species.....etc.

[PeterG]

In my book, classic Floyd era starts with AHM....

For me classic Pink Floyd is Piper (68) to Moon (73), then it morphed into what they should have changed their name to: Waters Maudling Vehicle. That said I like the low-key vibe of The Final Cut. But I've never liked WYWH, Animals or The Wall. Floyd only recovered again with The Division Bell, which I think is great.

[Trane]

For me classic Pink Floyd is Piper (68) to More (73), then it morphed into what they should have changed their name to: Waters Maudling Vehicle. That said I like the lowkey vibe of The Final Cut. But I've never liked WYWH, Animals or The Wall. Floyd only recovered again with The Division Bel, which I think is great.

This would imply that WMV would've morphed into GRC >> Gimour's Revenge Chariot

TDB only has the opening and last track that are worthy;... but then again, it's two tracks more than AMLOR (which hasn't got any)

[PeterG]

My top 10 today:

1.
Dark Side of the Moon

2.
Meddle
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Relics

3.
A Saucerful of Secrets
Ummagumma
Obscured By Clouds

4.
More
The Division Bell
The Final Cut

[PeterG]

This would imply that WMV would've morphed into GRC >> Gimour's Revenge Chariot

And that's probalby how he viewed TDB, a sort of revenge with its return to form. However, I like most of it, I think it's a tad unfair to say it only has 2 good tracks. BUT the bottom line certainly is that Roger's solo albums are bloody brilliant - Pros & Cons, Radio KAOS, Amused to Death. I love them all and place them well above WYWH, Animals, The Wall and The Final Cut.

[NogbadTheBad]

But I've never liked WYWH, Animals or The Wall. Floyd only recovered again with The Division Bel, which I think is great.

Have to say that's a pretty unusual point of view.

[PeterG]

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

No idea, we're on the same page here. It's the only classic period Floyd album I never listen it. And with the exception of Fat Old Sun it's bloody awful IMO. That said, I have a live recording of it, which is quite good, but again nothing I listen to. It is simply the quality of the writing that is at fault on AHM, both lyrically and musically, every long-running band has it's own AHM, nothing wrong with that, but admitting it and moving on is the healthiest thing to do for band & fans alike.

[PeterG]

Have to say that's a pretty unusual point of view.

It's only unusual if you've never heard it before. On Floyd forums i.e. not prog forums, Waters is considered Satan and so this view is not at all uncommon.
A large amount of Floyd fans don't listen to prog generally & don't consider PF as prog. PF for many, myself included, belongs to classic rock like Thin Lizzy, Zeppelin and Queen. Attendance at any PF gig in the 80s and 90s provided plenty of evidence for that.

[Progatron]

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

I love the suite on side one.

I wonder how many people are aware of this? :

[happytheman]

I love the suite on side one.

I wonder how many people are aware of this? :

I'll have to listen to this again.. maybe it's me but that sounded like a train wreck...

[JIF]

It's only unusual if you've never heard it before. On Floyd forums i.e. not prog forums, Waters is considered Satan and so this view is not at all uncommon.
A large amount of Floyd fans don't listen to prog generally & don't consider PF as prog. PF for many, myself included, belongs to classic rock like Thin Lizzy, Zeppelin and Queen. Attendance at any PF gig in the 80s and 90s provided plenty of evidence for that.

Pink Floyd are prog. Why do you insist on rewriting history, Peter? Bands like Yes and Genesis never thought of themselves as "prog rock". Just like Black Sabbath never thought of themselves as metal. Steve Wilson doesn't think Porcupine Tree is prog. Pretentious lyrics: check. Long, complex, suite-like songs:check. Queen, Led Zepplin, or Thin Lizzy never wrote a twenty minute, multisectional, complex epic. Pink Floyd has many. I think that Pink Floyd were just trying to be cool by distancing themselves from a movement which they help start. Waters also though it was cool to spit on an audience member during the Animals tour. Remember, if it walks like a dog and barks like a dog, then it's a dog.

[NogbadTheBad]

It's only unusual if you've never heard it before. On Floyd forums i.e. not prog forums, Waters is considered Satan and so this view is not at all uncommon.
A large amount of Floyd fans don't listen to prog generally & don't consider PF as prog. PF for many, myself included, belongs to classic rock like Thin Lizzy, Zeppelin and Queen. Attendance at any PF gig in the 80s and 90s provided plenty of evidence for that.

I understand the the 'Water= Satan' crowd only thinking they recovered from The Wall & The Final Cut, particularly the later, with The Division Bell.

What I don't get is the thinking that there were no good albums between More & Division Bell. I'd argue that most classic Rock fans & general populous would consider DSOTM, WYWH & The Wall the pinnacle of Floyd's output. On RYM, which is clearly not a Prog board, the Meddle through Wall period has by far the most ratings and the highest ratings.

[rcarlberg]

Wow. Just "wow."

People are still fighting the Waters vs Gilmour fight. It's been how many years?

Move on people.

[Mister Triscuits]

Also another fact to remember is that later LPs often changed the tracklisting of orignal releases. So for example, original copies of Piper don't contain Bike. It was added to new pressings of Piper AFTER the release of Relics.

This is incorrect. "Bike" was never "added" to Piper. It was always included on British pressings, but omitted from the US version (along with a couple of other tracks). Possibly you're thinking of A Nice Pair, which later become the only way to get Piper in the US, and featured the UK track listing.

For me classic Pink Floyd is Piper (68) to More (73), then it morphed into what they should have changed their name to: Waters Maudling Vehicle.

More was 1969 and was only the third PF album. Are you thinking of Obscured by Clouds (1972)?

[AcousticWalden]

Wish You Were Here
Meddle
Atom Heart Mother
Animals
Obscured by Clouds
The Dark Side of the Moon
A Saucerful of Secrets
The Final Cut
The Division Bell
Ummagumma

[Facelift]

And Atom Heart. It's turgid, incomplete, uneven, over-produced, poor sound quality, full of filler and dismissed by the band as an unsuccessful experiment. Why does everyone rank it in the top ten?

It's not a good album, but the band only had 14, so... not inconceivable that it would make the top 10. I'd probably rank it last or second to last, though.

[Trane]

I love the suite on side one.

I wonder how many people are aware of this? :

Not many here I guess... I posted this just a few months before the end of PE 2.0 had despite four bumps, had no reply at all...

[Facelift]

Pink Floyd are prog. Why do you insist on rewriting history, Peter? Bands like Yes and Genesis never thought of themselves as "prog rock". Just like Black Sabbath never thought of themselves as metal. Steve Wilson doesn't think Porcupine Tree is prog. Pretentious lyrics: check. Long, complex, suite-like songs:check. Queen, Led Zepplin, or Thin Lizzy never wrote a twenty minute, multisectional, complex epic. Pink Floyd has many. I think that Pink Floyd were just trying to be cool by distancing themselves from a movement which they help start. Waters also though it was cool to spit on an audience member during the Animals tour. Remember, if it walks like a dog and barks like a dog, then it's a dog.

I think Pink Floyd occupy a space much closer to Roxy Music, Tangerine Dream or Mars Volta than ELP or Yes. They did psychedelic pieces, atmospheric pieces and had some longer songs, but none of them are particularly complex. I don't think it's totally improper to lump them in with prog if the prog umbrella is to be quite broad, but I don't know that they really belong there.