'Remember when we were young, you shone like the sun'
This week in 1975 Wish You Were Here was released. Eleven years ago Roger Keith 'Syd' Barrett passed away at the age of 60. His legacy is well known, his work with Pink Floyd and subsequent solo recordings the stuff of legend. Even after he left Floyd part of his spirit remained with them, so it came as no surprise that during the seven months or so they spent in Abbey Road (studio 3) they developed a long piece that lyrically paid tribute to their lost muse.
And there's the bizarre and sad vision of Syd turning up at Abbey Road during the recording sessions.
And there's the bizarre and sad vision of Syd turning up at Abbey Road during the recording sessions.
Wish You Were Here has long been a favourite Floyd elpee of mine, the first I heard at the time of release so to speak. So, I've dug out the wonderful Immersion Box Set, dusted it down and thought It would be fun to have another look and listen.
Retrospective, 'ultimate' and 'deluxe' sets are a tricky business to satisfy the hardcore fan. For some whatever is included is never enough, there will always be something somewhere on bootleg or tape or film that's considered more essential and relevant than then chosen material. Not being as involved in the intense end of Pink Floyd collecting I'm not carrying those monkeys on my back so to speak. For Wish You Were Here it's a case of enjoying what we have.
OK, so there are 5 discs, 2 CD's a DVD-A, a DVD and a Blue Ray. For me, it's a joy listening to a new (2011) remaster of the released elpee. Wonderfully clear, with some great subsonic depth too. The title track and final half of Shine On stand out for me, crisper and more dynamic than ever.
Disc 2 gets interesting, 3 tracks totalling 51 minutes from the Wembley Empire Pool November 1974 show, known for the wonderful Dark Side Of The Moon BBC radio broadcast. Shine On is a primitive but compelling version, coming together and taking shape before being reworked at Abbey Road weeks later.
We also get Raving And Drooling (the blueprint for Sheep) and You Gotta be Crazy (same, this time an embryonic Dogs). The quality of all three is great and I can't detect any savage editing either. Always been a fan of this era of live Floyd, one of my first non-Zeppelin bootlegs was the 'Tour 74' elpee from Trentham Gardens on this tour.
The sadly very short Wine Glasses from the aborted Household Objects sessions is interesting but really we need to hear more. Similarly, although longer, the Waters vocal version of Have A Cigar is nice but a curiosity rather than essential. His vocals sound strained, probably why Roy Harper got to do the finished thing.
The real diamond is a beautiful alternate Wish You Were Here complete with Stefane Grappelli. The highlight for me.
Disc 3, the DVD-A, has 5 'multi channel audio mixes', which bring different facets and textures to life. Audiophiles must love this. Perhaps releasing them all in a box alone on 200gm vinyl would be something?? Similarly, there are 3 high resolution mixes included on disc 5, the Blue Ray.
Disc 4 is interesting as it features the fabled 'concert screen films' for Shine On and the title track. Sadly there's no concert footage from either the 74 or 75 Tours. Even some remastered cine film would have been very welcome. A missed opportunity for me.
Apart from the music we get 2 great high quality booklets from Storm Thorgerson and Jill Furmanovsky, an art print, 9 coasters, 4 collectors' cards, a booklet of credits and reproductions of tour ticket, pass and scarf. Oh and a bag with 3 clear marbles.
All very nice, but icing on an already rich cake. Overall, a great package with some great material that gets regular outings to listen to and play with too. But, still waiting (almost certainly in vain) for the Animals box......
Retrospective, 'ultimate' and 'deluxe' sets are a tricky business to satisfy the hardcore fan. For some whatever is included is never enough, there will always be something somewhere on bootleg or tape or film that's considered more essential and relevant than then chosen material. Not being as involved in the intense end of Pink Floyd collecting I'm not carrying those monkeys on my back so to speak. For Wish You Were Here it's a case of enjoying what we have.
OK, so there are 5 discs, 2 CD's a DVD-A, a DVD and a Blue Ray. For me, it's a joy listening to a new (2011) remaster of the released elpee. Wonderfully clear, with some great subsonic depth too. The title track and final half of Shine On stand out for me, crisper and more dynamic than ever.
Disc 2 gets interesting, 3 tracks totalling 51 minutes from the Wembley Empire Pool November 1974 show, known for the wonderful Dark Side Of The Moon BBC radio broadcast. Shine On is a primitive but compelling version, coming together and taking shape before being reworked at Abbey Road weeks later.
We also get Raving And Drooling (the blueprint for Sheep) and You Gotta be Crazy (same, this time an embryonic Dogs). The quality of all three is great and I can't detect any savage editing either. Always been a fan of this era of live Floyd, one of my first non-Zeppelin bootlegs was the 'Tour 74' elpee from Trentham Gardens on this tour.
The sadly very short Wine Glasses from the aborted Household Objects sessions is interesting but really we need to hear more. Similarly, although longer, the Waters vocal version of Have A Cigar is nice but a curiosity rather than essential. His vocals sound strained, probably why Roy Harper got to do the finished thing.
The real diamond is a beautiful alternate Wish You Were Here complete with Stefane Grappelli. The highlight for me.
Disc 3, the DVD-A, has 5 'multi channel audio mixes', which bring different facets and textures to life. Audiophiles must love this. Perhaps releasing them all in a box alone on 200gm vinyl would be something?? Similarly, there are 3 high resolution mixes included on disc 5, the Blue Ray.
Disc 4 is interesting as it features the fabled 'concert screen films' for Shine On and the title track. Sadly there's no concert footage from either the 74 or 75 Tours. Even some remastered cine film would have been very welcome. A missed opportunity for me.
Apart from the music we get 2 great high quality booklets from Storm Thorgerson and Jill Furmanovsky, an art print, 9 coasters, 4 collectors' cards, a booklet of credits and reproductions of tour ticket, pass and scarf. Oh and a bag with 3 clear marbles.
All very nice, but icing on an already rich cake. Overall, a great package with some great material that gets regular outings to listen to and play with too. But, still waiting (almost certainly in vain) for the Animals box......
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