Before I get on with the backlog of reviews of new music (Keep sending the music though!), I thought I would prewarn you of some notable prog rock anniversaries in 2025 – I would imagine there will be quite a fuss about this one originally released on 12th September, 1975! Writing in “Favourite All Time Progressive Rock Albums” which I edited (pub. Acid Dragon) a long time ago (!) this is what I said:
Sandwiched between the two-part ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ are two tracks that have a dig at the music business (‘Welcome to the Machine’ – or does this refer to our ‘sci-fi future’ as suggested by Rolling Stone magazine? – and ‘Have a Cigar’, a funky piece with Roy Harper on vocals which seems slightly out of place). The title track (even back then) was a busker’s standard. The real powerhouse is the ‘Shine On’ piece about Syd Barrett. Dave Gilmour is revealed as an incisive and inventive, yet economical, guitarist. The second part of ‘Shine’ sparkles with musical and mood variations and excursions into jazz funk territory. Compared to “Dark Side of the Moon”, say, there is more emphasis on music rather than lyrics. As a relative rookie writer and reviewer when I wrote this, I must defer to the opinions of two men who played on it: Rick Wright described it as their most colourful and most 'feelingful' album and Nick Mason once described it as a “descendant from “Meddle” (from 1970).
I have a little confession to make here: when I reach for a Pink Floyd album now, I would more likely choose “A Saucerful of Secrets”, “Atom Heart Mother” or “Animals”. Bu that’s just me – what do you think of “Wish You Were Here” in retrospect?
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