PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE (1975/ 2025)

It’s hard to believe this album is 50 years old. Its core is in two parts bookending the album. It’s entitled ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ in tribute to founder member Syd Barrett. On part one Dave Gilmour re-establishes himself as an incisive and inventive guitarist while part two veers into jazz funk territory – well, Nick Mason did call the album “the descendent of “Meddle”. The title track has become a busker’s standard. Apart from that are two songs which take a dig at the music industry, one of them ‘Have a Cigar’ is sung by Roy Harper. But I’m sure this classic album needs little more in the way of introduction. A very different album than “Dark Side of the Moon” which preceded it, with longer pieces, a surprise guest in Stephane Grappelli on violin on ‘Wish You Were Here’ and let’s not forget Dick Parry’s stunning sax on the first part of ‘Shine On…’

The most deluxe edition extends to 4 LPs, a book, a single, a poster, a programme, 2 CDs with early instrumental demos including Dave Gilmour on pedal steel guitar and a live bootleg at the LA Sports Arena in 1975. There are other options of course.