Pink Floyd – one of music’s most successful acts – they have sold over 200 million albums around the world. They are considered to be a British progressive rock band, gaining early recognition for their psychedelic or space rock music. This is a list of their ten greatest songs.
In 1985, Roger Waters left Pink Floyd and declared the band dead. Two years later, David Gilmour and Nick Mason released A Momentary Lapse of Reason and proved him wrong. Although the album is arguably worse than anything else in the Floyd catalog, the songs “Learning to Fly”, “On the Turning Away”, and “Sorrow” stand as some of the best of the post-Waters Floyd. This performance is from the Pink Floyd concert film Delicate Sound of Thunder.
Richard Wright’s mesmerizing keyboard work and Roger Waters’ though-provoking lyrics both shape this great song from the Floyd’s greatest hit, Dark Side of the Moon. The melody was originally born from the Pink Floyd recording sessions for the film Zabriskie Point, but the film’s director rejected it. This performance is from Roger Waters’ Live Earth performance.
Syd Barrett’s music, both with Pink Floyd and as a solo artist, is characterized by entrancing and often surreal lyrics. “The Gnome” from Pink Floyd’s debut album Piper at the Gates of Dawn is no different. “The Gnome” is a Tolkinsian tale about a little man who enjoys drinking wine and sleeping. This is the album version with random footage of the late Syd Barrett.
Atom Heart Mother is a very eclectic album featuring a very avant-garde symphony/rock suite, three songs by Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and David Gilmour respectively, and “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast”. The title track is the second-longest song the Floyd have ever recorded, clocking in at 23 minutes and 44 seconds. This performance is from the Bath Festival in June 1970.
“Fat Old Sun” remains one of David Gilmour’s best songwriting efforts. This performance is from the DVD David Gilmour in Concert.
During the recording of Saucerful of Secrets, Syd Barrett became more and more disconnected from his bandmates and the world in general. Every theory on Syd’s mental breakout has been posited, from LSD to drugs and epilepsy. This song is seen by many as a self-assessment by Barrett. Barrett was dropped from the band soon after, replaced with his friend David Gilmour.
Another of Pink Floyd’s “epics”, “Echoes” pushed the space-rock tendencies of Pink Floyd to their max. The “whale” sound effects would later be recycled into “Is There Anybody Out There?” from The Wall. This performance is from David Gilmour’s live DVD Remember That Night.
Animals, while not as well known as Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, is every bit as good as its brothers. This album introduced the pig, who’d be present at every subsequent PF tour. This version is from Roger Waters’ live DVD In the Flesh Live.
Shine on You Crazy Diamond is the Pink Floyd’s tribute to their fallen leader, Syd Barrett. The nine-part, 26-minute song is perhaps the greatest collaboration of Gilmour, Waters, and Wright. This performance is from the Pink Floyd DVD Pulse.
This short, acoustic, poignant song by Roger Waters and David Gilmour lends its name to the album, which also features “Shine On”, “Welcome to the Machine”, and “Have a Cigar”. This performance is from Live 8, which was a moving time for Floydians everywhere. After 20 years of animosity, Roger Waters and his former bandmates finally shared a stage together.
Contributor: CBorne
The a cappella version of Dark Side is amazing.
http://www.darksidevoices.com/thealbum.phtml
I absolutely love “Comfortably Numb”. The version from the Pulse tour DVD is, in my opinion, the greatest solo ever. Gilmore is a living legend.
I also for some odd reason like “Bike”! The lyics are very Syd Barrett like!
i feel like a sheep for saying this but hell it’s my opinion too.
“Comfortably Numb”=all time fave Pink Floyd.
“Time”=another simply fantastic song.
but then it is a very nice list. you can’t really go wrong with Pink Floyd. even “The Wall”. though very overrated it is still an extremely misinterpreted and underrated album. it gets the wrong attention from ignorant people.
Glad to see you put something from Animals on the list. That is my all-time overall favorite Floyd album. It has a nice, circular pattern to it.
Ah, it’s impossible to say what the best Pink Floyd song is. They are all awesome in their own way.
CBorne,
Although my list would be different, I personally liked yours because it prompted me to think about and listen to a few things that I haven’t heard for a long time.
You have attempted a difficult task and should be commended for your bravery.
That being said, I may have included Interstellar Overdrive, but it would be hard to narrow it down to ten since the band has such a large number of great songs. Unlike many, I was actually quite glad that Money and Time were not included as they would not make my top ten either.
I sure would of thought that “Run Like Hell’ and “Comfortably Numb” would of made this list for sure.
I cant believe that “Comfortably Numb” and “Run Like Hell”,did not make YOUR top 10,cuz they(those two songs that I just listed)do make it by the radios top 10 and it was those two songs they had as encores at the three concerts that I saw them perform.You know the old saying “Always save the best for last”.
Cbourne:
I love Opel, too, as raw as it is… If Barrett had lasted a few more years and had the same production, well, this might have been a completely different list.
Wish you were here…is my favourite song of all time!!! Brilliant number one..I still think you made a mistake by not including ..The Great gig in the sky!!!!
Oh God! Wish You Were Here??? Cheeeese! Where’s Comfortably Numb????
i think ‘coming back to life’ must feature on this list
Comfortably numb?
Time?
Interstellar Overdrive?
TAKE THY STETHOSCOPE AND WALK!?!
not that I’d expect it on anyone else’s list, but my personal favorite is Fearless from Meddle.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWH01DBJxlo I love the acoustic mood and the lyrics speak of personal power. Meddle is awesome and maybe underrated.
@Mike D:
I love “Fearless”! It and “Wot’s…Uh the Deal” are definitely on my top ten!
Kinda agree with Late O Days. I mean, it just seems as if the author is trying to be original or surprise us, since Comfortably Numb is the most popular Floyd song among fans. I mean, with that solo, it damn well should be.
BUT still good list. I wouldve put Echoes and Shine On 1st and 2nd, but thats just preference. Time also, rather than Us and Them off Dark Side, and the Great Gig is a phenomenal performance.
Im a fan thats never been a fan of the Syd Barrett era, I particularly dislike The Gnome and Bike, lol. But oh well.
By the way, whats with everyones hatred of the Wall? not their best work, but still an awesome album.
To my mind Saucerful of Secrets is under-rated. My opinion of it is that it showed how much Pink Floyd had matured. Yet I cannot understand why you chose The Gnome. My top 10 would have these;
1) Echoes
2) Shine on you Crazy Diamond
3) Money
4) What do you want from me
5) Us and Them
6) One of these Days
7) Welcome to the Machine
8) Dogs of War
9) PowrTocH
10)Great gig in the Sky
Young Lust was my favorite for a while. Then Mother. Now pretty much all of Mettle.
rushfan, Young Lust is one of those great rock ‘n roll songs. The Floyd is really kickin’ it there.
As far as “everyone’s hatred of the Wall” (Johan), I think it’s the natural love of the underdog versus the obvious choice. Frankly, I don’t know if I agree with “not their best work”. It’s certainly not my fave but that’s because it’s so dark and twisted. There’s not a whole lot of upliftment in the Wall. With some of their other material (Animals, Dark Side), it’s not exactly positive but it can be inspiring to the loner in all of us. Dogs, for example, is biting and nasty… if you’re a corporate type, which I’m not. Dark Side at times is a celebration of being a little bit loony.
But more to the point, The Wall is a tour de force. It’s what they (Roger, at least) were leading up to for the entire 1970′s. It’s remarkably cohesive, and clear. And there are plenty of great songs (Thin Ice, Blue Sky, Mother, Brick, Young Lust, Young Lust, Run Like Hell, the Trial, oh and these are just off the top of my head, I’m not looking at a list).
I like the whole career of Floyd. Oh, scratch that, I’ve never been able to get into the immediately post-Syd era, which I know makes me sacreligious (sp?).
10. Free Four
9. The Nile Song
8. Bike
7. Welcome to the Machine
6. A Pillow of Winds
5. Us and Them
4. Interstellar Overdrive
3. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
2. Dogs
1. Echoes
That’s my personal top ten Floyd songs.
I got to see them live in ’88. It was an awesome show!! I did long for Waters to be there, but it was still worth it.
Ummm…Comfortably Numb should most definitely be on there. Like most of the ones here, but I am with others in the opinion that you missed the mark on this list.
But hey- you like what you like, right?
Love Pink Floyd, so just seeing a list with their name on it is enough for me. Animals is my favorite album after Dark Side so I could add Sheep to this. Feerless is another gem I would have included. Time is a classic, but in the end I get the meaning of your list and any true PF fan would appreciate your list even if they don’t necessarily agree wit it.
high hopes, welcome to the machine, saucerful of secrets
I have every album including solo work. Thet are absolutely my favorite band. I would love to have a PF lunchbox.
you forget (hey you)is the best
at the risk of being flamed, I just could never get into Pink Floyd. I think their stuffs ok, but nothing too special. Just my thought.
The Beatles, thats a different story
Adam ~ Just out of curiosity, what don’t you like? Have you listened to Mettle? It’s a good album. Don’t feel bad, not every band is for every body. My best friend doesn’t like Led Zeppelin and I used to think it was weird, but you get to a point where you realize, hey, different strokes for different folks, right? Keep on keepin’ on.
Just seemed like the comments needed a bit of a kick in the arse. See Evan’s comment (#2) and the *****storm that followed on the top 15 beatles songs list. Can’t let a silly Beatles list beat a Floyd list on comments. I’d actually take Zepp or PF over the beatles any day of the week.
LOL@ Jugband Blues. I love this song but its much more a Syd Barret song I would say. I also think that its your list so its fair to post what YOU feel the best songs are. When someone else posts a nice list of bootleg clips they can have their own say
Its nice to know some others know a few of the pre- DSOTM songs.
138. rushfan: It’s Meddle.
Where is Time, Money, Another Brick In The Wall, See Emily Play, Arnold layne ??!! I agree with On The Turning Away. It’ll be better to put Shine On You Crazy Diamond #1. As For me ‘Have a Cigar’ and ‘What do you want from me’ needs to be in list.
Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands
*sigh*
I hate flaming in general so I’ll try to avoid it. Here goes:
You missed the mark mate, sorry.
Short and sweet.
I like Pink Floyd, but I know I can’t write a list as good as this. Great Job!
My personal favorite song is “Run Like Hell”, and it’s even better with “In the Flesh” and “Waiting for the Worms” on either side of it.
i have to give you credit for even attempting this. limiting pink floyd to just ten songs is like a third world country announcing they have the capacity to create a nuclear bomb. wont say i completely agree with the list but i absolutely love the top 4. some people are too busy whining to make a list of their own, i say kudos, sir.
155. Sean : Fair enough 10 songs wasn’t probably enough but with Dogs at number 3 and no Wall… What was he thinking?
1. Echoes
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond
4. Interstellar Overdrive
5. Comfortably Numb
6. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
7. Astronomy Domine
8. Coming Back To Life
9. Point Me At The Sky
10. Another Brick In The Wall (Part I, II, III)
Favorite Part Of Another Brick In The Wall Was Transition From Part I to Part II.
Learning to Fly was the first Pink Floyd song I ever heard… Still love it.
Mark: Personally I love Dogs (but prefer sheep) and despite being a big floyd fan i’m not crazy about the wall. There are at least 3 albums id put ahead of it and many other individual songs.
159 Sean: Personally I love Dogs (but prefer sheep)
Please keep your warped and twisted fantasies out of this very public forum.
159. Sean : Are you a Kiwi?
I haven’t read all the comments and may be doubling up, but surely there needs to be more from Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall? And who can forget that classic “Be Careful With That Ax, Eugene”?
162. raywel : I agree that their earlier albums – post Syd – need some more representation here. Especially, as you said, Dark Side of the Moon, I think it’s a joke to only have one song – and not a very good one at that – on there.
1. Wish You Were Here
2. Dogs
3. Echoes
4. Time
5. Sheep
6. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Both Parts)
7. Speak To Me/Breathe
8. Have A Cigar
9. Any Colour You Like
10. Pigs (Three Different Ones)
I think we need a new list of these… I might make that my next list.
Good start though.
164. Ty : Good list, I like Welcome to the Machine more than Have A Cigar, but better than the one above at least.
165. oouchan : That would be appreciated
Great list – I’m a huge Pink Floyd fan! I really wish I were old enough to have been able to see them live – the closest I’ve got is seeing The Aussie Pink Floyd Show (who i’d recommend for anyone to see if they get the chance). Hearing the songs played live brings a whole new dimension to them though, and one of my favourites after hearing it sung live is the hauntingly beautiful “Great Gig In The Sky”.
My absolute favourite though is “Learning To Fly” – can’t believe this didn’t make the Top 10!
166. Mark…just to let you know, I am almost done writing it. I am taking what the LV commentors have posted and doing my best to come up with a resonable list. It will still ***** off eveyone because this or that song didn’t make it, but….I will do my best.
168. oouchan – looking forward to it. but it better have astronomy domine and fearless. or I’ll hunt you down.
to round out my ten, in no order..
dogs
shine on (I-V)
interstellar overdrive
happiest days/brick part II
have a cigar
one slip
on the turning away
echoes
I note that I had four in common with the original post, which is pretty good. Y’all are too picky. But I do think it merits a second list.
169. jiminut….ummmm….it might.
I don’t want to give it away yet…but I did take into consideration the comments on this list. I have submitted it, so we will see how it goes.
oouchan- I’m excited to see what you got!
Us And Them
Comfortably Numb
Time
Speak To Me / Breathe
Wish You Were Here
Eclispe
Echoes
Money
Astronomy Domine
Another Brick In The Wall pt 2
There is your list of best Pink Floyd songs ever!!!
If you have never heard these songs before I suggest you start downloading them to your computer, right NOW.
You will thank me later
Peace
You lose points for leaving out Time. I’m a huge Floyd Head.
I cannot think of ten Floyd songs I would listen from start to finish. One of the most overrated bands in history. And The Wall was high-school poetry level garbage… (though Van Morrison has been covering Comfortably Numb in his concerts this year [2009} and he does a decent version)
I totaly agree Time was one of their best songs. That one should have been listed… oh yeah and Money, man they missed alot of great songs. *cries* i love Pink Floyd the totaly need to redo this list!!
Actually, I’d switch your number one and two picks. Shine on You Crazy Diamond is simply one of the most amazing pieces of modern music, period. Then Wish You Were Here.
Without a doubt, Wish You Were Here is the best Floyd albumn. What I can’t understand is how so many of the people commenting don’t like The Wall. It’s a fabulous albumn. While I wouldn’t likely listen to it for just a listen, back in the day it was a fabulous concept albumn.The movie was pretty good too. I remember the first time I saw it was at the Ridge Theatre in Vancouver and the projectionist got messed up and played the second reel first. It was a great way to watch the movie!
Anyway, I think Obscured by Clouds is lovely too. Some of the other stuff on your list is really not the stuff that I really enjoyed, but perhaps it’s time to give it another listen. Ultimately though, the only Floyd albumns I really listen to any more is Wish You Were Here and a bit of Echo.
I’m a bad LVer–Didn’t read through all the comments, but I will post:
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when youre on the street
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking.
And after a while, you can work on points for style
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake
A certain look in the eye, and an easy smile
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you
Youll get the chance to put the knife in.
what could equal these lyrics for their intensity and reality?
@Licia (176): I would say that Dark Side of the Moon beats out Wish You Were Here, album-wise. It just has better pieces of music. Having said that, Wish You Were Here would be a very close second.
As for The Wall….I love that but I can see where many people find it overrated. (and this coming from a Pink Floyd fan!) I personally don’t think that way, but I can see their point.
Pink Floyd has so many varied songs. I was born after there time. But one day my oldest brother came to my room where I was listening to Nirvana. (he is 14 years older than I) He said If you like that listen to this. He then handed me a whole stack of Pink Floyd. I then had to find a turntable to play them on and WOW. I like your list very much, but i did miss Comfortably numb. Gilmour was like my personal idol for musicality. And I agree with wish you where here and Shine on You Crazy Diamond, because they are very pure and clean, and typically Gilmour. Please write a top twenty now and we can see what others think of that as well. Keep up the good work that makes us all take another look at our own preconceptions
For me “shine on you crazy diamond” is the best song i’ve ever heard, i think is deeper than “wish you were here” and has the balance between the music and the lyrics as david likes the music.