Pink Floyd: Song by Song

An examination of every Pink Floyd song from ‘Arnold Layne’ to ‘Louder Than Words’The stories behind the songs, their context within the parent albums and the times they were written and recordedWho played what in the studio and when the songs were played liveWhat the band and critics had/have to say about their musical development

From ‘Arnold Layne’ to ‘Louder than Words’, Pink Floyd wrote about anger, isolation, regret, dismay, and fear. These themes, not always obvious starting points in popular music, were married to a rare dynamism that would make Pink Floyd stand out from the crowd.

Pink Floyd’s most successful period critically and musically – the eight albums from 1970 to 1983 – combines the pithy lyrics of Roger Waters, the soulful voice and breath-taking guitar solos of David Gilmour and, until 1979, the jazz-influenced piano and keyboard abilities of the late Richard Wright. In varying permutations, these three wrote the band’s best work. However, when working together as equals, the three principals of Pink Floyd were significantly more than the sum of their individual strengths.

Pink Floyd: Song by Song takes a fresh look at the songs, which led to Pink Floyd becoming the third best-selling band of all time. Written in a wry and engaging style, this book will delight the aficionado and the newcomer alike, as it re-listens to the complete works of a unique band.