Masterpieces and popular songs by Pink Floyd

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Full Length: Parts I – IX)Pink Floyd

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Full Length: Parts I – IX) – Pink Floyd

Syd Barrett, who suffered mental health problems and ended up leaving Pink Floyd in 1968.

He was the driving leader of the band, and with his striking, slightly shadowy looks and passion for psychedelic rock, he helped bring Pink Floyd to public attention.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond is a song about him, who once shone like a diamond.

It’s included on the 1975 album Wish You Were Here.

It’s a long track consisting of nine parts, and it’s a masterpiece that showcases Pink Floyd at their very best as a progressive rock band!

Astronomy DominePink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Astronomy Domine

Astronomy Domine is the first track on Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, released in 1967.

Sung by Syd Barrett, who was the band’s leader at the time, its captivating lyrics explore outer space.

It’s a track that strongly reflects the influence of the genre known as psychedelic rock.

The album was a hit in the UK and brought Pink Floyd to public attention for the first time.

MoneyPink Floyd

Money – Pink Floyd HD (Studio Version)

Starting with the sound of money being taken out of a cash register, “Money” is a song literally about money.

Written by Roger Waters, it was included on the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.

With lyrics that satirize money-worship and a soaring mid-song guitar solo, it’s a classic that grabs listeners’ hearts.

For a Pink Floyd track, it’s quite catchy and relatively short, so even those who find a lot of prog rock long and difficult will find it easy to listen to.

Atom Heart Mother (Suite)Pink Floyd

Atom Heart Mother Suite

Highly recommended for those who want to hear a song with experimental elements characteristic of progressive rock is Atom Heart Mother.

It’s included on the 1970 album of the same name, which was a hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

With this album, Pink Floyd became recognized by the world as a progressive rock band, moving on from their earlier psychedelic rock phase.

The piece is an over-23-minute epic divided into five parts, notable for its complex development and use of a variety of instruments such as the Mellotron and cello.

Brain DamagePink Floyd

Pink Floyd – Brain Damage

“Brain Damage” is a track included on the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon, and its theme is, plainly, madness.

The song portrays madness lurking within a gently pastoral atmosphere, and it’s said to depict the figure of Syd Barrett, the band’s original leader who left after experiencing mental health issues.

The laughter heard partway through the track belongs to the band’s sound engineer, Peter Watts, but the way it keeps sounding eerie over and over is what makes this song so unsettling.

High HopesPink Floyd

Pink Floyd – High Hopes (Official Music Video HD)

High Hopes, with its striking bell chimes in the intro, is the final track on the 1994 album The Division Bell.

Its lyrics, which seem to look back on a long career and on life itself, are set against an expansive sound that steadily builds in intensity.

It’s also symbolic that the music video was filmed in Cambridge, where Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and the band’s early leader Syd Barrett all grew up.

Take it BackPink Floyd

Pink Floyd — Take it Back

“Take It Back,” included on the 1994 album The Division Bell—their first studio release in seven years since the previous work—stands out for Pink Floyd as an uncommon gem with straightforward, uplifting lyrics and a refreshing sound, contrasting with their often enigmatic words and complex song structures.

As a relatively newer piece in their career, it’s a great recommendation for those who find it hard to get into their early sound.

Start with this track, then gradually immerse yourself in the world of Pink Floyd—it’s a rewarding journey!