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Pink Floyd: Album by Album
This stunning look back at Pink Floyd's discography comprises a series of in-depth, frank, and entertaining conversations about all of the band's studio albums, including their soundtrack efforts and the instrumental/ambient The Endless River. Inside, prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff moderates discussions on each album with rock journalists and musicians who offer insights, opinions, and anecdotes about every release.
Together, the conversations comprise a unique historical overview of the band, covering everything from early albums with the iconic Syd Barrett to the songwriting tandem of Roger Waters and David Gilmour; the impeccable talents of drummer Nick Mason and multi-instrumentalist Richard Wright; those mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs; the monster success of breakthrough LP Dark Side of the Moon; interpersonal conflict; the band following Waters' 1985 departure; and much more.
Popoff also includes sidebars that provide complete track listings, album personnel, and studios and dates. Every page is illustrated with thoughtfully curated performance and offstage photography, as well as rare memorabilia.
Together, the conversations comprise a unique historical overview of the band, covering everything from early albums with the iconic Syd Barrett to the songwriting tandem of Roger Waters and David Gilmour; the impeccable talents of drummer Nick Mason and multi-instrumentalist Richard Wright; those mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs; the monster success of breakthrough LP Dark Side of the Moon; interpersonal conflict; the band following Waters' 1985 departure; and much more.
Popoff also includes sidebars that provide complete track listings, album personnel, and studios and dates. Every page is illustrated with thoughtfully curated performance and offstage photography, as well as rare memorabilia.
- GenresMusicNonfictionHistory
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
53 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Martin Popoff
225 books248 followersAt approximately 7900 (with over 7000 appearing in his books), Martin has unofficially written more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. He was Editor-In-Chief of the now retired Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, Canada’s foremost metal publication for 14 years, and has also contributed to Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, Record Collector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com and hardradio.com, with many record label band bios and liner notes to his credit as well. Additionally, Martin has been a regular contractor to Banger Films, having worked for two years as researcher on the award-winning documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, on the writing and research team for the 11-episode Metal Evolution and on the ten-episode Rock Icons, both for VH1 Classic. Additionally, Martin is the writer of the original metal genre chart used in Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey and throughout the Metal Evolution episodes. Martin currently resides in Toronto and can be reached through martinp@inforamp.net or www.martinpopoff.com.
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June 23, 2018
A great look at the band and its output, the albums of Pink Floyd by Martin Popoff. Filled with tons of great pictures and covers, plus information gleaned about the guys and their albums. Known for playing the genres of progressive rock and psychedelic rock. This one is likely to be treasured by most Floyd fans for its nostalgic trip to the past and attention to detail.
My thanks for the advance digital copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Martin Popoff, and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press
Publication: June 26, 2018
My thanks for the advance digital copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Martin Popoff, and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press
Publication: June 26, 2018
July 15, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
PINK FLOYD: ALBUM BY ALBUM is a book by author Martin Popoff that is exactly what the title suggests; a complete analysis of every studio album by the band, from it’s beginnings as one of the best known innovative forces in the psychedelic/progressive genre of music beginning in the mid sixties with the legendary Syd Barrett at the helm, and releasing only one complete album titled “THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN”, with the original lineup that collapsed shortly after due to Syd’s unfortunate declining mental condition exacerbated by use of LSD.
Continuing on without their creative muse to lead the way, the band is left to fend for themselves and create music that is inspired by their original songwriter, and the torch is carried on by Roger Waters, the bass player of the band, who develops into a powerful songwriting force that propels the band onward, with several albums that have extended songs for the most part that set a platform for their success as a brilliant live band that are known for their improvisation, of which I’d recommend seeing the uncut original 1972 film “Live At Pompei”, with the band recorded in the ancient ruins and no audience, as it’s one of my favorite music movies of the time period; in fact it’s one that I walked to see nightly at a theater five miles each way for as long as it was showing, it was mesmerizing for this budding guitarist and still gives me chills and pleasure that I’m sure is steeped in nostalgia.
Unfortunately, after the great success of albums like “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (which remained on the Billoard chart for an unprecedented 741 weeks spanning 1973 to 1988), Wish You Were Here”, and ultimately “The Wall”, fracturing relationships within the band resulted in a split that came about after an album titled “The Final Cut” where reportedly Roger Waters took over absolute control of all band decisions; thereby causing friction that lead to the breakup of the original line-up (minus Syd, of course).
Excellent overview of all of the albums mentioned here, (along with the rest from the bands catalogue) that is interesting in that a wide variety of Pink Floyd aficionados are featured throughout giving valuable insight based on their personal and professional experience with the band; including musicians, producers, engineers, and authors whose knowledge of all things Floyd give a broad view of each album that at times are in agreement and other times dissenting in a way that leaves the reader able to listen to the albums and form their own opinions.
Something I’ve been doing lately is reading books on bands that focus on albums and songs while listening along, and this book was perfect for that which caused me to read several sections repeatedly to extract as much as I could gain from this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.
Highly recommended to all who wish to learn more of the band, as well as those of you like myself pleased to find a reason to listen to all of the band’s output again to remember what made Pink Floyd the great band that they were.
5 stars.
PINK FLOYD: ALBUM BY ALBUM is a book by author Martin Popoff that is exactly what the title suggests; a complete analysis of every studio album by the band, from it’s beginnings as one of the best known innovative forces in the psychedelic/progressive genre of music beginning in the mid sixties with the legendary Syd Barrett at the helm, and releasing only one complete album titled “THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN”, with the original lineup that collapsed shortly after due to Syd’s unfortunate declining mental condition exacerbated by use of LSD.
Continuing on without their creative muse to lead the way, the band is left to fend for themselves and create music that is inspired by their original songwriter, and the torch is carried on by Roger Waters, the bass player of the band, who develops into a powerful songwriting force that propels the band onward, with several albums that have extended songs for the most part that set a platform for their success as a brilliant live band that are known for their improvisation, of which I’d recommend seeing the uncut original 1972 film “Live At Pompei”, with the band recorded in the ancient ruins and no audience, as it’s one of my favorite music movies of the time period; in fact it’s one that I walked to see nightly at a theater five miles each way for as long as it was showing, it was mesmerizing for this budding guitarist and still gives me chills and pleasure that I’m sure is steeped in nostalgia.
Unfortunately, after the great success of albums like “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (which remained on the Billoard chart for an unprecedented 741 weeks spanning 1973 to 1988), Wish You Were Here”, and ultimately “The Wall”, fracturing relationships within the band resulted in a split that came about after an album titled “The Final Cut” where reportedly Roger Waters took over absolute control of all band decisions; thereby causing friction that lead to the breakup of the original line-up (minus Syd, of course).
Excellent overview of all of the albums mentioned here, (along with the rest from the bands catalogue) that is interesting in that a wide variety of Pink Floyd aficionados are featured throughout giving valuable insight based on their personal and professional experience with the band; including musicians, producers, engineers, and authors whose knowledge of all things Floyd give a broad view of each album that at times are in agreement and other times dissenting in a way that leaves the reader able to listen to the albums and form their own opinions.
Something I’ve been doing lately is reading books on bands that focus on albums and songs while listening along, and this book was perfect for that which caused me to read several sections repeatedly to extract as much as I could gain from this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.
Highly recommended to all who wish to learn more of the band, as well as those of you like myself pleased to find a reason to listen to all of the band’s output again to remember what made Pink Floyd the great band that they were.
5 stars.
July 30, 2018
Wielded like a rainbow-refracting sword not a year into psychedelic rock’s very existence, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, seemed to destine Pink Floyd for notoriety…
Pink Floyd has been my favorite group for a very long time. I love all of their albums, saw them on their Division Bell tour, and recently saw Roger Waters on what ended being a fantastic anti-Trump rally.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable walk through their albums.
As we delve into their first album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, it’s interesting how some of the interactions between some people and Syd are mirrored in interactions between people and Pink in The Wall. (BTW, one of my favorite bits of trivia is that “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” is the title of a chapter in Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows - which I noticed reading Wind in the Willows for the first time several years ago. Onion-sauce! Onion-sauce! )
Interesting notes on the film soundtrack for More. The Nile Song is considered early heavy metal (one person in the book refers to it as their Helter Skelter). Also, a comic book reference! In this 1969 album, Cymbeline - a song about a nightmare - refers to Dr. Strange!
And in Ummagumma, there’s a possibility that they influenced another favorite of mine - Tangerine Dream. (Or at least Tangerine Dream’s genre of music.)
There doesn’t seem to be a ton of love for Atom Heart Mother, but If is one of my favorite all-time songs. And they talk about how this song “foreshadows the splintering of the band.” WOW. And I didn’t know that Fat Old Sun was one of David Gilmour’s favorites - it is a fantastic song.
And who doesn’t love Echoes? This is one of my first loves as a teenager playing my uncle’s old vinyl Meddle. This is an all-around great album. I like all the songs on it, though One of These Days and Echoes stand out. I never paid much attention to the “I Will Never Walk Alone” - but that’s pretty cool, too.
Of course, everyone thinks Dark Side of the Moon is iconic. And Great Gig in the Sky is so haunting and spellbinding that it may be my favorite song on the album. Though Brain Damage and Eclipse are a great pair. Cool that the band was on the forefront of surround sound mixes - where now “it’s become the norm rather than the exception.”
The program from the band’s 1974 tour is in the form of a 10-page comic. You can buy it for around $100 on eBay. (Dammit!) If anyone reading this wants to get me a birthday present (this Friday!) this would be perfect :)
And isn’t it spooky that Syd showed up during their Wish You Were Here recordings - just as they were about to record Shine on You Crazy Diamond?
Animals comes next. It was cool hearing Roger Waters play stuff live off this album laster year - I recommend it! I like that they decided to get political - and that some of their members are still fighting the good fight. And I should have made the connection to Orwell’s Animal Farm - but I think that I haven’t spent a lot of time listening to anything on this album except Pigs on the Wing (which I’ve always loved). Singer Heather Findlay has some amazing commentary on this album about current events. It’s so good, I commented on her Facebook. I listened to some of her music and liked it. Check her out!
And I didn’t realize how awful the British school system was for so many kids. Wow. (Segueing over to The Wall.) Steve Hackett (guitarist for Genesis) talks about one of his teachers - who had actually been a Japanese prisoner of war - having a book called The Fundamentals of Brainwashing. WTF?
Talking about Roger (and Genesis to a certain extent), Steve has some interesting things to say that shed light on rock and roll in general:
For bands to become very successful, usually there’s a very gifted control freak who’s very intelligent and puts his arguments across with a rare degree of force. But it often means that those bands cease to exist after a certain point, or find there are insufficient grounds to work together, which has gotten to be the case for Jethro Tull - it seems to be there’s no version of Tull anymore, and yet Ian Anderson totally agrees with me about this.
The Final Cut may well be my favorite Pink Floyd album. Interesting that it highlights Roger Waters’s takeover and control of the group. Wow! Some people even think of it as Roger’s first solo album.
I’m playing this album on Spotify and When the Tigers Broke Free is on it! I don’t think it was on the one I used to have! I guess this was Roger’s push to shoehorn it in releases of this album. I think that’s by far my favorite Pink Floyd song. I’ve listened to it more than any other, and it’s even impacted some writing I’ve done. It’s a fantastic song. I love write/producer Ralph Chapman’s take on the Final Cut:
And we see it now, which is one of the reasons I love The Final Cut even more today. History keeps repeating itself. We see it in Syria, with Trump sending cruise missiles into Syria. If the people realize what a schmuck you are, often the only thing you can do is bring nationalism into the picture. How do you bring nationalism into the picture? You start a war. Because anyone who doesn’t support your country when you’re in a war is treasonous.
I love Momentary Lapse of Reason. I’m still sad I missed the Delicate Sounds of Thunder tour. I even got two separate invites! (From my best friend and from my girlfriend at the time.) Well, I was a senior in high school, and I wouldn’t have been allowed to go. But this has some great stuff - I still listen to One Slip all the time. And even my dad was into Learning to Fly when it came on MTV. I remember being a sullen teen and listening to Sorrow. A lot. And now, I like the social implications of On the Turning Away.
But I have to say, I really love Radio K.A.O.S., which was Roger’s solo album at the time. I think I have that album practically memorized.
The Division Bell tour was my first concert. And what was I? A senior in college? Sad. But it was a fantastic experience! In the outdoor stadium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. This album is one of my graduate school soundtracks. Along with Ace of Base’s The Sign, The Cranberries’ first album, and all the 90s dance music :)
I don’t have much to say about The Endless River. I’ve got the CD laying around here somewhere, I need to pop it in again.
By the way, which one’s Pink?
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
Pink Floyd has been my favorite group for a very long time. I love all of their albums, saw them on their Division Bell tour, and recently saw Roger Waters on what ended being a fantastic anti-Trump rally.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable walk through their albums.
As we delve into their first album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, it’s interesting how some of the interactions between some people and Syd are mirrored in interactions between people and Pink in The Wall. (BTW, one of my favorite bits of trivia is that “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” is the title of a chapter in Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows - which I noticed reading Wind in the Willows for the first time several years ago. Onion-sauce! Onion-sauce! )
Interesting notes on the film soundtrack for More. The Nile Song is considered early heavy metal (one person in the book refers to it as their Helter Skelter). Also, a comic book reference! In this 1969 album, Cymbeline - a song about a nightmare - refers to Dr. Strange!
And in Ummagumma, there’s a possibility that they influenced another favorite of mine - Tangerine Dream. (Or at least Tangerine Dream’s genre of music.)
There doesn’t seem to be a ton of love for Atom Heart Mother, but If is one of my favorite all-time songs. And they talk about how this song “foreshadows the splintering of the band.” WOW. And I didn’t know that Fat Old Sun was one of David Gilmour’s favorites - it is a fantastic song.
And who doesn’t love Echoes? This is one of my first loves as a teenager playing my uncle’s old vinyl Meddle. This is an all-around great album. I like all the songs on it, though One of These Days and Echoes stand out. I never paid much attention to the “I Will Never Walk Alone” - but that’s pretty cool, too.
Of course, everyone thinks Dark Side of the Moon is iconic. And Great Gig in the Sky is so haunting and spellbinding that it may be my favorite song on the album. Though Brain Damage and Eclipse are a great pair. Cool that the band was on the forefront of surround sound mixes - where now “it’s become the norm rather than the exception.”
The program from the band’s 1974 tour is in the form of a 10-page comic. You can buy it for around $100 on eBay. (Dammit!) If anyone reading this wants to get me a birthday present (this Friday!) this would be perfect :)
And isn’t it spooky that Syd showed up during their Wish You Were Here recordings - just as they were about to record Shine on You Crazy Diamond?
Animals comes next. It was cool hearing Roger Waters play stuff live off this album laster year - I recommend it! I like that they decided to get political - and that some of their members are still fighting the good fight. And I should have made the connection to Orwell’s Animal Farm - but I think that I haven’t spent a lot of time listening to anything on this album except Pigs on the Wing (which I’ve always loved). Singer Heather Findlay has some amazing commentary on this album about current events. It’s so good, I commented on her Facebook. I listened to some of her music and liked it. Check her out!
And I didn’t realize how awful the British school system was for so many kids. Wow. (Segueing over to The Wall.) Steve Hackett (guitarist for Genesis) talks about one of his teachers - who had actually been a Japanese prisoner of war - having a book called The Fundamentals of Brainwashing. WTF?
Talking about Roger (and Genesis to a certain extent), Steve has some interesting things to say that shed light on rock and roll in general:
For bands to become very successful, usually there’s a very gifted control freak who’s very intelligent and puts his arguments across with a rare degree of force. But it often means that those bands cease to exist after a certain point, or find there are insufficient grounds to work together, which has gotten to be the case for Jethro Tull - it seems to be there’s no version of Tull anymore, and yet Ian Anderson totally agrees with me about this.
The Final Cut may well be my favorite Pink Floyd album. Interesting that it highlights Roger Waters’s takeover and control of the group. Wow! Some people even think of it as Roger’s first solo album.
I’m playing this album on Spotify and When the Tigers Broke Free is on it! I don’t think it was on the one I used to have! I guess this was Roger’s push to shoehorn it in releases of this album. I think that’s by far my favorite Pink Floyd song. I’ve listened to it more than any other, and it’s even impacted some writing I’ve done. It’s a fantastic song. I love write/producer Ralph Chapman’s take on the Final Cut:
And we see it now, which is one of the reasons I love The Final Cut even more today. History keeps repeating itself. We see it in Syria, with Trump sending cruise missiles into Syria. If the people realize what a schmuck you are, often the only thing you can do is bring nationalism into the picture. How do you bring nationalism into the picture? You start a war. Because anyone who doesn’t support your country when you’re in a war is treasonous.
I love Momentary Lapse of Reason. I’m still sad I missed the Delicate Sounds of Thunder tour. I even got two separate invites! (From my best friend and from my girlfriend at the time.) Well, I was a senior in high school, and I wouldn’t have been allowed to go. But this has some great stuff - I still listen to One Slip all the time. And even my dad was into Learning to Fly when it came on MTV. I remember being a sullen teen and listening to Sorrow. A lot. And now, I like the social implications of On the Turning Away.
But I have to say, I really love Radio K.A.O.S., which was Roger’s solo album at the time. I think I have that album practically memorized.
The Division Bell tour was my first concert. And what was I? A senior in college? Sad. But it was a fantastic experience! In the outdoor stadium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. This album is one of my graduate school soundtracks. Along with Ace of Base’s The Sign, The Cranberries’ first album, and all the 90s dance music :)
I don’t have much to say about The Endless River. I’ve got the CD laying around here somewhere, I need to pop it in again.
By the way, which one’s Pink?
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Voyageur Press for a copy in return for an honest review.
Want to read
September 4, 2018Rock journalist Martin Popoff, known for his erudite studies on heavy-metal groups such as Metallica and others, delivers an essential book for every Pink Floyd fan around the world. Popoff follows the story from its beginnings and the Syd Barrett era, the more ''psychedelic'' in its nature and tone, all the way till the latest album 0f the legendary band, titled ''Endless River''. The book is divided by the number of albums which the band released through the many years of its existence and offers detailed conversations, anecdotes and personal opinions by the artist themselves or other music journalists and devoted fans. There is a lot of interesting information about the band which I believe that the majority of people simply ignore, accompanied by a great number of photographs and cover pictures, making this books an absorbing reading experience. It is sure that after finishing this book you will feel a lot more self-conscious concerning the information around the fabled progressive/psychedelic rock mega-band.
June 18, 2018
Looking through the history through the albums of this iconic band is an interesting aspect that keeps the keen discophile in-depth information about each of their albums. The book is wonderfully presented and discusses the thought behind each album from the ban members. It even has information about Storm Thurgerson who designed the now famous album covers.
This is an essential coffee table book that is well designed and gives kudos where it is due. The pictures gathered for the book are excellently displayed and the colour reproductions are bright. It does show a lack of album design in today’s market where more thought was put into the overall concept and design of each album that is sorely lacking today in the digital age and even within the CD market.
The history of each is detailed in its explanation and it does make the reader want to go back and rediscover each album and gives the avid fan more love for each of the iconic albums. This is a Pink Floyd fans dream and even if you are an occasional fan, this will open your minds and ears the brains behind each album.
Overall, this is a must for all Pink Floyd fans and for people who are interested in the actual recording history of these magnificently crafted concept albums. This has something for everyone and one that will keep everyone pleased, entertained and historically relevant.
This is an essential coffee table book that is well designed and gives kudos where it is due. The pictures gathered for the book are excellently displayed and the colour reproductions are bright. It does show a lack of album design in today’s market where more thought was put into the overall concept and design of each album that is sorely lacking today in the digital age and even within the CD market.
The history of each is detailed in its explanation and it does make the reader want to go back and rediscover each album and gives the avid fan more love for each of the iconic albums. This is a Pink Floyd fans dream and even if you are an occasional fan, this will open your minds and ears the brains behind each album.
Overall, this is a must for all Pink Floyd fans and for people who are interested in the actual recording history of these magnificently crafted concept albums. This has something for everyone and one that will keep everyone pleased, entertained and historically relevant.
July 16, 2019
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Another amazing rock band bio by veteran music journalist Martin Popoff. This time, he gives the backstage introduction you always wanted to Pink Floyd, including discussions with rock journalists and musicians on each of the band’s albums. Every page features concert and offstage photography, as well as rare memorabilia. Highly recommended!
Grateful to the Quarto Publishing Group - Voyageur Press and NetGalley for the early copy, in exchange for my true review.
#PinkFloyd #NetGalley
Another amazing rock band bio by veteran music journalist Martin Popoff. This time, he gives the backstage introduction you always wanted to Pink Floyd, including discussions with rock journalists and musicians on each of the band’s albums. Every page features concert and offstage photography, as well as rare memorabilia. Highly recommended!
Grateful to the Quarto Publishing Group - Voyageur Press and NetGalley for the early copy, in exchange for my true review.
#PinkFloyd #NetGalley
June 29, 2020
'Pink Floyd: Album by Album' by Martin Popoff is an ebook telling the story of the bank Pink Floyd by going through their albums.
Starting with 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and going to 'The Endless River,' each chapter tells the story of how the album was made and offers a moderated discussion among different people in the music business. The tragedy of Syd Barrett stayed with the band for quite a while. The eventual split of the band from vocalist/bassist Roger Waters is here. Along with stats for each album, there are lots of archival pictures of the band, album cover, tickets and other things. I
As a fan of the band, I really liked this book. I was aware of most of the history, but not all the stories behind the albums. The photos and history were great as were the conversations.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing - Voyageur Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Starting with 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and going to 'The Endless River,' each chapter tells the story of how the album was made and offers a moderated discussion among different people in the music business. The tragedy of Syd Barrett stayed with the band for quite a while. The eventual split of the band from vocalist/bassist Roger Waters is here. Along with stats for each album, there are lots of archival pictures of the band, album cover, tickets and other things. I
As a fan of the band, I really liked this book. I was aware of most of the history, but not all the stories behind the albums. The photos and history were great as were the conversations.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing - Voyageur Press, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
kindle
July 1, 2018I loved reading this and revisiting each album while getting the perspective from members of the band on their thought process for each one. This book has some really cool pictures and is a perfect piece of nostalgia!
May 28, 2023
Great book. Breaks every album down in depth with some great musicians thoughts.
November 6, 2023
Great insights into the inspiration and making of albums. All the covers and tons of great photos and insights from the band, producers, etc. What can I say? It's Pink Floyd. Essential reading for any fan.
June 10, 2018
With over 250 million record sales Pink Floyd are at the top table of Rock Royalty. Martin Popoff, who is obviously a Floyd fanatic has done all fans a seriously big favour with his release of "Pink Floyd: Album by Album".
From the Syd Barrett days and their debut record "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", released August 5, 1967, we're taken on a wild ride of every fact and figure imaginable. Yes, everything you've always wanted to know about "Dark Side of the Moon", "The Wall", including details of their final performance at Live Eight in London in 2005.
Yes, loyal fans libraries may already be bulging with Pink Floyd books, nonetheless Martin Popoff has created an irresistible and painstakingly look at the highs and occasional lows in the band's history. Included are all the details of the recording sessions which delivered the albums, many never-seen-before photos, exclusive interviews, and much more.
Sorry folks, but if you have an interest in one of the Rock genres top outfits, you'll just have to find room in your budget for Pink Floyd: Album by Album".
From the Syd Barrett days and their debut record "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", released August 5, 1967, we're taken on a wild ride of every fact and figure imaginable. Yes, everything you've always wanted to know about "Dark Side of the Moon", "The Wall", including details of their final performance at Live Eight in London in 2005.
Yes, loyal fans libraries may already be bulging with Pink Floyd books, nonetheless Martin Popoff has created an irresistible and painstakingly look at the highs and occasional lows in the band's history. Included are all the details of the recording sessions which delivered the albums, many never-seen-before photos, exclusive interviews, and much more.
Sorry folks, but if you have an interest in one of the Rock genres top outfits, you'll just have to find room in your budget for Pink Floyd: Album by Album".
October 8, 2020
Pink Floyd: Album by Album by Martin Popoff is an album by album discussion of the band Pink Floyd. Popoff has been described as the world's most famous heavy-metal journalist, though he has covered plenty of Punk and New Wave albums in his career of 7,000-plus album reviews. He has penned many books on various bands, genres of rock, and record collecting, including Voyageur Press' Rush: The Illustrated History; Metallica: The Complete Illustrated History; The Art of Metal; and The Big Book of Hair Metal. He has also worked on film documentaries about Rush and ZZ Top.
Pink Floyd is one of the biggest names in rock history. Dark Side of the Moon remained on Billboard for fourteen years and sold over forty-five million copies. The Wall took over the radio on boom boxes of my high school years. Animals remained one of my favorite albums of all times and I remember wearing out a copy of Wish You Were Here on 8-Track. Pink Floyd offered a something different than what Van Halen, AC/DC, and other hard rock groups offered. With the exception of "The Nile Song," there was not much heavy and hard with Pink Floyd, but it fit right in with the rock of the day.
Popoff covers Pink Floyd's discography in a richly illustrated large size book. Instead of writing about the albums and songs with his thoughts, Popoff turns to interviews. Dennis Dunaway the bassist, songwriter, and conceptual artist for the original Alice Cooper group is interviewed for Pink Floyd's first two albums -- Piper at the Gate of Reason and Saucerful of Secrets. Roie Avin of The Prog Rock covers the some of the later albums. Three musicians made up the interview on Animals. Not to be excluded, Popoff also includes interviews with sound engineers to complement the words of musicians and the media.
A very well done discography filled with first-person experiences with the band and all it works to include live albums such as Pompeii. A very well executed project that produces results that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in Pink Floyd or their music will appreciate.
Pink Floyd is one of the biggest names in rock history. Dark Side of the Moon remained on Billboard for fourteen years and sold over forty-five million copies. The Wall took over the radio on boom boxes of my high school years. Animals remained one of my favorite albums of all times and I remember wearing out a copy of Wish You Were Here on 8-Track. Pink Floyd offered a something different than what Van Halen, AC/DC, and other hard rock groups offered. With the exception of "The Nile Song," there was not much heavy and hard with Pink Floyd, but it fit right in with the rock of the day.
Popoff covers Pink Floyd's discography in a richly illustrated large size book. Instead of writing about the albums and songs with his thoughts, Popoff turns to interviews. Dennis Dunaway the bassist, songwriter, and conceptual artist for the original Alice Cooper group is interviewed for Pink Floyd's first two albums -- Piper at the Gate of Reason and Saucerful of Secrets. Roie Avin of The Prog Rock covers the some of the later albums. Three musicians made up the interview on Animals. Not to be excluded, Popoff also includes interviews with sound engineers to complement the words of musicians and the media.
A very well done discography filled with first-person experiences with the band and all it works to include live albums such as Pompeii. A very well executed project that produces results that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in Pink Floyd or their music will appreciate.
August 21, 2018
I could complete my review of this book in only a few words - it does what it says on the tin - but that wouldn't really do this book the justice it deserves.
I actually saw this book the day after my friend confirmed that he had bought tickets to Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets for October. Being a bit young to have seen the actual band live and having to rely on the two really good tribute bands for my live fix to date, I am just a little bit excited. Anyway.. I digress...
Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of Pink Floyd. Indeed, there are albums that I actually don't really like and also ones I am a bit unfamiliar with so there was a lot to be gained for me personally from this book. Whilst I can't vouch for the accuracy of what is contained, it is definitely all very interesting and certainly fits in with what I do know. There are so many interviews with so many important but not well recognised people who were but cogs in the mighty machine but instrumental in making the music what it turned out to be.
I could list the albums and spout on about things I learned. I could wax lyrical about some of the things I didn't know but I'm not going to. It's a relatively short book. A dipper as I call them - good to dip in and out of when you have a moment. But, for me, it was also an excuse to rediscover old favourites and a blooming great trip down memory lane. A must for devout fans and a great book for anyone mildly interested in either Pink Floyd specifically or music history generally.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I actually saw this book the day after my friend confirmed that he had bought tickets to Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets for October. Being a bit young to have seen the actual band live and having to rely on the two really good tribute bands for my live fix to date, I am just a little bit excited. Anyway.. I digress...
Admittedly, I am not the biggest fan of Pink Floyd. Indeed, there are albums that I actually don't really like and also ones I am a bit unfamiliar with so there was a lot to be gained for me personally from this book. Whilst I can't vouch for the accuracy of what is contained, it is definitely all very interesting and certainly fits in with what I do know. There are so many interviews with so many important but not well recognised people who were but cogs in the mighty machine but instrumental in making the music what it turned out to be.
I could list the albums and spout on about things I learned. I could wax lyrical about some of the things I didn't know but I'm not going to. It's a relatively short book. A dipper as I call them - good to dip in and out of when you have a moment. But, for me, it was also an excuse to rediscover old favourites and a blooming great trip down memory lane. A must for devout fans and a great book for anyone mildly interested in either Pink Floyd specifically or music history generally.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 17, 2018
This book was quite interesting. It goes through the Pink Floyd discography album by album from "The Piper At the Gates of Dawn" to "Endless River". There were 15 Pink Floyd Albums (not including best of compliations and live albums). This included 3 movie soundtracks and 1 album which is almost entirely (except for one song) instrumental (the last released album, Endless River, which is a collection of music not used on their previous album "Division Bell"). The book is not just what the songs mean, but about how they were produced and some of the backstage things going on with the band. There is a good history of what happened with Syd Barrett leaving the band, the Roger Waters/David Gilmour dynamic and much other behind the scenes stuff. It is done in an interview format, with the author discussing each album in depth with several different people. I know the author is a well-known music critic, but I didn't particularly know any of the people who he interviewed. There is a section at the end of the book where there are short bios of all of those people. The Pink Floyd principals (Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright) were not interviewed but you will gain valuable knowledge and insight about each of them. If you're a Pink Floyd fan, I would highly recommend reading this book. I now own 11 of the 15 albums (just not the 3 soundtracks or Endless River). As I listen to the ones I've never heard and re-listen to the ones I have, I will use this book as a reference.
April 8, 2022
Nice book, chronologically structured -with an opening for each album by the author followed by interviewed guests, some of which are amazing, some okay, and some boring- is populated with lots a photos of the band lads, concerts, different editions and memorabilia. Although somehow the inflatable wife from the Wall concerts is credited as the teacher, huge mistake.
The book starts at full throttle with the input of one Dennis Dunaway! on both first Floyd albums. That was the best part, both musically and historically; the Alice Cooper bass maestro, gives the reader insight on both accounts, and anecdotes on how the Floyds ended housed in Alice Cooper's home while on tour on the states.
There are also interviews with Steve Hackett -yes, the guitar virtuoso before Genesis turned into a pile of disposable muzak-, Steve Rothery -same role in Marillion-, Jordan Rudess -ivory tickler from Dream Theatre- and some other people from prog, metal and tribute bands. The weakest parts are the journos. The greatest Gilmour guitar solo -Time from the Dark Side of the Moon is criminally overlooked! Could've been a tad better without them and more actual musicians questioned.
Very good read, specially for Floyd nostalgics.
The book starts at full throttle with the input of one Dennis Dunaway! on both first Floyd albums. That was the best part, both musically and historically; the Alice Cooper bass maestro, gives the reader insight on both accounts, and anecdotes on how the Floyds ended housed in Alice Cooper's home while on tour on the states.
There are also interviews with Steve Hackett -yes, the guitar virtuoso before Genesis turned into a pile of disposable muzak-, Steve Rothery -same role in Marillion-, Jordan Rudess -ivory tickler from Dream Theatre- and some other people from prog, metal and tribute bands. The weakest parts are the journos. The greatest Gilmour guitar solo -Time from the Dark Side of the Moon is criminally overlooked! Could've been a tad better without them and more actual musicians questioned.
Very good read, specially for Floyd nostalgics.
January 28, 2019
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Although I've always liked Pink Floyd, I've never been a huge fan. I always liked Saucer Full of Secrets, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, never liked Syd Barrett's stuff or any of the albums past Wish You Were Here and found the rest of the catalogue enjoyable enough without really having a strong feeling one way or another. I got a fair amount of insight into how the band worked and who did what, and found the debate over the later albums (beginning with the The Final Cut, maybe even The Wall over what's an actual Pink Floyd album kind of interesting.
Popoff has collected a good assortment of individuals to give their thoughts on the album and they provide a wide diversity of opinons. A solid work.
Popoff has collected a good assortment of individuals to give their thoughts on the album and they provide a wide diversity of opinons. A solid work.
January 21, 2024
Martin Popoff provides an exhaustive breakdown of every Pink Floyd album in this book full of facts. Interviews with other musicians, producers, and industry insiders make for a thorough dive into each album. staring with Piper and going all the way through to Endless River. A lot of backstory and anecdotes go into the explanations that go a fair distance to making the reader understand how the albums were shaped and what drove the final result. Floyd fans can be a divisive lot and each likely has their favorite era of the band (Barrett, Waters, Gilmour) but as a fan of the entire run - some parts to a lesser degree than others - I found the book endlessly fascinating. There's something for all the fans here whether it's more backstory on a particular tune or the dynamics of the band.
Good book, doubly so for Floyd fans (though why else would you read it?)...
Good book, doubly so for Floyd fans (though why else would you read it?)...
August 11, 2021
This was a very interesting read. In chronological order, Martin Popoff offers a short description of each Pink Floyd Album and then interviews musicians or music journalists to get their impressions of each record.
I would say that this is a book better suited for the well-versed Pink Floyd fans, as the interviews dig into details that may be foreign to the casual fan.
I opted to listen to each record several times while reading each chapter and it was fun to compare my observations against the ones by the interviewees.
The good graphic design and cool pictures inside will make this book a pleasant read for Pink Floyd fans.
I would say that this is a book better suited for the well-versed Pink Floyd fans, as the interviews dig into details that may be foreign to the casual fan.
I opted to listen to each record several times while reading each chapter and it was fun to compare my observations against the ones by the interviewees.
The good graphic design and cool pictures inside will make this book a pleasant read for Pink Floyd fans.
January 22, 2022
Pink Floyd, Album by Album is not a traditional band biography but a concept Martin Popoff has used before. Each album is a chapter within which each song is discussed and dissected by the author and guest interviewees. Each album features different interviewees. There is a section with brief biographies and the qualifications of each interviewee. The result is a mix of facts and opinions. What I appreciate about Martin Popoff is he has constructed histories of bands of which none would otherwise exist. Blue Oyster Cult, UFO, and Rainbow are examples.
September 2, 2021
A huge book with tons of facts. Alan Parsons was an early producer! Hurricane Smith! Steven Hawking is a Pink Floyd fan. We get songs and background, instruments used, ideas, co-writers. Bruce Johnson of The Beach Boys. Of course I was a fan of the big 3 albums with some others. This made me go back and listen to every album for the words and ideas. I dived into Floyd from this and it was worth it.
May 17, 2022
I liked more the “song by song” approach that Popoff used on the Led Zeppelin book than this series of interviews to others musicians about their opinions and experiences with Pink Floyd.
Still, very interesting info for a fan.
Still, very interesting info for a fan.
October 1, 2024
Incredible! I loved listening to all these albums as I read this book. I learned so much and feel like I have experienced a lifetime of experiences through this book. Gave me an even deeper appreciation for Pink Floyd than before, which I didn’t even know was possible.
July 12, 2018
Interesting interviews and album reviews by musicians and fans over Pink Floyd's career. I know the middle albums pretty well, but am going to dive into the older music. A good overview of the band.
February 2, 2021
Not passing fan, but hardcore Floydians will love it.
August 10, 2025
Very good!!
I enjoyed reading about all the pink Floyd studio albums. I liked the whole entire book. If your a pink Floyd fan you should read it.
I enjoyed reading about all the pink Floyd studio albums. I liked the whole entire book. If your a pink Floyd fan you should read it.
September 10, 2018
A fine dissection of Pink Floyd's work !!!
June 25, 2018
I absolutely loved reading this, plenty of information about the band and full of fantastic photographs!
July 12, 2018
So much information! This is a book filled with facts and opinions relating to each Pink Floyd album from 'Pipers at the Gates of Dawn' in 1967 to 'The Endless River' in 2014. I didn't realise there were so many albums. I enjoyed the commentary style intercepted with questions and answers from a variety of people. In addition to the cover art work, the tracks are listed for each album, where recorded, band members, guest performers, release dates and producers. Interspersed with many references to Syd Barrett, we are reminded of his impact on the band and their songs throughout, reflecting their huge respect for him and sadness at his demise. I know a lot more about the development of Pink Floyd and their band members, songs and album covers than I did before I read this and it made me go back and play some of those songs again. A great book for a Pink Floyd fanatic.
October 8, 2018
Many thanks for the advance digital copy provided by NetGalley, author Martin Popoff, This is a great overview of Pink Floyd's history from Martin Popoff. It's filled with info from the guys, photos, covers and more! They're most known for rocing out to progressive rock and psychedelic rock.
A great addition for any collector or Pink Floyd enthusiast!
A great addition for any collector or Pink Floyd enthusiast!
August 14, 2018
Martin Popoff has a very loose, conversational style of writing. This can mean sentences without verbs. It also means a tendency to introduce unnecessary apostrophes (“but perhaps had not reflected o’er” and even “me an’ the writer buds”). He apparently doesn’t know the difference between i.e. and e.g. and is no stranger to mixed metaphor (“an enriched listen to the myriad facets”). All of the examples given here are drawn from the two-page introduction to ‘Pink Floyd Album by Album’.
At least Popoff’s conversational style hardly matters, given that the book comprises him discussing Pink Floyd’s fifteen studio albums with various rock journalists and musicians. Everybody knows their stuff and the result is an entertaining and informative book which should offer something of interest to even the most fanatical fan. It is a bonus that the book is richly illustrated.
At least Popoff’s conversational style hardly matters, given that the book comprises him discussing Pink Floyd’s fifteen studio albums with various rock journalists and musicians. Everybody knows their stuff and the result is an entertaining and informative book which should offer something of interest to even the most fanatical fan. It is a bonus that the book is richly illustrated.
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