Talk:Wish You Were Here (album)

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Is it true that this can be listened to as an accompanyment to Its a Wonderful Life and Wizard of Oz? Mark Richards 17:39, 26 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Yes, for its a wonderful life for sure. It can also be played to Wizard of Oz AFTER Dark Side of the moon has played along side it once through - Fizscy46 22:05, 26 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Some interesting facts about the making of the album

Some interesting facts (not sure how to put these in the entry; source: Various books talking about the making of this album I have read over the years):

Pink Floyd had to re-record a large portion of the album because a studio engineer made an error causing (as I recall) unwanted drum sounds to be on all of the tracks of the original recording.

"Welcome to the Machine" was an interesting way of recording a song for Waters; he felt it was different to use just synthesizers and a multitrack to make a song. This, of course, became standard procedure with the new wave movement of the 1980s. Waters also felt that the synthesizer could not be effectively recorded on a tape deck at the time; a tape deck could not capture the full sound of a synthesizer. He was able to somewhat work around this limitation by directly connecting the synth to the tape deck, bypassing the mixing board.

[edit] Might be worth mentioning

Legend has it that during the recordings Syd Barrett stumbled in the studio. No one recognized him, at least not right away. That might not be that awkward: Barrett's appearance changed a lot (grew fatter, for instance) since he played with the band. I always thought this was a rumour, a myth invented by Pink-fans, but in at least one interview David Gilmour confirms this story.

Already in the article. He did indeed show up. All four members of Floyd mention that he did show up in the studio, but they forgot what song they were working on at the time. Also please sign yr comments. Doc Strange 17:46, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Connections to Apollo-Soyuz

I seem to remeber reading or hearing that there was some connection (maybe very slight) between this album, or one of the songs on it, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project which had occurred in July, 1975, just two months before the albums release . Memory is such a tricky thing and this could easily be an urban legend. I thought some wikipedia Pink Floyd fan might leave a post here clearing this up for me. I will thank you ahead of time for any info that you might have and for the time that you take to post it here.MarnetteD | Talk 15:11, 23 May 2005 (UTC)


[edit] In light of Nick Mason's account

It was a technician Phil Taylor and not Rick Wright who ducked down in his car because he "wasn't sure he could handle the conversation" according to [[Inside Out]]. I have fixed this inaccuracy. (Lynchical 07:25, 20 January 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Neutrality?

From the article: "An angry Waters strengthened his grip on the band's output, and this increasing pressure and hostility would eventually tear Pink Floyd apart." This seems like an oversimplification to me, not to mention unverified research.BotleySmith 19:15, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] I heard that the album cover was ahead of its time

in terms of the graphics on the cover -dragong4

That's POV Doc Strange 19:32, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Concept?

Is WYWH a concept album? No-Bullet 23:04, 24 September 2006 (UTC)

No one answered, I'll remove it. No-Bullet 02:57, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
I think it is, and I'd say the concept isn't primarily the music industry, as suggested; it is explicitly about absence and detachment (hence 'Wish You Were Here'), as well as 'the end of relationships', hence the cover of a man burned by contact Ezy Rider 13:46, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] tribute to Syd Barret

I think it flows better to say "the album pays tribute to " rather than "the album is partly a tribute to". There is no question that it pays tribute, but the use of the word "partly" requires the parts to be defined, which is not something that you need to do in an introduction. Trishm 22:11, 10 December 2006 (UTC)


[edit] cover art, reissues

The explanation of the different cover art versions is a little confusing to me, as are the reissues explanation a little bit.

[edit] Tracklist info box

Sorry but i dont like the new tracklisting infobox. The type is too small, i hope that this isnt a new trend - could we consider removing it? - Ummagumma23 11:54 24 February 2007

ok,--Doktor Who 17:42, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Introduction, bit on lyrics

Were the lyrics only composed by Roger Waters as the intro suggests? This seems to contradict the'Track Listing' section, where the writing credits include Gilmour and Wright as well.

 **Writing credits also include the music, so it would be Lyrics:Waters, Music:Gilmour/Wright.  
 **Quite a common practice.  Rob Golding (robert<dot>golding<at>gmail<dot>com)

Also, the introduction, as stated, gives the impression that the primary message of the album is about "the music industry, question the market-oriented record companies' lack of understanding and interest for musicians", where none of the 3 major songs in the album (Shine On I and II, and WYWH) are about that. I find this very misleading. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 164.68.56.29 (talk) 05:44, 23 March 2007 (UTC).

It's written in the booklet "All lyrics by Roger Waters". Same for Meddle, The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, The Wall and, of course, The Final Cut.Marc Navatier 09:04, 8 May 2007 (UTC)
"where none of the 3 major songs in the album (Shine On I and II, and WYWH) are about that." Well they actually are, "caught in the crossfire between childhood and stardoom" [can] mean that the music industry isnt the place for his type of character, and he'd have to sacrifice one over the other/the opening lines about a change of character show that the industry has messed him up/and the second verse of WYWH about exchanging bilge is about how the industry tried to make him (again) sacrifice his real personality for the lead role in a cage[although he actually didnt, they just tried, it was Waters (as he admitted himself in the ITAOT interview) who actually succumbed to it all]/the whole "steel breeze" metaphor as well in Water's words has something to do with becoming a cold personality. However the lyrics have multiple interpretations, thats the whole point of this album, and the industry one is, just one. I don't personally follow this, and yeah i agree with you that this should not be the primary message put forward. Also, anyone notice how Syd's life is actually what all "rock people" say they want to do, but are too scared to, because they dont actually want to lose the fame and money. He didnt become a recluse, or go insane, his sister made the most outstanding point ever, he was just not giving people what they wanted. Its quite an interesting social statement to make, its far more of an interactionist view than a functionalist view on what his situation should be. Think about it, thats ultimately all he was doing, we just wanted so much from him. And I dont see any of his songs as the ramblings of a madman, jugband blues, vegetable man, and dark globe all make clear points that are quite fundamentally present to all of our lives, youve just got to read into them. Well there we go, this is how I interpret it all, my 2 cents...

[edit] Addition of Electronic Music to the list of genres

Several of the songs have a lot of synthesisers on Wish You Were Here, including Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and Welcome to the Machine (Those tracks together take up about 60% or so of the album). Therefore, I think "electronic music" or a genre of that like should be added to the genre list. Sittingonfence 01:07, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here 2000 Remastered CD.jpg

Image:Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here 2000 Remastered CD.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 09:10, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Unproven concepts

Waters saw Syd in Harrods? Can someone verify this?

The Syd's Theme appears in every song? Welll I've listened to the album about 7 times trying to hear in WTTM/HAC/WYWH and I really doubt it, can someone say how and when it appears in the middle three song medley? Merci

Roger recalls he saw Syd in Harrods on the documentary film The Pink FLoyd and Syd Barrett story. Appparently Syd was buying sweets! It was the last time Waters saw him - Ummagumma23 10:22 26 June 2007 (UTC).

In the timeline in the bank of Another Brick in the Wall: The Story Behind Every Pink Floyd Song (this book is the source for several facts that have been disputed by Wikipedia - including Syd playing on "Corporal Clegg" and the "1 in 14 people in the US own DSOTM" facts)...Apparently, Syd was spotted in Harrod's with a large bag full of sweets (US: candy) and proceeded to drop it and run upon being spotted. Doc Strange 18:03, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Artwork (Changes dated 02:19, 25 October 2007)

The "Wish you were here"/"Early Singles" hybrid mentioned in the article is not a genuine release. I've seen it, and while it's an elaborate fake, it still is a fake. For starters, it uses the black "robotic handshake" motive, which was never used as the printed booklet cover for any CD releases (an anniversary edition actually had that cover, but in the same style the original LP had, i.e. as a plastic wrap around the jewel case, which had the usual "burning man" cover). Also, the robotic image got further treatment - it is enlarged, contained in a white rectangle and "amended" by the band name and album title - none of which were ever done on any official release of any Pink Floyd album. Secondly, large record companies - such as those that Pink Floyd are signed to in different parts of the world, i.e. EMI and Sony Music - do not put out high-profile albums by high-profile bands (such as Wish you were here by Pink Floyd) with bonus tracks on it without making a big fuss about it. Moreover, such record companies do, as a rule, not append an album's worth of completely unrelated material to well-known records. And moreover still, Pink Floyd is inlikely to ever allow such delution - EMI actually put the 1967 singles onto a separate disk in the limited edition of the 2007 40th anniversary re-release of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, even though the material could be considered quite related. To put things into context even more: we're talking about a compilation of 1967/1968-era singles and b-sides that was tucked onto the end of a 1975 concept album. No Sir, Pink Floyd and their record company/companies would never do that. Lastly, and that's the final straw, the WYWH/EarlySingles CD does not have an IFPI code (also see here) on the inner ring of the CD itself. That code is present on virtually all official releases worldwide (except for some self-released CDs by unsigned artists) and identifies the plant at which a CD was produced. No IFPI code is usually a damn sure sign for a fake CD. So - the "Wish you were here"/"Early Singles" hybrid is clearly a fake, which is why I deleted mention of it and its deviating artwork from the article as such mention would otherwise lend undeserved legitimacy to an illegitimate release.--afromme 01:08, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Redirection?

I think that when people look up 'Wish You Were Here', they should be directly taken to the album page. After all, they were the first to use 'Wish You Were Here', and I think they deserve it.--FloydZeppelin74 01:00, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Michael Mantler and "Syd's Theme"

I'd like to mention that in a certain Michael Mantler composition, called "Folly Seeing All This", Syd's theme repeats for a small number of times starting from 18:25. I don't think this would be all that notable if it weren't for the fact that Mantler worked with Nick Mason in 1983, and that the album this work is from was issued 10 years after that collaboration. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.216.233.114 (talk) 09:30, 5 December 2007 (UTC)


[edit] The Location of the Album Cover

Does anyone out there know where abouts the album cover photo was taken, the one with the man on fire. If someone could add this then that would be great. thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.187.113.66 (talk) 13:29, 18 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] studio visit part

and i quote: "Barrett sat motionless; he is sometimes quoted as saying, when someone asked to play it back again, that this would be pointless as they had already just heard it"

questions:

1. what part is the quote, i see no quotation marks(other than the ones i used). 2. what is the point of the quote, it does not add anything to the article. Kas0809 (talk) 19:03, 2 February 2008 (UTC)