What's All This Then

Why should I care what this guy has to say?

The correct answer is that you shouldn’t. We’re all entitled to our opinions. Develop your own. I try to be sane and rational, but that may change with the level of caffeine intake. I’m just telling my stories in the hopes they may amuse and/or inform others. And... I Confess... I'm showing off my bitchen collection a bit.


Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Pink Floyd Hits a Wall Creatively

Before I dive into this particular post, let me preface by saying I love Pink Floyd up to and including Animals from 1977


So here we have a 45 that was an outtake (aka not good enough) from an entire album that was made up of outtakes (The Final Cut)  from Pink Floyd's heretofore worst album  (The Wall).   I've said it.  Deal with it.  Extra added collectors edition bonus rant at the end of this post.

Pink Floyd    - When The Tigers Broke Free b/w Bring the Boys Back Home (Columbia 1982)


This single was originally to be included on the 'final' Pink Floyd album The Final Cut.  This was an album made up of outtakes from The Wall which sort of played into the movie.  When the final track listing for The Final Cut was compiled, this one didn't make the final cut.


Roger Waters was so proud of Pink Floyd's second worst album that he decided to have it made into a film.    This particular 45 contains 'special pictures from the movie.'  Why waste a good track. Tie it into the movie and put a bunch of special shit in the packaging.




The track itself is an orchestral bombast with vocals that only features Roger Waters.



So why do I hate The Wall so much?   Up until this time, Pink Floyd was a band with little ego.  Massive success didn't go to their heads.  Well 3 of their heads at least.  Roger Waters decided after Dark Side of the Moon that he was the only one capable of writing lyrics.   He proclaimed himself leader of the band.    The others kind of played along for a while in stoner passivity.  When it came time for The Wall, Waters presented the band with two choices for the next album.  The Wall or The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking.   He brought in an outside producer and kicked Rick Wright (who wrote Us and Them) out of the band.   The others became withdrawn - much like The Beatles in the Let it Be film. The Wall became a vehicle for Water's megalomania and anger!  I just hated it from the get go.

Years later it was a joy to see Waters get testy because his Amused to Death album flopped.  I saw him in an interview say the public was stupid for not buying it.   But now, he's turned The Wall into his Hamilton. 

The best comeuppance (IMHO) is after Live8.  A Pink Floyd reunion occurred.  It was awesome -  despite MTV's coverage of the live event so botched that they had a do-over live broadcast a week later.     Waters suggested to the other three they keep it going.   They all said 'nah'







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