This subject matter may not interest everyone, but thought I’d try something different. I will pop one of these up everyone once in a while to give you songs of artists I enjoy but who have songs not everyone may have heard before. In other words, they aren’t hits. You may have only heard about them if you bought their albums. If possible, I will link to them on Spotify so you can listen and see if you agree.
Often times these songs might not even sound like the group/singer in question because of how different they sound. In today’s case, it is Pink Floyd. They are well known for mostly 2 albums “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall”. There may be other things you’ve heard by them, but most people know just these two albums. So I present to you 10 songs that I think are really good, but unless you are passionate about the group, may have never heard before.
In order of release:
If – This acoustic strummer sung and written by Roger Waters has a quiet walk down memory lane feel to it. The guitar solos are lazy sounding ones as well, which works. The lyrics are introspective in nature, but it is a good song to listen to like on a lazy river. [Link on Spotify]
San Tropez – A jaunty jazzy sounding song by Roger Waters. It talks about an idealized day in Saint-Tropez, a commune in southern France on the French Riviera. It just has a nice wistfulness about it. An equally jazzy guitar solo fits the mood perfectly. It also has a bouncy jazzy piano solo. It is a nice song to listen and relax. [Link on Spotify]
Wot’s….Uh the Deal – A strange title, but then again it is on a movie soundtrack. Written by David Gilmour and Roger Waters, sung by David, it has an overall quiet tone with acoustic guitar and some piano. In fact, no guitar solo really, just a little piano ditty. It talks about taking advantage of what opportunities life gives and how they affect you later on. [Link on Spotify]
Free Four – A synthesizer-based number (wirtten by Roger Waters) with some acoustic guitar from an album for an obscure movie called “Obscured by Clouds” (ironically). It has rather simple beat and melody, but it is as close to a pop song as Pink Floyd can get. It has a nice guitar solo as well. I think it could have been a hit song even though it is slightly morbid in the lyrics partially referring to the evils of the record industry. [Link on Spotify]
Stay – Piano based and a strong song written by Richard Wright(with Roger Waters) but sung only by RIchard Wright (keyboardist). Again, written mainly for the movie “Obscured by Clouds”. It is about a one-night stand so doesn’t have the most riveting chorus but is touching in its own way and has a nice drippy guitar solo. [Link on Spotify]
Nobody Home – While “The Wall” album was immensely popular, this song may have been skipped by many. It wasn’t a hit (not that Pink Floyd typically had them) and is a quiet song. Once again written by Roger Waters to piano. It has some interesting lyrics and you’ve even got Gomer Pyle (a 50’s TV show character) lending his voice near the end. It is about trying to call someone, and no one is answering even though the caller is reaching out for help. I just think it is a well written song.
Two Suns In The Sunset – Be warned this does have a slightly harder sounding middle section but the rest of it is pure beauty even if it is talking about the end of the world (one sun is an atomic bomb btw). Roger Waters is at it again with this mainly acoustic gem. The middle break is a little brutal (and has Roger’s whiney type of voice) but the sax solo at the end blisters. [Link on Spotify]
On The Turning Away – Written by David Gilmour (and Anthony Moore) is on the first album without Roger Waters in the band. Some of the songs aren’t as strong, but this is a hidden winner. It seems to be about helping each other and not turning away. It wouldn’t be David Gilmour without a long strong hard guitar solo to close it out, but overall, this song has a quiet plaintive tone to it. [Link on Spotify]
A Great Day For Freedom – This song recalls the day the Berlin Wall came down and how the hopes and dreams for what that meant didn’t really happen (at least at the time). Written by David Gilmour and Polly Samson (now his wife). It is mostly piano focused with again a wonderful guitar solo by David Gilmour. [Link on Spotify]
Coming Back to Life – Soley written by David Gilmour it tells of how he was in poor spirits until meeting his wife and how his life took a wonderful turn and he “came back to life”. It has an interesting opening guitar part that moves into a mostly instrument free zone where he laments that he didn’t realize he missed her until he found her. It then picks up the pace with a stready beat. As is the case of many great songs from Pink Floyd, the guitar solos tear it up. [Link on Spotify]
Hope you checked the songs out even if not a Pink Floyd fan and gave them a listen. Maybe you found one or two you really liked. Interestingly most were written by Roger Waters who despite many not caring for his politics (or even his voice in some songs), does have a way with melody and lyrics.
