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Top 10 Pink Floyd Albums
Post By: GeorgeR
Pink Floyd albums are not only valuable time capsules that hold an important place in rock history, they are also monuments to state-of-the-art recording methods that only Floyd could accomplish. Pink Floyd recorded 14 studio albums and 3 live albums. They are all timeless classics, but here is a list of the top 10 Pink Floyd albums of all time.
10.) The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
This classic 1967 album seems to become more popular with each release. When it was first released, the American version had “See Emily Play” on it but the British version did not. It reached to number 6 on the British music charts and peaked at position 131 on the Billboard Magazine charts. Producer Norman Smith was an old-school producer who thought he was getting a new version of the Beatles. He soon came to realize that he had a whole different kind of animal on his hands. Floyd pushed the envelope of what should be on a studio album by grabbing anything in the studio that would make noise and putting it up to a microphone. They would slow the tape down, speed it up and do all kinds of tricks that the Beatles never tried. In the end the final product is one of the groundbreaking albums in rock history. It has sold approximately 3 million copies worldwide.
9.) The Division Bell
In a way this 1994 album is a somber one for Floyd fans as it represents the last studio effort the band ever released. It was the second release without any input from Roger Waters, and it was a true group effort between the remaining members of the Floyd. Gilmour, Mason and Wright wrote the majority of the album together and it shows in the results. There is nothing groundbreaking production-wise here, this is just good Pink Floyd music and a solid way for a legendary band to finish their history. The album peaked at number 1 on both the British and Billboard Magazine music charts. To date it has sold approximately 10 million copies worldwide.
8.) A Saucerful of Secrets
The most awkward and uncomfortable Pink Floyd album ever made. Syd Barrett has lingering guitar parts in the songs “A Saucerful of Secrets” and “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” that are left side-by-side with Gilmour’s parts. Syd’s final song “Jugband Blues” is a creepy goodbye that was actually written in early 1967 when Syd was still coherent. It is Floyd fumbling around for a sound they would not find for a few more albums, and it is one of the most obvious transition albums any band has ever released. The album only appeared on the British music charts but it peaked at number 9. To date it has sold approximately 3 million copies worldwide.
7.) Atom Heart Mother
Atom Heart Mother is the unknown Floyd album that every fan should own. Roger Waters described the title track “Atom Heart Mother Suite” as a ” soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist.” Of course Roger and the rest of the band also refer to the album as less than desirable, but it stands as a great Floyd record. It is the album where Floyd started to explore the limits of their music and the possibilities of studio production. The title track contains a full brass band, a choir chanting gibberish and some of the strongest grooves on any Floyd record. Other songs such as “If” and “Fat Old Sun” would become Floyd classics. The album was released in 1970 and peaked at number 1 on the British charts and number 55 on the Billboard Magazine charts. To date is has sold approximately 4 million copies worldwide.
6.) Ummagumma
Named after a British slang word for sex, this 1969 release was vitally important to the establishment of the Pink Floyd sound as we came to know it. Each member was allowed to write their own songs. This album shows the beginnings of Roger’s lyrical prowess and David’s musical genius. Nick Mason and Rick Wright’s contributions are interesting but forgettable. The live disc establishes such songs as “Astronomy Domine” as Floyd concert staples for decades to come. The album peaked at number 5 on the British charts and number 74 on the Billboard Magazine charts. To date it has sold approximately 5 million copies worldwide.
5.) Animals
Roger’s angst was in full force with this 1977 release as he spat at the music industry, the media and literally spat at a fan during the tour for this record. Each song on Animals is an epic classic that shows how Floyd uses music to set a mood. The album peaked at number 2 in England and at number 3 on the Billboard Magazine charts. It has sold approximately 15 million copies worldwide.
4.) Wish You Were Here
Long regarded by Floyd fans and Floyd themselves as the greatest musical achievement the band had ever created. This 1975 dedication to Syd Barrett is a heart-felt homage to a great songwriter lost to drugs and success. The title track and all of the parts to “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” are still played by Roger Waters and David Gilmour at live concerts. In case you missed it, “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” has SYD right in the title. The album peaked at number 1 on the British and Billboard Magazine charts. It has sold approximately 20 million copies worldwide to date.
3.) Meddle
The album when Pink Floyd started to become Pink Floyd. Meddle contains such classics as “One of These Days,” “Fearless,” and the defining piece “Echoes.” Released in 1971, this album showed a Pink Floyd that had finally found their writing muse and all of the pieces had fallen into place. Roger was writing the lyrics and the entire band was contributing to the music. David Gilmour’s guitar work starts to encircle the music and give it form, and Rick Wright created bright tapestries with his keyboards. The album peaked at number 3 in Britian and number 70 on the Billboard Magazine charts. To date it has sold approximately 7 million copies worldwide.
2.) The Wall
There is no more divisive album among Pink Floyd fans than The Wall. Long-time fans consider The Wall a Roger Waters solo album with nothing to offer to the Pink Floyd legacy, while classic rock radio fans often vote the album as one of the best of all time. The Wall is a production masterpiece with a complicated but understandable story line. Visual images created by Roger’s lyrics and Gerald Scarfe’s animation make this an unforgettable album. The depressing story line and music can make the listener feel drained when it is over, but it must be listened to in its entirety. The album peaked at number 3 on the British charts but reached number 1 on the Billboard Charts. To date The Wall ranks as one of the highest selling double albums of all time with approximately 25 million copies sold worldwide.
1.) Dark Side of the Moon
The production perfection achieved with Dark Side of the Moon still stands up in the age of digital recordings. The care put into the creation of the album by the band and by engineer Alan Parsons make this one of the greatest albums of all time. The music reaches out and touches a vast audience by asking the questions that separate people from each other, and begs to know why we must feel alienated. The vocal work is in perfect harmony with the music. The sound effects are world famous from the ticking clocks that open the song “Time” to Roger’s tape loop of sounds that open up “Money.” This album is still used by stereo sales people to show the capabilities of a stereo system, and it is one of the few albums ever made that sounds better on vinyl than it does on CD. It peaked at number 2 on the British charts but it sat atop the Billboard Charts at number 1. It stayed on the Billboard Charts for 14 years. To date it has sold in excess of 37 million copies worldwide.
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Topics: Pink Floyd, Rock | 33 Comments »
January 27th, 2010 at 5:51 am
I recently found almost all of these at a Goodwill, I had a copy of a few of them but grabbing them up for $3 is priceless.
Overall I’d say Animals is my favorite out of them all, it really shows a side of PF at the perfect time.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:55 am
My particular Top 10 Pink Floyd Albums is:1º Dark Side of the Moon 2º Wish you were here 3º Atom heart mother 4º Meddle 5º UmmaGumma 6º The Wall 7ºThe Piper at the Gates of Dawn 8ºAnimals 9ºSoundtrack of More 10º A Saucerful of Secrets
June 4th, 2010 at 4:55 am
I recently found almost all of these at a Goodwill, I had a copy of a few of them but grabbing them up for $3 is priceless.
Overall I’d say Animals is my favorite out of them all, it really shows a side of PF at the perfect time.
July 8th, 2010 at 3:23 am
DSOTM one of the few albums that sound better on vinyl than cd,really?
Most first pressings on vinyl sound better than the cd counterparts IME by a long way.
February 8th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Good list. Id put animals #3. Division bell is underrated too. Should be higher! Great Achievement post Roger Waters. DSOTM is#1 of ALL ALBUMS EVER!! Floyd or not Floyd. Theatrical in its own right when you listen to it from start to finish. Wish I could convey in words all the “experiences” and memories i had growing up to this epic band!
February 27th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
here is my top 10 pf albums
10. obscured by clouds(should be on there instead of ummagumma)best song:wots umm the deal
9. atom heart mother (best song: atom heart mother)
8. piper at the gates of dawn(best song: astronomy domine)
7. animals(best song: pigs(3 diff 1s)
6. wish u were here(best song:Shine On(all parts)
5. saucerful of secrets(also really underated best song:saucerful of secrets)
4. the division bell(best song:high hopes)
3. the wall(best song:comfortably numb(my favorite song)
2. meddle(quite underrated best song:echoes)
1. DARK SIDE OF THE MOON(best song:time)
March 10th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
10 A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
9 A Saucer Full Of Secrets
8 Piper At the Gates Of Dawn
7 Obscured By Clouds
6 Meddle
5 The Division Bell
4 Wish You Were Here
3 Animals (1c) Hard for me to not say #1 so great!
2 The Wall (1b)
1 Dark Side Of The Moon (1a)- Greatest Album of all time of any band!
March 22nd, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Thanks for these lists. I have been rediscovering PF after a few decades. Previously I stopped at Animals and was wondering whether the later PF is worth a listen. You’ve prompted me get copies of Division Bell and The Wall. No takers for ‘Final Cut’ though. Was it all that bad?
April 11th, 2011 at 8:18 am
8-The Wall
7-The piper at the gates of dawn
6-Ummagumma
5-The division bell
4-Meddle
3-Wish you were here
2-Animals
1-Dark side
Echoes is the best album of all time by any band ever (compliation though)
April 11th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
The Final Cut is a great album, should definetly be there over a Ummagumma, Meddle, and Division Bell.
April 16th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Final Cut should be near the top.
I also liked Saucerful of Secrets quite a bit–Jugband Blues, Saucerful of Secrets, Corporal Clegg, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. Wright’s songs are forgettable.
May 1st, 2011 at 3:54 pm
The Final Cut deserves 2nd spot
May 11th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I think that maybe the Final Cut didn’t appeal to most PF fans because it wasn’t so outwardly dramatic… It was more of a subtle effort that required thought and patience and an appreciation of good lyrics; you had to work a little harder to get it, and once I got it I considered it the most thoughtful and honest of all their records. The same thinking is attached to Radiohead albums now; a few extra listens are needed. Probably my favorite Floyd album … unless it’s WYWH
May 16th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
I would rather move ANIMALS to the third and MEDDLE stays in Four to continue.. next is perfect.
August 11th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Nominal Floyd fans will typcialy list The Wall and Dark Side at or near the top. They are indeed great albums, but deeper listening and many decades of following this band reveal the top two Floyd albums are The Final Cut and Animals. Don’t get me wrong, I love just about all the classic Floyd albums – Meddle is underrated and Wish You Were Here is great, but The Final Cut especially deserves a deeper listen by most Floyd fans!
August 17th, 2011 at 3:42 am
1. Animals
2. DSotM
3. Piper at the Gates of Dawn
4. Wish You Wish Were Here
5. The Wall
6. Amused to Death
7. The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
8. Meddle
9. The Final Cut
10. The Division Bell
Re-discovering Waters solo stuff after seeing the Wall live. It stands comparison with the best of the Floyd IMHO. “Pros” is a real sleeper, always found it hard to listen to until this summer.
Output from ’68-’70 is flawed, I rarely listen to it, though plenty of interest.
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:45 am
1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Meddle
3. Animals
4. Piper at the Gates of Dawn
5. Wish You were Here
6. Obscured by Clouds
7. The Division Bell
8. More
9. Momentary Lapse of Reason
10. A Saucerful of Secrets.
I adore Pink Floyd, but there are half of two albums and another two I just simply cannot stomach. The Studio recording of Ummagumma is god awful; as is the brass parts in Atom Heart Mother. And the other two, The Wall and The Final Cut. These latter two albums, while some Floyd fans may disagree, are disappointing save a few of the songs,and I agree with Gilmour’s re-appraisal of The Wall as “a bit of a whinge!”. Final Cut is just a Waters solo album.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
My favorite Pink Floyd albums.
1. The Wall
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Darkside of the Moon
4. Animals
5. The Final Cut
6. Pipers at the Gates of Dawn
7. Meddle
8. Obscured by Clouds
November 18th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Meddle
4. Animals
5. The Wall
6. Atom Heart Mother
7. Piper At The Gates of Dawn
8. Obscured by Clouds
9. The Final Cut
10. A Momentary Lapse of Reason
December 9th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
MY TOP TEN
10. UMMAGUMMA
9.MEDDLE
8.DIVISION BELL
7.PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
6.OBSCURED BY CLOUDS
5.A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON
4.WISH YOU WERE HERE
3.DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
2.THE WALL
1.ANIMALS
December 13th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
This is how I view the Pink Floyd albums to my preference.
Animals
Dark Side of the Moon = Meddles
The Wall
Obscured by Clouds = Wish You Were Here
More
Final Cut
and then the rest.
December 14th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
1. Animals
2. Dark Side of the Moon
3. Wish You Were Here
4. Meddle
5. The Division Bell
6. A Momentary Lapse of Reason
7. The Piper At the Gates of Dawn
8. The Wall
9. Atom Heart Mother
10. The Final Cut
December 20th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Division Bell
3. Wish You Were Here
4. Meddle
5. The Wall
6. Momentary Lapse of Reason
7. Animals
8. More
9. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
10. and the rest
I think that The Division Bell is the most underrated Pink Floyd album. Gilmour’s vocals are spot on, and his guitar playing is second to none (i.e. Marooned). I love Wright’s vocal contribution. He didn’t have a great voice, nor does Waters, but they made it work. It was an incredible and awe-inspiring album. Marooned gives me chills to this day.
December 29th, 2011 at 6:59 am
Any list that puts the Division Bell ahead of Piper isn’t even worth looking at. My list, at the moment, which changes with my mood:
1. DSOTM
2. Meddle
3. Wish You Were Here
4. Live at Pompeii (roio)
5. More
6. Piper…
7. 370 Roman Yards, the Lost Album (roio)
8. Animals
9. Saucerful
10. Obscured by Clouds.
-10,0000. The Division Bell
-1000000,00000000000. Momentary Lapse of Talent
January 12th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
my Best Pink Floyd Albums are:
1. Dark Side of the Moon
2. Meddle
3. Animals
4. Piper at the Gates of Dawn
5. Wish You were Here
January 29th, 2012 at 7:30 am
My List
1.Dark Side of the Moon
2.Animals
3.The Wall
4.Wish You were Here
5.Meddle
6.Piper at The Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd fans need not be so stuffy about The Wall. Listen to it again. Commercial success doesnt take away from the genius of this album. DSOTM is one of the top 5 albums ever made. Pompeii version of Echoes may be the single greatest rock song ever. There are novice Floyd fans out there who have never heard Echoes – think about that!
January 30th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
1. darkside of the moon
2/3. meddle & wish you were here- interchangable depending on mood
4. atom heart mother
5. obscured by clouds
6. animals
7. the wall
8. more
9. piper at the gates of dawn
10. saucerful of secrets
11. the final cut
12. division bell
13. ummagumma
14. momentary lapse of reason
February 17th, 2012 at 10:55 am
Top 5 Floyd albums (in my opinion)
5- A Saucerful of Secrets: Corporal Clegg! God Damn I love that song.
4- Obscured By Clouds
3- The Wall: Masterpiece! Fav song is The Trial, gets me every time!
2- DSOTM- Their best collaborative work as a band, and so thought provoking. Music is suppose to mean something, and this is what every artist should strive for. In my opinion lol
1- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn: FUUUUCK yeah! I love Syd, and I could listen to this album over and over and over.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
You guys are crazy! Syd’s music is awful! I only give him credit for putting the band together. Division bell and momentary lapse of reason are two of the greatest albums of all time. And lets not forget the final cut! The best pf music is dark side and anything after.
June 1st, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Ya, The Final Cut should be on the list, Amazing lyrics, and definatly Rogers most beautiful singing, a great production and a roller coaster of a story. A deeper look into the childhood trauma that shaped and defined Roger for a time. 24 yrs. ago I saw Roger perform Radio KAOS, A month later I saw Floyd do Momentary Lapse. Last week I got to see Roger do The Wall. I don’t know if I have ever seen anything that will ever top The Wall show. Truly amazing and Roger set a new standard for live shows in my opinion. I love them all But Roger has a unique talent and perserverance.
July 4th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
1, Dark Side
2, Wish you were here
3, Division Bell
4, The wall
5, Meddle
6, Momentary lapse
7 Animals
8 Atom Heart Mother
9 Piper at the gates…
10. More
11. Ummagumma
12. A saucerful of secrets
13. Obscured by clouds
14. The final shit
November 9th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
1. Meddle
2. Wish You Were Here
3. Piper At the Gates of Dawn
4. Ummagumma
5. Dark Side Of The Moon
6. Atom heart Mother
7. Animals
8. A Saucerful of Secrets
9. The Wall
10. Obscured by Clouds
January 21st, 2013 at 4:32 pm
1. Animels
2. WYWH
3. DSOTM
4. The Wall
5. Division Bell
6. Medle
7. The Final Cut
8. Obscuren By Clouds
9. Atom Heart Mother
10. Zabriskie Point (PF contribution is great)
Best songs
1. Dogs
2. Shine on Your Crazy Diamond
3. WYWH
4. Echoes
5. Money
6. Comfartable Numb
7. Time
And then à lot of PF songs AT&T nr. 8 like Pigs, Us and Them, Welcome to the Machine, The Gunners Dream,….etc.