# Best Pink Floyd Studio Albums (POLL) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 28, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932 "2022-10-28T17:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/41 "2022-10-28T22:57:24Z")
Tough call between Meddle, Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, or Animals. Ultimately I chose Wish You Were Here, because that was the first song I taught myself to play on the guitar. I like The Wall, but have just never held it in the same regard as those others. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/42 "2022-10-28T23:21:44Z")
For me, The Wall, DSotM, and WYWH are really too close to call, but WYWH gets the nod, at least today. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/43 "2022-10-28T23:24:39Z")
Let’s hear it for the recordings that weren’t commercial releases… Pompeii Playhouse Theatre London 9.16.1970 Oakland 5.9.77 Total Eclipse The Top Gear Sessions The BBC Archives 1967-74 Live at Wembley PF at Saarlandhalle PF at Montreaux Concert at Fillmore West Concert at Earl’s Court 1973 Concert at Tarrant County Convention Ctr Live at the Rainbox Theatre The Wall at Nassau Coliseum 1980 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/44 "2022-10-28T23:28:38Z")
I had the movie Pink Floyd in Pompeii on VHS. It was excellent and very trippy. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/45 "2022-10-29T01:28:53Z")
Well, I just watched a bunch of Floyd videos, including Pompeii, and they were great. It made me a little teary to see Rick Wright at work, particularly on Echoes. He really was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/46 "2022-10-29T02:15:55Z")
As I said in the Yes thread: Meddle. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/47 "2022-10-29T02:19:57Z")
Another vote for Meddle here. I remember listening to _One Of These Days_ on my FM stereo in high school using the detachable speakers as headphones. Hearing _San Tropez_ always brings to mind the photo of the group on the beach there, with future best actress nominee Naomi Watts in her mother’s arms (her father Peter was Floyd’s road manager). I don’t think I’m alone in considering _Echoes_ as the crown jewel of their oeuvre–I only wish they would release the song and the rest of the album in surround officially (as opposed to being an Easter egg in the “Early Years” set) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/48 "2022-10-29T02:23:26Z")
I really enjoy Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Dark Side of the Moon. I have those three as individual albums, plus the Echo album for best of, which covers most of my favorite songs. And I utterly agree, which is best is _mostly_ about the sort of mood I’m in when it comes time to play an album. But if I were trapped on a desert island with the ability to pick only one of those CDs, I’d probably pick The Wall. Everything on WYWH is good, but it’s so short that it keeps you wanting more, and DSotM has songs I love plus ones that are good, but don’t normally speak to me. The Wall always feels complete in and of itself, tells a story (always a plus for me), and all the songs affect me, although not all equally. So it juuuust squeaks out the win. As a side note, I also recommend [Gov’t Mule’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gov%27t_Mule) [‘Dark Side of the Mule’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Mule) for those who want their Floyd with a twist! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/49 "2022-10-29T02:25:58Z")
I have to say I’m surprised that _The Wall_ didn’t rate higher among Dopers – to me it’s a real classic. But my second choice would have been _Dark Side of the Moon_ which seems to be a popular choice. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/50 "2022-10-29T02:35:19Z")
It was a tough choice as The Wall was my introduction to Floyd, but when I think of the group, I think Dark Side of the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/51 "2022-10-29T02:38:42Z")
I just can’t vote yet. The music to The Wall is the one piece of music in the past 100 years that I would say deserves to be timeless: it is just that powerful yet sublime. But I need some time to process whether Roger Waters’ heel turn negates any positives of the erstwhile universality of the lyrics. It turns out that, despite his father dying, he wasn’t really saying that we should end war so that the common people won’t suffer, he was saying that we should end war except when it’s a warlord he likes. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/52 "2022-10-29T02:50:42Z")
Needless to say I’m very disappointed in Rogers Waters’ politics, but that doesn’t change my view of his musical accomplishments. Side note. A friend used to keep his boat on the southern part of Georgian Bay, and some summers we’d go off on a week-long cruise across Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Not long after leaving the marina, we’d pass this magnificent area of well-manicured lawn on the north shore with an imposing building off in the distance. This was a mental health institution with some euphemistic name, but we just called it the lunatic asylum. I always insisted that “Brain Damage” from _Dark Side of the Moon_ be playing on the boat’s stereo system as we sailed past this strange and haunting vista on the distant shoreline. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/53 "2022-10-29T05:37:53Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > As I said in the Yes thread: Meddle. > [@blondebear](#): > > Another vote for Meddle here. Meddle has some amazing tracks on it — “Echoes” is spectacular and epic, and “One of These Days” is among their best. Somewhat less grand but a decent track is “Fearless”. But “San Tropez” is kind of bland and boring, and then you land on “Seamus”, god help me. I’m sure there are sincere fans of “Seamus” and I won’t fault them, as I’m rather fond of “Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict”. Be that as it may, I rush to the skip button whenever it gets to “Seamus”. The only PF track that can compete with it for bottom of the barrel honors is “Absolutely Curtains”, and that’s only for the exotic non-western-music ending that wears out its welcome long before it stops. Meddle is great and I love it but for me not a contender for best. More is underrated. It isn’t much for individual standout tracks (although I do love “Green Is the Colour”) but there’s an overall dreamy floatiness about it that’s grown on me. As others have said, it’s the cumulative accomplishment that’s most amazing. That they put forth all these really amazing albums. So many of them all by themselves would have established them as a great band. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/54 "2022-10-29T13:18:15Z")
I went with _Wish You Were Here_. To me, it’s the one that hangs together best as a “whole album experience”–one I’d want to sit and listen to, beginning to end, as a single piece of music. I guess it helps that that the “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” suite, altogether, accounts for more than half of the total running time, but still. Also, one of the things I find really striking about this one is how well it expresses sadness without being overly sentimental or maudlin. That’s a very delicate balance, and the boys nailed it beautifully. _Animals_ is a close second, but it’s a heavy-handed album. I would allow that that’s necessary to convey the message as intended, and there are times when heavy-handedness just hits the spot. But that’s the factor that would give _WYWH_ the edge in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/55 "2022-10-29T14:17:34Z")
Very slightly off topic, I’m not as versed on PF as some of you are here, and know most of, but not all of their work. One time on a camping trip, long ago, a friend brought along a compilation of the complete works of PF, and had it playing through the night on shuffle. We were under the influence of some fun things that made it even more interesting. At a certain point, I was not actually sure if I forgot how to listen to music, or if they forgot how to play it, as it went into just complete random noise almost, including what sounded like a piano falling down the stairs. When I mentioned this to my friend later, he didn’t know what I was talking about, and I’ve done some level of searching to find this song or album, but no luck. Anyone have any idea what I’m talking about, or did I imagine the whole thing? (Which is possible.) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/56 "2022-10-29T14:34:35Z")
I’m thinking you’re looking for something on Atom Heart Mother. I recall playing this around a camp fire while we were under the influence of some fun things. In the pre-dawn light I saw the dew of the Pine Tree I was under turn purple or maybe ultraviolet. Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast has some interesting sounds in it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_7pkOZ5n6PQ/hqdefault.jpg "Pink Floyd - Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast (1970) [Full]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7pkOZ5n6PQ) Another possibility would be something off the [Zabriskie Point soundtrack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzx3xE74a_8). ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/57 "2022-10-29T14:41:55Z")
Possibly “A Sacuerful of Secrets”? I don’t know how to cue it up to the right place in the video, but if you skip ahead to about 3:56, you’ll be at the beginning of a section that includes, among other things, Wright banging away on a piano. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F2r_6FfdQ2I/maxresdefault.jpg "Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2r_6FfdQ2I) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/58 "2022-10-29T14:58:51Z")
At the end of your link, add the time in this format: ?t=2297 _example:_ https ://youtu.be/Pzx3xE74a\_8?t=2297 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Pzx3xE74a_8/maxresdefault.jpg "PINK FLOYD - Zabriskie Point [1970]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzx3xE74a_8) This section is a candidate for what you remember **k9bfriender**. At some point there is an explosion on the sound track, but I can find the moment. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/59 "2022-10-29T15:20:38Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > If you’d put the Pulse concert as an option, even though it’s not technically an album, I’d have gone with that. Pink Floyd has actually released 5 live albums. Ummagumma in 1969, Delicate Sound of Thunder in 1988, Pulse in 1995, The Wall Live in 2000 and Live at Empire Pool in 2011. The Live at Empire Pool was recorded in 1974, it included songs recorded on later albums. I wasn’t aware of this album till a few months ago when I heard a version of Shine On You Crazy Diamond I have never heard before on XM radio. This version contains lyrics not included in the studio version of the song released on the album of the same name. It also has the only recording of the entire DSotM album live with the 4 main members of the band. Some of this album is sampled on a couple songs on The Wall. Not officially on this list but I have on my computer and on CD to listen to while driving is Live from Pompeii which was recorded in 1972 for a documentary movie. I also have Live from Gdansk from 2016, it was recorded for a TV series on BBC then later released on DVD. Also, the DVD version of Pulse contains 3 songs not included on the CD, one is what I consider the best version of One of These Days, David Gilmour plays a steel guitar instead of his black Fender Strat he used on the 2 other live versions of that songs that I have seen. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932/60 "2022-10-29T17:42:25Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > At a certain point, I was not actually sure if I forgot how to listen to music, or if they forgot how to play it, as it went into just complete random noise almost, including what sounded like a piano falling down the stairs. When I mentioned this to my friend later, he didn’t know what I was talking about, and I’ve done some level of searching to find this song or album, but no luck. Ummagumma. “The Grand Vizier’s Party”. Most likely at any rate. ETA: see below [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pink-floyd-studio-albums-poll/973932.md?page=4)