WISH YOU WERE HERE

The disclaimer that popped up before I began writing this review told me that not every album I enjoy will be a "masterpiece." That comment, although it is very true, does not apply in the slightest bit to "Wish You Were Here." In my opinion, "Wish You Were Here" is Floyd's best "golden age" (AKA 1973-1979) album, if not the best album of all time! The opening piece "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-X)" starts with ethereal instrumental, building and building until the vocals start. A beautiful ode to founder Syd Barrett, the lyrics are among the Floyd's most heartwrenching. From there, we go on to "Welcome To The Machine." (I'm using the LP track listing, not the CD remaster). It's a truly chilling song, dealing with a popular subject in Roger Waters' lyrics: the music industry. The song sounds as if it belongs in a futuristic dystopic film, but it really deals with the past and the present, the machine that is the music business. This theme continues in the next song, "Have A Cigar." The lyrics are sung well by Roy Harper, a fellow Harvest Records artist. The title track is next. It's really a quite simple piece, but very, very beautiful. The lyrics, culled from a poem by Roger Waters, once deal with absence (namely that of Syd Barrett). And off we go into my personal favorite track on the album, "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts XI-IX)." The track feels, for the first half, somewhat like part one. It lurks at first, and then grows and grows through excellent slide guitar work, and climaxes with the final verse. From there, there is a bit of jamming, and then Richard Wright's "musical eulogy" for Syd Barrett, Part IX. If you listen carefully, you can hear Richard sample from Syd Barrett's "See Emily Play," the band's second UK single. The album is essential to every progressive rock collection, as well as any music collection period. This is Pink Floyd's definitive album (yes, even more so than "The Dark Side of the Moon"), and you would be doing yourself a great disservice if you don't give it a listen.