Pulse (Pink Floyd album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cdl obelix (talk | contribs) at 22:38, 1 July 2009 (→‎Sales chart performance: add citations). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Pulse (stylized as P•U•L•S•E) is a live double album by Pink Floyd, released through EMI Records on 29 May 1995,[1] in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records on 6 June 1995, in the United States, containing songs from their albums The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and The Division Bell.

The album was recorded during the band's Division Bell tour in 1994, specifically the UK and European leg, which ran from July to October 1994 (See Pink Floyd live performances). The tour was sponsored in Europe by Volkswagen, which also issued a commemorative version of its top-selling car, the Golf Pink Floyd, one of which was given as a prize at each concert. It was a standard Golf with Pink Floyd decals and a premium stereo, although it had Volkswagen's most environmentally-friendly engine, at Gilmour's insistence.[2]

Content and recording

The album includes a complete live version of The Dark Side of the Moon and features a booklet with many photos from performances on this tour. It also features "Astronomy Domine", a Syd Barrett song not performed since the early 1970s, as a tribute to the original Pink Floyd guitarist.

Unlike Delicate Sound of Thunder, David Gilmour and producer James Guthrie have stated that no parts of the songs were re-recorded in the studio.[citation needed] However, the band and Guthrie fixed songs that had bad notes (as heard on some bootlegs) by lifting solos and corrected vocal lines from other performances as the band recorded most of the European leg.

Release history

In the U.S., Pulse debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in June 1995 (briefly dethroning Hootie and the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View for a week before Hootie regained the #1 spot in the U.S.) and was soon certified Double Platinum on 31 July 1995.[citation needed]

On 10 July 2006, the Pulse DVD was released of the concert performed on 20 October 1994, at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London. The video version also featured the song "Take It Back," and a nearly-complete performance from their October 20th show at Earl's Court, London.[citation needed]

The vinyl version comes in a four-LP box set and includes "One of These Days" as well as a large version of the photo booklet.

The original CD cover features a "eye-like" machine that has clock pieces inside, there is a planet in its centre, and on the outside it shows evolution as it moves backwards. It starts in the sea, moves to the bacteria which evolve into fishes, then into egg type creatures, then into eggs that hatch birds, and birds follow the trail of an aeroplane. There are six pyramids in the desert, and in the bottom of the sea, one can observe a city in the shore.

A Volkswagen Golf Pink Floyd Edition

LED packaging

Early CD versions came with a blinking red LED on the side of the case, that flashed to the heartbeat heard at the beginning of Dark Side of the Moon. This was designed by EMI contractor Jon Kempner (who incidentally was awarded the platinum disc) using the (now discontinued) LM3909 LED flasher IC. The circuit was powered by a single AA cell; this was theoretically replaceable in that it was fitted in a battery holder rather than soldered onto the circuit board. However, the circuit board is hidden behind a glued-in cardboard cover; removing it from the case to replace the battery requires careful use of a long-handled scalpel. In some cases, the battery holder was fitted to the circuit board the wrong way round, so the "+" and "-" markings on holder and cell do not correspond. The battery life was stated to be over 6 months.

Some versions were also made with 2 AA batteries that were easier to replace. The LED and battery can be removed by rapping the open end of the case on a firm surface until the cardboard flap attached to the battery compartment slides out far enough. This flap can be used to gently pull the circuit compartment out the rest of the way and replace the batteries.

Later editions of the CD set did not feature the blinking LED.

The complete text from the sleeve notes concerning the LED reads:

Might we suggest that if the pulsing LED begins to drive you crazy, turn the box round so the LED faces to the wall or the back of your shelf. If it begins to drive you really crazy, then separate the outer slip case from the book, leave the book in your CD collection, and put the slip case in your car or potting shed where it might look and act like a burglar alarm. The battery for the LED should last more than six months and is replaceable, if you can get to it, that is, without trashing the case. The battery must not, of course, be exposed to fire or high temperatures which can cause cells to leak or explode. The LED is set at the average human pulse speed so it can be used as an anti stress device — just check your own pulse against it. It is designed primarily for easy finding thereby avoiding uncomfortable neck twisting or eye squinting to read the spine. The LED is also like the opening heartbeat of the Dark Side of the Moon. Most particularly the LED pulses... it is a live phenomenon... like the music.

The debut of the album was highlighted by a minor light show from the top of the Empire State Building in New York City.

Track listing

Disc one

Lead vocals performed by David Gilmour unless stated otherwise.

  1. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1–5 and 7)" (David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright) – 13:35
    • Earls Court, London on 20 October 1994
  2. "Astronomy Domine" (Syd Barrett) – 4:20
    • Earls Court, London on 15 October 1994
  3. "What Do You Want from Me" (Gilmour, Wright, Polly Samson) – 4:10
    • Rome, 21 September 1994
  4. "Learning to Fly" (Gilmour, Anthony Moore, Bob Ezrin, Jon Carin) – 5:16
    • Earls Court, London on 14 October 1994
  5. "Keep Talking" (Gilmour, Wright, Samson) – 6:52
    • Hannover, 17 August 1994
  6. "Coming Back to Life" (Gilmour) – 6:56
    • Earls Court, London on 13 October 1994
  7. "Hey You" (Waters) – 4:40
    • Earls Court, London on 13 and 15 (last verse) October 1994
  8. "A Great Day for Freedom" (Gilmour, Samson) – 4:30
    • Earls Court, London on 19 October 1994
  9. "Sorrow" (Gilmour) – 10:49
    • Rome, 20 September 1994
  10. "High Hopes" (Gilmour, Samson) – 7:52
    • Earls Court, London on 20 October 1994. Some parts ("forever and ever" line and part of lap steel solo) from London, 14–19 or 21–29 October 1994.
  11. "Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)" (Waters) – 7:08
    • Earls Court, London on 21 October 1994
    • Lead vocals: David Gilmour and Guy Pratt
Bonus track on cassette and LP editions
  2. "One of These Days" (Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Nick Mason) – 6:45
    • Earls Court, London on 16 and 20 (last part) October 1994
Disc two
The Dark Side of the Moon
  1. "Speak to Me" (Mason) – 2:30
    • Earls Court 20 October 1994
  2. "Breathe" (Gilmour, Waters, Wright) – 2:33
    • Earls Court 20 October 1994
  3. "On the Run" (Gilmour, Waters) – 3:48
    • Earls Court 20 October 1994
  4. "Time" (Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Mason) – 6:47
    • Explosion recorded in London, 15 October 1994. Intro recorded in Modena 17 September 1994. The rest of song and most of "Breathe (Reprise)" was recorded in Rome, 20 September 1994. Ending of "Breathe Reprise" recorded in London, 20 October 1994.
  5. "The Great Gig in the Sky" (Wright, Torry) – 5:52
    • London, 20 October 1994
  6. "Money" (Waters) – 8:54
    • Modena, 17 September 1994. Part of sax solo from London October 1994.
  7. "Us and Them" (Waters, Wright) – 6:58
    • London, 20 October 1994. Second and third choruses London, 19 October 1994.
  8. "Any Colour You Like" (Gilmour, Wright, Mason) – 3:21
    • London, 23 October 1994. Last part recorded in London, 19 October 1994.
  9. "Brain Damage" (Waters) – 3:46
    • London, 19 October 1994
  10. "Eclipse" (Waters) – 2:38
    • London, 19 October 1994
  11. "Wish You Were Here" (Gilmour, Waters) – 6:35
    • Rome, 20 September 1994
  12. "Comfortably Numb" (Gilmour, Waters) – 9:29
    • London, 20 October 1994
  13. "Run Like Hell" (Gilmour, Waters) – 8:36
    • London, 15 October 1994
Bonus track on the cassette edition
  2. "Soundscape" (Gilmour, Wright, Mason) – 22:00
    • An ambient piece that was played prior to the 1994 concerts

Personnel

Pink Floyd
Additional musicians
  • Sam Brown – backing vocals, first lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
  • Jon Carin – keyboards, backing vocals, programming, duet on "Hey You", "Breathe", and "Comfortably Numb" (verses)
  • Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals, third lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
  • Durga McBroom – backing vocals, second lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
  • Dick Parry – saxophones
  • Guy Pratt – bass guitar, backing vocals, duet on "Comfortably Numb" (verses) and "Run Like Hell"
  • Tim Renwick – guitars, backing vocals
  • Gary Wallis – percussion, additional drums (played and programmed)

Sales chart performance

Album
Year Chart Position
1995 UK Albums Chart 1[3]
1995 The Billboard 200 1[4]
1995 Norwegian Record Charts 1[5]
1995 Australian ARIA Albums Chart 1[citation needed]
2006 UK Albums Chart 34[citation needed]
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1995 "What Do You Want from Me" Mainstream Rock Tracks 13[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "esounds". EMI. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  2. ^ The Spiegel-Translation
  3. ^ "Chart Stats - Pink Floyd". www.chartstats.com. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  4. ^ "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Pink Floyd". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  5. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Pink Floyd - P.U.L.S.E." norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
24-30 June 1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK number one album
10–23 June 1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
25 June - 1 July 1995 		Succeeded by
HIStory by Michael Jackson
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pulse_(Pink_Floyd_album)&oldid=299780098"