The Unbeatable playlist for Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is typically at the top of the list when discussing avant-garde and inventive rock bands. Many musicians from a variety of genres, including progressive, psychedelic, acid, and arena rock, were influenced by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright during its existence from the mid-1960s to the 2000s.

Although the band has a vast catalog, here are our top 25 Pink Floyd classics.

25. “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”

This dreamy musical voyage, taken from Floyd’s 1968 second studio album A Saucerful of Secrets, is reminiscent of the band’s early work. The live versions from Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (10:32) and Ummagumma (9:27) are the favored, more widely known versions. They feature some of the most inventive drumming by Nick Mason. Additionally, just one Pink Floyd song features appearances from the entire lineup of the band.

24. “Great Gig in the Sky”

Pink Floyd’s immensely popular and influential 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon contains a lot of memorable moments. “Great Gig in the Sky” is arguably the best instrumental track on the album. Especially for the brilliant lexical vocal solo that was improvised by Clare Torry, who co-wrote the song with Richard Wright.

23. “On the Turning Away”

After the departure of founding member Roger Waters, Pink Floyd continued with A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987). Better singles like “On the Turning Away” helped it peak at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The album’s second hit, which the band referred to as a protest song and which became a mainstay of their long live shows, is the closest the Floyd ever got to producing a modern-day ballad.

22. “Hey You”

The Wall is still regarded as one of the best concept albums, even after more than 40 years of release. Classic rock radio continues to play its tunes frequently. Even though “Hey You” isn’t as well-known as some of the album’s other hits, it’s still a unique song, notably with David Gilmour’s acoustic guitar start that has a country vibe. The vocal intermix between Gilmour and Roger Waters sounds good, as it does for the most of the LP.

21. “A Saucerful of Secrets”

One of the greatest progressive rock groups of all time, Pink Floyd has made a name for themselves. Maybe its second album’s instrumental title track is the best illustration of that. In studio version, “A Saucerful of Secrets” is an opus that lasts for almost 12 minutes and is divided into four parts. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright all display their own talent, with Glmour’s feedback and Mason’s percussion solo standing out.

20. “Young Lust”

“Young Lust,” one of The Wall’s more difficult songs, tells the story of protagonist Pink’s search for female company to ease his mounting stress. David Gilmour’s ability is amply displayed in the song, particularly his bluesy voice. Nor is his guitar work lacking in quality. The line “Ooh, I need a dirty woman” is what made the song famous. I need a nasty chick, ooh.”

19. “Learning to Fly”

An iconic track from Floyd’s repertoire, “Learning to Fly” served as the album’s lead single for A Momentary Lapse of Reason. The music video was frequently aired on MTV in the late 1980s, despite the fact that the song never made it into the top 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the United States.

18. “Interstellar Overdrive”

Pink Floyd’s first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was a musical journey that crossed several genres, including psychedelic pop/rock, progressive rock, and experimental music. “Madcap Genius” Syd Barrett, the principal guitarist, vocalist, writer, and composer for Pink Floyd, was in the forefront. Barrett’s influence is evident throughout “Interstellar Overdrive,” an avant-garde, raw, and chaotic instrumental journey.

17. “Have a Cigar”

Wish You Were Here, a 1975 classic that pays tribute to the gifted but troubled life of Syd Barrett, and explores Roger Waters’ thoughts on the music industry. “Have a Cigar” humorously highlights the unscrupulous and avaricious nature of record labels. Lead vocals are performed by English folk singer Roy Harper, one of the few occasions when a band member does not assume that responsibility.

16. “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2”

This song, more than any other, encapsulates Pink Floyd’s vast Hall of Fame legacy. The second segment of the renowned three-part protest piece from The Wall, which is best known for the lyric “we don’t need no education,” is genuinely legendary. The children’s chorus joins in to give the famous line or the equally catchy “Hey, teacher! “Leave those kids alone,” enhancing the song’s overall meaning with additional impact and feeling.

15. “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3”

The last segment of “Another Brick in the Wall” is the shortest of the three, clocking in at one minute and eighteen seconds. However, it delivers the strongest blow and presents a pivotal point in Pink’s journey, as she spirals into anger and then sadness. Amid the album’s general self-indulgence, this single is a hidden gem.

14. “Nobody Home”

Though it’s regarded as a deep cut from The Wall, “Nobody Home” is one of the most moving songs on the record. “Nobody Home” was said to have been influenced by the spiraling mental illness of former bandmate Syd Barrett, despite The Wall providing an insight into Roger Waters’ mind.

13. “One of These Days”

popularized by drummer Nick Mason and known for its single line, “One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces.” Bass guitars are played by David Gilmour and Roger Waters on this excellent instrumental opening track from 1971’s Meddle. That component serves as the song’s guidance as it develops to a satisfying crescendo and is pleasurable to listen to. The performance from Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii in 1972 is remarkable, even though the studio version is excellent.

12. “Echoes”

Side Two of Meddle, “Echoes,” begins at 23 minutes and 31 seconds. Let’s talk about something spectacular. Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright all contributed to the writing and composition of one of Pink Floyd’s most well-known songs. “Echoes” appears twice on the previously mentioned Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, once at the start and once at the conclusion of the record.

11. “Money”

The long-lasting impact of Dark Side of the Moon is largely due to its overall innovative sound design. “Time,” with its distinctive time signatures, jingling coins, and ringing cash register, is the ideal illustration. One of the band’s hallmark songs, the Roger Waters-penned bluesy classic questioned his socialistic tendencies and was the band’s first U.S. hit, peaking at No. 13 on the Hot 100.

10. “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”

The Floyd’s 1977 album Animals is another masterpiece of progressive rock music with a conceptual element. “Pigs” stand in for the highest social rank in Roger Waters’s analytical mind regarding the album’s theme. Musically speaking, “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” is maybe the best track on an underappreciated album that is positioned between the hit songs Wish You Were Here and The Wall.

9. “Astronomy Dominé”

“Astronomy Dominé” is the lead single from The Pipers at the Gates of Dawn’s UK release. Many Pink Floyd fans will argue that this song is the pinnacle of Syd Barrett’s musical career with the group. He co-wrote and composed the song with Richard Wright on vocals. A unique musical journey down a hallucinogenic tunnel that would only make sense to someone like Syd.

8. “Us and Them”

Dark Side of the Moon contains a powerfully poignant gem, one of Pink Floyd’s jazzier moments. Along with Roger Waters, Richard Wright co-wrote the song and provided vocal harmony with David Gilmour. The way that the Pink Floyd members combine their talents has always been one of their greatest assets. particularly when straying from their comfort zones.

7. “Mother”

Another one of Roger Waters’s intimate songs from the album The Wall. Here, Pink, our star, questions why a boy’s life would be subject to such extreme control from a single mother who seems to be too protective. Consequently, influencing and molding the man he developed into and the choices he made as an adult. There is no comparison to the harmony between Waters and Gilmour.

6. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (Parts I–V; Parts VI–IX)

This nine-part masterpiece, Wish You Were Here, serves as the album’s bookend. The intricately orchestrated voyage is imaginative, hallucinogenic, eerie, and, given the subject matter, extremely depressing. Waters composed the music overall, with the band contributing songwriting as well. Some of David Gilmour’s most inventive and brilliant guitar work can be heard on this song.

5. “Time”

“Time” and its quadrophonic sound structure provide maybe the most engaging listening experience on Dark Side of the Moon, starting with an alarm clock and chiming. One of record engineer Alan Parsons’ best work to date, it’s a tune best listened to on headphones. The song, which describes the passing of time, showcases yet another outstanding vocal duet between David Gilmour and Rick Wright. On the record, it’s possibly the band’s most comprehensive performance.

4. “When the Tigers Broke Free”

Possibly Roger Waters’ most intimate composition to date. The story about her father’s WWII death was originally going to be included on the album The Wall, but the other members of the group rejected it because they felt the story was too emotionally connected to the band’s leader (h/t Genius). Eventually, the song was featured on 2001’s Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd, featured as the B-side to “Bring the Boys Back Home,” and appeared in the movie The Wall.