A glance at their back catalog might be intimidating for a band like Pink Floyd. When you listen to one of this group’s records for the first time, you might find it difficult to know where to begin because they were renowned for taking listeners on journeys whenever they put them on the record player. Though each record was intended to be experienced in its entirety. David Gilmour thought that their compilation Echoes offered the most optimal means of becoming acquainted with the Floyd universe.
Naturally, Dark Side of the Moon is a great place to start for anyone who has dug into Pink Floyd’s catalog. This stands as one of the most recognizable record covers ever created. The idea behind the journey through life and what is most important to hold onto usually hits people the hardest once they first hear it.
However, that only covered a single Pink Floyd era. The band went through many more phases than just the amazing 1970s and early 1980s period. This era produced one amazing show after another. Because you would be missing out on the entirety of the Syd Barrett era if you started at Dark Side of the Moon.
Barrett’s distinct style of rock and roll was always unusual in the 1960s. Their space-rock-influenced songs, such as “Astronomy Domine,” set them apart from their peers. A sample of practically every amazing song they released after is available on the Echoes compilation.
The transitions between songs like “See Emily Play,” “Another Brick in the Wall,” and “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” are distinct. They give the impression that you are listening to three distinct bands. Die-hard fans might miss some of the cherished deep cuts. Even some of Floyd’s most recent tracks, like “Marooned” and “Keep Talking,” manage to pass muster. They give the album a pleasing overall feel.
For David Gilmour, who told Record Collector, “I was delighted with the whole package.” This would be the ideal starting point for anyone who was morbidly curious about what the prog legends had to offer. It’s almost the ideal introduction to Pink Floyd. I put most of it together and was successful 99 percent of the time. This career overview is excellent.
They did shorten some of their best songs for general release, which is the only negative. Even though “Echoes” was already excellent in its original length—as most Floyd fans will attest. Cutting it to 16 minutes instead of 24 nearly takes away from the immersive audio experience.
Similarly, some parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” experienced the same effect. However, it’s unlikely that Floyd removed those segments intentionally to make listening less enjoyable for fans. The group did this to introduce their sounds to the public. If they enjoyed the version of “Echoes” posted here, listening to the official version on Meddle would be an even richer experience. The album version offers a polished and immersive rendition of the song’s mesmerizing journey.
