A Collection of Great Dance Songs

One of these days is taken straight off Meddle and its wind outro is nicely linked into Money. It is Money that is the only track of interest here. For legal reasons the original from Dark Side Of The Moon could not be used. So the track was re-recorded in '81. However, if you can tell the difference then you ears are better than mine. Sheep in full completes the first half. The inclusion of a heavily edited Shine on you crazy diamond is interesting if unnecessary. The first edit takes out that wonderful guitar just one minute prior to the first verse. The last verse of part 4 (or part one - whichever you're familiar with) is blended to the first verse of part 7 (or two). As soon as the vocals have finished then the song is faded out losing parts 8 and 9. This somewhat abrupt ending flows smoothly into Wish you were here. Then there is a traditional blank run before the single version of Another brick...(part 2). Unlike the single it has the extra few seconds of the teacher yelling 'You laddie...', 'You behind the bike sheds...' etc as was used on The Wall album version. The original single version is also availible on The Best Air Guitar Album In The World 2.

As each of these 6 tracks are on the excellent 'Echoes - the best of Pink Floyd' along with another 20 then I do not recommend this album to a casual listener. Back in 1981 it was a great introduction for me. It inspired me to collect more Floyd but that was in the days of 40 minute LPs, not 155 minute compilation CDs for a similar price of today.

The album cover is the final item to discuss (as anyone who is going to buy ACOGDS should already know the songs). Storm Thorgerson (according to David Gilmour) had taken this boring picture and nobody wanted it. So, David out of sheer kindness agreed to use it. Well Mr. Gilmour, I love it and the main picture has been framed and hangs above the fire place in our lounge. The vinyl cover and package works for me. The original CD release was poor as it was over modified. The imported version has extra small (Japanese?) writing over the back of the cardboard slip jacket.

OK the music is fantastic, the photography and graphics are stunning, the packaging is poor. So how do I rate this? I don't know. Are you a fanatical Floyd fan, with money to burn? No: buy Echoes. Yes: buy ACOGDS.

Thanks for reading.