Just months after settling a legal dispute with record label EMI over the issue of selling individual songs online (as opposed to full albums), Pink Floyd have announced a comprehensive release schedule of its entire catalog - to be launched on September 27th - encompassing CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, SACD, an array of digital formats, viral marketing, iPhone Apps and a brand-new single-album “Best Of” collection.
Pink Floyd recently signed an agreement with EMI which has allowed the development of a multi-format program of packages, many containing archive material that has been collated during an extensive process between EMI and Pink Floyd for a range of media formats.
The releases, under the banner Why Pink Floyd…?, offers music to excite first time listeners, while dedicated fans will be interested in the super-deluxe box sets that inlcuded alternate takes, unreleased tracks, restored live concert screen films, and a live recording of the legendary “The Dark Side Of The Moon” performance at Wembley in 1974.
A series of different listening experiences have been specially created for this release: in addition to remastered CDs called Discovery and the Immersion CD / DVD / Blu-ray / memorabilia box sets will be a series of Experience Editions – coupling one classic album with a further disc of related content from that album to offer a deeper listening experience.
Storm Thorgerson, the band's longtime Art Director, has overseen the visual design, including new booklets for all the CDs, new artwork for the box sets and menus for the DVD content. Respected photographer Jill Furmanovsky has edited books of original unseen photographs. Pink Floyd collaborators James Guthrie (in the US) and Andy Jackson (in the UK) have been in charge of digital remastering to the highest audio and audiovisual standards.
Pink Floyd film archivist Lana Topham has supervised the painstaking restoration of many historic films from Pink Floyd’s classic era, included in the Immersion box sets for “The Dark Side Of The Moon” and “Wish You Were Here.”
First up on September 27, 2011 will be: Expanded deluxe and special edition versions of Pink Floyd masterwork “The Dark Side Of The Moon,” in a 6-disc Immersion box set and Experience 2-disc versions, as well as a collectors’ vinyl LP and various digital formats. Plus 14 studio albums, digitally remastered will be available separately or as a box set.
Other initiatives will include a digital marketing plan utilizing user-generated content to allow fans to make their own creative contributions to the band’s music, plus iPhone Apps which will give a unique insight into Pink Floyd’s recorded legacy.
On November 8, 2011, Phase 2 of the releases will include: “Wish You Were Here” Immersion 5-disc and Experience 2-disc editions, both of which will include bonus material from the band’s 1974 Wembley dates, including a 20-minute tour de force live rendition of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", as well as a unique recording of “Wish You Were Here” featuring the legendary jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. A collectors’ vinyl LP will also be available, as will various digital formats.
Released simultaneously will be “A Foot In The Door - The Best Of Pink Floyd,” a collection of their most well known songs, contained on one album for the first time.
The long-awaited 5.1 version of “Wish You Were Here,” mixed by James Guthrie, will also be released in parallel via independent label Acoustic Sounds.
“The Wall,” which has sold 25-million double sets and has become a cultural and political touchstone over the last three decades, will be afforded the same exhaustive treatment on February 28th, 2012, with deluxe packages including a 7-disc Immersion set and a 3-disc Experience edition. A collectors’ vinyl LP will also be available, as will various digital formats.
Check out more info at Why Pink Floyd...?.
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd – Echoes
Wembley Arena – London, UK - November 16, 1974
BBC Archives recording
See also:
Van Halen, Rush, Pink Floyd make Spin’s 30 Greatest Instrumental Songs Ever list
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Pink Floyd drummer hopes for reunion
Pink Floyd: David Gilmour’s son faces more charges for UK protest
Pink Floyd re-signs with EMI
Roger Waters: 2011 London shows of The Wall to be filmed
