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Any Pink Floyd Historians?

In my days as a young audiophile, I spent a lot of time listening to various DSOTM recordings. I also enjoyed the Wall, but never really delved more deeply into Wish You Were Here, Animals or Pink Floyd's earlier albums. Now, however, I have been studying some of the chords on the piano and would love to learn more:

Could someone please comment on the evolution of their music? Which CDs would you recommend for further study?

My other questions concerns the members and "spirit" of the band -- I have read that Roger Waters was one of the founders and that everything BEFORE DSOTM was the "best" but also heard someone say "I disagree -- I preferred everything they did BEFORE WATERS" ?!?!??!

And is it just me, or are the lyrics anti business, anti capitalism, does "Money" comments on the evils of greed, were "Pigs" and "Dogs" (Animals) metaphors for greedy businessmen? Was The Wall anti establishment regarding the English school system, or could Waters really have written it as a rant against "stadium rock" as I read in one interview?

If so, how would you reconcile all of this with the fact that the band was (is?) wildly successful and presumably very rich?

Any and all comments on Pink Floyd greatly appreciated as I try to learn more and further explore their music.

Thanks and best wishes.
cwlondon

Showing 1 response by slipknot1

slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
I would recommend a reading of "Saucerful of Secrets" by Nicholas Schaffner published by Delta in 1991. Much is spent on the band's genesis including their early years while Syd was still active with the band. My personal favorites are: Pre Dark Side: "Umma Gumma" and post: "Wish You Were Here". "Meddle" really is the turning point LP in which the idea of album as concept began to gel for them.

Roger Waters works (with the exception of the bloated "Wall" stuff, IMHO), are still more representative of The Floyd's work, than the last iteration of the group. Despite the negative press, "Final Cut" has some very good things about it. "Amused To Death" is excellent. I saw the "In the Flesh" tour a couple of years ago and was more impressed with that than the several post-Waters PF shows I've witnessed.
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