Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd, 1975

PINK Floyd's 9th studio album was going to be a difficult one, especially after the phenomenal success of their previous one Dark Side Of The Moon.

Recorded at the Abbey Road studios at a time when the band were having difficulty in their private lives with close relationship problems, including holding the band together, the undercurrent theme of the album surfaced as "absence", hence the title 'Wish You Were Here', the album also enclosed a postcard in each copy.

The overall message was about people becoming "absent" after withdrawing their feelings, emotions and commitment in a relationship often seen as a fear of getting hurt or being "burnt", symbolised by the image of the "burning man" shaking hands, seen as a polite but often an empty gesture.

The track 'Welcome To The Machine' denotes an "absence" of humanity.

The most popular song that Pink Floyd perform onstage 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is referred to former member Syd Barrett who was an instrumental force in putting the band together way back in 1965, often composing and writing the songs on the earlier recordings.

Syd sadly became a victim of mental illness caused by taking hallucinogenic drugs that left him with a frail state of mind unable to perform anymore with the band.

He spent the remainder of his life living virtually as a recluse, cared for by his mother.

During the recording of the album he unexpectedly turned up in the studio having not been seen for several years and asked if he could help in any way.

At first, the band did not recognise him, his appearance had changed so much, band members Roger Walters and David Gilmour were visibly upset to see their old friend looking so bad. Syd Barrett died in 2006.

The album was sold with a shiny black cellophane shrink wrap cover, one could either remove the shrink wrap completely, or alternatively, use a sharp knife and slit it open along the edge and carefully remove the vinyl record

Some people left the black wrapping on, thereby keeping the image of the "burning man" hidden forever, another aspect of "absence". 'Wish You Were Here' went to No 1 in both the UK and USA album charts.

Roger Waters and David Gilmour have stated that this is their personal favourite Pink Floyd album.

Value:

First pressing with black shiny wraparound left intact complete with postcard, £400

Pressing with black wraparound cut, but left on the album £50

Quadrophonic pressing £75

Mail Order pressing, audiophile edition sold through HI-Fi Today magazine £500

Michael Books

Rock Historian