Jedan od najboljih albuma grupe Pink Flojd (kasnije je snimljen i film, sa Bobom Geldofom u glavnoj ulozi), a po subjektivnom misljenju autora i najbolji. Album je u formi rok opere, to jest, pesme nisu prosto pesme, nego su deo odredjene celine, to jest price.
Prica prati zivot rok zvezde Pinka Flojda, koji je jos od rane mladosti bio emotivno povredjen od strane drustva. Otac mu je poginuo u Drugom svetskom ratu (Another brick in the Wall part 1), u skoli ga je maltretirao profesor koji se izivljavao na deci zbog torture koju je morao da podnese kod kuce ( The Happiest Days of Our Lives i Another brick in the Wall part 2, zajedno cine pesmu koju napamet znaju sve generacije ucenika osnovnih i srednjih skola), a kod kuce ga je previse zastitnicki nastrojena majka drzala pod staklenim zvonom, sto ga je socijalno hendikepiralo za sva vremena (Mother). Zbog svega toga, Pink resava da stvori Zid (eng. The Wall), metaforu za emocionalno otudjivanje od celog sveta (takodje u Mother).
I tako, Pink se povlaci u svoj zamisljeni svet, unutar Zida. Kasnije postaje poznata rok zvezda i zeni se, medjutim brak brzo propada (Empty Spaces). Saznaje da ga zena vara zato sto se previse hladno odnosio prema njoj (Empty Spaces i Young Lust). Kad je to saznao, Pink je poludeo, demolirao apartman i svojim ponasanjem oterao grupi-devojku koja je bila sa njim u tom trenutku (One of my turns).
Lezeci u razrusenoj hotelskoj sobi, Pink pocinje da ocajava i da se dere "da ga ne ostavlja" (Don't leave me now), ali uprkos svemu, posle tog dogadjaja zavrsava gradnju Zida, tvrdeci "da mu ne trebaju ruke oko njega" i "da mu ne trebaju droge da bi se smirio", i zakljucio sve to sa "ne treba mi bas nista, sve su to bile cigle u Zidu" (Another brick in the wall part 3).
Ali ni tu nije kraj, posto Pink shvata da je potpuna izolacija u stvari bila greska i on pokusava da uspostavi kontakt sa spoljasnjim svetom, ali bezuspesno (Hey You, Is there anybody out there?, Nobody home). U pesmi Hey You, prvi put se u albumu pojavljuju Crvi (eng. The Worms) kao metafora za mracne fragmente Pinkove duse koji se stvaraju iz njegove samoizolacije. Zbog svega ovoga, Pink pada u tesku depresiju, toliko jaku da je doktor morao da mu da sedative kako bi mogao da odrzi koncert (Comfortably Numb).
Pokazalo se kasnije da je to bila velika greska, zato sto su sedativi oslobodili u Pinku njegovu mracnu stranu: nacistickog diktatora koji odmah naredjuje publici da mu posalju "Jese, crnje, pedere i ostale nepodobne"(In the Flesh), organizuje mitinge i nerede na ulici (Run like Hell i Waiting for the Worms), dok se na kraju ne probudi njegova savest (Stop, najkraca pesma svih vremena).
I sad dolazimo do vrhunca albuma: Pink, shvativsi da je napravio velike greske u zivotu, organizuje metaforicko sudjenje samom sebi, unutar Zida (The Trial). Tu se pojavljuju svi Crvi: Tuzilac koji ga optuzuje da je "pokazao osecanja skoro ljudske prirode", ucitelj koji kaze da je "uvek govorio kako nista od njega nece biti", kao i njegova majka koja ga ne krivi zaista, ali je tuzna sto je otisao od kuce i moli sudiju "da ga pusti da ide sa njom". U ovoj pesmi shvatamo da Pink nije kriv za nesrecu koju je morao da prezivljava u detinjstvu i da je Zid nesto sto je bio primoran da stvori. Jedino sto mu zaista mozemo zameriti(mada je u tom trenutku Zid bio vec uveliko napravljen) jeste njegovo ponasanje prema bivsoj zeni: ona se pojavljuje kao jedan od "svedoka" i kaze "trebao si vise da pricas samnom, ali ne, morao si da ides svojim putem!". Na sve ovo, Pinkova jedina odbrana, utesna mantra ili mozda nesto trece jeste da je lud.
Poslednji od Crva koji se pojavljuje jeste Sudija koji presudjuje da je Pink kriv i da za kaznu mora da srusi Zid.
Sta se kasnije desilo sa Pinkom ostaje otvoreno pitanje. Neki smatraju da Pink nije mogao da izdrzi pritisak drustva i da je izvrsio samoubistvo, a drugi smatraju da se vratio na staro, da je ponovo bio nalik onom detetu koje je nekad bio. To je ostalo otvoreno pitanje na koje moze samo slusalac da odgovori.
Poslednja pesma sa albuma je Outside the Wall, i ona ne govori iz perspektive Pinka, nego iz perspektive naratora. Naravoucenije albuma: svi stvaraju Zidove. Kako se jedan vrati u drustvo, drugi izadje. Nije lako, ali drustvu moramo dati sansu. Ako ne srusimo svoje Zidove, oni koji zele da dopru do nas ce vremenom odustati i ostaviti nas sa nasim Crvima kao jedinim drustvom.
wow... hvala za overview! ima nas koji smo nekako zaobisli Pink Floyd, pa je ovo super motivacija za u-turn :)
Floyd je najbolji uprkos Watersu debilu. Mada da su nastavili psycho sa Sydom ko zna gde bi završili ali za sve koji misle da je neki koncert "haos" i "ludilo" neka pogledaju P.U.L.S.E kao i Daveov koncert u Gdansku...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ moja omiljena grupa i album
plus
The Wall je mozda naajznacajniji konceptualni album u 20 veku.Na stranu to sto su Pink Floyd cinili vrhunski muzicari,ovaj album je klasika koja ce to biti dok je sveta.Verujem da ima onih koji nisu slusali ovo remek delo,kao i da nisu gledali film Alana Parkera i preorucijem im da to pod hitno urade.
21.vek jos nije dao nesto posebno i jedva cekam neku novu revoluciju,bas kao sto je bio RNR.
@talentovano glup
Za mene je genijalnost koja se retko srece, kao sto je za autora (i jos mnoge) to The Wall..
Samo sto je kod Art of Noise konceptualnost vise kroz zvuk nego kroz tekst..
Tako da je u mojoj perspektivi to itekako uporedivo ;)
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd The Wall.
As with the band's previous three studio albums The Wall is a concept album, and deals largely with themes of abandonment and personal isolation. It was first conceived during the band's 1977 In the Flesh Tour, where bassist and lyricist Roger Waters' frustration with the spectators' perceived boorishness became so acute that he imagined building a wall between the performers and audience. The album is a rock opera that centres on Pink, a character based on Waters. Pink's life experiences begin with the loss of his father during the Second World War, and continue with ridicule and abuse from his schoolteachers, an overprotective mother and finally, the breakdown of his marriage, all of which contribute to his eventual self-imposed isolation from society, represented by a metaphorical wall.
The Wall features a notably harsher and more theatrical style than Pink Floyd's previous releases. Keyboardist Richard Wright left the band during the album's production but remained as a salaried musician, performing with Pink Floyd during The Wall Tour. Commercially successful upon its release, the album was one of the best selling of 1980, and it is estimated that as of 2010, it has sold over 23 million RIAA certified units in the United States.
Contents hide
1 Background
2 Concept and storyline
3 Recording
3.1 Instrumentation
3.2 Sound effects and voices
4 Packaging
5 Release
5.1 Reissues
5.2 Covers
5.3 Tour
6 Track listing
7 Personnel
8 Sales chart performance
9 Selected album sales
10 References
11 External links
editBackground
Pink Floyd's In the Flesh Tour was their first playing in large stadiums, and in July 1977—on the final date at the Montreal Olympic Stadium—a small group of noisy and excited fans near the stage irritated Waters to such an extent that he spat at one of them.5 He was not the only band member who felt disaffected at the show, as guitarist David Gilmour refused to perform the band's usual twelve-bar blues encore.6 Later that night, while returning from hospital to treat an injury sustained to his foot while playfighting backstage with manager Steve O'Rourke, Waters spoke with music producer Bob Ezrin, and a friend of Ezrin's, a psychiatrist sharing their car, about the feelings of alienation he was experiencing on the tour. He articulated his desire to isolate himself by constructing a wall across the stage between the performers and the audience.7 He later said, "I loathed playing in stadiums ... I kept saying to people on that tour, 'I'm not really enjoying this ... there is something very wrong with this.'"8 While Gilmour and Wright were in France recording solo albums, and Nick Mason was busy producing Steve Hillage's Green, Waters began to write new material.9 The spitting incident became the starting point for a new concept, which explored the protagonist's self-imposed isolation after years of traumatic interactions with authority figures and the loss of his father as a young child. To execute The Wall concept was to attempt to analyze the performer's psychological separation from the audience, using a physical structure as a metaphoric and theatrical device.6
In July 1977 the band reconvened at Britannia Row, where Waters presented two new ideas for concept albums, the first was a ninety-minute demo with the working title Bricks in the Wall.10 The second, a project about a man's dreams across one night that dealt with marriage, sex, and the pros and cons of monogamy and family life versus promiscuity.11 The first option was chosen by the group for the new Pink Floyd project and the second idea eventually became Waters' first solo effort, a concept album titled, The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking.10
By September, the band were experiencing financial difficulties,12 having become involved during the previous year with financial advisers Norton Warburg Group (NWG), their collecting agents and financial planners. Between £1.6M and £3.3M of the band's money was invested in high-risk venture capital, a strategy designed primarily to reduce the band's exposure to high UK taxes, but it soon became obvious that they were losing money. Not only had NWG invested in failing businesses, they had left the band liable for tax bills as high as 83 percent of their income. Pink Floyd terminated their relationship with NWG, demanding the return of any money not yet invested.13nb 1
Having lost a great deal of money to bad investments, the band urgently needed to produce an album to generate income. The length of the new concept, 26 tracks across four sides, was such that it needed to be a double album. Because the project presented a challenge greater than the band's previous albums, "Waters decided to bring in an outside producer and collaborator."14 He later said, "I needed a collaborator who was musically and intellectually in a similar place to where I was." 15
At the suggestion of Waters' then girlfriend, Carolyne Christie, who had worked as Ezrin's secretary, the band hired him to co-produce the album.12 He had recently worked with Alice Cooper and he produced Peter Gabriel's debut solo album. From the start, Waters left Ezrin in no doubt as to who was in charge: "You can write anything you want. Just don't expect any credit".16 Ezrin, Waters, and Gilmour read Waters' concept, keeping what they liked, and discarding what they thought was not good enough. Waters and Ezrin worked mostly on the story, improving the concept.17 His forty-page script was presented to the rest of the band, with positive results: "The next day at the studio, we had a table read, like you would with a play, but with the whole of the band, and their eyes all twinkled, because then they could see the album."18 He broadened the storyline, distancing it from the autobiographical work Waters had written, and instead basing it on a gestalt characterwhen defined as? named Pink.19 Engineer Nick Griffiths later said of the Canadian producer: "Ezrin was very good in The Wall, because he did manage to pull the whole thing together. He's a very forceful guy. There was a lot of argument about how it should sound between Roger and Dave, and he bridged the gap between them."20 Although Waters wrote most of the album's material, Gilmour co-wrote the songs, "Comfortably Numb", "Run Like Hell", and "Young Lust",21 and Ezrin co-wrote "The Trial".17
editConcept and storyline
The Wall is a rock opera22 that explores themes based on the causes and implications of abandonment and isolation, symbolised by a metaphorical wall. The songs create an approximate storyline of events in the life of the protagonist, Pink, a character based on Waters,23 whose father was killed during the Second World War (as was Waters'). Pink is oppressed by his overprotective mother, and tormented at school by tyrannical, abusive teachers. Each of these traumas become metaphoric, "bricks in the wall". The protagonist eventually becomes a rock star, and has relationships marred by infidelity, drug use, and outbursts of violence. As his marriage crumbles, he finishes building his wall, completing his isolation from human contact.1924
Hidden behind his wall, Pink's crisis escalates, culminating in an hallucinatory on-stage performance where he believes that he is a fascist dictator performing at concerts similar to Neo-Nazi rallies, at which he sets his men on fans he considers unworthy.24 Tormented with guilt, he places himself on trial, his inner judge ordering him to "tear down the wall", opening Pink to the outside world. The album turns full circle with its closing words "Isn't this where..." (the first song on the album begins with the words "...we came in?"), with a continuation of the melody of the last song hinting at the cyclical nature of Waters' theme.
The album includes several references to former band member Syd Barrett, including "Nobody Home", which hints at his condition during Pink Floyd's abortive US tour of 1967, with lyrics such as "wild, staring eyes", "Hendrix perm" and "Gohills Boots". The lyrics to the song, "Comfortably Numb", were written as an allegory of Waters' experiences during the band's 1977 In the Flesh Tour, where he was injected with a muscle relaxant to combat the effects of hepatitis.25
editRecording
Recording took place at a number of locations. In France, Super Bear Studios was used between January and July 1979, with Waters recording his vocals at the nearby Studio Miraval. Supervising the orchestral arrangements recorded for the album, in September Michael Kamen used CBS Studios in New York. From 1 September–31 October the band used Cherokee Studios and The Village Recorder in Los Angeles. They planned to work with the Beach Boys at the Sundance Productions studio in Los Angeles on 2 October, but this was cancelled on the day. From 1–6 November they worked at the Producers Workshop, also in Los Angeles.26
James Guthrie, recommended by previous Floyd collaborator Alan Parsons, arrived early in the production process replacing engineer Brian Humphries, who was by then emotionally drained by his five years with the band.27 Guthrie was hired as a co-producer, but was initially unaware of Ezrin's role: "I saw myself as a hot young producer ... When we arrived, I think we both felt we'd been booked to do the same job."28 The early sessions at Britannia Row were emotionally charged, as Ezrin, Guthrie and Waters each had strong ideas about the direction the album would take. Relations within the band were at a low ebb, and Ezrin's role expanded to that of an intermediary between Waters and the rest of the band.29 As Britannia Row was initially regarded as inadequate for The Wall the band upgraded much of its equipment,30 and by March another set of demos were complete. However, their former relationship with NWG placed them at risk of bankruptcy, and they were advised to leave the UK by no later than 6 April 1979, for a minimum of one year. As non-residents they would pay no UK taxes while out of the country, and within a month all four members and their families had left. Waters became domiciled in Switzerland, Mason in France, and Gilmour and Wright in the Greek Islands. Some equipment from Britannia Row was relocated in Super Bear Studios near Nice.2031 Gilmour and Wright were each familiar with the studio and enjoyed its atmosphere, having recorded there during the production of their solo albums. While Wright and Mason lived at the studio, Waters and Gilmour stayed in nearby houses. Mason later moved into Waters' villa near Vence, while Ezrin stayed in Nice.32
The rest of the band's children were young enough to stay with them in France but mine were older and had to go to school. I was missing my children terribly.
“”
Richard Wright33
Recording sessions were placed on a tight schedule dictated by Waters, but Ezrin's poor timekeeping caused problems.34 Mason found the producer's behaviour "erratic", but used his elaborate and unlikely excuses for his lateness as ammunition for "tongue-in-cheek resentment".32 Ezrin's share of the royalties was less than the rest of the band and he viewed Waters' demeanour as similar to that of a "bully", especially when the bassist mocked the situation by having badges made that read NOPE (No Points Ezrin).34 However, Ezrin later admitted that he had marital problems and was not "in the best shape emotionally".34 More problems became apparent when Waters' relationship with Wright broke down. The band were rarely in the studio together. Ezrin and Guthrie spliced Mason's previously recorded drum tracks together, and Guthrie also worked with Waters and Gilmour during the day, returning at night to record Wright's contributions. Wright, worried about the effect that the introduction of Ezrin would have on the band's internal relationships, was keen to have a producer's credit on the album (their albums up to that point had always stated "Produced by Pink Floyd").35 Waters agreed to a trial period with Wright producing, after which he was to be given a producer's credit, but after a few weeks he and Ezrin expressed dissatisfaction with the keyboardist's methods. A confrontation with Ezrin led to Wright working only at nights. Gilmour also expressed his annoyance, complaining that Wright's lack of input was "driving us all mad",36 and Ezrin later reflected "… it sometimes felt that Roger was setting him up to fail. Rick gets performance anxiety. You have to leave him alone to freeform, to create …"36 With a failing marriage and the onset of depression Wright had his own problems, exacerbated by his non-residency. The band's holidays were booked for August, after which they were to reconvene at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, but Columbia offered the band a better deal in exchange for a Christmas release of the album. Waters therefore increased the band's workload accordingly; booking time at the nearby Studio Miraval.37 He also suggested recording in Los Angeles ten days earlier than agreed, and hiring another keyboardist to work alongside Wright, whose keyboard parts had not yet been recorded. Wright, however, refused to cut short his family holiday in Rhodes.38
What exactly happened next remains unclear. In his Inside Out autobiography (2005), Mason says that Waters called O'Rourke, who was travelling to the US on the QE2, and told him to have Wright out of the band by the time Waters arrived in LA to mix the album.39 In Comfortably Numb (2008), however, the author states that Waters called O'Rourke and asked him to tell Wright about the new recording arrangements, and that Wright's response was apparently "Tell Roger to fuck off …".33 Wright disagreed with this recollection, stating that the band had agreed to record only through the spring and early summer, and that he had no idea they were so far behind schedule. Mason later wrote that Waters was "stunned and furious",37 and felt that Wright was not doing enough to help complete the album.37 Gilmour was on holiday in Dublin when he learnt of Waters' ultimatum, and tried to calm the situation. He later spoke with Wright and gave him his support, but reminded him about his lack of contribution to the album.40 Waters, however, insisted that Wright leave, else he would refuse to release The Wall. Several days later, worried about their financial situation, and the failing interpersonal relationships within the band, Wright quit. News of his departure was kept from the music press.41 Although his name did not appear anywhere on the original album,4243 he was employed as a session musician on the band's subsequent The Wall tour.44
By August 1979 the running order was largely complete. Wright completed his duties at Cherokee Studios aided by session musicians Peter Wood and Fred Mandel, and Jeff Porcaro played drums in Mason's stead on "Mother".43 His duties complete, Mason left the final mix to Waters, Gilmour, Ezrin and Guthrie, and travelled to New York to record his début solo album, Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports.45 In advance of its release, technical constraints led to some changes being made to the running order and content of The Wall, with "What Shall We Do Now?" being replaced by the similar but shorter "Empty Spaces", and "Hey You" being moved from its original place at the end of side three, to the beginning. By then fast approaching the album's November 1979 deadline, the band left the now-incorrect inner sleeves of the album unchanged.46
editInstrumentation
Comfortably Numb
Planet Rock listeners voted "Comfortably Numb"'s two guitar solos the greatest of all time.47
Problems listening to this file? See media help.
Mason's early drum sessions were performed in an open space on the top floor of Britannia Row. The 16-track recordings from these sessions were mixed down and copied onto a 24-track master, as guide tracks for the rest of the band to play to. This gave the engineers greater flexibility,nb 2 but also improved the audio quality of the final mix as the original 16-track drum recordings were finally synced to the 24-track master, and the duplicated guide tracks removed.48 Ezrin later related the band's alarm at this method of working—they apparently viewed the erasure of material from the 24-track master as "witchcraft".29
While at Super Bear studios Waters had agreed to Ezrin's suggestion that several tracks, including "Nobody Home", "The Trial" and "Comfortably Numb" should have an orchestral accompaniment. Michael Kamen, who had previously worked with David Bowie, was booked to oversee these arrangements, which were performed by musicians from the New York Philharmonic and New York Symphony Orchestras, and a choir from the New York City Opera.49 Their sessions were recorded at CBS Studios in New York, although Pink Floyd were not present. Kamen eventually met the band once recording was complete.50
I think things like "Comfortably Numb" were the last embers of mine and Roger's ability to work collaboratively together.
“”
David Gilmour51
"Comfortably Numb" has its origins in Gilmour's début solo album, and was the focus of much of the creative arguing between Waters and Gilmour.20 Ezrin claimed that the song initially started life as "…Roger's record, about Roger, for Roger", although he thought that it needed further work. Waters re-wrote the song and added more lyrics for the chorus, but his "stripped-down and harder" recording was not to Gilmour's liking. The guitarist preferred Ezrin's "…grander Technicolor, orchestral version", although Ezrin preferred Waters' version. Following a full-scale argument in a restaurant in North Hollywood, the two compromised; the song's body eventually included the orchestral arrangement, with Gilmour's second and final guitar solo standing alone.51
editSound effects and voices
Ezrin and Waters oversaw the capture of the various sound effects used on the album. Waters recorded the phone call used on the original demo for "Young Lust", but neglected to inform its recipient; Mason assumed it was a crank call and replaced the receiver in anger.52 The call is a direct reference to an incident on the band's In The Flesh Tour, when Waters' call to his wife Judy was answered by a man's voice. Waters also recorded ambient sounds along Hollywood Boulevard, by hanging a microphone from a studio window. Engineer Phil Taylor recorded some of the screeching tyre noises on "Run Like Hell" from a studio car park, and a television set being destroyed was used on "One of My Turns". Back in the UK at Britannia Row studios, Nick Griffiths recorded the smashing of crockery for the same song.53 Various television broadcasts were used on the album and one actor, recognising his own voice, accepted a financial settlement from the group in lieu of legal action against them.54
Another Brick in the Wall part 2
The disco beat used in "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" presented a marked change from Pink Floyd's previous releases.
The maniacal schoolmaster present throughout the album was voiced by Waters, and actress Trudy Young supplied the groupie's voice.53 Backing vocals were performed by a range of artists, although a planned appearance by the Beach Boys on "The Show Must Go On" and "Waiting for the Worms" was cancelled by Waters, who instead settled for Bruce Johnston and Toni Tennille.55 Ezrin's suggestion of releasing "Another Brick in the Wall part II" as a single with a disco-style beat did not initially find favour with Gilmour, although Mason and Waters were more enthusiastic. The bassist was originally opposed to the idea of releasing a single at all, but became more receptive once he listened to Ezrin and Guthrie's mix of the song. With two identical verses the song was felt to be lacking, and so a copy was sent to Griffiths in London, along with a request for him to find groups of children to perform several versions of the lyrics.49 Griffiths contacted Alun Renshaw, head of music at the nearby Islington Green school, who was more than enthusiastic about the idea:
I wanted to make music relevant to the kids—not just sitting around listening to Tchaikovsky. I thought the lyrics were great—"We don't need no education, we don't need no thought control …" I just thought it would be a wonderful experience for the kids.56
Griffiths at first recorded small groups of pupils and then invited more in, telling them to affect a Cockney accent, and to shout rather than sing. He multitracked the voices, making the groups sound much larger than they were, before sending his recordings back to Los Angeles. The result was that Waters was "beaming", and the song was released, becoming a Christmas number one hit,57 although not without some controversy; although the children's parents were generally ambivalent, the press claimed that the children had effectively been 'ripped off' by a multi-millionaire rock band. The children were eventually given copies of the album, and the school received a £1,000 donation.58
editPackaging
The cover design is one of Pink Floyd's most minimal—a white brick wall and no text (the logo and band name is presented on a sticker). Waters had fallen out with Hipgnosis designer Storm Thorgerson several years earlier, when the latter had included the cover of Animals in his book Walk Away Rene, and The Wall is therefore the first Pink Floyd album cover since The Piper at the Gates of Dawn not created by the design group.59 The LP's sleeve art and custom picture labels by cartoonist Gerald Scarfe tied in with the album's concept, with each of the four sides showing the eponymous wall in various stages of construction, accompanied by characters from the story.60
editRelease
The Trial
The album culminates with Pink's internal trial, leading to the collapse of his 'wall'
When the completed album was played for an assembled group of executives at Columbia's headquarters in California, several were reportedly unimpressed by what they heard.61 Matters had not been helped when CBS/Sony, reasoning that The Wall was a double-album, had offered Waters smaller publishing rights. He was outraged, and refused the offer. One executive offered to settle the dispute with a coin toss, prompting Waters to ask why he should gamble on something he owned. The record company eventually capitulated,45 and their unease at the album's content was later alleviated by the success of "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", which reached number one in the US, Norway, Portugal, Israel, West Germany and South Africa, and number one in the UK during Christmas 1979.61 The single was certified Silver and Gold on 1 December 1979, and held the number one position for five weeks. It was certified Platinum on 1 January 1980. In the US, it remained at number one for four weeks, was certified Gold on 24 March 1980, and Platinum on 25 September 2001.62
The Wall was released in the UK on 30 November 1979,nb 3 and about a week later in the US.nb 463 Coinciding with its release Waters was interviewed by veteran DJ Tommy Vance, who played the album in its entirety on BBC Radio 1.59 Critical opinion of its content ranged from Robert Christgau's "too—kitschy minimal maximalism with sound effects and speech fragments"3 and Rolling Stone writer Kurt Loder's "a stunning synthesis of Waters' by now familiar thematic obsessions", to Melody Maker's "I'm not sure whether it's brilliant or terrible, but I find it utterly compelling."63 Nevertheless the album topped the Billboard charts for 15 weeks,64 and as of 2009 is certified 23x platinum.nb 565 It remains one of the best-selling albums of all time in the US,6266 between 1979 and 1990 selling over 19 million copies worldwide.67 In this sense The Wall is second only to 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon. Engineer James Guthrie's efforts were rewarded in 1980 with a Grammy award for Best Engineered Recording (non-classical).68
editReissues
The album was originally released as a double-LP, but was re-issued in the UK as a double-CD in 1985.nb 6 A remastered version with new artwork was issued in 1994,nb 7 followed in 1997 by a digitally remastered double-LP.nb 8 A half-speed master vinyl double-LP was released in the US in 1981,nb 9 and a double-CD followed in 1983.nb 10 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab released the album on their Ultradisc format in 1990.nb 11 The album was re-issued as a double-CD for its 20th anniversary by Columbia in 1997,nb 12 and reissued by Columbia in 2000.nb 1362
editCovers
The Wall has been covered by several acts, including Canadian alternative country band Luther Wright and the Wrongs, who recorded a bluegrass cover of the entire album titled Rebuild the Wall.69 Celebrating The Wall's 20th anniversary, as part of his "Out of Phase" project producer and artist Peter Mossman released The Wall 2000, an ambient electronic version of the album.70 In 1990, Roger Waters and British impresario and producer Tony Hollingsworth produced the concert The Wall – Live in Berlin, which was held at the former site of the Berlin Wall to raise funds for charity. Among the performing artists were Roger Waters himself, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Scorpions, and Sinéad O'Connor.71
editTour
During each performance of the band's subsequent The Wall Tour, a 40 feet (12 m) high wall of cardboard bricks was gradually built between the band and audience. Gaps allowed the spectators to view various scenes in the story, as Scarfe's animations were projected onto the completed parts of the wall. Several characters from the story were realised as giant inflatables, including a pig, replete with a crossed hammers logo. The tour opened at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on 7 February 1980.72 One of its more notable elements was the band's performance of "Comfortably Numb". While Waters sang his opening verse in front of the wall, Gilmour waited in darkness at the top of the wall, for his cue. When it came, bright blue and white lights would suddenly illuminate him, astonishing the audience. Gilmour stood on a flight case on castors, held steady by a technician, both precariously balanced atop a tall hydraulic platform.73 At the end of the concert, the wall was made to collapse, once again revealing the band.74
Scarfe was employed to produce a series of animations for The Wall. At his studio in London he employed a team of 40 animators to create a series of nightmarish visions of the future, including a dove of peace exploding to reveal an eagle, a schoolmaster, and Pink's mother.75 During the tour relationships within the band were at an all-time low; four Winnebagos were parked in a circle, with the doors facing away from the centre. Waters remained isolated, using his own vehicle to arrive at the venue, and stayed in separate hotels from the rest of the band. Wright, returning to perform his duties as a salaried musician, was the only member of the band to profit from the venture, which lost about $600,000.44
Scarfe's animations were also to have been used in a film based on the album, accompanied by live concert footage, but the latter proved too impractical to film. Alan Parker agreed to direct the film, which was to keep the animated sequences but also use professional actors in each scene, with no dialogue. Bob Geldof took the role of Pink. A modified soundtrack was also created for some of the film's songs.76 Pink Floyd The Wall was released in July 1982.29
editTrack listing
All songs written and composed by Roger Waters, except where noted.
Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "In the Flesh?" Waters 3:19
2. "The Thin Ice" Gilmour, Waters 2:27
3. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 1" Waters 3:21
4. "The Happiest Days of Our Lives" Waters 1:46
5. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" Gilmour, Waters 4:00
6. "Mother" Waters, Gilmour 5:36
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "Goodbye Blue Sky" Gilmour 2:45
2. "Empty Spaces" Waters 2:10
3. "Young Lust" Waters, Gilmour Gilmour 3:25
4. "One of My Turns" Waters 3:35
5. "Don't Leave Me Now" Waters 4:16
6. "Another Brick in the Wall Part 3" Waters 1:14
7. "Goodbye Cruel World" Waters 1:13
Side three
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "Hey You" Gilmour, Waters 4:40
2. "Is There Anybody Out There?" Waters 2:44
3. "Nobody Home" Waters 3:26
4. "Vera" Waters 1:35
5. "Bring the Boys Back Home" Waters 1:21
6. "Comfortably Numb" Gilmour, Waters Waters, Gilmour 6:24
Side four
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "The Show Must Go On" Gilmour 1:36
2. "In the Flesh" Waters 4:13
3. "Run Like Hell" Gilmour, Waters Gilmour, Waters 4:19
4. "Waiting for the Worms" Waters, Gilmour 4:04
5. "Stop" Waters 0:30
6. "The Trial" Waters, Ezrin Waters 5:13
7. "Outside the Wall" Waters 1:41
editPersonnel
Pink Floyd77
David Gilmour — guitars, vocals, synthesisers, clavinet, sound effects
Nick Mason — percussion
Roger Waters — vocals, guitars, synthesiser, sound effects
Richard Wright — organ, piano, Rhodes electric piano, synthesisers, bass pedals
Additional musicians (credited)
Bruce Johnston — backing vocals
Toni Tennille — backing vocals
Joe Chemay — backing vocals
Jon Joyce — backing vocals
Islington Green School — children’s choir
Michael Kamen — orchestral arrangement
Bob Ezrin — orchestral arrangement
Additional musicians (uncredited)77
Bob Ezrin — organ, piano, synthesiser, backing vocals
James Guthrie — percussion, synthesiser, sound effects
Jeff Porcaro — drums
Joe Porcaro, Blue Ocean & 5 others — snare drums
Lee Ritenour — guitars
Ron di Blasi — classical guitar
Fred Mandel — Hammond organ
Bobbye Hall — congas, bongos
Frank Marrocco — concertina
Larry Williams — clarinet
Trevor Veitch — mandolin
New York Orchestra — orchestra
New York Opera — choral vocals
Unnamed children's choir from New York — children’s choral vocals
"Vicki & Clare" — backing vocals
Harry Waters — child's voice
Chris Fitzmorris — male telephone voice
Trudy Young — voice of the groupie
Phil Taylor — sound effects
Production
Bob Ezrin — co-producer
David Gilmour — co-producer
Roger Waters — co-producer
James Guthrie — co-producer and engineer, remastering supervisor
Krieg Wunderlich — digital remastering (MFSL issue)
Doug Sax — mastering (original LP) and digital remastering (EMI/Sony re-issues)
Nick Griffiths — engineer
Patrice Quef — engineer
Brian Christian — engineer
Rick Hart — engineer
Phil Taylor — sound equipment
Gerald Scarfe — sleeve design
Roger Waters — sleeve design
editSales chart performance
Album
Year Chart Peak
position Source
1979 UK Albums Chart 3 78
Norwegian Albums Chart 1 79
Spanish Albums Chart 9 79
Swedish Albums Chart 1 79
Swiss Albums Chart 29 79
German Albums Chart 1 79
Danish Albums Chart 19 79
New Zealand Albums Chart 1 79
Italian Albums Chart 13 79
Finnish Albums Chart 21 79
Austrian Albums Chart 1 79
1980 U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tapes 1 80
French Albums Charts 1 81
Singles
Date Single Chart Position Source
23 November 1979 "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" UK Top 40 1 nb 1482
7 January 1980 "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" US Billboard Pop Singles 1 nb 1562
9 June 1980 "Run Like Hell" US Billboard Pop Singles 53 nb 1662
March 1980 "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" Norway's single chart 1 83
editSelected album sales
Country Certification Sales Last certification date Comment Source(s)
Argentina Platinum 200,000+ 23 August 1999 84
Australia 8× Platinum 560,000+ citation needed
Canada 2× Diamond 2,000,000+ 31 August 1995 85
Germany 4× Platinum 1,750,000+ 1994 86
Greece 100,000+ 87
Poland Platinum 29 October 2003 88
United States RIAA 23× Platinum 11,500,000+ 29 January 1999 8× Platinum on 28 May 1991 89
United States Soundscan 5,381,000+ 16 February 2008 Since 1991 – February 2007 9091
obicno vujaklijske definicije ostavim neocenjene, ali za the wall + ko vrata