📖 Overview
Pink Floyd: The Complete Recording Sessions chronicles every studio session and live performance by the band from 1965-1995. The book follows Pink Floyd's recording work chronologically, detailing the creation of their albums, singles, and unreleased material.
Author Glenn Povey drew from interviews, documents, and firsthand accounts to reconstruct the band's time in studios like Abbey Road and Britannia Row. The text includes technical information about equipment, recording techniques, and the evolution of Pink Floyd's sound across three decades.
The book contains rare photographs, production notes, and detailed session logs tracking the development of iconic songs. Session musicians, engineers, and producers who worked with Pink Floyd provide context and behind-the-scenes perspectives on the recording process.
This comprehensive documentation reveals Pink Floyd's transformation from experimental psychedelic group to progressive rock pioneers. The studio details illuminate how technological innovation and creative vision combined to shape the band's distinctive musical identity.
👀 Reviews
Readers value this book as a detailed recording studio chronology, documenting Pink Floyd's recording process through firsthand accounts and interviews.
Likes:
- Precise dates and documentation of each studio session
- Technical details about equipment and recording techniques
- Behind-the-scenes stories from engineers and band members
- Comprehensive coverage of both released and unreleased material
Dislikes:
- Some note dry, technical writing style
- Several readers point out factual errors, particularly in session dates
- Limited coverage of pre-1967 period
- High price for a relatively slim volume
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
Goodreads: 4.3/5 (89 ratings)
Reader quote: "As a studio engineer, I appreciate the detail about mic placement and recording gear, but casual fans might find it too technical." - Amazon reviewer
Multiple readers recommend pairing this with Nicholas Schaffner's "Saucerful of Secrets" for a more complete Pink Floyd history.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🎸 The book documents every Pink Floyd recording session from 1965 to 1995, including detailed information about unreleased songs and alternate versions.
🎼 Author Glenn Povey founded the highly respected Pink Floyd fanzine "Brain Damage" and spent over 14 years researching the band's history before writing this book.
🎵 The book reveals that "Money," one of Pink Floyd's most famous songs, was one of the first tracks recorded using a 16-track recorder at Abbey Road Studios.
🎧 During the recording of "The Wall," Roger Waters insisted on re-recording his vocal parts so many times that the tape actually wore through, requiring them to start over with a fresh reel.
🌈 The book details how the iconic prism artwork for "The Dark Side of the Moon" was initially just one of several designs presented to the band by Storm Thorgerson, and wasn't an immediate favorite.