BY MIKE METTLER – AUGUST 30, 2019
Pink Floyd Records will release Pink Floyd: The Later Years: 1987-2019, a deluxe multimedia 16-disc box set covering the material created by guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, and keyboardist/vocalist Richard Wright from 1987 to the present, on December 13, 2019. This extensive collection serves as a companion piece to The Early Years: 1965-1972 box set, which was released in November 2016.
The band’s Later Years period generated record sales of over 40 million worldwide, and included three studio albums — 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, 1994’s The Division Bell, and 2014’s The Endless River — as well as two live albums, 1988’s Delicate Sound of Thunder and 1995’s Pulse. With additional production from David Gilmour and longtime PF engineer Andy Jackson, The Later Years contains over 13 hours of unreleased audio and audiovisual material, including the rarely seen 1989 Venice and 1990 Knebworth concerts.
The box set kicks off with September 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason, presented here for the first time in 5.1 as remixed and updated by David Gilmour and Andy Jackson. The release of The Later Years project gives listeners an opportunity for a fresh overview of Momentary Lapse, as producers Gilmour and Bob Ezrin have restored the creative balance between the three Pink Floyd members by returning to some of Richard Wright’s keyboard parts and recording new drum tracks with Nick Mason.
Throughout 1987 and 1988, the band’s live shows became the largest-grossing concert tour to date, ultimately producing November 1988’s critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-nominated Delicate Sound of Thunder. Filmed at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island in New York, the concert has been fully re-edited and upgraded from the original 35mm film negatives by Aubrey “Po” Powell and Benny Trickett, and the sound has been remixed in 5.1. It also includes “Terminal Frost” and “Welcome to the Machine,” two tracks that weren’t included on the original concert film release. For the first time, Delicate Sound of Thunder is available in this box set in 5.1 on Blu-ray and DVD.
Two of the most sought-after additions to The Later Years are the 1989 Venice Concert performed on a floating stage in front of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, and the 1990 Silver Clef Winners performance at Knebworth, England. Both concerts, previously unreleased, are now available here on both DVD and Blu-ray. The momentous Knebworth concert saw Pink Floyd topping an all-star bill that included Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Genesis, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, and Tears For Fears, all in aid of the Nordoff Robbins charity, profits from which went towards setting up the BRIT School. David Gilmour and Andy Jackson have remixed the audio from this iconic concert. All seven tracks performed on that day (with guest musicians including sax player Candy Dulfer, the original “The Great Gig in the Sky” vocalist Clare Torry, keyboard player Michael Kamen, and Sam Brown with her mother, Vicki, on vocals), are released here as well as for the first time ever on CD.
March 1994’s The Division Bell sold over 12 million copies, having debuted at No. 1 in the UK, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. It stayed at the top of the U.S. charts for 4 weeks, and also went to No. 1 in six other countries. The resulting tour was captured and recorded for the May 1995 concert release, Pulse. The box set release contains the entire Pulse concert film live from the groundbreaking Earl’s Court gigs, re-edited and upgraded from the original masters, and available for the first time on Blu-ray. Also uncovered for the first time is footage of the band in rehearsals on October 20, 1994, performing “A Great Day for Freedom” and “Lost for Words.”
In November 2014, Pink Floyd released The Endless River, comprising mostly instrumental and ambient music based on material recorded during The Division Bell sessions. Featuring David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, additional material was recorded in 2013 and 2014, with one song, “Louder Than Words,” with lyrics by author and novelist Polly Samson (the primary lyricist for The Division Bell album). The Endless River became the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon UK, and debuted at No. 1 in several countries. The vinyl edition was the fastest-selling UK vinyl release since 1997. Included here for the first time is the never previously seen, specially commissioned 52-minute The Endless River film by Ian Emes, famed for his work with Pink Floyd, including his animations for “One of These Days,” “Speak to Me,” “Time,” and “On the Run.”
Rounding off the package are hours of unreleased bonus materials including music videos, documentary footage, bonus live tracks, upgraded tour screen films, and documentaries. It includes the first-ever release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 7-inch vinyl of the last live performance of Pink Floyd with David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright together on “Arnold Layne,” which took place at the Syd Barrett Tribute Concert at The Barbican on May 10, 2007. The full set boasts previously unreleased or remixed audio, plus restored, remastered, and re-edited audio-visuals including unreleased concert footage and promo clips.
From left, Mason, Gilmour, and Wright ready themselves for another minor tour appearance, circa 1994. Photo courtesy Parlophone.
With the help of Nick Mason and the Pink Floyd archive, The Later Years box set comes with reproductions of tour artwork, posters, programs, tour laminates, lyric book, and much more, including two 7-inch vinyl singles (the aforementioned live version of “Arnold Layne” at the Syd Barrett Tribute Concert in 2007, and “Lost for Words” from the Pulse tour rehearsals at Earl’s Court) in new picture sleeves and etched-image B-sides. Also included is a brand new 40-page hardback book of photos, designed by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon of StormStudios, including many previously unseen images.
Finally, the five CDs are encased in their own 60-page hardback book with an extensive guide to all content, tracklists, and credits.
There will also be 2LP and 1CD Highlights packages that come in gatefold sleeves (for both the 1CD and 2LP releases, respectively), and each will contain a 24-page booklet housing previously unseen photos from the Earl’s Court shows in October 1994. The photos are by Jill Furmanovsky, Tony May, and Andy Earl. The Highlights packages are both set for release on November 29, 2019.
Pink Floyd: The Later Years: 1987-2019 is available to pre-order at www.pinkfloyd.com.
PINK FLOYD: THE LATER YEARS: 1987-2019
CDs
Five CDs contained in their own 60-page, hardback book, containing a guide to all content, tracklistings, exhaustive content detail, and credits.
CD 1 A Momentary Lapse of Reason Remixed & Updated (51 mins)
CD 2 & 3 Delicate Sound Of Thunder Remixed (140 mins)
CD 4 Live Recordings, 1987 & 1994 Unreleased Studio Recordings (65 mins)
CD 5 Knebworth Concert 1990 (57 mins)
Blu-rays
Six Blu-rays, each contained in a gatefold wallet with dedicated cover art, including tracklistings and music publishing credits. Discs contained in protective plastic sleeves inside wallet.
Blu-ray 1 Surround & Hi-Res Audio Mixes (152 mins)
Blu-ray 2 Delicate Sound of Thunder Restored & Remixed (120 mins)
Blu-ray 3 Pulse Restored & Re-Edited (145 mins)
Blu-ray 4 Venice Concert 1989 & Knebworth Concert 1990 (147 mins)
Blu-ray 5 Unreleased Live Films Music Videos & Concert Screen Films (154 mins)
Blu-ray 6 Documentaries & Unreleased Material (122 mins)
DVDs
Five DVDs that duplicate the content of Blu-rays 2-6 above, each contained in a gatefold wallet with dedicated cover art, including tracklistings and music publishing credits.
7-Inch Singles
Two 7-inch vinyl singles in brand-new picture sleeves, featuring “Arnold Layne” as performed live by Pink Floyd at the Syd Barrett Tribute concert in 2007, and “Lost for Words” from the Pulse tour rehearsals at Earl’s Court.
Photo Book
40-page hardback book of photos designed by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon of StormStudios, including many previously unseen images.
Replica Tour Programs and Lyric Book
A newly created set of reproduction tour programs (Pink Floyd World Tour 1987/1988, Pink Floyd Live 1989, and Pink Floyd European Tour 1994), plus a brand new Lyrics Book, designed by Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon of StormStudios.
Memorabilia
A collection of reproduction memorabilia including tour passes, stickers, and posters, all printed to replicate the originals, and contained in a prestige card envelope.
