Pink Floyd reunite two sections of ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ for a masterpiece of epic proportions
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Until this year, the two suites of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” have stood at either end of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here like panels in a celebrated altarpiece. Homemade efforts to unite the twin tracks into a single 25-minute piece of music abound in Floyd’s fandom, but it hasn’t been officially attempted — at least, not until now.
The feat takes place in Wish You Were Here’s 50th anniversary deluxe box set, a characteristically immense affair featuring a new mix of the album, numerous rarities and a much-bootlegged Los Angeles concert recording from 1975. Curiosities include a wistful violin solo by French jazz great Stéphane Grappelli on a discarded version of the title track, which has been excavated before. But the highlight is the unveiling of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts 1 to 9”.
This pinnacle of psychedelic rock was originally planned as an instrumental of more than 20 minutes to run on one side of the album. It was written in tribute to Pink Floyd’s former leader Syd Barrett, jettisoned from the band due to erratic behaviour arising from mental illness. (By strange coincidence, an unrecognisable Barrett, with head and eyebrows shaved, made an unannounced visit to the recording studio, reportedly while “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” was being mixed.)
A recording of the intended instrumental features in the box set. It was changed when the band’s new leader, Roger Waters, decided to add lyrics, chop the nine-part piece in half and use the results to bookend the album. The division evokes Barrett’s damaged mind. But while “Shine on You Crazy Diamond”’s split identity works best for the album, it now has a standalone life as Pink Floyd’s longest song.
The join has been done seamlessly by longtime Floyd collaborator James Guthrie, eliding the sax solo that caps the first section with the bassline that opens the second one. The majestic ebbs and flows in tempo and intensity are heightened by the expanded experience of hearing both sections together. Pink Floyd’s masterpiece has become even more epic in scope.
★★★★★
Released by Sony Music
