This mighty double album was released 30 years ago last week and is, perhaps, the pinnacle of rock music, strike that it, it’s probably the best music ever produced. Nothing like it had ever been done before and nothing like it has been attempted since. So, I thought it would be a good time to now reflect on the album and for you to share with us what it meant to you then, now, where you were etc., what you remember when listening to the vinyl all those years ago.
For me, I was 15 years old into my final year of schooling and generally happy with my lot. I was not a big Floyd fan back then, but I can remember being very impressed with the whole concept of The Wall and how it combined superb musical composition, with storytelling, theatrical presentation and one of the most unique icons in the history of music, a gigantic white Wall. I can remember everyone buying it, everyone talking about it, everyone singing “All in all…….etc” but I don’t think I really appreciated the body of work, didn’t really understand the concept – I don’t think many of my peers did then either.
The most important thing for me musically at the time was my band ‘Traitor’, a school band I formed with 3 of my friends. Pink Floyd wasn’t really that important, we were going to be bigger than them, write our own concept album, play it on ‘Top of the Pops’ – we even played ‘Another Brick in the Wall part 2” (it has just the best bass line to play) so I can remember not being too impressed by the album, and if I was reviewing it then, would have probably given it 3 stars out of 5.
Now, as an older wiser 15 year old I can finally appreciate the album, finally appreciate what Waters’ was trying to achieve, finally appreciate the genius of the man and finally sit down listen to the album in full and be totally blown’ away.
I’ve retaken a rather wonderful musical journey over the past few days and would love to hear your opinion of the album, your own reflections on ‘The Wall’.
At this point in my life, The Wall sounds like an album for the young. Unlike all other Floyd albums, it is overblown and full of self-pity that I believe creates disillusionment making it really difficult to take this album seriously at my age. I’m afraid to say it’s completely overrated and simply doesn’t compare to the three albums before it, for one reason – the music. You state “it’s probably the best music ever produced. Nothing like it had ever been done before and nothing like it has been attempted since”, a very bold and dramatic statement, and although I am beginning to enjoy the musical journey you are creating here, it is a statement that I cannot agree with.
1979 was a weird and wonderful musical year with Art Garfunkel’s ‘Bright Eyes’ topping the singles charts and Gary Numan and Abba the album charts. However, Led Zep and especially The Clash did provide some artistic relief. The Wall was released at the end of the year to mostly critical acclaim. I was working in London at the time and can remember the anticipation within CBS/Sony and delighting in the many and varied rumours circulating especially the arguments and disagreements between Waters and Gilmour. I was over-indulging drug wise so the album naturally sounded impressive at that time, and I can remember the thrill and excitement of listening to it high.
Unfortunately, this high was all too brief and I did not regularly play the album after.
I have returned to the album on a few occasions since and regrettably been left feeling cold by the experience with the whole concept leaving me numb. For me, therefore, the album will only hold memories for me as music I listened to one moment in my life. It has no special meaning, no personal narration, nothing that chronicles my life the way Kraftwerk or other bands do.
Hi Ken thanks for your opinions on “The Wall”.
There are two responses I could give to this comment the first one being;
Ken, my friend you should lighten up a wee bit here and enjoy yourself – life’s too short. Try not to be too critical of everything and everyone just because it’s not your thing. The Wall is a great album. No-one can say otherwise, and as I have spent most of this week listening to it, I wanted to share my feelings of having re-discovered it and of being totally blown by it AND really enjoying myself in the process – whats the harm in that?
My second response could be;
Ken – I have to say, my friend, that I consider your opinions short-sighted and insulting even derogatory to me and my website. It is very easy to be critical and you do seem to enjoy this, why? I don’t know – I do know that The Wall is a great album, has given enormous pleasure to millions of people and has made me a happier person this week as I recuperate. So please in future try to be a little more understanding and less opinionated as you are amongst friends here.
Ken – you select which one you want
laughing dog
30 years on and still The Wall divides us, who would have thought that then? Let’s look at one or two of the previously issued statements first:
Mr Dog says “it’s probably the best music ever produced.” Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, and I certainly wouldn’t argue against its artistic merits, but as Ken says, that is a very bold statement. On a personal level I prefer Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and most of Ummagumma. But, at the same time I do agree that that The Wall is a very clever, well thought out piece of work and I can see why many people consider this as the Floyd at their peak.
A quick reference to Ken’s statement “left feeling cold by the experience with the whole concept leaving me numb”. I can’t help but feel that this is possibly the reaction that Mr Waters was intending to evoke from his listeners. The subject matter is not exactly light entertainment after all and I think he would be horrified if anyone took it as such.
My own memories and thoughts on it? When punk came along a few years before The Wall’s release I got as drawn in by it as much as anyone else at the time. I didn’t go for the fashion accessories and the weird hairdo, but I did enjoy the freshness that it brought. It just seemed to sweep away the dross that was such a regular feature of the time and the pomposity that many of the classic ’70′s bands had adopted. Although I was well aware of the musical limitations of most of the bands, I did realise that something new was going on and that musical borders were changing. I loved the energy of the Pistols, The Clash, Angelic Upstarts and also the fun of bands such as Sham 69, The Buzzcocks and Cockney Rejects. But by late ’79 the spark had gone and I had started looking elsewhere. Oh I still had all my old Sabbath, Zeppelin and Purple LPs but, as ever, I needed something new. Then along came the old warhorses and drove me straight back to the herb!!
From the first time I heard The Wall I loved it. Couldn’t make head nor tail of the story for about 10 years but loved it all the same. I well remember over that Christmas, with Floyd at No1 in the singles charts, it was actually worth watching Top of the Pops for the first (and last) time in years. I bought the LP on its first day of release and, although I obviously now have the CD version, it has never been out of my possession since. In all honesty, I have to say that it doesn’t get played all that often, when I need my fix I tend to put on the DVD to get the full surround sound, the extra tracks and full versions and the visuals, but it so comforting to know that its always there ready for me when I need it.
I don’t want to get onto the movie or the various live versions here, although all are worthy of mention, but I could spend the rest of the evening on that and its my turn to make dinner tonight.
I do think though, that a new release of it is due, in re-mastered super duper 5:1 surround with all the whistles and bells included. Soon as that’s announced, I’m first on the list.
The crowning experience of this album for me however came about 10 years ago when Junior Spacepig declared it the greatest record of all time. High praise indeed!
Laughing Dog – you and I rarely disagree — we don’t see each other often enough
but this is a rare occasion when I think you might be overeacting a little to Ken’s thoughts on the album.
I’m kind of a neutral-ish observer here: far too mainstream in my tastes to appreciate Pink Floyd while having an inate “live and let live” philosophy (except when it comes to those who harm dogs/children; thatcher; bush; the bnp; the republican party; rupert murdoch…) erm, well maybe I’m not *that* laid back but when it comes to books (my first love) and music, thank goodness we all have wildly varying tastes or it would be a very boring world.
Anyway, I checked the date that you wrote that reply and I know that you were in a hell of a lot of post-op pain so I’m wondering if you over-reacted a wee bit?
I really enjoyed both Ken and Spacey’s comments, both add greatly to the discussion and I wonder if now that you’re feeling better, you might have second thoughts about your comment?
Your dearest sister
My dearest sister – thanks for your concern but it had nothing to do with post-op pain or any over reaction on my part and you know me to be way too laid back for my own good – but Ken’s comments not only on this post but for most of his posts are, I believe, always far too critical – as I said in my post he is amongst friends here.
Its the simplest thing in the world to criticize and I normally have no problem with it – but lets analzye first and be constructive with our criticism.
Anyway, I’m sure Ken’s a big boy and has been insulted by better people than me.
Darling brother, you’re talking bollix. Ken has simply recounted an interesting period in his life and how The Wall fitted into that. I’d like to read more from him actually!
Note to Laughing Dog
You are quite correct to respond to my comments on ‘The Wall’ in the manner you have – and I apologize if I caused any offense to you. It was not my intention but I’m afraid I do tend to criticize more than I should – you are not the first person to remind me of this.
Anyway, let us move forward on this issue – I have actually spent some time traveling lately and utilized this time to re-visit ‘The Wall’ whilst also researching the concept and meaning behind, and although I believe you hyped the album up too much by stating “it’s probably the best music ever produced” you are quite correct in stating that it is the work of genius and it did represent a milestone for rock music.
One more thing, it is good to be amongst friends.
Yay !
Welcome back Ken
Lovely to see you back Ken.
And your last line bring up a good point, the sense of community that LD has established here so quickly is astonishing – here’s to more of the same in the next decade!
Well then, now that Roger Waters has announced that The Wall is to be performed again next year, who, I was wondering has any intention of going to see it?
Looks like we could be seeing it twice. When the dates were announced, we spotted the date for Mannheim. Mrs SP has often said that Mannheim is one of her very favourite places in the whole world (full of nutters) and it’s also not that far from her home town, so the plans are already afoot to go there to see it and have a short break there with her loopy friends.
Then he (Mr Waters) goes and announces that it will also be performed in Dublin and my Algerian friend (who has never been to a concert in his life) has asked if I will accompany him to that one.
I must admit, I am quite looking forward to these dates, does anyone else intend to revisit their youth next year? Or maybe catch up on what they missed first time round?
Hi Spacey – I have never seen The Wall live and would love to see it next year and where better than Dublin. Unfortunately it’s my Silver Wedding Anniversary and Mrs Dog has her sights set on Africa – now if you can come up with a cunning plan to go on safari in Fingal instead then we’re on.
I saw Roger Waters live in Johannesburg in 2002 (“In the Flesh” tour) and was – sadly – very disappointed. Probably I was expecting too much, but the show ended up being very dull and uninspired. But I do love my DVD of The Wall live in Berlin, so I’m seriously contemplating making a pilgrimage to what, we’re told. will be the last performances of The Wall. A Lebanese colleague of mine is a huge fan also; we’re quietly scheming to forsake our families and steal off to see Roger at a still-undecided venue. Realistically, it’s unlikely to happen, but I’ll post here again if dreams do come true.
Hi URD – if you do decide to quietly scheme to forsake our families and steal off to see Roger at a still-undecided venue, let me know how you do it – I may join you