Pink Floyd Books
There are probably close on 100 books that have been published in the English language alone about Pink Floyd. Many of them are dismal, but there are also some really great ones if you know what you are looking for.
To help you find your way through the maze of books, we have featured what we consider to be the best Pink Floyd books that are on the market today.
Each book has been given a rating and as you would expect, the ratings are high, because this is the best of the bunch in our opinion.
We have also given you direct links to Amazon where you can purchase your selections and at the same time assist this site. For each purchase made a small percentage goes towards our running costs.
Many book collectors have personal libraries, some even bigger than a pods storage unit. The books pictured here would fit well on the book shelf of any reader. They are all great items for any avid Pink Floyd fans as well.
Inside
Out by Nick Mason. Nick Mason says: 'I
started making notes for this book in 1994. We had just finished a
world tour, and for the first time in many months I was not involved
in trying to stuff another bundle of free T-shirts, tour jackets, hotel
soaps and towelling robes into my suitcase. With a certain amount of
leisure time beckoning, I thought it might be time to start dealing
with the questions I'd been asked for thirty-odd years - "How
did the band get its name?", "Where's Syd?" and "What's
it really like?". It's only taken ten years to come up with some
answers. 'I eventually decided to avoid a rundown of every gig, venue,
weather condition and moustache'.
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The Raging Storm - Our View Storm Thorgerson's new book The Raging Storm (Co-written with Peter Curzon) is here, and we stuck out noses into this latest offering from Stormstudios, and have to say were more than impressed. The first thing that grabs you is the landscape format, it's very much like opening a gatefold album (Ah, those were the days!) and so you get a much wider view of the graphics. And what graphics they are! The book is PACKED with images 'executed' (Storm's word) over the last 4 years. Just about all images are accompanied by explanations from Storm and, true to his style, are hilarious. This is not a Pink Floyd book, but images associated with them are liberally interspersed throughout. In addition, also featured are Biffy Clyro, Pendulum, Wombats, Shpongle, Disco Biscuits, Powderfinger, Muse, Steve Miller and Pink Floyd and many others. It's 160 pages of pure magnificence and can be ordered direct from TheRagingStorm HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Our Verdict: Love the landscape style - Love The Book 10/10
Pink Floyd FAQ - Everything Left to Know...and More!: by Stuart Shea This is an annoying but well written book. Annoying, because it's a collection of material lumped together in obscure sections. For example, what does 'What are some forgotten gems from the Floyd collection' mean?, (as one chapter is called).
I found it very difficult to work out where the author was coming from and how he arranged his chapters. That being said though, this is very well written, with an easy flowing narrative, if you forgive the layout. Treat this book as a story to be read from start to finish, rather than open it and look for specific facts, that way you will enjoy it.
Soft Back 329 pages.
(Review by Col)
Our Verdict: A disjointed but well written book. 7/10
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For
the Love of Vinyl: The Album Art of Hipgnosis by Storm
Thorgerson & Aubrey Powell Hipgnosis produced timeless
rock iconography--everybody knows at least one Hipgnosis cover,
thanks to Dark Side of the Moon. The firm's
inventive takes on the themes or titles of any given album opened
up a new visual language in album
cover art, one in which theatrical tableaux, trick photography
and logo design played notable roles. For the Love of Vinyl is
the first book to survey Storm and Powell's output in detail,
focusing on more than 60 package designs--from cover to label--described
with entertaining detail by the team who created them.
Our Verdict: We love Storm 10
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Pink
Floyd The Early Years
by Barry Miles. Brief, but one of the best Pink Fink books ever penned.
Barry Miles was “of the time” at “Underground London
Ground Zero,” when it all first exploded. The author has
a deep, organic, understanding of how bands like the Pink Floyd formed
and flowered. He offers a fantastic description of the
UFO club and gives insight into how the famous Floyd “sound” originated. Miles
links it to their environment, Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge He
provides neat pictures of the bands childhood homes.You
get incredible quotes like this one by Gilmour about Barrett: “We
spent a lot of time together as teenagers listening to the same music. Our
influences are pretty much the same. I don’t want to go
into print saying that I taught Syd Barrett everything he knows, ‘cause
it’s patently untrue but there are one or two things in Syd’s
style that I know came from me.” Which illuminates why
Gilmour was the perfect replacement for Barrett, and why when you listen
to “Piper” and compare it to later discs, it still sounds
like the same band. (Review & pic thanks to Michael Forrest)
Michael's Verdict: 10
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Mind
Over Matter by
Storm Thorgerson. Published to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the
release of the "Dark Side of the Moon", this book explores the images
of Pink Floyd album sleeves and the artwork they contain. Storm's memoirs
of his time spent with Pink Floyd are combined with all the artworks
he created to represent the band at each stage of their career. Thirty
years on, Storm revisits the work he created for the album and tells
the story behind it. This edition has been updated with extra artworks
and memoirs of the recording and production of this groundbreaking
album. 'This is a must for the Floyd fan, particularly if you're
interested in graphic design. Thorgerson talks us through the making of
all of the PF covers that were his, explaining how each one was done often
with amusing anecdotes relating to bizzare things like giant chairs and
immense metal heads. Highly recommended. ' (D Williams)
Our Verdict: We still love Storm 10
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The
Black Strat by Phil Taylor. I must admit it was with some trepidation
that I opened this book. Not being at all technically minded, I thought
I was going to read page after page of technical jargon, which to be
honest, has very little appeal to me. However, I’m pleased to say
that my initial thoughts were proven wrong, and this is a great little
book (about A4 in size, 128 pages) and an excellent read! Packed with
countless breathtaking pictures (many never having been seen before),
the author manages to weave a fascinating tale about the trials & tribulations
of David Gilmour’s Black
Strat over the years. Sure there is a wealth of technical info, but it’s
easy to read for a layman like myself, and is actually very enthralling.
Apart from the previously mentioned pictures, the highlight for me is how
Phil doesn’t use flowery language, but tells his story in a down
to earth manner. You can read this book from cover to cover in a couple
of hours, but you will want to go back to it again & again to pour
over the incredible pictures, and be transported - backstage & back
in time.
Our Verdict: Essential reading for any Floyd fan. 10/10
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Comfortably
Numb by Vernon Fitch and Richard Mahon. This
book is an amazing look behind the scenes at the creation, recording, and
performances of Pink Floyd's landmark album, The Wall. It took ten years
to research the book, and during that time the authors had numerous discussions
directly with the people that worked on The Wall album and stage shows.
By doing so, the authors wrote the first detailed history of Pink Floyd
for the years 1978 through 1981. The Comfortably Numb book goes into great
depth about the inner workings of the band, and features pictures from
the time period, most of which have never before been seen outside of the
band's inner circle.
Our Verdict: For the real die hard fan. 9/10
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Pigs
Might Fly (AKA Comfortably Numb in
USA) by Mark Blake. Pigs
Might Fly is the first full-length biography of Pink Floyd for
over 15 years. Author Mark Blake has previously interviewed David
Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, and conducted
almost 100 new interviews with ex-band members, producers, schoolmates,
girlfriends, roadies, flatmates, managers, friends, foes and
more...Bringing together these eyewitness accounts and memories,
this 418-page book traces Pink Floyd's story from their roots
in Cambridge to global stardom with The Dark Side Of The Moon and
their bitter break-up in the 1980s; from their historic reunion
at Live 8 to the untimely death of founder member Syd Barrett
in 2006, and beyond. As meticulous, exacting & ambitious as
any Pink Floyd album, Pigs Might Fly is the definitive account
of Pink Floyd to date.
Our Verdict: Just get it! 10
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Crazy
Diamond by Mike Watkinson & Pete Anderson Many of you will
already be familiar with this classic Syd Barrett book that was first
published in 1991. The good news is that the authors (Mike Watkinson & Pete
Anderson) have revised their earlier work, and added an additional
14,000 words (app). This increases the book size by about a third,
so it's packed with info! The revised edition includes an extensive
new final chapter, a new introduction, and an updated 'Where Are They
Now' section. The research that must have gone into the book when it
was first published must have been staggering (and far less easier
to obtain than in this electronic age) . Obviously the book has no
happy ending, but it handles Syd's life story in a well thought out
and compassionate manner. There are a lot of 'cash ins' around following
Syd's death. Make no mistake, this isn't one.
Our Verdict: Highly recommended 10/10
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Taken
By Storm by Storm Thorgerson.
A superb selection of Storm Thorgerson’s
work over the past 30 years. It features the best of Hipgnosis, Pink Floyd,
and Storm Studios and is a visual equivalent of a greatest hits album!
Thorgerson’s prolific album art is presented in full-color and includes
in-depth analysis of each image, including the themes and motivations that
inspired the work as well as the practical details involved in producing
each stunning image. Includes new material from the last five years, none
of which has been previously published in book form. Our Verdict: Yummy! 10
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Saucerful of Secrets - The
Pink Floyd Odyssey by
Nicholas Schaffner. Not
one of the best Pink Floyd books out there, despite the fact that it
was enthusiastically written by Nicholas Schaffner, who describes himself
as P.F.'s "original American fan." (He took
a mono "Piper" home to the U.S. before it was released in the
States.) "Saucerful" simply isn't. It is lacking in concrete
imagery, anecdotes or first rate quotes. Still, for the serious fan it's
still worth the read. There are pearls like this by Barry Miles who had
seen Beatle Paul patting Floyd members on the back saying they were, "Great
and were going to do fine." Barry further explains, "In my discussions
with him, McCartney had always been convinced that there would be a new
synthesis of electronic music and studio techniques and rock 'n' roll.
He didn't see the Beatles as being quite the vehicle for that. But the
Pink Floyd, he thought, were the very stuff we'd been talking about!" (God
Bless the amazing and visionary Sir Paul for that quote! Forever may he
wail!) (Review thanks to Michael Forrest) Michael's Verdict: Average 7/10
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Echoes: The Complete
History of Pink Floyd - By Glenn Povey The
first thing that one notices about the coffee table sized book is
it's enormous weight! And the reason this 368 page tome is so heavy,
is because every page of this impressive book, is full colour, printed
on beautiful glossy stock.I
picked the book up, knowing full well I was about to read something
by somebody highly regarded in the Pink Floyd community, who already
has an impressive track record. Full of high expectations, I flipped
the book open to read the research notes, and for some reason started
to get the idea I was about to read a dreary list of dates and venues.
Boy, was I mistaken! Not only has the author managed to dredge out
every last concert date (of both the band, and individual members)
but he has also managed to tease out just about every detail that
is known about each concert or appearance. Packed with hundreds of
wonderful full colour photos, Glenn Povey has managed to spin the
Pink Floyd story in a way that's never been told before. He cleverly
weaves his tale around the concert & appearance
dates, ensuring the reader never gets bored by reading a list of
cold facts.
Our Verdict: Awesome book, deserves it's 10/10
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Madcap by
Tim Willis This sensational book includes interviews with
Waters and Gilmour and many of Syd's friends and girlfriends including
Lindsay Corner (correct spelling) and characters such as Jock and
Sue. There's material that
rewrites the history of the four-piece Floyd, as well as previously-unseen
lyrics by the young Waters and writings by the young Barrett. Beautiful,
charismatic, and talented, in 1966 Syd Barrett invented the British
Psychedelic scene—founding Pink Floyd—before collapsing
into madness two years later. This book traces the history of rock's
lost genius, through exclusive access to those closest to Syd throughout
his life. Willis' main achievement is to separate fact from fiction
and present Syd's story in a straightforward way, skipping the myths
and presenting actual information.
Our Verdict: We really enjoyed this book, although we know of some people who didn't. 9/10
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The
Piper at the Gates of Dawn by John Cavanagh. Through a series
of interviews with a wide range of people connected to Pink Floyd
in their earliest days (including Nick Mason, Peter Jenner, Jenny
Fabian, Storm Thorgerson, Duggie Fields and Peter Whitehead), John
Cavanagh paints a vivid picture of how this remarkable debut album
was created. He brings to life the stories behind each track, as
well as Pink Floyd's groundbreaking live performances of the time.
'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is a wondrous creation often seen
through the distorted view of later events. These things have served
to overshadow the achievement of The Pink Floyd on their debut album:
an outstanding group performance; a milestone in record production;
and something made in much happier circumstances than I had expected
to find This is NOT another book about "mad Syd". This, instead, is
a celebration of a moment when everything seemed possible, when creative
worlds and forces converged, when an album spoke with an entirely
new voice. "Such music I never dreamed of," as Rat said
to Mole.'
Our Verdict: You really have to be into Pink Floyd in order to appreciate this book. 8/10
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Lost
In The Woods by Julian Palacios English composer and cartographer
of interstellar regions Syd Barrett was an English composer and purveyor
of some of the most intriguing music ever written. Famous before
his 20th birthday, Barrett led the charge of psychedelia onstage
at London's famed UFO club. With a Fender Telecaster and a primitive
Binson echo unit, Barrett liberated the guitar from being, in critic
Simon Reynold's words, 'a riff machine, and turned it into a texture
and timbre generator.' Syd Barrett disappeared one night into the
woods, but the man who created him, Roger Keith Barrett, preferred
to live alone, far from the machinations of the world. As he walked
down deserted Cambridge roads, Barrett might have thought of the
thunder and lightning that was his music, and smile at how he passed
it all by.
Our Verdict: A great read for any Floyd fan. Rated 10 out of 10
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The
Pink Floyd Encyclopedia by Vernon Fitch. The Pink Floyd
Encyclopedia is an in depth reference work on Pink Floyd, and includes
a unique Pink Floyd Reference Encyclopedia, complete concert date listings,
a look at Floyd's equipment over the years, and an examination of the
Publius phenomenon.The book also features an exclusive CD of Hawkwind
performing Interstellar Overdrive. At its basic level, this book is
an encyclopedia about the many facets of Pink Floyd, with hundreds
of listings in alphabetical order. Numerous areas are covered. Every
Pink Floyd album is listed, with details about cover art, production
credits, U.S. and U.K. releases, release dates, studios and recording
dates, sales awards, sales charts, songs, etc.
Our Verdict: Full of just about every conceivable Floyd fact, this book is an absolute must for any fan who is serious about the band. Scores a perfect 10
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Embryo - A Pink Floyd Chronology 1966 -1971 by Nick
Hodges and Ian Priston. The book traces the
history of the early work of the band from when they had recently
formed to before the beginnings of "The Dark
Side Of The Moon". An archetypal labour of love, the chronology
is a high quality, definitive history of the day to day work of the band.
Featuring a fully comprehensive study of recordings available to collectors,
rare concert ads, and studious timings and transcriptions. The detail
of this book will surpass the high standards that Pink Floyd collectors
demand. The authors have painstakingly tracked down long lost reviews,
recordings and appearances on television and in films, and have collated
them all together in a clear and concise form, whilst offering their
own detailed reviews and commentary. All the illustrations in the book
including its cover, have not been used in any other book about Pink
Floyd. Of particular interest will be a set of photographs taken by Irene
Winsby of the band during a rehearsal in January 1967.
Our Verdict: We highly commend this book to any serious Floyd researcher, however, this is not for the casual fan. If you are interested in the early years of Pink Floyd, then this book is well worthwhile. 8/10
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Recent Books
There has been an avalanche of Pink Floyd books
in recent times, some of them brilliant, others less so. To help
you sort out the good from the bad, we have featured four of what
we consider to be the best of the recent publications. In no particular
order, we recommend:
THE BLACK STRAT by Phil Taylor.Info
& Purchase
ECHOES by Glenn
Povey Purchase
UK (Ships Worldwide)
COMFORTABLY NUMB by Vernon
Fitch & Richard Mahon Purchase
USA (Ships Worldwide)
*PIGS MIGHT FLY by Mark
Blake Purchase US
*Pigs Might Fly by Mark Blake is published under the name Comfortable
Numb in the USA. Not to be confused with the book of the same name
by Vernon Fitch & Richard Mahon)
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