In this article, I shall look at the Floyd’s albums - including the live releases that are not being reissued this time around - and for each release, will detail one or two formats from my own personal collection. Whilst the hardcore will undoubtedly be interested in the CD Box Set that is being issued with all 14 releases in, it may simply be cheaper to buy any of the multitude of existing pressings that can often be picked up quite easily. I think it has something to do with them being made available on iTunes for the first time, so they have to be reissued, blah blah blah. These bog standard reissues are being referred to as “Discovery” editions, presumably on the basis that they are being pitched at newcomers, but there is still something strange about albums you can pick up on Amazon for a fiver being repackaged in the Ten Quid price range. The strange thing is, that with the exception of their three most famous albums (not necessarily their three best), none are being issued with extra tracks. In addition to this, the band are re-releasing their 14 studio albums (including the half live/half studio “Ummagumma”) once more. There is something remarkably cheeky about a band who have recorded NO NEW MATERIAL since their last best-of, issuing another one.
Later this year, the band are issuing another collection, “A Foot In The Door”.
Earlier this year, I did an article looking at The Floyd on 45, and suggested that 2001’s best-of set “Echoes” was really the last word on the band.