The Wall

Pink Floyd | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 30, 2001
• Release Date: April 1, 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Capitol
• Copyright: (C) 1994 Pink Floyd Music LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 1994 EMI Records Ltd
• Total Length: 1:21:14
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000SXMQ24
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,012 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

822 of 847 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside The Floyd's Wall, October 30, 2002

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wall (Audio CD)

"The Wall," Pink Floyd's 1979 concept album about a rock star's mental breakdown, is a towering monster. It's an album with SO many audio, lyrical, musical & emotional nooks and crannies contained within, that one listen simply will not cut it. "The Wall" is not just an album to listen to, it's an album to be *explored*. It was inspired by then-bandleader Roger Waters' own mental collapse at the end of the Floyd's tour for the "Animals" album. Due to the grind of the mammoth stadium tour for "Animals," and sickened by seeing his own band, in his opinion, become part of the rock business "circus," Waters was mentally & emotionally exhausted beyond comprehension. At the final gig in Montreal, Waters finally snapped, spitting in the face of a young fan sitting up front. Coming home to England to recover, Waters finally decided to exorcise his demons by writing a conceptual piece about his disgust with his life as a rock star, and he began building "The Wall"....With the bulk of the double-album composed by Waters (with a few co-writing contributions from guitarist David Gilmour & producer Bob Ezrin), "The Wall" tells the story of a rock star named Pink and his downward spiral into madness, and all the things in his life that led him there: his father killed in the war when he was only a baby ("Another Brick In The Wall Part 1"), being smothered by his overbearing mother ("Mother"), subjected to abuse at school ("The Happiest Days Of Our Lives"/"Another Brick In The Wall Part 2"), and later, the pressures of his rock-star lifestyle ("One Of My Turns") and the breakdown of his marriage ("Don't Leave Me Now"). Quite simply, "The Wall" is a rock masterwork, and arguably Roger Waters' greatest achievement as a composer. However, to think of the album simply as a "Roger Waters production" would be wrong. Though Waters IS, indeed, the main architect of "The Wall," bravely wearing his heart on his sleeve with his powerful songwriting and tortured singing (not to mention playing a mean bass throughout), the album still would not be what it is without the excellent contributions of guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour, who also shines on tracks like the smash hit, "Another Brick In The Wall Part 2" (featuring his most famous guitar solo ever recorded with the band), "Goodbye Blue Sky," "Young Lust," "Hey You" and "Comfortably Numb" (featuring yet another classic Gilmour guitar solo). Keyboardist Richard Wright & drummer Nick Mason are, admittedly, dwarfed somewhat on "The Wall" by the inclusion of various session players (that's Jeff Porcaro playing drums on "Mother," to name one example). Still, Mason & Wright appear often enough, and they make their contributions count. The production on "The Wall" is also astounding---from the great stereophonic mix of the tunes themselves, to the treasure trove of sound effects & voices (such as fighter planes, helicopters, objects being smashed, singing schoolchildren, a telephone operator, a TV set playing "Gomer Pyle," and on and on), "The Wall" is truly a listening *experience*. Thankfully, Roger Waters, having left Pink Floyd in 1983, is living quite comfortably these days, no longer bothered by his rock star demons, and he continues to make great music on his own (he's also much more appreciative of his live audiences these days, thank goodness). Obviously for Waters, making "The Wall" was much-needed therapy. For Pink Floyd, "The Wall" became one of the group's biggest best-sellers, second only to "Dark Side Of The Moon." For the listener, "The Wall" is a spellbinding musical journey. It's music is at turns beautiful, haunting, and unquestionably powerful, and it's story is an absolutely gripping one. "The Wall" is a timeless, undisputed Pink Floyd classic.

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ......we came in?, June 5, 2000

By 

DEAN VASQUEZ (United States Of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wall (Audio CD)

Wow......

If anyone could sum up this album in one word, that would be it. 'The Wall' is not only the ultimate Pink Floyd album(in my opinion, at least), it is the most creative and awe-inspring recording probably ever. From the explosive opening guitar riff of "In The Flesh?" to the final harmonies of "Outside The Wall", 'The Wall' takes the most extensive journey of the mind, heart and soul of any rock album ever made. With the excellent production of Bob Ezrin (who also produced KISS' classic 'Destroyer'), to the legendary David Gilmour and of course, the brainchild of the whole thing, Roger Waters, The Floyd told the story of a man who was at war his whole life with one person - himself. From the death of his father in WWII, his overprotective mother, his superstardom as a rock musician and the excess which accompanied it, his unfaithful wife, his inability to cope with the rest of the world, and finally, his freefall into insanity, no other recording in history has come as close to telling an actual story so completely and masterfully, in just the confines of music. While experiencing 'The Wall', one can't help but feel the angst of "Another Brick In The Wall Part 2", the confusion of "Empty Spaces", the uncontrollable rage of "One Of My Turns", the hopelessness of "Goodbye Cruel World", and the guilt of "The Trial". This album never fails to get my emotions going, and one of the unique qualities 'The Wall' has, it that one discovers something new in it with each listen. The outstanding production covered all the bases; there are hidden messages behind every background noise, spoken phrase, etc., to help bring the entire plot together. This is without a doubt my favorite album out of my entire catalog, and something I can never let sit long enough to collect any dust. So, in closing, sit back with an open ear, an open mind, take the time to listen to all of the lyrics, and enjoy arguably the best album of all time.

Isn't this where......

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Remaster Of A Classic Album, September 29, 2011

By 

Alan Houston "alanhouston-texas" (Houston, Texas, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Wall (Audio CD)

I bought "The Wall" LP the week it was issued. A long winter followed, and sometimes three and four feet of snow were drifted up against my doors. I spent many winter hours drinking hot coffee and listening to "The Wall", many times over. As much as I enjoy the warm, smooth sound of a well-mastered LP, the 2011 CD remaster of "The Wall" might sound even better. The remastered sound is warm, open and natural...it does not sound digital, it sounds like a "perfect" LP, without the small "clicks" and "snaps" that even the best LP always have.

The CD also comes with a small booklet with the production credits, and hand-written (albeit unreadable) lyric sheets. A plus, compared with a MP3 version of the album.

Why buy the 2011 remastered CD? Well, I can't find my older versions...are they in a closet? The new CD is in my CD player right now. But, you really need to buy two or three copies...none of the teenagers in your family have heard "The Wall"...a massive gap in their music education. Save them from "Lady Gaga"...give them "The Wall" for their birthday or Christmas.