Best Pink Floyd Albums

This classic 1967 album seems to become more popular with each release. When it was first released, the American version had "See Emily Play" on it but the British version did not. It reached to number 6 on the British music charts and peaked at position 131 on the Billboard Magazine charts. Producer Norman Smith was an old-school producer who thought he was getting a new version of the Beatles. He soon came to realize that he had a whole different kind of animal on his hands. Floyd pushed the envelope of what should be on a studio album by grabbing anything in the studio that would make noise and putting it up to a microphone. They would slow the tape down, speed it up and do all kinds of tricks that the Beatles never tried. In the end the final product is one of the groundbreaking albums in rock history. It has sold approximately 3 million copies worldwide.

In a way this 1994 album is a somber one for Floyd fans as it represents the last studio effort the band ever released. It was the second release without any input from Roger Waters, and it was a true group effort between the remaining members of the Floyd. Gilmour, Mason and Wright wrote the majority of the album together and it shows in the results. There is nothing groundbreaking production-wise here, this is just good Pink Floyd music and a solid way for a legendary band to finish their history. The album peaked at number 1 on both the British and Billboard Magazine music charts. To date it has sold approximately 10 million copies worldwide.

The most awkward and uncomfortable Pink Floyd album ever made. Syd Barrett has lingering guitar parts in the songs "A Saucerful of Secrets" and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" that are left side-by-side with Gilmour's parts. Syd's final song "Jugband Blues" is a creepy goodbye that was actually written in early 1967 when Syd was still coherent. It is Floyd fumbling around for a sound they would not find for a few more albums, and it is one of the most obvious transition albums any band has ever released. The album only appeared on the British music charts but it peaked at number 9. To date it has sold approximately 3 million copies worldwide.

Atom Heart Mother is the unknown Floyd album that every fan should own. Roger Waters described the title track "Atom Heart Mother Suite" as a " soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist." Of course Roger and the rest of the band also refer to the album as less than desirable, but it stands as a great Floyd record. It is the album where Floyd started to explore the limits of their music and the possibilities of studio production. The title track contains a full brass band, a choir chanting gibberish and some of the strongest grooves on any Floyd record. Other songs such as "If" and "Fat Old Sun" would become Floyd classics. The album was released in 1970 and peaked at number 1 on the British charts and number 55 on the Billboard Magazine charts. To date is has sold approximately 4 million copies worldwide.

Named after a British slang word for sex, this 1969 release was vitally important to the establishment of the Pink Floyd sound as we came to know it. Each member was allowed to write their own songs. This album shows the beginnings of Roger's lyrical prowess and David's musical genius. Nick Mason and Rick Wright's contributions are interesting but forgettable. The live disc establishes such songs as "Astronomy Domine" as Floyd concert staples for decades to come. The album peaked at number 5 on the British charts and number 74 on the Billboard Magazine charts. To date it has sold approximately 5 million copies worldwide.