Pulse (stylised as p·u·l·s·e) is a live double album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It was originally released on 29 May 1995, on the label EMI in the United Kingdom and on 6 June 1995 by Columbia in the United States.[3]
The album was recorded during the band's Division Bell Tour in 1994, specifically the UK and European leg, which ran from July to October 1994.
Content and recording
The album includes a complete live version of The Dark Side of the Moon and features a booklet with many photographs from performances on this tour. It also features "Astronomy Domine", a Syd Barrett song not performed since the early 1970s.
Unlike Delicate Sound of Thunder, David Gilmour and record producer James Guthrie have stated that no parts of the songs were re-recorded in the studio (James Guthrie confirmed this in an interview with Pink Floyd fanzine Brain Damage). However, the band and Guthrie fixed songs that had bad notes (as heard on some bootlegs) by lifting solos and corrected vocal lines from other performances as the band recorded most of the European leg. The CD claimed that it was mixed in "Q Sound" which produces a 3D audio effect even on a two channel stereo system.
"Take It Back" was originally going to be in the album with the recording from 25 September 1994, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne but was cut due to length.
Release history
In the US, Pulse debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in June 1995 (briefly dethroning Hootie & the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View for a week before Hootie regained the number one spot in the US) and was soon certified double platinum by the RIAA on 31 July 1995.[4]
On 10 July 2006, the Pulse DVD was released of the concert performed on 20 October 1994, at Earls Court, London. The video version also featured the song "Take It Back," and an almost complete performance from their 20 October show at Earl's Court, London.
The vinyl version was released as a four-LP box set and included "One of These Days" (also heard on the cassette release) as well as a large version of the photo booklet.
The original CD cover features an "eye-like" machine that has clock pieces inside, there is a planet in its centre, and on the outside it shows evolution as it moves backwards. It starts in the sea, moves to the bacteria which evolve into fishes, then into egg type creatures, then into eggs that hatch birds, and birds follow the trail of an aeroplane. There are six pyramids in the desert, and in the bottom of the sea, one can observe a city in the shore.
LED packaging
Early CD versions came with a blinking red LED on the side of the case. This was designed by EMI contractor Jon Kempner, who was awarded the platinum disc, using the now discontinued LM3909 LED flasher IC. The circuit was powered by a single AA battery; the battery life was stated to be over six months. Some versions were also made with 2 AA batteries and later editions of the CD set did not feature the blinking LED.
"Essentially, it's a device which we thought was entertaining. It's an idea of Storm Thorgerson's which related to Dark Side and the pulse, and it's a live album so the box is "alive". After that, in terms of seriously deep meanings, one might be struggling a bit."
The debut of the album was highlighted by a light show from the top of the Empire State Building in New York City with music simulcasted on a New York City radio station.
The outer packaging for Pulse with the light compartment and holder removed and on top.
The blinking light compartment (2 AA version) from an original Pulse release with batteries removed.
The battery warning sticker that was on the inside of the packaging. Light still works as of December 2012.
Track listing
CD Edition
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1. | "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V, VII" (20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | David Gilmour | 13:35 |
2. | "Astronomy Domine" (15 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Syd Barrett | | 4:20 |
3. | "What Do You Want From Me" (21 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome) | | Gilmour | 4:10 |
4. | "Learning to Fly" (14 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Gilmour | 5:16 |
5. | "Keep Talking" (17 August 1994, Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover) | | Gilmour | 6:52 |
6. | "Coming Back to Life" (13 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Gilmour | Gilmour | 6:56 |
7. | "Hey You" (13, 15 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Waters | Gilmour, Jon Carin | 4:40 |
8. | "A Great Day for Freedom" (19 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Gilmour | 4:30 |
9. | "Sorrow" (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome) | Gilmour | Gilmour | 10:49 |
10. | "High Hopes" (14, 19, 20, 21, 29 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Gilmour | 7:52 |
11. | "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" (21 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Waters | | 7:08 |
Total length: | 1:15:50 |
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1. | "Speak to Me" (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome) | Nick Mason | Instrumental | 2:30 |
2. | "Breathe (In the Air)" (20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | | 2:33 |
3. | "On the Run" (20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Instrumental | 3:48 |
4. | "Time" (17 September 1994, Modena, Italy; 20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome; 20 October 1994, London) |
- Gilmour
- Waters
- Wright
- Mason
| | 6:47 |
5. | "The Great Gig in the Sky" (20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | | 5:52 |
6. | "Money" (17 September 1994, Modena, Italy; 20 October 1994, London) | Waters | Gilmour | 8:54 |
7. | "Us and Them" (19, 20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Gilmour | 6:58 |
8. | "Any Colour You Like" (19, 23 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | | Instrumental | 3:21 |
9. | "Brain Damage" (19 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Waters | Gilmour | 3:46 |
10. | "Eclipse" (19 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | Waters | Gilmour | 2:38 |
11. | "Wish You Were Here" (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome) | | Gilmour | 6:35 |
12. | "Comfortably Numb" (20 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | |
- Gilmour
- Wright
- Carin
- Pratt
| 9:29 |
13. | "Run Like Hell" (15 October 1994, Earls Court, London) | |
- Gilmour
- Pratt (doubling Gilmour)
| 8:36 |
Total length: | 1:11:57 |
Vinyl Edition
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1. | "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V, VII" |
- David Gilmour
- Roger Waters
- Richard Wright
| David Gilmour | 13:35 |
2. | "Astronomy Domine" | Syd Barret | | 4:20 |
3. | "What Do You Want From Me" |
- Gilmour
- Wright
- Polly Samson
| Gilmour | 4:10 |
Total length: | 22:05 |
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4. | "Learning to Fly" |
- Gilmour
- Anthony Moore
- Bob Ezrin
- Jon Carin
| Gilmour | 5:16 |
5. | "Keep Talking" | | Gilmour | 6:52 |
6. | "Coming Back to Life" | Gilmour | Gilmour | 6:56 |
Total length: | 19:04 |
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7. | "Hey You" | Waters | | 4:40 |
8. | "A Great Day for Freedom" | | Gilmour | 4:30 |
9. | "Sorrow" | Gilmour | Gilmour | 10:49 |
Total length: | 19:59 |
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10. | "High Hopes" | | Gilmour | 7:52 |
11. | "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" | Waters | | 7:08 |
12. | "One of These Days" (21 October 1994, Earls Court, London) |
- Gilmour
- Waters
- Wright
- Nick Mason
| Instrumental | 6:51 |
Total length: | 21:33 |
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1. | "Speak to Me" | Mason | Instrumental | 2:30 |
2. | "Breathe (In the Air)" | | | 2:33 |
3. | "On the Run" | | Instrumental | 3:48 |
4. | "Time" |
- Gilmour
- Waters
- Wright
- Mason
| | 6:47 |
Total length: | 15:48 |
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5. | "The Great Gig in the Sky" | |
- Sam Brown
- Durga McBroom
- Claudia Fontaine
| 5:52 |
6. | "Money" | Waters | Gilmour | 8:54 |
Total length: | 14:46 |
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7. | "Us and Them" | | Gilmour | 6:58 |
8. | "Any Colour You Like" | | Instrumental | 3:21 |
9. | "Brain Damage" | Waters | Gilmour | 3:46 |
10. | "Eclipse" | Waters | Gilmour | 2:38 |
Total length: | 16:43 |
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11. | "Wish You Were Here" | | Gilmour | 6:35 |
12. | "Comfortably Numb" | |
- Gilmour
- Wright
- Carin
- Pratt
| 9:29 |
13. | "Run Like Hell" | | | 8:36 |
Total length: | 24:40 |
Cassette Edition
- Cassette one
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1. | "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V, VII" |
- David Gilmour
- Roger Waters
- Richard Wright
| David Gilmour | 13:35 |
2. | "Astronomy Domine" | Syd Barret | | 4:20 |
3. | "What Do You Want From Me" |
- Gilmour
- Wright
- Polly Samson
| Gilmour | 4:10 |
4. | "Learning to Fly" |
- Gilmour
- Anthony Moore
- Bob Ezrin
- Jon Carin
| Gilmour | 5:16 |
5. | "Keep Talking" | | Gilmour | 6:52 |
6. | "Coming Back to Life" | Gilmour | Gilmour | 6:56 |
Total length: | 41:09 |
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7. | "Hey You" | Waters | | 4:40 |
8. | "A Great Day for Freedom" | | Gilmour | 4:30 |
9. | "Sorrow" | Gilmour | Gilmour | 10:49 |
10. | "High Hopes" | | Gilmour | 7:52 |
11. | "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" | Waters | | 7:08 |
12. | "One of These Days" |
- Gilmour
- Waters
- Wright
- Nick Mason
| Instrumental | 6:51 |
Total length: | 41:32 |
- Cassette two
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1. | "Speak to Me" | Mason | Instrumental | 2:30 |
2. | "Breathe (In the Air)" | | | 2:33 |
3. | "On the Run" | | Instrumental | 3:48 |
4. | "Time" |
- Gilmour
- Waters
- Wright
- Mason
| | 6:47 |
5. | "The Great Gig in the Sky" | |
- Sam Brown
- Durga McBroom
- Claudia Fontaine
| 5:52 |
6. | "Money" | Waters | Gilmour | 8:54 |
7. | "Us and Them" | | Gilmour | 6:58 |
8. | "Any Colour You Like" | | Instrumental | 3:21 |
9. | "Brain Damage" | Waters | Gilmour | 3:46 |
10. | "Eclipse" | Waters | Gilmour | 2:38 |
Total length: | 47:17 |
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11. | "Wish You Were Here" | | Gilmour | 6:35 |
12. | "Comfortably Numb" | |
- Gilmour
- Wright
- Carin
- Pratt
| 9:29 |
13. | "Run Like Hell" | | | 8:36 |
14. | "Soundscape (Ambient piece played before all concerts)" | | Instrumental | 22:00 |
Total length: | 46:40 |
Personnel
- Pink Floyd
- Additional personnel
Charts and certifications
References
External links
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Studio albums | |
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Live albums | |
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Singles | |
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Compilations | |
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Box sets | |
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Concert films | |
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Narrative films | |
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Documentaries | |
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Soundtracks | |
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Tours | |
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Touring musicians | |
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Additional vocalists | |
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Associated people | |
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Related articles | |
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