Pulse (Pink Floyd album)

Pulse
Live album by Pink Floyd
Released	29 May 1995
Recorded	17 August–29 October 1994
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	147:59
Language	English
Label	EMI (Europe), Columbia (elsewhere)
Producer	James Guthrie, David Gilmour
Pink Floyd chronology
The Division Bell (1994) Pulse (1995) London '66–'67 (1995)
Singles from Pulse
"Wish You Were Here" Released: 20 July 1995

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[2]

Pulse (stylised as p·u·l·s·e) is a live double album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released through EMI Records on 29 May 1995^[3] in the United Kingdom and by Columbia Records on 6 June 1995 in the United States.

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 (See Pink Floyd live performances).

Content and recording

The album includes a complete live version of The Dark Side of the Moon and features a booklet with many photos 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 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 says it was mixed in "Q Sound" which produces a 3D audio effect even on a two channel stereo system.

Release history

In the US, Pulse debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in June 1995 (briefly dethroning Hootie and 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 a nearly complete performance from their 20 October show at Earl's Court, London.

The vinyl version comes in a four-LP box set and includes "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 cell; the battery life was stated to be over 6 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.'

— Nick Mason, ^[5]

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.

LED size difference

The LED cases are slightly broader and thicker than a standard CD jewel. Later releases that did not come with the LED matched the dimensions of a CD jewel case but are also thicker. This is due to the hardback picture book and outer sleeve which prevents storing in shelves that require standard thickness CD jewel cases. The later version does fit in CD shelves that do not require the exact jewel case thickness.

In comparing the releases, the outer sleeve and books are identical other than size difference with the same photos on each page. Only in the LED version larger book, the inner jacket holding each CD displays the track listing.

In the picture at the right, the LED 2 battery compartment is at the top, the row on the left is the LED larger version and on the row at the right is the smaller later release. All releases are packaged with the same two music CDs.

Track listing

CD Edition

Disc one
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V, VII" (20 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)	David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright	David Gilmour	13:35
2.	"Astronomy Domine" (15 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)	Syd Barrett	Gilmour, Wright	4:20
3.	"What Do You Want From Me (21 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome)"	Gilmour, Wright, Polly Samson	Gilmour	4:10
4.	"Learning to Fly (14 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Anthony Moore, Bob Ezrin, Jon Carin	Gilmour	5:16
5.	"Keep Talking (17 August 1994, Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover)"	Gilmour, Wright, Samson	Gilmour	6:52
6.	"Coming Back to Life (13 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour	Gilmour	6:56
7.	"Hey You (13, 15 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Waters	Gilmour, Jon Carin	4:40
8.	"A Great Day for Freedom (19 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	4:30
9.	"Sorrow (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome)"	Gilmour	Gilmour	10:49
10.	"High Hopes (14, 19, 20, 21, 29 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	7:52
11.	"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II (21 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Waters	Gilmour, Guy Pratt	7:08
Total length:				1:15:50

Disc two
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Speak to Me (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome)"	Nick Mason	Instrumental	2:30
2.	"Breathe (In the Air) (20 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright	Gilmour, Carin	2:33
3.	"On the Run (20 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Waters	Instrumental	3:48
4.	"Time (17 September 1994, Modena, Italy; 20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome; 20 October 1994, London)"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Mason	Gilmour, Wright	6:47
5.	"The Great Gig in the Sky (20 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Wright, Clare Torry	Sam Brown, Durga McBroom, Claudia Fontaine	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, Earl's Court, London)"	Waters, Wright	Gilmour	6:58
8.	"Any Colour You Like (19, 23 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Wright, Mason	Instrumental	3:21
9.	"Brain Damage (19 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Waters	Gilmour	3:46
10.	"Eclipse (19 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Waters	Gilmour	2:38
11.	"Wish You Were Here (20 September 1994, Cinecittà, Rome)"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour	6:35
12.	"Comfortably Numb (20 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Wright, Carin, Pratt	9:29
13.	"Run Like Hell (15 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Pratt	8:36
Total length:				1:11:57

Vinyl Edition

Side one
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
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	Gilmour, Wright	4:20
3.	"What Do You Want From Me"	Gilmour, Wright, Polly Samson	Gilmour	4:10
Total length:				22:05

Side two
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
4.	"Learning to Fly"	Gilmour, Anthony Moore, Bob Ezrin, Jon Carin	Gilmour	5:16
5.	"Keep Talking"	Gilmour, Wright, Samson	Gilmour	6:52
6.	"Coming Back to Life"	Gilmour	Gilmour	6:56
Total length:				19:04

Side three
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
7.	"Hey You"	Waters	Gilmour, Jon Carin	4:40
8.	"A Great Day for Freedom"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	4:30
9.	"Sorrow"	Gilmour	Gilmour	10:49
Total length:				19:59

Side four
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
10.	"High Hopes"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	7:52
11.	"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II"	Waters	Gilmour, Guy Pratt	7:08
12.	"One of These Days (21 October 1994, Earl's Court, London)"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Nick Mason	Instrumental	6:51
Total length:				21:33

Side five
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Speak to Me"	Mason	Instrumental	2:30
2.	"Breathe (In the Air)"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright	Gilmour, Carin	2:33
3.	"On the Run"	Gilmour, Waters	Instrumental	3:48
4.	"Time"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Mason	Gilmour, Wright	6:47
Total length:				15:48

Side six
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
5.	"The Great Gig in the Sky"	Wright, Clare Torry	Sam Brown, Durga McBroom, Claudia Fontaine	5:52
6.	"Money"	Waters	Gilmour	8:54
Total length:				14:46

Side seven
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
7.	"Us and Them"	Waters, Wright	Gilmour	6:58
8.	"Any Colour You Like"	Gilmour, Wright, Mason	Instrumental	3:21
9.	"Brain Damage"	Waters	Gilmour	3:46
10.	"Eclipse"	Waters	Gilmour	2:38
Total length:				16:43

Side eight
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
11.	"Wish You Were Here"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour	6:35
12.	"Comfortably Numb"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Wright, Carin, Pratt	9:29
13.	"Run Like Hell"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Pratt	8:36
Total length:				24:40

Cassette Edition

Cassette One

Side one
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
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	Gilmour, Wright	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, Wright, Samson	Gilmour	6:52
6.	"Coming Back to Life"	Gilmour	Gilmour	6:56
Total length:				41:09

Side two
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
7.	"Hey You"	Waters	Gilmour, Jon Carin	4:40
8.	"A Great Day for Freedom"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	4:30
9.	"Sorrow"	Gilmour	Gilmour	10:49
10.	"High Hopes"	Gilmour, Samson	Gilmour	7:52
11.	"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II"	Waters	Gilmour, Guy Pratt	7:08
12.	"One of These Days"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Nick Mason	Instrumental	6:51
Total length:				41:32

Cassette Two

Side three
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
1.	"Speak to Me"	Mason	Instrumental	2:30
2.	"Breathe (In the Air)"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright	Gilmour, Carin	2:33
3.	"On the Run"	Gilmour, Waters	Instrumental	3:48
4.	"Time"	Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Mason	Gilmour, Wright	6:47
5.	"The Great Gig in the Sky"	Wright, Clare Torry	Sam Brown, Durga McBroom, Claudia Fontaine	5:52
6.	"Money"	Waters	Gilmour	8:54
7.	"Us and Them"	Waters, Wright	Gilmour	6:58
8.	"Any Colour You Like"	Gilmour, Wright, Mason	Instrumental	3:21
9.	"Brain Damage"	Waters	Gilmour	3:46
10.	"Eclipse"	Waters	Gilmour	2:38
Total length:				47:17

Side four
No.	Title	Music	Lead Vocals	Length
11.	"Wish You Were Here"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour	6:35
12.	"Comfortably Numb"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Wright, Carin, Pratt	9:29
13.	"Run Like Hell"	Gilmour, Waters	Gilmour, Pratt	8:36
14.	"Soundscape (Ambient piece played before all concerts)"	Gilmour, Wright, Mason	Instrumental	22:00
Total length:				46:40

Personnel

Pink Floyd

• David Gilmour – electric, acoustic and console steel guitars, lead vocals
• Nick Mason – drums, percussion
• Richard Wright – keyboards, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Astronomy Domine", "Time", and "Comfortably Numb" (verses)

Additional musicians

• Sam Brown – backing vocals, first lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
• Jon Carin – keyboards, backing vocals, programming, lead vocals on "Hey You", "Comfortably Numb" (verses)
• Claudia Fontaine – backing vocals, third lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
• Durga McBroom – backing vocals, second lead vocalist on "The Great Gig in the Sky"
• Dick Parry – saxophones
• Guy Pratt – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Comfortably Numb" (verses) and "Run Like Hell"
• Tim Renwick – guitars, backing vocals
• Gary Wallis – percussion, additional drums (played and programmed)

Sales chart performance

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1995	UK Albums Chart	1[6]
1995	The Billboard 200	1[7]
1995	Norwegian Record Charts	1[8]
1995	Australian ARIA Albums Chart	1[9]
1995	Swiss Charts	1[10]

Sales and certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[11]	Gold	30,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[12]	Platinum	50,000
Canada (Music Canada)[13]	3× Platinum	300,000
France (SNEP)[14]	Platinum	300,000
Germany (BVMI)[15]	Platinum	500,000
Italy (FIMI)[16]	Gold	50,000
Poland (ZPAV)[17]	Platinum	100,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[18]	Platinum	50,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Gold	100,000
United States (RIAA)[4]	2× Platinum	1,000,000
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[20]	Platinum	1,000,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"What Do You Want from Me"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	13

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"Wish You Were Here"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	13

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "Pulse - Pink Floyd | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
2. O'Connor, Rob (2011). "Pulse by Pink Floyd | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
3. "esounds". EMI. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
4. "Gold and Platinum Database Search". Retrieved 5 October 2009.
5. Phil Sutcliffe (July 1995). "The 30 Year Technicolor Dream". Mojo Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
6. "Chart Stats - Pink Floyd - Pulse". www.chartstats.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
7. "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Pink Floyd". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
8. "norwegiancharts.com - Pink Floyd - P.U.L.S.E.". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
9. "australian-charts.com - Pink Floyd - P.U.L.S.E.". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
10. "Pink Floyd - P.U.L.S.E. - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
11. "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
12. "Austrian album certifications – Pink Floyd – Pulse" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 10 January 2013. Enter Pink Floyd in the field Interpret. Enter Pulse in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
13. "Canadian album certifications – Pink Floyd – P.U.L.S.E.". Music Canada. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
14. "French album certifications – Pink Floyd – Pulse" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
15. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pink Floyd; 'Pulse')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
16. "Italian album certifications – Pink Floyd – Pulse" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter Pink Floyd in the field Filtra. Select 2015 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
17. "Polish album certifications – Pink Floyd – Pulse" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
18. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Pink Floyd; 'P.u.l.s.e.')". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
19. "British album certifications – Pink Floyd – Pulse". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 January 2013. Enter Pulse in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
20. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 January 2013.

External links

• Pink Floyd Drums: The Division Bell PULSE Tour Drums