Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here is a prog rock album by Pink Floyd, released on September 15, 1975 (see 1975 in music). The album is a homage to former bandmember Syd Barrett, whose descent into insanity had made it impossible for him to function as a useful member; this makes the album more melancholic and depressing than most of their previous records, though there are notes of optimism and joy throughout. The song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" is divided into nine parts and begins and closes the album (parts one through five open it, parts six through nine are the final track). The titular song is one of Pink Floyd's signature tunes, as is "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" (generally the first part, though both are fairly well-known).

Wish You Were Here peaked at 31 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.

Track listing

1. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-5" (Gilmour/Waters/Wright) - 13:40
2. "Welcome to the Machine" (Waters) - 7:31
3. "Have a Cigar" (Waters) - 5:08
4. "Wish You Were Here" (Gilmour/Waters) - 5:34
5. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 6-9" (Gilmour/Waters/Wright) - 12:31

Personnel

• Roy Harper - Vocals
• Roger Waters - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
• Nick Mason - Drums
• Richard Wright - Keyboards, Vocals
• Peter Christopherson - Design Assistant
• Venetta Field - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
• Pink Floyd - Producer
• David Gilmour - Guitar, Vocals
• Brian Humphries - Engineer
• Dick Parry - Saxophone
• Carlena Williams - Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
• Peter James - Engineer, Assistant Engineer
• Hipgnosis - Design, Photography
• George Hardie - Illustrations
• Richard Manning - Design Assistant
• Howard Bartrop - Design Assistant
• Jeff Smith - Design Assistant