(Single from album, "The Wall")
Far, freaking out. This seminal Floyd classic, doped up as the public were by progressive rock in the late '70's, failed to chart. Only the Japanese 7" single release even got a picture sleeve - what the hell? Well, it was ok really; because the now classic rock album reached #1, right? Wrong again...a mere #3...the fact of the matter is that Pink Floyd's ever-changing musical output has being growing on generations of music listeners since its very genesis; the UK was Bay City Rolling in 1979, so these crazy, hippy rockers, famous only, at the time, for 1974's critically acclaimed, "Dark Side Of The Moon", were to the masses, 'just weird'. Its taken some time for the band to become truly appreciated. However, who buys the singles? Yeah, you guessed it. None of that matters however...because this, is an epic track indeed...
The first striking thing about the track is its complete Pink Floyd-ness, which might sound obvious, but, at the end of the day, few bands have that unique sound which makes them recognisable in the first 3 seconds.
Musically, the classic Gilmour/Waters guitar genius is present with some great keyboards, as per usual, courtesy of the late legend Richard Wright, as well as some lovely fills and cymbal splutters from Nick Mason.
The vocal is also great here, the classic, anti-establishment, political overtones of the lyrics, shining like crazy diamonds, leaving of course, the epic guitar solo which begins at roughly 2:30, disappearing and resurfacing at different points throughout the remainder of the song.
The other thing you'll instantly get is the class of the whole sound and the vibe of the imagery (especially in the animated film adaptation of "The Wall", but also) on the sleeve art. Avoiding the botched 3 minute radio edit, this is a perfect rock song, from the solo, to the hush-hush tone of the voice track - I kinda don't want to say any more, just in case I ruin a legend completely...
To truly appreciate this song, and, perhaps, to best overcome the late 1970s, typically British high-end studio polish of the classic rock sound, you are far better off engrossing yourself in the full "The Wall" album, and, if you have limitless, fritterable funds, the new, remastered experience edition, which, basically, encapsulates everything you could imagine as having to with the album; seriously, think of something that isn't in the box - you'll either find it, or get so high on the psychedelic sound, that you'll hallucinate it, and it'll better than if it was real.
In all seriousness, as the end of side 3/C to a massive double album, it really works. Its definitely got me wanting to hear the album in full for the first time. I've heard jointed bits, and so that's how I know how much better it can potentially sound, just with a bit of patience. Personally, for me, the Floyd'd best was always "Wish You Were" an album produced at a time when classic rock was on its knees, and when "Livin' On A Prayer" superseded genius like "Have A Cigar", purely because of its painfully plastic commerciality, duping even the most hardcore of Pink fans into the late 80s sickness that saw previous musos coming out in bouts of mainstream leopard print and mullets...ugh...times best forgotten by the world I feel...
Also, if you're feeling dangerous, or if rock music isn't your thing, the Scissor Sisters did a great job of disco-ing up the track for their eponymous 2004 debut album...fans will call it blasphemy, but I like to call it a little experiment that didn't exactly fail...
★★★★★
Versions of “Comfortably Numb”
Album Version - 6:21
Radio Edit - 3:59