Meddle

Meddle
The lower half of a right ear underwater.
Studio album by
Released5 November 1971
Recorded4 January – 11 September 1971[1]
StudioAIR, EMI, and Morgan, London
Genre
Length46:47
LabelHarvest
ProducerPink Floyd
Pink Floyd chronology
Atom Heart Mother
(1970)
Meddle
(1971)
Obscured by Clouds
(1972)
Singles from Meddle
  1. "One of These Days"
    Released: 29 November 1971

Meddle is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released by Harvest Records on 5 November 1971 in the United Kingdom.[3] The album was produced between the band's touring commitments, from January to August 1971 at a series of locations around London, including EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) and Morgan Studios.

With no material to work with and no clear idea of the album's direction, the band devised a series of novel experiments which eventually inspired the album's signature track "Echoes". Although the band's later albums would be unified by a central theme chosen by Roger Waters, and thematically consistent lyrics written entirely by Waters, Meddle was a group effort with Waters contributing primarily to the lyrics and the bass. It is considered a transitional album between the Syd Barrett-influenced group of the 1960s and the Waters-led era of the 1970s.[4] Fans often refer to this album, especially Echoes, as the first instance of the group achieving their musical potential.

As with several previous albums, the cover was designed by Hipgnosis, and has been explained by its creator Storm Thorgerson – who was unhappy with the final result – to be an ear underwater. The album was well received by critics upon its release, and was commercially successful in the United Kingdom, but lacklustre publicity on the part of the band's American label Capitol Records led to poor sales in the US upon initial release.

  1. ^ Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2017). Pink Floyd All The Songs. Running Press. ISBN 9780316439237.
  2. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Progressive Rock (And Simpler Pleasures)". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 366. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. ^ "Pink Floyd Official Website – History". Pink Floyd.com.
  4. ^ "Review of Pink Floyd – Meddle". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.