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“A Collection of Great Dance Songs” is a compilation album by Pink Floyd, released in 1981. This album is quite unique in the band’s discography for several reasons:
- Content: The album contains a selection of Pink Floyd’s most popular songs from their previous albums, specifically tailored for a more mainstream audience. It includes tracks from “Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here,” and “The Wall.” Notable songs include “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II),” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and “Money.”
- Re-recordings: Due to contractual issues, the band had to re-record some of the tracks. For instance, “Money” was re-recorded for this compilation because Capitol Records held the rights to the original track. David Gilmour re-recorded the song, playing all the instruments except for the saxophone, which was played by Dick Parry.
- Album Art: As with many Pink Floyd albums, the cover art was significant. Designed by Storm Thorgerson, a long-time collaborator with the band, the cover features surreal imagery typical of his style.
- Reception: The album received mixed reviews. Some fans appreciated the compilation as it offered a quick overview of the band’s more popular songs, but others viewed it as an unnecessary release, particularly as Pink Floyd’s albums were typically designed to be listened to in their entirety.
- Purpose: The album was primarily released to fulfill contractual obligations and as a stopgap for fans while the band was working on their next studio album.
“A Collection of Great Dance Songs” is often seen as a footnote in Pink Floyd’s discography, lacking the conceptual unity of their studio albums. However, it still holds a place for providing a concise introduction to some of the band’s most celebrated songs from their most famous albums.
A Collection of Great Dance Songs Track List
Disc: 1
1 One Of These Days
2 Money
3 Sheep
Disc: 2
1 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part One) (1-4)
2 Wish You Were Here
3 Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
A Collection of Great Dance Songs Cover Art
