Pink Floyd - Animals (full album 1977)

“Animals” is the tenth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 21 January 1977, by Harvest Records and Columbia Records. It was produced by the band at their new studio, Britannia Row Studios, in London throughout 1976. The album continued the long-form compositions of Pink Floyd's previous works, such as Meddle (1971) and Wish You Were Here (1975).

“Animals” is a concept album that focuses on the sociopolitical conditions of mid-1970s Britain. The cover was conceived by Roger Waters, the group's bassist and lead songwriter, and designed by long-time collaborator Storm Thorgerson. It shows an inflatable pig floating between two chimneys of Battersea Power Station.
Pink Floyd released no singles from “Animals” but promoted it through the In the Flesh tour. Waters' agitation with audiences during this tour inspired their next album, “The Wall” (1979). “Animals” reached number 2 in the UK and number 3 in the US. It initially received mixed reviews, but gained more favourable reviews in later years, and is considered by many to be one of Pink Floyd's greatest albums.
Loosely based on George Orwell's political fable “Animal Farm”, the album's lyrics describe various classes in society as different kinds of animals: the predatory dogs, the despotic ruthless pigs, and the "mindless and unquestioning” herd of sheep. Whereas the novella focuses on Stalinism, the album is a critique of capitalism and differs again in that the sheep eventually rise up to overpower the dogs. The album was developed from a collection of unrelated songs into a concept which, in the words of author Glenn Povey, "described the apparent social and moral decay of society, likening the human condition to that of mere animals".

„Animals” este al zecelea album de studio al trupei rock engleze Pink Floyd, lansat pe 21 ianuarie 1977, de Harvest Records și Columbia Records. A fost produs de trupă în noul lor studio, Britannia Row Studios, din Londra, pe parcursul anului 1976. Albumul a continuat compozițiile de format lung din lucrările anterioare ale trupei Pink Floyd, precum Meddle (1971) și Wish You Were Here (1975).
„Animals” este un album conceptual care se concentrează pe condițiile sociopolitice din Marea Britanie de la mijlocul anilor 1970. Coperta a fost concepută de Roger Waters, basistul și compozitorul principal al grupului, și realizată de colaboratorul lor de lungă durată, Storm Thorgerson. Aceasta prezintă un porc gonflabil plutind între două coșuri de fum ale centralei electrice Battersea.
Pink Floyd nu a lansat single-uri de pe albumul „Animals”, dar l-a promovat prin intermediul turneului „In the Flesh”. Agitația lui Waters în fața publicului în timpul acestui turneu a inspirat următorul lor album, „The Wall” (1979). „Animals” a ajuns pe locul 2 în Marea Britanie și pe locul 3 în SUA. Inițial a primit recenzii mixte, dar a câștigat recenzii mai favorabile în anii următori și este considerat de mulți unul dintre cele mai mari albume Pink Flo
Bazat vag pe fabula politică „Ferma animalelor” de George Orwell, versurile albumului descriu diverse clase sociale ca fiind diferite tipuri de animale: câinii de pradă, porcii despotici și nemiloși și turma de oi „fără minte și fără întrebări”. În timp ce nuvela se concentrează pe stalinism, albumul este o critică a capitalismului și diferă din nou prin faptul că oile se ridică în cele din urmă pentru a-i învinge pe câini. Albumul a fost dezvoltat dintr-o colecție de cântece fără legătură într-un concept care, în cuvintele autorului Glenn Povey, „descria aparenta decădere socială și morală a societății, asemănând condiția umană cu cea a unor simple animale”.

List of tracks

Side one

1.         "Pigs on the Wing (Part One)"   1:24

2.         "Dogs"                                        17:04

Total length:                                                     18:28

Side two

1.         "Pigs (Three Different Ones)"  11:28

2.         "Sheep"                                     10:20

3.         "Pigs on the Wing (Part Two)"  1:24

Total length:                                                    23:12
                                                             (41:40)

Personnel

Musicians

Pink Floyd

Roger Waters – lead vocals (all tracks), vocal harmonies (tracks 2–3), rhythm guitar (track 4), acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 5), bass guitar (track 2), EMS VCS 3 (tracks 3–4)

David Gilmour – lead vocals (track 2), vocal harmonies (track 2), electric rhythm and lead guitar (tracks 2–4), acoustic guitar (track 2), bass guitar (tracks 3–4), sound effects (track 3), backing vocals (track 3)[62]

Nick Mason – drums (tracks 2–4), cowbell (track 3), vocoder (track 4)

Richard Wright – keyboards (tracks 2, 4), Hammond organ (track 3), ARP Solina (track 3), piano (track 3), Clavinet (track 3), Minimoog (track 3), EMS VCS 3 (tracks 3–4), vocal harmonies (track 2), Hammond organ (8-track version of "Pigs on the Wing")

Additional musicians

Snowy White – guitar solo (on 8-track version of "Pigs on the Wing")

Production

Pink Floyd – producer

Brian Humphries – sound engineer

Nick Griffiths – assistant sound engineer

Doug Sax, James Guthrie – 1992 remastering at The Mastering Lab[63]

James Guthrie, Joel Plante – 2011 remastering at das boot recording[64]

Technical

Nick Mason – graphics

Roger Waters – sleeve concept

Storm Thorgerson – sleeve design (organiser)

Aubrey Powell – sleeve design (organiser), photography

Peter Christopherson – photography

Howard Bartrop – cover photography

Nic Tucker – photography

Bob Ellis – photography

Rob Brimson – photography

Colin Jones – photography

E.R.G. Amsterdam – inflatable pig design