Thrifty Tunes 11.07.09: David Gilmour - David Gilmour

Posted by Paul Hollingsworth on 11.07.2009

The year before Pink Floyd recorded one of their essential albums, The Wall, David Gilmour released his self-titled debut record. Gilmour and his sweet, sweet guitar get a fresh spin in this week's Thrifty Tunes.

So Far Away - David Gilmour

David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd to be the touring guitarist after founder and original guitarist Syd Barrett, due to drug abuse, could no longer be counted on by the band to appear at shows. Roger Waters, along with the other members of the band planned for Syd to write the band's songs while Gilmour filled in on tours. However, when Syd's personal demons caused him to abandon music all together, Gilmour suddenly found himself as a full fledged member of the band, which soon became one of the biggest bands in the world.

While Waters became, with more than just a bit of antagonism, the band's lead singer and songwriter, Gilmour, along with keyboardist Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason, began to offer more and more input in the band's musical direction, resulting in essential records like Meddle, Animals and, of course, Dark Side of The Moon. During the early and through the late 70's, the band was the biggest band on the planet, and Dark Side remains one of the best selling albums ever and continues to sell almost a million copies a year, almost forty years after its release. While the lyrics of the songs (mostly written by Waters) are no doubt a big part of the album's continued popularity, Gilmour's guitar work on songs like "Eclipse" and "Us And Them" also deserve some credit for the albums longevity. It's no surprise, really, that such a talented musician also had more than a handful of songs he held close to his chest and saved when he had the chance to make his own record, apart from the band.

The album opens with the long instrumental track "Mihalis", which was the name of Gilmour's boat at the time. (It's Greek for "Michael") Gilmour's signature guitar sound is unmistakable from the opening riff. His playing is never rushed, hurried or flashy, but always sounds as though it occupies the space it's meant to. It almost acts as a musical picture, as it's not hard to imagine that you are sailing alongside Gilmour on his yacht across an impossibly blue sea. (Note: this effect can also be heightened by certain medicinal herbs of which you may be familiar.) It's a song which very much keeps up Floyd's image as a band tailor-made to get high by.

The next song, and the album's only single, follows, the very English and very bluesy "There's No Way Out Of Here." If "Mihalis" is the happy, carefree trip, then this song is the inevitable and uneasy return voyage. Although Gilmour had, by this point, sang many Floyd songs, this was the first track that was completely his own. The song acts as a sort of dividing line on the album, as "Mihalis" was more Floyd-like, and this song as well as all that follow, are much less abstract and more concrete, grounded in simple blues riffs and direct lyrics.

"So Far Away", which closes side one is one of the best songs on the album and maybe one of the finest songs Gilmour has ever written. There's a hint of things to come on future Floyd albums, as it echoes "High Hopes" from The Division Bell, but with less layers, although carrying just as much weight. While Waters is often credited with writing the 'best' Floyd songs, this song shows just how good Gilmour could be when given the opportunity.

Side two is full of Gilmour exploring his musical interests, but never abandoning the amazing sound of his precise guitar work. None of the solos come across as indulgent or there just for the sake of filling up a handful of musical bars. The solos belong in the song, are as much a part of them as the lyrics and the rest of the instruments. One of my friends one said that Gilmour's guitar talks when he plays, and that's about as accurate as you can get when trying to describe the sound and mood of his work. The guitar is a voice, and Gilmour's great worth as a musician is partly because he understands which words his guitar must say in each song.

Complete Track Listing: (1978 on Columbia Records)

Side One
1. Mihalis
2. There's No Way Out Of Here
3. Cry From The Street
4. So Far Away

Side Two
1. Short and Sweet
2. Raise My Rent
3. No Way
4. It's Deafinitely
5. I Can't Breathe Anymore



Gilmour's other two solo albums have their moments, but neither stack up against his debut. Some of these songs wouldn't be out of place on either of Floyd's last two albums, (both of which were mostly Gilmour driven.) When you sustain a long career in music, which is such a what's-hot-now and flavor of the month driven occupation, consistency is rare. From the opening guitar of "Mihalis" to the final plea of "I Can't Breath Anymore", there's no question that this is a David Gilmour album, and equal to or greater to any of the other solo projects done by his Floyd band mates.

Pickett Stars: Four out of Five

Next Week: Slayed by Slade