Pink Floyd has officially announced the release of a special 50th anniversary edition of their landmark album, Wish You Were Here. This edition, titled Wish You Were Here 50, will be available through Sony Music on December 12, 2023. Fans can look forward to an immersive experience, as the collection offers new insights into one of the band’s most celebrated works.
The anniversary edition comprises multiple discs filled with rarities, including six previously unreleased alternate versions and demos. These tracks provide a fresh perspective on Pink Floyd’s ninth studio album, encouraging listeners to engage with the music anew. The release will be available in various formats, including 3LP, 2CD, Blu-ray, digital, and a Deluxe Box Set.
Exclusive Content and Features
Among the highlights of the digital release is a new Dolby Atmos mix of the original 1975 album, crafted by James Guthrie, who has collaborated with Pink Floyd since the release of The Wall. Additionally, this edition contains 25 bonus tracks, featuring nine studio rarities and 16 live recordings. These live recordings come from a concert at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in April 1975, captured by renowned bootlegger Mike Millard, and are now receiving their first official release.
The Blu-ray format offers fans a chance to witness three concert films from the band’s 1975 tour, alongside a short film by Storm Thorgerson. The 3LP and 2CD versions will include the original album and nine additional studio tracks. The Deluxe Box Set will contain all of the aforementioned features, plus a fourth clear vinyl LP, a replica Japanese seven-inch single of “Have A Cigar” b/w “Welcome To The Machine,” a hardcover book with unseen photographs, a comic book tour program, and a poster from the Knebworth concert.
In conjunction with the announcement, Pink Floyd released a previously unheard early demo recording of “Welcome to the Machine,” originally titled “The Machine Song.” This shorter version, known as The Machine Song (Demo #2, Revisited), offers fans a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming anniversary edition. Other studio rarities included in the release are “The Machine Song” (Roger’s demo), a first home demo of the track brought to the band by Roger Waters, and a previously unheard instrumental version of the title track featuring David Gilmour‘s pedal steel guitar.
For the first time, a complete version of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts 1-9)” will also be available, seamlessly joining the song’s two halves, which have been newly mixed in stereo by James Guthrie. Wish You Were Here continues to resonate with audiences, consistently appearing on lists of the greatest albums of all time. Its themes of absence and isolation serve as a powerful reflection of Pink Floyd’s experience with global fame.
Exclusive 50th anniversary merchandise and limited edition products will also be available at PinkFloyd.com, allowing fans to further commemorate this significant milestone in the band’s storied history.
