All Songs Considered

A conversation with David Gilmour

October 7, 2025

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  • David Gilmour is actively releasing new material, including the solo album *Luck And Strange* and its accompanying live album and concert film, alongside celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's *Wish You Were Here*. 
  • The song "5 a.m." from *Luck And Strange* originated from a recording of the atmosphere outside Gilmour's bedroom window at 5 a.m., which he then set to simple music. 
  • The *Wish You Were Here* 50th anniversary deluxe edition will feature demos, outtakes, and live recordings from that era, including an alternate take of "Have a Cigar" where Roger Waters and Gilmour initially sang the vocals before Roy Harper was brought in. 

Segments

Introduction and New Solo Work
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(00:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: David Gilmour is promoting his new live album, The Luck and Strange Concerts, which follows his solo album Luck And Strange.
  • Summary: The episode opens by introducing David Gilmour and referencing the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. Gilmour is currently promoting his latest solo releases, including the album Luck And Strange and the upcoming live album, The Luck and Strange Concerts. The conversation begins by focusing on the new material.
Origin of “5 a.m.”
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(00:02:43)
  • Key Takeaway: “5 a.m.” was inspired by recording the actual sounds outside Gilmour’s bedroom window, which he did not process through a sampler.
  • Summary: Gilmour explains that the opening track of The Luck and Strange Concerts, “5 a.m.,” is based on a recording of early morning atmosphere, including birdsong. He recorded the sounds directly and edited the pieces together in Pro Tools without using sampling effects. He confirms he is a morning person.
Concert Opening Philosophy
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(00:04:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Gilmour prefers opening concerts with atmospheric, calming music, like “Shine on You Crazy Diamond part one through five,” to encourage the audience to relax and think rather than immediately hitting them with hard rock.
  • Summary: Gilmour discusses his counterintuitive approach to concert openings, contrasting it with bands that lead with their hardest material. He aims to create an atmosphere that allows the audience to sit back and move into the music before transitioning to more rock-oriented sections later in the show.
Meaning of “Luck and Strange”
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(00:05:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The title track “Luck and Strange” reflects on the good fortune of the post-war baby boomer generation, referencing Harold Macmillan’s “You’ve never had it so good.”
  • Summary: The song “Luck and Strange” originated from a 20-minute jam track recorded in Gilmour’s barn with Guy Pratt and the late Rick Wright. The lyrics contemplate the strangeness of life and the luck of his generation, contrasting past optimism with current world problems. The original 20-minute jam track is included as an extra on the album.
Romany Gilmour’s Vocal Contribution
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(00:10:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Gilmour’s daughter, Romany, performed the cover song “Between Two Points” on the live album, with 95% of her vocal track being captured in the first take.
  • Summary: Romany Gilmour was brought in to sing the cover song “Between Two Points” because her parents felt the original lyrics were too fragile for David’s voice. She is an experienced studio singer, having contributed backing vocals since she was three years old. Gilmour finds it amazing to perform on stage with his daughter.
“A Boat Lies Waiting” Dedication
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(00:14:52)
  • Key Takeaway: “A Boat Lies Waiting,” with music by Gilmour and lyrics by Polly Samson, serves as an emotional tribute to the late Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright.
  • Summary: The song “A Boat Lies Waiting” was written with lyrics intended as a gift to Rick Wright, who sings a bit on the 2006 recording. Gilmour highlights a powerful live moment where singers gather around the piano to perform this song immediately following “The Great Gig in the Sky.”
Recalling Wish You Were Here Creation
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(00:17:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial framework for Wish You Were Here included “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” which Roger Waters suggested splitting to bookend the entire album.
  • Summary: Gilmour recalls the mood in 1975 following the success of The Dark Side of the Moon as a strange place, feeling the pressure of following up a massive hit. He notes that early material included tracks that later appeared on Animals. The title track’s meaning relates to Roger’s view that some band members “weren’t really there” during that period.
Stéphane Grappelli Session
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(00:22:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli spontaneously played on an early version of “Wish You Were Here” after wandering into the Pink Floyd studio at Abbey Road.
  • Summary: During the Wish You Were Here sessions at Abbey Road, Stéphane Grappelli visited the studio and agreed to play his violin on a track. Gilmour notes that this version, which featured Grappelli, was ultimately swapped for the version released on the album, which featured Gilmour’s vocal scatting instead.
Alternate “Have a Cigar” Demo
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(00:25:05)
  • Key Takeaway: An alternate take of “Have a Cigar” on the anniversary edition features Roger Waters singing the top vocal line and Gilmour singing the lower line, predating Roy Harper’s final vocal performance.
  • Summary: The demo features Roger singing the lead melody, which is slower than the final version. Gilmour recalls that both he and Roger were hesitant to sing the track, leading to Roy Harper being asked to step in while he was working in an adjacent studio at Abbey Road.
Soloing Style and Melody Focus
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(00:29:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Gilmour prioritizes finding an emotion in the moment during solos and focuses on creating a distinct melody rather than attempting high-speed technical playing.
  • Summary: Gilmour states he does not pre-think his solos, instead hunting for an emotion that the existing music inspires in him. He emphasizes that melody is crucial, even in live performances of songs like “Comfortably Numb,” where he generally adheres to the composed structure for the opening bars before potentially improvising.
Release Dates Summary
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(00:32:58)
  • Key Takeaway: The live album The Luck and Strange Concerts is due October 17th, while the Wish You Were Here 50th anniversary edition releases on December 12th.
  • Summary: The host summarizes the upcoming release schedule for the discussed projects. David Gilmour’s concert film for Luck And Strange is currently out, with the live album following in mid-October. The 50th anniversary edition of Wish You Were Here is scheduled for release in December.