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Pink Floyd At Pompeii - Mcmlxxii

CD Jewel box

4.7 out of 5 stars 1,124 ratings

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Audio CD, 2 May 2025
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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1 Pompeii Intro
2 Echoes - Part 1
3 Careful with That Axe, Eugene
4 A Saucerful of Secrets
5 One of These Days
6 Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
7 Mademoiselle Nobs
8 Echoes - Part 2

Disc: 2

1 Careful with That Axe, Eugene - Alternate Take
2 A Saucerful of Secrets - Unedited

Product description

'Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII' is the groundbreaking 1972 concert, performed in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson.

Product details

  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 0.76 x 12.19 cm; 68.04 g
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sony Music Cmg
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Sony Music Cmg
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DXWTL8WL
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 1,124 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,124 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the album's sound quality, particularly the fantastic remastering, and one customer notes it's an iconic 1971 closed concert in audio format. Moreover, the video quality is astounding, and customers find it well worth buying. The album quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting it as a great early live album. However, the physical quality receives mixed reviews, with several customers noting the very flimsy card sleeve.

33 customers mention ‘Sound quality’32 positive1 negative

Customers praise the sound quality of the album, particularly the fantastic remastering, with one customer noting it's an iconic 1971 closed concert in audio format.

"...Sounds great thanks to Steven Wilson whose done a excellent job on this. Bought all his Yes remixes and they are excellent too...." Read more

"A nice album. Good sound quality, good presentation. Perfect condition for a good price." Read more

"Brilliant , as Floyd are. Quality of video & sound flawless" Read more

"...The sound overall is perfect though and preferable to the CD in my opinion, one tends to listen to the music more on vinyl for some reason...." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Value for money’11 positive4 negative

Customers find the album well worth buying, with one mentioning it was worth the wait.

"...It’s worth every penny. Wonderful." Read more

"...Good sound quality, good presentation. Perfect condition for a good price." Read more

"...However, the price is rather high, especially given the inadequate packaging...." Read more

"...Defo worth the wait" Read more

11 customers mention ‘Album quality’11 positive0 negative

Customers praise the album's quality, with one customer specifically noting it as an excellent live recording.

"A nice album. Good sound quality, good presentation. Perfect condition for a good price." Read more

"Great early PF live album , with great presentation" Read more

"My all time favourite group ,I even have the original vinyl copy" Read more

"Excellent, well worth a listen" Read more

9 customers mention ‘Sonic quality’9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the sonic quality of the album, describing it as brilliant, with one customer noting the amazing DTS mix.

"Brilliant , as Floyd are. Quality of video & sound flawless" Read more

"...As for the new mix by Steven Wilson, it's brilliant, loud (No, not the bad Rick Rubin kind of 'loud' so don't panic!), and heavy!..." Read more

"Very impressive mix by Steven Wilson, and a real step back in time for Floyd fans...." Read more

"I've been waiting for this for ages. It is absolutely brilliant and sounds great." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Video quality’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the video quality, with one customer describing it as astounding, and another noting that the live recordings are sublime.

"Brilliant , as Floyd are. Quality of video & sound flawless" Read more

"The quality of production of these old, live recordings is sublime. On a good system the nuances of the musical fidelity is outstanding." Read more

"Fantastic recording, but really for the dyed in the wool Floyd fan." Read more

"Quintessential Floyd. The quality of this recording is astounding even before it was remastered...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Music quality’4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the music quality of this album, with one customer noting it's Pink Floyd at their best.

"Relax, it's Pink Floyd...." Read more

"Pink Floyd at thier best 5 stars plus all the way all the way" Read more

"Technology glitch with Pink Floyd at Pompeii CD !..." Read more

"Quality package all round from Pink Floyd...." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Quality’8 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the album's quality, with some finding it very well produced while others criticize the flimsy card sleeve.

"A nice album. Good sound quality, good presentation. Perfect condition for a good price." Read more

"...off a star because once again, we're treated to the usual crappy cheap thin piece of card 'packaging' instead of some nice deluxe packaging that a..." Read more

"The quality of production of these old, live recordings is sublime. On a good system the nuances of the musical fidelity is outstanding." Read more

"...Only one criticism, is the poor cardboard cover/case that contains the two CDs and booklet...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 May 2025
    A nice album. Good sound quality, good presentation. Perfect condition for a good price.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2025
    I first saw the film at The Fairfield Halls in Croydon 1972 or 3? It sparked a lifelong love of Pink Floyd. I bought the Pompeii DVD twenty years ago and loved it, although the washed out colours and only stereo soundtrack left it rather flat. This new remaster is absolutely superb. Expensive at thirty quid with sparse cardboard packaging, it felt a bit of a ripoff until I fed it into my Blu-ray player and lost myself in the surround sound.
    It’s worth every penny. Wonderful.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2025
    Brilliant , as Floyd are.
    Quality of video & sound flawless
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2025
    Peculiarities of vinyl, one side has a few crackles and pops the other three all silent. A weird kind of warp on one disc but looks perfectly flat on the turntable. The sound overall is perfect though and preferable to the CD in my opinion, one tends to listen to the music more on vinyl for some reason. If you put a cd on sometimes it becomes just back ground music as you don't have to bother with stopping and turning over the vinyl, doing so enhances the experience somehow.
    Maybe it's an age thing having grown up with vinyl since the early 70's.
    I wish they had sequenced the full mix of Saucerful of Secrets into the vinyl program and had the shorter edited version as a bonus.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2025
    Great to have this iconic 1971 closed concert in audio format. The remastering and pressing processes are first rate. Every Pink Floyd fans or any music enthusiast must get s copy. Most recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 May 2025
    I'm sure many Floyd fans have been waiting eons for this, an actual live album of their legendary Pompeii performance, sure took 'em long enough to get round to doing it didn't it? still, better late then never I guess, plus at least now the definitive versions of 'Echoes', 'Set The Controls', and 'A Saucerful of Secrets' are widely available on record for anyone to hear, the Pompeii performances still remain the best these songs ever sounded and were played.

    As for the new mix by Steven Wilson, it's brilliant, loud (No, not the bad Rick Rubin kind of 'loud' so don't panic!), and heavy! basically it sounds just like what it would have really sounded like had you been standing right there in front of the band's massive PA system, this isn't some rush-job this-will-do thing (Hi 2016 remix!), there's been real care and attention to detail put in here, every instrument sounds crisp and clear as daylight in the new mix, Nick Mason's drums seem to have been given special care with a more crisp modern sound to them. Some may bemoan the rather 'dry' sound and lack of reverb but that really doesn't matter considering how good it sounds, plus this is as close as you'll get to how it truly sounded.

    Of course, I know there are those who hate the the idea of remixing older records and may even consider it blasphemy, but personally, I think it breathes new life into them, plus it can help younger listeners understand better what all the fuss was/is about. However, I will also agree that it can be a risky thing of done badly, which brings me nicely to my next subject...

    ...Now, you may know that this is actually the second time the Pompeii performance has been remixed, and for good reason too, the first 'attempt' was in 2016 for the 'Early Years' box set, though sadly, that version was hamstrung by poor mixing choices (David's guitar and vocals, and Nick's drums, being pushed back in the mix) and full of imperfections (tape hiss, very obvious distortions on Rick's keyboards), a true obvious rush-job, the fact that it was relegated to just box-set materiel instead of given its own release shows that even band were likely unhappy with it.

    Anyway, this is easily Pink Floyd's best live album next to P.U.L.S.E.

    As for my rating, and much like with the Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes re-issue, had to knock off a star because once again, we're treated to the usual crappy cheap thin piece of card 'packaging' instead of some nice deluxe packaging that a release like this is worthy of.
    22 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2025
    Great early PF live album , with great presentation
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2025
    The quality of production of these old, live recordings is sublime. On a good system the nuances of the musical fidelity is outstanding.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Joe Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Le Floyd d’avant Dark Side of the Moon, sans filet et passionnant.
    Reviewed in France on 6 May 2025
    On possédait ce documentaire en DVD et Blu-Ray depuis pas mal d’années maintenant. En octobre 1971, Pink Floyd a déjà 5 albums à son actif et a terminé « Meddle » qui sortira à la fin du mois, un de leurs chefs d’œuvre, sans doute leur premier. Toujours en quête d’innovation, le groupe demande au réalisateur Adrian Maben de les filmer lors d’un concert sans public dans les ruines de l’amphithéâtre de Pompéi. « Une sorte d’anti-Woodstock » selon les termes de Maben, une expérience comme l’appelle les membres du groupe, misant sur la qualité sonore obsessionnelle du groupe, plutôt que « les réactions du public ». Les prises de vues sont réalisées du 4 au 7 octobre. Puis de nouvelles sessions sont enregistrées du 13 au 20 décembre à Paris pour compléter le tournage de Pompéi qui a subi quelques problèmes techniques mais qui démontraient aussi que le groupe avait de l’humour et du second degré (« Mademoiselle Nobs », blague sympa enregistrée…avec une chienne !). Une version audio remasterisée existait déjà dans le coffret « The Early Years 1972 » en 2016 avec 5 titres et la version alternative de « Careful with that axe, Eugene ». Cet enregistrement est donc loin d’être une découverte. Mais 2025 est l’occasion d’avoir (enfin) une version remixée en audio (2 CD) et vidéo, et pas par n’importe qui car il s’agit de Steven Wilson, musicien passionnant mais aussi un excellent ingénieur du son toujours sur les bons coups, permettant de redécouvrir quelques-uns des groupes qui l’ont influencé et lui font confiance pour le meilleur rendu sonore possible (Pink Floyd bien sûr mais aussi King Crimson, Marillion, Yes, The Who, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull…). A chaque fois, il frappe fort. Ici le son de chaque instrument ressort fabuleusement, en particulier la batterie de Mason, aucune comparaison avec la version d’origine ou même celle de 2016, le remixage était utile. Il faut dire que le son stéréo du documentaire était juste correct.
    Ce « Live at Pompeii » représente vraiment une charnière dans la carrière de Pink Floyd. Pas encore devenu le mastodonte qu’il sera à peine 2-3 ans plus tard, le groupe joue encore dans un style post-psychédélique avec une approche toujours expérimentale mais commence à s’en éloigner pour aller ailleurs. « A saucerful of secrets » offre l’occasion à Gilmour de triturer sa guitare comme jamais, tandis que Wright martèle son piano, que Waters s’acharne sur le gong, et que Mason n’en finit plus de frapper ses fûts. Le final du morceau tire plus vers le prog’ presque symphonique, dans une apothéose entre les claviers de Wright et la voix de Gilmour. Ce dernier sait tout aussi bien chanter d’une voix puissante ou éthérée, que distiller une atmosphère mystérieuse comme dans le lancinant « Careful with That Axe, Eugene ». Ambiance planante que vient rompre Waters par son cri strident et toujours aussi terrifiant. Des morceaux qu’on trouvait déjà dans le disque live de « Ummagumma », et qui appartiennent donc à la « première période » du groupe. Mais on sent un changement, une mutation… Si « Atom heart mother » marquait déjà la transition entre les sixties et seventies, mettant fin en quelque sorte au versant le plus psychédélique et expérimental du groupe, cette fin d’année 1971 annonce clairement les grandes heures du Floyd. Quand il joue le morceau en ce début du mois d’octobre à Pompéi, le groupe n’a pas encore sorti « Meddle » où figure la version studio de « Echoes ». Il arrivera dans les bacs quelques semaines plus tard. C’est donc presqu’un « inédit », au moins pour l’équipe de tournage. Cependant, cette pièce épique était en gestation depuis plusieurs mois, et était déjà jouée en concert depuis quelques mois. D’abord appelée « Nothing » (« rien »), puis « The son of nothing » (« le fils de rien ») et enfin « The return of the son of nothing » (« le retour du fils de rien ») en forme de boutade, cette suite de plusieurs idées musicales trouve son aboutissement en une longue symphonie rock. Mais à la différence de « Atom heart mother », le morceau « Echoes » comporte une partie chantée, et se joue uniquement avec le groupe, sans apport extérieur d’orchestre ou de chorale. Une pièce sublime qui préfigure l’apogée de Pink Floyd dans les années 70, de « The Dark side of the moon » à « The wall ». Pour ceux et celles qui souhaitent découvrir ce concert unique, je conseille d’abord la version vidéo très prenante mais pour les fans cette version audio est fantastique. J’ai monté le son et le résultat est tout simplement impressionnant.
    Report
  • Isaias Cadena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simplemente bellísimo el Blu Ray
    Reviewed in Mexico on 5 July 2025
    Tengo 15 años y es mi primera compra en Amazon, el producto llegó en perfectas condiciones y muy rápido de lo que esperaba , se ve hermosa esta remasterizacion en 4k y el sonido hecho por el gran Steven Wilson , me encantó, fue hermoso cuando lo vi en pantalla IMAX, es un concierto que si o si tienes que ver desde lo que muestra, grabaciones en el Anfiteatro de Pompeya hasta las grabaciones de como Roger, David, Richard y Nick crearon uno de los mejores álbumes de la historia, el gran
    "Dark Side Of The Moon",.
  • Fabio Gaspar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mixagem excelente.
    Reviewed in Brazil on 22 June 2025
    O produto em si é sensacional. Sem maiores comentários. A entrega foi rápida, antes do previsto, mesmo se tratando de uma compra internacional. Quanto à embalagem, a Amazon deveria se preocupar mais em embalar os pacotes de vinis, com mais proteção. Desta vez, veio sem avarias visíveis, mas já tive experiências ruins. Uma delas, inclusive, nem mesmo postaram a minha avaliação, pois estaria "fora dos termos".
  • Géry de la Kethulle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un son exceptionnel
    Reviewed in Belgium on 27 May 2025
    Parfois les versions remasterisées n'apportent pas beaucoup d'amélioration mais dans ce cas, le son est d'une pureté fantastique. Je crois que c'est le meilleur 33 tours de notre grande collection. Le film de 2025 est excellent aussi en imax
  • Domenico’s Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY! A HIGH QUALITY ORIGINAL THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE LEGENDARY FILM
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 May 2025
    Here finally is the re-release of the remastered 4K scan restoration and surround remix of the theatrical film, PINK FLOYD AT POMPEII MCMLXXII (1972). Originally, French director Adrien Maben had an idea to film "The Floyd" (as they were referred to back in the day) in front of classical paintings. The band rejected the idea. After quite a bit of time had passed and the director and the band had still not managed to meet, he went on holiday to Pompeii with his wife. Sometime during his walks around the ruins, he lost his passport. Returning there in the evening to search for it, he found himself inspired by the stillness of the ruins and its atmosphere. Thus was born an idea. Contacting The Floyd again, he proposed that he film them live amongst the ruins in the Roman Ampiheater of Pompeii. They liked the idea and agreed. One of the city council memebers was a Floyd fan in Pompeii, and he convinced the city's elders to do the unprecedented: Allow a rock band to perform and record amongst the ruins of the ancient city. No one would be allowed to do so again for 45 years until, David Gilmore, by then a legend, came back and performed an actual concert in Pompeii at the same site in 2016. This is also available on Blu Ray, BTW .
    Despite his initial good fortune, Maben's troubles began. Maben soon discovered that the cables he had run out to the Ampitheater where gladiators once battled were inadequate for the massive power supplies needed, and ultimately he had to run a massive cable all the way back to the city of modern Pompeii with persons posted to guard it. His one week of filming was now down to 3 or 4 days. Still, he wanted to create an "anti-Woodstock." The trend had been to record a band live with the audience becoming another member. In THIS case, Pink Floyd would be performing only to the crew, and we viewers would be their audience--along with a few children who managed to sneak in (one of my friends' cousins in Vico Equense recounted how he snuck in with his friends.) Even in early October, the band perfomed under the burning sun, resorting to even filming some night time shots perhaps because the ampitheater was so much cooler. It also made for some very creative use of lighting to have Waters and Gimour appear and disapppear. Track shots and varius techniques showed the band walking along Veusvius (and Etna?) and when the film was intitally shown, despite good reviews Adrien Maben decided it was a bit too short. He also filmed the band doing some more performances in Paris and rehearsing back in Abbey Road Studies, where they would work for the next year experimenting and recording what would become thier number one album, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON--selling over 50 million copies, and staying on the billboard top 200 for 741 weeks- over 14 years. This second release in 1974 would become the definitve theatrical Pompeii film. For years growing up, I would go over to friend's parties. In those darkened parent’s living rooms we would hang our with our girl friends and watch this film on low res VHS tapes. The audio often wouldn't track well. Eventually I would pick up my own "HI FI" stereo copy of the film -that was still new technology. Later,I would snag a much better looking release on Laserdisc in my quest for the perfect copy. Finally, in the early 2000's the film was released on DVD. Alas it was a new, "Director's Cut." Usually, I prefer these cuts in movies, but in this case it was far inferior, and picture quality is middling. Maben added video game-like computer graphics, very dated looking even for then, cutting away from the band and distracting from the film. Additional inteviews that he shot in 16mm black and white were added, but they only served to slow down the film. Digging into the sub menus, one could find the first cut of the film- but it is only the performances. Interviews with Nick mason ordering breakfast, “I’ll have egg, sausage, chips and beans – and a tea,” and seeking in vain a pie without the crust. Along with the band’s reminiscences, Waters arguing about over active imaginations hearing a sibilance on a second cut of Obscured by Clouds ( foreshadowing their later acrimonious breakup), and some very stoned and funny commentary by Gilmour and Waters, the former assuring us that they are not a "Drug-orientated group. Trust us" while being very red-eyed and obviously stoned, had audiences laughing quite strongly. None of that was visible on the DVD as a fluid cut. One could also find an interview with driector Maben, which is unfotunately not available on this release. What is available is a MUCH sharper (Finally) higher resolution presentation, with the same cut much as I saw on VHS, Laserdic, and finally in IMAX at the theaters last week, which should please most buyers. Unfortunately, they did not make the film available in 4K UHD, I suspect beacause they think that demand might not warrant it, but this copy is the highest quality home release we Floyd fans have ever had. Acoustically, much as in the IMAX presentation, this cut is a revelation. The soundtracks are available in three flavors: 2.0 uncompressed LCPM: linear pulse coded Modulation, which is the highest possible quality for a two channel stereo presentation and probably close to how it was originally presented in the best theaters back in the 70's. You also have 5.1 Dolby True HD surround, and Dolby Atmos, in which if you have the right speaksers and set up sounds will seem to emanate from your ceilings as well as to be a totally emersive wrap around experience. I had my head cocked and turning behind me in the theater as I could hear Richard Wright and Dave Mason's separate voicies behind me, as well as sound swirling around the theater. The famed Steve Wilson has done an amazing job remixing and cleaning up these old recordings, which sound like today's best reference grade audio; that’s no small achievement for a 53 year old film. Subtitles are available in German, Italian, Spanish, and others- but no English, and they are limited to speech and not whilst singing, as is typical of most concert discs, unfortunately. The film is both surprising, at times humorous, and strangely meserizing, with Maben's tracking shots around drummer Nick Mason, and other cuts of the band bringing us into a near trance-like state. Images of frescos from ancient Pompeiian homes, and statues seem erie and fit in with shots of the city and the music, making for a unique experience. I would not throw out my old copy just for the additional interviews and Maben's commentary, but this is clearly the superior and only copy to have if you wish to see Pink Floyd in concert as they were intended to be seen. Online you can find an audio only recording of Nick Mason and Steven Wilson discussing the film after watching it with audience on its 2025 premiere. I’ve waited 40 years to see this properly released. Highly recommended.
    Customer image
    Domenico’s Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    FINALLY! A HIGH QUALITY ORIGINAL THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE LEGENDARY FILM

    Reviewed in the United States on 3 May 2025
    Here finally is the re-release of the remastered 4K scan restoration and surround remix of the theatrical film, PINK FLOYD AT POMPEII MCMLXXII (1972). Originally, French director Adrien Maben had an idea to film "The Floyd" (as they were referred to back in the day) in front of classical paintings. The band rejected the idea. After quite a bit of time had passed and the director and the band had still not managed to meet, he went on holiday to Pompeii with his wife. Sometime during his walks around the ruins, he lost his passport. Returning there in the evening to search for it, he found himself inspired by the stillness of the ruins and its atmosphere. Thus was born an idea. Contacting The Floyd again, he proposed that he film them live amongst the ruins in the Roman Ampiheater of Pompeii. They liked the idea and agreed. One of the city council memebers was a Floyd fan in Pompeii, and he convinced the city's elders to do the unprecedented: Allow a rock band to perform and record amongst the ruins of the ancient city. No one would be allowed to do so again for 45 years until, David Gilmore, by then a legend, came back and performed an actual concert in Pompeii at the same site in 2016. This is also available on Blu Ray, BTW .
    Despite his initial good fortune, Maben's troubles began. Maben soon discovered that the cables he had run out to the Ampitheater where gladiators once battled were inadequate for the massive power supplies needed, and ultimately he had to run a massive cable all the way back to the city of modern Pompeii with persons posted to guard it. His one week of filming was now down to 3 or 4 days. Still, he wanted to create an "anti-Woodstock." The trend had been to record a band live with the audience becoming another member. In THIS case, Pink Floyd would be performing only to the crew, and we viewers would be their audience--along with a few children who managed to sneak in (one of my friends' cousins in Vico Equense recounted how he snuck in with his friends.) Even in early October, the band perfomed under the burning sun, resorting to even filming some night time shots perhaps because the ampitheater was so much cooler. It also made for some very creative use of lighting to have Waters and Gimour appear and disapppear. Track shots and varius techniques showed the band walking along Veusvius (and Etna?) and when the film was intitally shown, despite good reviews Adrien Maben decided it was a bit too short. He also filmed the band doing some more performances in Paris and rehearsing back in Abbey Road Studies, where they would work for the next year experimenting and recording what would become thier number one album, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON--selling over 50 million copies, and staying on the billboard top 200 for 741 weeks- over 14 years. This second release in 1974 would become the definitve theatrical Pompeii film. For years growing up, I would go over to friend's parties. In those darkened parent’s living rooms we would hang our with our girl friends and watch this film on low res VHS tapes. The audio often wouldn't track well. Eventually I would pick up my own "HI FI" stereo copy of the film -that was still new technology. Later,I would snag a much better looking release on Laserdisc in my quest for the perfect copy. Finally, in the early 2000's the film was released on DVD. Alas it was a new, "Director's Cut." Usually, I prefer these cuts in movies, but in this case it was far inferior, and picture quality is middling. Maben added video game-like computer graphics, very dated looking even for then, cutting away from the band and distracting from the film. Additional inteviews that he shot in 16mm black and white were added, but they only served to slow down the film. Digging into the sub menus, one could find the first cut of the film- but it is only the performances. Interviews with Nick mason ordering breakfast, “I’ll have egg, sausage, chips and beans – and a tea,” and seeking in vain a pie without the crust. Along with the band’s reminiscences, Waters arguing about over active imaginations hearing a sibilance on a second cut of Obscured by Clouds ( foreshadowing their later acrimonious breakup), and some very stoned and funny commentary by Gilmour and Waters, the former assuring us that they are not a "Drug-orientated group. Trust us" while being very red-eyed and obviously stoned, had audiences laughing quite strongly. None of that was visible on the DVD as a fluid cut. One could also find an interview with driector Maben, which is unfotunately not available on this release. What is available is a MUCH sharper (Finally) higher resolution presentation, with the same cut much as I saw on VHS, Laserdic, and finally in IMAX at the theaters last week, which should please most buyers. Unfortunately, they did not make the film available in 4K UHD, I suspect beacause they think that demand might not warrant it, but this copy is the highest quality home release we Floyd fans have ever had. Acoustically, much as in the IMAX presentation, this cut is a revelation. The soundtracks are available in three flavors: 2.0 uncompressed LCPM: linear pulse coded Modulation, which is the highest possible quality for a two channel stereo presentation and probably close to how it was originally presented in the best theaters back in the 70's. You also have 5.1 Dolby True HD surround, and Dolby Atmos, in which if you have the right speaksers and set up sounds will seem to emanate from your ceilings as well as to be a totally emersive wrap around experience. I had my head cocked and turning behind me in the theater as I could hear Richard Wright and Dave Mason's separate voicies behind me, as well as sound swirling around the theater. The famed Steve Wilson has done an amazing job remixing and cleaning up these old recordings, which sound like today's best reference grade audio; that’s no small achievement for a 53 year old film. Subtitles are available in German, Italian, Spanish, and others- but no English, and they are limited to speech and not whilst singing, as is typical of most concert discs, unfortunately. The film is both surprising, at times humorous, and strangely meserizing, with Maben's tracking shots around drummer Nick Mason, and other cuts of the band bringing us into a near trance-like state. Images of frescos from ancient Pompeiian homes, and statues seem erie and fit in with shots of the city and the music, making for a unique experience. I would not throw out my old copy just for the additional interviews and Maben's commentary, but this is clearly the superior and only copy to have if you wish to see Pink Floyd in concert as they were intended to be seen. Online you can find an audio only recording of Nick Mason and Steven Wilson discussing the film after watching it with audience on its 2025 premiere. I’ve waited 40 years to see this properly released. Highly recommended.
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