Can a band as big and legendary as Pink Floyd truly have tracks that are considered underrated? Maybe not. Still, the following five songs don’t get as much love as this prog-rock outfit’s biggest hits, and I think they’re worth revisiting. Some of these might be new to you, but diehard fans of the band likely know them by heart already. Let’s take a look!
“Cymbaline”
“Cymbaline” is a deep cut favorite among fans, namely for its nostalgic energy and experimental edge. This 1969 release from Soundtrack From The Film More is a vivid storytelling venture about the comic book character Doctor Strange. The band revisited this character of occasion, and he made an appearance on the cover of A Saucerful Of Secrets. Interestingly enough, the album version of this song is not the same one used in the film More.
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“The Narrow Way”
This beautiful suite makes up the second half of Pink Floyd’s 1969 record, Ummagumma. It’s a three-part song that is more or less a David Gilmour solo effort. He wrote and performed the song entirely on his own, complete with his own overdubs.
“The Final Cut”
This track is unbelievably powerful and boasts some of Roger Waters and David Gilmour’s finest vocal performances. Some would say this one wouldn’t qualify as underrated, but I disagree. “The Final Cut” is the title track of Pink Floyd’s album of the same name from 1983, and it’s a poignant exploration of isolation and depression that far too many people might relate to.
“Fearless”
Ah, a classic. This track comes from the and’s 1971 album Meddle. It’s a unique Pink Floyd song, as it is driven mostly by a slow and somber acoustic guitar. If you’re from England, you might be able to clock the source of the song’s chant: It’s an audio clip of Liverpool F.C. fans singing the 1945 tune “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. The way Waters plays the guitar on this track is stunning, and he apparently learned the technique from former bandmate Syd Barrett.
“Childhood’s End”
This underrated Pink Floyd song comes from the 1972 album Obscured By Clouds. Inspired by science fiction, “Childhood’s End” featured a not-unusual long-winded instrumental section during live performances, though the studio version is much shorter. Still, the studio version is a real treat.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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