Box set concentrates on post-Roger Waters era • 18-disc set including 5CDs, 6 blu-rays, 5 DVDs and more • Over 13 hours of unreleased audio/video
Pink Floyd are to release, The Later Years 1987-2019, another massive music box set in the style of 2016’s Early Years package. This time around, as the title suggest, the set focuses on the later period when Roger Waters had quit and David Gilmour, Rick Wright and Nick Mason were left to continue on their own to produce studio albums and undertake massive world tours.
The period generated record sales of over 40 million worldwide and included three studio albums: A Momentary Lapse of Reason, The Division Bell and The Endless River as well as two live albums: Delicate Sound of Thunder and Pulse.
The label claim over 13 hours of unreleased audio and audio/visual material feature in the set (remember a new remix is ‘unreleased’) including the 1989 Venice and 1990 Knebworth concerts.
Both A Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound Of Thunder have been remixed, with the former also ‘updated’ (thought to be new Nick Mason drums and alternate Rick Wright parts). They appear on the first three CDs and a fourth gathers together unreleased live and studio recordings. CD 5 is the 57 minute Knebworth concert from 1990. Note The Division Bell isn’t included on CD here, but is on one of the six blu-rays.
The first blu-ray features the new 2019 of A Momentary Lapse of Reason in 5.1 and high res stereo, the 2014 mix of The Division Bell and seven unreleased studio recordings also in 5.1 and hi-res stereo. Three further blu-ray discs cover live material: Delicate Sound of Thunder, Pulse and the Venice and Knebworth concerts. All in hi-res stereo and 5.1. A final blu-ray disc offers a massive amount of videos, concert films, rehearsal footage and more.
The Later Years includes five DVDs but these merely repeat the content on blu-ray discs 2-6. Where surround sound is offered these are mostly Dolby Digital and DTS.
Finally, for the audio, this set includes two seven-inch singles: ‘Arnold Layne’ performed live by Pink Floyd at the Syd Barrett Tribute concert, 2007 and Lost For Words from the Pulse tour rehearsals at Earl’s Court. Both singles have a special etched image on their B-sides.
In terms of ‘stuff’ this also comes with a 60-page photo book, three reproductions tour programmes and a collection of replica memorabilia like posters, tour passes and stickers.
A 2LP ‘highlights’ and single CD of The Later Years will also be released. You’ll find the track listing below, along with very details contents of the big box itself.