Artist: PINK FLOYD
Album: THE DIVISION BELL (CD)

Release date: 1994
Media type: CD

The Division Bell is the most recent studio album by Pink Floyd, released in 1994 (March 30 in the United Kingdom and April 5 in the United States), and the second album without Roger Waters. It was recorded at a number of studios, including guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour's houseboat studio called The Astoria. It went to #1 in the UK and debuted at the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 album charts in April of 1994, spending 4 weeks as the top album in the country. By contrast, Pink Floyd's previous album A Momentary Lapse of Reason had peaked at #3. The Division Bell was certified Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum in the U.S. in June of 1994 and Triple Platinum in January of 1999. Its release was accompanied by an extremely successful tour documented in the P•U•L•S•E album released the following year.

Before the Roger Waters-led period, David Gilmour stated that the music and lyrics were in balance, and the importance of the music was understood. The Division Bell's atmosphere is spacier, sounding more like Meddle or Obscured by Clouds than the grittier and harsher tones of Animals or The Wall. David Gilmour and Richard Wright stated on "In the Studio with Redbeard", which spotlighted The Division Bell (including interviews which were recorded for The Division Bell's world premiere special aired one week before its U.S. release) that the album was the band's best since their 1975 release Wish You Were Here.

This release marks the first time Richard Wright had sung lead vocals on a Pink Floyd album since 1973's The Dark Side of the Moon, although he did provide backing vocals for Wish You Were Here, Animals and A Momentary Lapse of Reason. It also marks his first songwriting credit on a Pink Floyd album since Wish You Were Here.

The track "Marooned" was awarded a Grammy in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1994. This has been Pink Floyd's only Grammy to date.

EMI concocted an Internet-based "puzzle" known as the Publius Enigma in connection with the album's release. Officially, it was never solved.

TRACKLIST:

01 "Cluster One" (David Gilmour, Richard Wright) – 5:58
Instrumental

02 "What Do You Want from Me" (Gilmour, Wright, Polly Samson) – 4:21
03 "Poles Apart" (Gilmour, Wright, Samson, Nick Laird-Clowes) – 7:04
04 "Marooned" (Gilmour, Wright) – 5:29
Instrumental

05 "A Great Day for Freedom" (Gilmour, Samson) – 4:17
06 "Wearing the Inside Out" (Wright, Anthony Moore) – 6:49
Lead vocals: Richard Wright and David Gilmour

07 "Take It Back" (Gilmour, Samson, Laird-Clowes, Bob Ezrin) – 6:12
08 "Coming Back to Life" (Gilmour) – 6:19
09 "Keep Talking" (Gilmour, Wright, Samson) – 6:11
Lead vocals: David Gilmour and Carol Kenyon

10 "Lost for Words" (Gilmour, Samson) – 5:14
11 "High Hopes" (Gilmour, Samson) – 8:32

All lead vocals performed by David Gilmour unless stated otherwise.

LINE-UP:

David Gilmour – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, Keyboards, production, mixing and programming
Richard Wright – keyboards, piano, vocals
Nick Mason – drums, percussion and programming

Jon Carin – additional keyboards
Guy Pratt – bass guitar
Gary Wallis – percussion
Tim Renwick – guitars
Dick Parry – saxophone and trumpet
Carol Kenyon – backing vocals, vocals on "Keep Talking"
Sam Brown – backing vocals
Bob Ezrin – drums, production and composing in "Take It Back"
Anthony Moore - lyrics in "Wearing The Inside Out"
Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangements
Professor Stephen Hawking – digital voice on "Keep Talking"