Luck and Strange

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Gilmour and his family performed music on livestreams. Gilmour, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, said this inspired him to "discard some of the past that I'd felt bound to" and explore new musical ideas.{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=24 April 2024 |title=David Gilmour to release new album, Luck and Strange, this fall |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-solo-album-1235009520/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} He recorded Luck and Strange over five months at his Medina Studio in Hove and at Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios in London, with the producer Charlie Andrew.{{Cite web |last=Gatti |first=Nino |date=27 August 2024 |title="Luck and strange", Gilmour tra passato e futuro |url=https://www.rockol.it/news-746364/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-backstage-storia-recensione |access-date=18 September 2024 |website=Rockol |language=it}} Gilmour said Andrew challenged his habits and made him approach his songs in new ways. He said: "He has a wonderful lack of knowledge or respect for this past of mine. He's very direct and not in any way overawed, and I love that. That is just so good for me because the last thing you want is people just deferring to you." Andrew said he was not "trying to regurgitate another Pink Floyd album, or one of [Gilmour's] solo albums".

The album features musicians including Guy Pratt and Tom Herbert on bass, Adam Betts, Steve Gadd and Steve DiStanislao on drums, and Rob Gentry and Roger Eno on keyboards. The strings and choir were arranged by Will Gardner and recorded in Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire.{{Cite web |last=Paphides |first=Pete |date=2024-05-07 |title=David Gilmour interviewed: 'There was no pious false respect' |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/david-gilmour-interviewed-there-was-no-pious-false-respect-145834/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Uncut |language=en-GB}} Gilmour's wife, the writer Polly Samson, wrote the majority of the lyrics, which she said reflected themes of mortality and ageing. She adapted the lyrics for "Dark and Velvet Nights" from a poem she composed for their wedding anniversary. Their son Gabriel contributed backing vocals, and their son Charlie contributed lyrics to "Scattered".

"Luck and Strange" features keyboards recorded by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, during a jam in Gilmour's barn in 2007. Wright died in 2008. Gilmour built on the recording to create the final song, saying it "started developing a depth that I'd forgotten about. The playing on it is unmistakably Richard."{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2024-08-26 |title=David Gilmour on His New LP 'Luck and Strange,' and Plans for Upcoming Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-tour-1235084401/ |access-date=2024-09-07 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} The original 14-minute jam was included as a bonus track on the digital versions of the album.{{Cite web |last=Mind |first=The Prog |date=2024-09-25 |title=David Gilmour – Luck and Strange |url=https://theprogmind.com/2024/09/25/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=The PROG Mind |language=en}} "The Piper's Call" was likened to early Pink Floyd.{{Cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Neil |last2=Platt |first2=Poppie |date=2024-09-06 |title=With Luck and Strange, David Gilmour pays his dues to Pink Floyd's imperial past |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-review/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

Luck and Strange features a cover of the 1999 song "Between Two Points", originally by the British band the Montgolfier Brothers.{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=2024-06-17 |title=David Gilmour taps his daughter Romany for 'Between Two Points' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-gilmour-romany-between-two-points-montgolfier-brothers-1235040887/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Gilmour said he had been a fan of the song since its release and was surprised that it had not been a hit. His daughter, Romany, performed harp and vocals. Mark Tranmer of the Montgolfier Brothers said he enjoyed Gilmour's version, saying "it diverges from the original but keeps the spirit". Gilmour felt Luck and Strange was his best work since the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Surej |date=2024-08-06 |title=David Gilmour says new solo album is the 'best' music he's made since The Dark Side of the Moon |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/david-gilmour-says-new-solo-album-is-the-best-music-hes-made-since-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-3781177 |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

Gilmour announced Luck and Strange on 24 April 2024. It was released on 6 September,{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=2024-09-06 |title=David Gilmour review, Luck and Strange: Graceful ruminations on love and mortality |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/david-gilmour-review-luck-and-strange-polly-samson-b2607577.html |access-date=2024-09-06 |work=The Independent |language=en}} and became Gilmour's third album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.{{Cite web |last=Brannigan |first=Paul |date=2024-09-13 |title='I'd like to thank everyone who's bought my new album and helped make it number 1.' David Gilmour celebrates his third solo UK number one album with Luck and Strange |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/david-gilmour-celebrates-third-solo-uk-number-one-album-with-luck-and-strange |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Classic Rock |language=en}} The first single, "The Piper's Call", was released on 25 April. "Between Two Points", was released on 17 June. "Dark and Velvet Nights" was released on 9 August.{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Aneesa |date=2024-08-09 |title=David Gilmour releases new track 'Dark And Velvet Nights' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/david-gilmour-releases-new-track-dark-and-velvet-nights-3782554 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} The album cover was photographed and designed by Anton Corbijn.{{cite web |date=24 April 2024 |title=The new album Luck and Strange out 6th September |url=https://www.davidgilmour.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424174550/https://www.davidgilmour.com/ |archive-date=24 April 2024 |access-date=25 April 2024 |website=davidgilmour.com}} The day before the album was released, Gilmour published lyrics in local newspapers, such as the Cambridge News, and encouraged fans to find them.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Cambridge paper holds Gilmour's lyrics in its folds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2ejwvgwr5o |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The digital edition of the album includes the song "Yes, I Have Ghosts", featuring Romany Gilmour; it was originally recorded for the audiobook edition of Samson's 2020 novel A Theatre For Dreamers.{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2020-07-03 |title=Hear David Gilmour's First New Song in Five Years 'Yes, I Have Ghosts' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-gilmour-yes-i-have-ghosts-1023745/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Luck and Strange Tour}}

Gilmour began a tour for Luck and Strange on 27 September 2024, with performances in Rome, London, Los Angeles and New York City.{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2024-05-13 |title=David Gilmour sets first US tour dates in eight years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-gilmour-us-tour-dates-1235019330/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Gilmour also performed two rehearsal concerts at Brighton Centre in Brighton.{{Cite web |last=Fu |first=Eddie |date=2024-09-23 |title=David Gilmour previews solo tour with dress rehearsal shows in Brighton |url=https://consequence.net/2024/09/david-gilmour-2024-tour-rehearsal-brighton-video-setlist/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Consequence |language=en}} His touring band includes Pratt on bass, Gentry and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, Adam Betts on drums, Ben Worsley on guitar, and backing vocals from Louise Marshall, Charley Webb, and Hattie Webb, and vocals from Romany Gilmour, who sang "Between Two Points".{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2024-08-26 |title=David Gilmour on his new LP Luck and Strange, and plans for upcoming tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-tour-1235084401/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Gilmour said he planned to record another album with the band soon after completing the tour.

{{Track listing

| headline = Luck and Strange standard edition track listing

| all_music = David Gilmour except where noted

| all_lyrics = Polly Samson except where noted

| total_length = 43:21

| title1 = Black Cat

| lyrics1 = Instrumental

| length1 = 1:16

| title2 = Luck and Strange

| length2 = 6:54

| title3 = The Piper's Call

| length3 = 5:15

| title4 = A Single Spark

| length4 = 6:02

| title5 = Vita Brevis

| lyrics5 = Instrumental

| length5 = 0:46

| title6 = Between Two Points

| note6 = with Romany Gilmour

| music6 = Mark Tranmer

| lyrics6 = Roger Quigley

| length6 = 5:46

| title7 = Dark and Velvet Nights

| length7 = 4:41

| title8 = Sings

| length8 = 5:15

| title9 = Scattered

| lyrics9 = {{hlist|D. Gilmour|Charlie Gilmour|Samson}}

| length9 = 7:26

}}

• David Gilmour – guitar (all), piano (1), lead vocals (2–4, 7–9), ukulele (3), Höfner bass (3, 8), Farfisa organ (3), backing vocals (2-4, 6–8), keyboards (6, 9), Hammond organ (7), bass guitar (9), Leslie piano (9), Cümbüş (8)
• Richard Wright – electric piano, Hammond organ (2)
• Romany Gilmour – lead vocals (6), backing vocals (2–4, 6–8), harp (5–6)
• Gabriel Gilmour – backing vocals (3, 4)
• Rob Gentry – synthesiser (1–4, 6, 9), keyboards (3, 6, 8–9), piano (4, 6, 8–9), organ (7)
• Roger Eno – piano (1, 9)
• Guy Pratt – bass guitar (2, 3, 6–9)
• Adam Betts – percussion (2, 4, 6–9), djembe (3), drums (4)
• Steve DiStanislao – drums (2)
• Steve Gadd – drums, percussion (3, 6–9)
• Tom Herbert – bass guitar (4)
• Charley Webb - backing vocals
• Hattie Webb - backing vocals
• Louise Marshall - backing vocals
• Edmund Aldhous – organist and director of music at Ely Cathedral
• Ely Cathedral Choir – vocals
• Angel Studios Choir – vocals
• Angel Studios Orchestra

Technical

• David Gilmour – production, mixing, engineering
• Charlie Andrew – production, mixing, engineering
• Matt Glasbey – mixing, engineering
• Dick Beetham – mastering
• Damon Iddins – engineering
• Andy Jackson – additional production (2, 3, 7)
• Luie Stylianou – additional production (8)
• Will Gardner – orchestral arrangements (1-9)

{{col-begin}}

{{col 2}}

{{col 2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=David Gilmour|title=Luck and Strange|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=13723|access-date=10 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=David Gilmour|title=Luck and Strange|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2024|certyear=2025|access-date=16 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=David Gilmour|title=Luck and Strange|type=album|award=Silver|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|id=20616-1266-2|access-date=10 April 2025}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{David Gilmour}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2024 albums

Category:Albums produced by Charlie Andrew

Category:Albums produced by David Gilmour

Category:David Gilmour albums

Category:Sony Music albums