The Endless River
{{about|the Pink Floyd album|the 2015 South African film|The Endless River (film){{!}}The Endless River (film)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Endless River
| type = studio
| artist = Pink Floyd
| cover = Pink Floyd - The Endless River (Artwork).jpg
| alt = A man in a white shirt and tan pants stands in a Thames skiff at the center of the image. He stand-up paddles the Thames skiff across a sea of clouds, heading towards the sun.
| released = {{start date|2014|11|10|df=yes}}
| recorded = 1969, 1993, 2013–2014
| studio = * Astoria
- Britannia Row, Islington
- Medina
- Olympic
| genre = * Ambient{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2014/11/08/review-pink-floyds-the-endless-river-a-challenging-listen|title=Review: Pink Floyd's 'The Endless River' a challenging listen|access-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813055627/http://www.torontosun.com/2014/11/08/review-pink-floyds-the-endless-river-a-challenging-listen|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
- art rock{{cite web | url=https://www.stereogum.com/1706584/pink-floyd-reveal-the-endless-river-details/news/ | title=Pink Floyd Reveal the Endless River Details | date=22 September 2014 }}
- psychedelic rock{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/arts_and_entertainment/pink-floyd-s-final-album-is-something-for-the-fans/article_52106166-688c-11e4-8540-07ddecb1ac52.html|title=Pink Floyd's final album is something for the fans|first=Joe|last=Wade|date=10 November 2014 |access-date=16 January 2017}}
- blues rock
- progressive rock{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River Sailing into the sunset in fine style|date=22 October 2014}}
| length = 53:02
| label =
| producer = * David Gilmour
| prev_title = The Best of Pink Floyd: A Foot in the Door
| prev_year = 2011
| next_title = 1965: Their First Recordings
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{singles
| name = The Endless River
| type = studio
| single1 = Louder than Words
| single1date = 14 October 2014
}}
}}
The Endless River is the fifteenth and final studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released in November 2014 by Parlophone Records in Europe and Columbia Records in the rest of the world. It was the third Pink Floyd album recorded under the leadership of the guitarist, David Gilmour, after the departure of former bassist, Roger Waters, and the first following the death of keyboardist, Richard Wright, in 2008, who appears posthumously.
The Endless River comprises mainly instrumental and ambient music composed of material recorded during sessions for the previous Pink Floyd album, The Division Bell (1994). Additional material was recorded in 2013 and 2014 on Gilmour's Astoria boat studio and in Medina Studios in Hove, England. It was produced by Gilmour, Youth, Andy Jackson and Phil Manzanera. Only one track, "Louder than Words", has lead vocals. After the death of the longtime Pink Floyd cover artist Storm Thorgerson in 2013, the cover was created by Ahmed Emad Eldin, design company Stylorouge and Aubrey Powell, the co-founder of Thorgerson's design company Hipgnosis.
The Endless River was promoted with the "Louder than Words" single and artwork installations in cities around the world. It became the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon UK and debuted at number one in several countries. The vinyl edition was the fastest-selling UK vinyl release since 1997. The album received mixed reviews: some critics praised the nostalgic mood, while others found it unambitious or meandering.
Recording
{{see also|List of unreleased songs recorded by Pink Floyd}}File:Rickwright.jpg, who died in 2008.]]
The Endless River is based on music recorded during the sessions for Pink Floyd's previous studio album, The Division Bell (1994). The Division Bell was recorded in 1993 and 1994 in Britannia Row Studios in London, and on the Astoria boat studio, belonging to guitarist David Gilmour. Pink Floyd recorded hours of music during the sessions;{{cite interview|interviewer=Redbeard|subject-link=Richard Wright (musician)|last=Wright|first=Richard|title=Pink Floyd's Richard Wright 3/94|work=In the Studio with Redbeard|date=March 1994|url=http://www.inthestudio.net/online-on-demand/pink-floyds-richard-wright-3-94/|access-date=10 October 2014|at=Minutes 6:45|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018142835/http://www.inthestudio.net/online-on-demand/pink-floyds-richard-wright-3-94/|archive-date=18 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} the engineer Andy Jackson edited it into an hour-long ambient composition tentatively titled The Big Spliff,{{cite magazine|last=Easla|first=Daryl|date=October 2014|title=The Return of the Parts of Something: The Making of The Endless River|magazine=Prog|publisher=Future Publishing|pages=38–45}} but the band did not release it.{{Harvnb|Mason|2005|p=315}}
File:London, The O2, The Wall Live, 2011-05-12 (19) (6203136479).jpg (left) and guitarist David Gilmour (right) took up the project in 2013, intending to create "a 21st-century Pink Floyd album".]]
Keyboardist Richard Wright died of cancer on 15 September 2008.{{cite web|title=Obituary: Richard Wright, Keyboard player and founder member of Pink Floyd|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/16/pinkfloyd.popandrock1|last=Sweeting|first=Adam|date=16 September 2008|website=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011021814/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/sep/16/pinkfloyd.popandrock1|archive-date=11 October 2014|access-date=23 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} In 2013, Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason decided to revisit the unused Division Bell recordings to make a new album, re–recording parts, adding new ones, and using modern studio technology. Gilmour said: "With Rick gone, and with him the chance of ever doing it again, it feels right that these revisited and reworked tracks should be made available as part of our repertoire."{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Randall|title=Pink Floyd offers release date, cover art for album 'The Endless River'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-pink-floyd-release-date-new-album-the-endless-river-20140922-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=22 September 2014|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922165253/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-pink-floyd-release-date-new-album-the-endless-river-20140922-story.html|archive-date=22 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Only a small part of The Big Spliff was used.{{cite web|title=Pink Floyd reveals details of new album, The Endless River|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/09/pink-floyd-reveals-details-of-new-album-the-endless-river/|website=Consequence of Sound|first=Alex|last=Young|date=22 September 2014|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924065325/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/09/pink-floyd-reveals-details-of-new-album-the-endless-river/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Two tracks from The Big Spliff are included on the deluxe version of the album as bonus tracks.
Gilmour asked guitarist and producer Phil Manzanera, who co-produced his 2006 solo album On an Island, to work on the material. Manzanera, Jackson and engineer Damon Iddins spent six weeks assembling four 14-minute pieces. Gilmour gave two pieces to producer Youth, who added guitar and bass parts. In November 2013, Gilmour led sessions with Manzanera, Youth and Jackson to record material with Mason, saxophonist Gilad Atzmon and bassist Guy Pratt. Vocalists including Durga McBroom recorded backing vocals, and Gilmour recorded lead vocals on "Louder than Words",{{cite magazine|last1=Maloney|first1=Devon|title=New Pink Floyd Album 'The Endless River' Out in October: Report|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6150283/new-pink-floyd-album-endless-river-out-in-october|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=5 July 2014|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708200942/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6150283/new-pink-floyd-album-endless-river-out-in-october|archive-date=8 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} with lyrics by his wife, author Polly Samson.{{cite web|title=About "The Endless River"|url=http://www.pinkfloyd.com/theendlessriver/about|website=Official Website for "The Endless River"|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152455/http://www.pinkfloyd.com/theendlessriver/about|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Bassist and songwriter Roger Waters, who left Pink Floyd in 1985, was not involved.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/pink-floyd-47-1244366|title=Roger Waters issues angry statement to confirm he does not appear on new Pink Floyd album|last=Renshaw|first=David|date=2014-10-02|website=NME|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-08}}
"Autumn '68", named in reference to the 1970 Pink Floyd song "Summer '68", features a recording of Wright playing the Royal Albert Hall pipe organ during the rehearsal for Pink Floyd's show at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 June 1969.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/09/pink-floyd-endless-river-review |title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River review – 'a good way to call it a day' |last=Woodcraft |first=Molloy |date=2014-11-09 |work=The Observer |access-date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114053039/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/09/pink-floyd-endless-river-review |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/80001 |title=Pink Floyd producer says Royal Albert Hall organ solo used on new album was 'moment of rebellion' |author=NME News Desk |date=2014-09-26 |work=NME |access-date=10 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231034438/http://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/80001 |archive-date=31 December 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} "Talkin' Hawkin{{'"}} contains a sample of scientist Stephen Hawking's speech taken from a British Telecom commercial, which was also sampled for The Division Bell on "Keep Talking".{{cite web |last=Michaels |first=Sean |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/08/stephen-hawking-sampled-pink-floyd-the-endless-river |title=Stephen Hawking sampled on Pink Floyd's The Endless River|date=2014-10-08 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2015-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010141111/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/08/stephen-hawking-sampled-pink-floyd-the-endless-river |archive-date=10 October 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} Mason received writing credits for "Sum", and "Skins", a two-and-a-half-minute drum solo.
Gilmour said The Endless River would be Pink Floyd's last album, saying: "I think we have successfully commandeered the best of what there is ... It's a shame, but this is the end."{{cite web|last=Everitt|first=Matt|date=9 October 2014|title=Shaun Keaveny, with a Pink Floyd Exclusive, Pink Floyd Talk to 6 Music's Matt Everitt|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0288yhn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111133444/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0288yhn|archive-date=11 November 2014|access-date=10 October 2014|publisher=BBC}} Mason said it would likely be the last Pink Floyd album.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pinkfloyd/videos/10152506753332308/|title=Watch David and Nick discuss 'The Endless River' in this exclusive Amazon Q&A.|website=Facebook|publisher=Pink Floyd|date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301043336/https://www.facebook.com/pinkfloyd/videos/10152506753332308/|archive-date=1 March 2023}} In 2024, Gilmour said that The Endless River was not originally intended as "a properly paid-for Pink Floyd record" but that he had been "bullied by the record company".{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=5 November 2024 |title=David Gilmour on nepo babies, deluded baby boomers and giving up the fight over Pink Floyd |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-11-05/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-hollywood-bowl-pink-floyd-roger-waters-interview |access-date=8 November 2024 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}
Composition
The Endless River comprises four pieces, which form a continuous flow of mostly ambient and instrumental music.{{cite web|author=NME staff|title=Pink Floyd reveal details of 'mainly ambient' new album|url=https://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/78411|website=NME|date=8 July 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924152155/http://www.nme.com/news/pink-floyd/78411|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Gilmour said: "Unapologetically, this is for the generation that wants to put its headphones on, lie in a beanbag, or whatever, and get off on a piece of music for an extended period of time. You could say it's not for the iTunes, downloading-individual-tracks generation."{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2014/11/17/pink-floyd-ambient-the-endless-river-fastest-selling-album-of-2014/|title=Pink Floyd's ambient record is the fastest selling album of 2014|date=2014-11-17|website=FACT Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}} Mason described the album as a tribute to Wright: "I think this record is a good way of recognising a lot of what he does and how his playing was at the heart of the Pink Floyd sound. Listening back to the sessions, it really brought home to me what a special player he was."
"Louder than Words" is the only track with a lead vocal.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pink-floyd-roll-out-plans-for-the-endless-river-their-first-lp-in-20-years-20140922|title=Pink Floyd Roll Out Plans For 'The Endless River,' Their First LP in 20 Years|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=22 September 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|access-date=26 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925092341/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/pink-floyd-roll-out-plans-for-the-endless-river-their-first-lp-in-20-years-20140922|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Samson wrote the lyrics after observing the band's interaction during the rehearsals for their 2005 Live 8 reunion, their first performance with Waters in over 24 years. She said: "What struck me was, they never spoke ... It’s not hostile, they just don’t speak. And then they step onto a stage and musically that communication is extraordinary."{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/16/polly-samson-david-gilmour-pink-floyd|title=Lyricist Polly Samson talks about David Gilmour's new solo album -- and the unchattiness of Pink Floyd|date=16 September 2015|website=EW.com|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109144503/http://ew.com/article/2015/09/16/polly-samson-david-gilmour-pink-floyd/|archive-date=9 November 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The album title is taken from a lyric on the last track of The Division Bell, "High Hopes": "The water flowing / The endless river / For ever and ever." Gilmour said it suggested a continuum between the records.{{cite web|last=Everitt|first=Matt|date=9 October 2014|title=Shaun Keaveny, with a Pink Floyd Exclusive, Pink Floyd Talk to 6 Music's Matt Everitt|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0288yhn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111133444/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0288yhn|archive-date=11 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2014|publisher=BBC|df=dmy-all}}
Packaging
The Endless River cover art depicts a young man punting a Thames skiff across a sea of clouds towards the sun.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29313026|title=Pink Floyd unveil cover of new album Endless River |publisher=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117202616/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29313026|archive-date=17 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Barnes|first1=Anthony|title=Pink Floyd stoke anticipation for new album with global artwork launch|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/22/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-details-artwork#start-of-comments|website=The Guardian|date=23 September 2014|access-date=23 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923142657/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/22/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-details-artwork#start-of-comments|archive-date=23 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} After the death of longtime Pink Floyd artist Storm Thorgerson in 2013,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/storm-thorgerson-pink-floyd-album-art-designer-dead-at-69-20130418|title=Storm Thorgerson, Pink Floyd Album Art Designer, Dead at 69|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|date=18 April 2013|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912004840/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/storm-thorgerson-pink-floyd-album-art-designer-dead-at-69-20130418|archive-date=12 September 2014|url-status=live|access-date=23 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} Pink Floyd collaborated with Aubrey Powell, co-founder of Thorgerson's design company Hipgnosis.{{cite web|url=http://www.inthestudio.net/online-only-interviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-the-redbeard-interview-david-gilmournick-mason/|title=Pink Floyd-The Endless River- David Gilmour, Nick Mason|date=22 December 2014|access-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702041601/http://www.inthestudio.net/online-only-interviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-the-redbeard-interview-david-gilmournick-mason/|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Powell discovered 18-year-old Egyptian artist Ahmed Emad Eldin and asked to use the concept from his piece Beyond the Sky for The Endless River.{{cite web|last1=Lopez-Reyes|first1=Ed|title=Ahmed Emad Eldin interview: designer of The Endless River cover|url=http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/other-related-interviews/ahmed-emad-eldin-interview-designer-of-the-endless-river.html|website=Brain Damage - Pink Floyd News Resource|publisher=Matt Johns|date=17 November 2014|access-date=22 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122124117/http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/other-related-interviews/ahmed-emad-eldin-interview-designer-of-the-endless-river.html|archive-date=22 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Eldin was a Pink Floyd fan and accepted enthusiastically.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/meast/egyptian-teenager-pink-floyd-album-cover/|title=Teenager designs the cover for Pink Floyd's new album, 'The Endless River'|author=CCN staff|date=24 September 2014|website=CNN|publisher=Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner Inc.)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093537/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/meast/egyptian-teenager-pink-floyd-album-cover/|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live|access-date=24 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} Powell felt Ahmed's concept had "an instant Floydian resonance", and described it as "enigmatic and open to interpretation".{{cite web|last1=Varga|first1=George|title=Pink Floyd: Hear preview of its new album|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/22/new-pink-floyd-album-release-date-set/|website=U-T San Diego|publisher=MLIM Holdings|date=22 September 2014|access-date=23 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065243/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/22/new-pink-floyd-album-release-date-set/|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The final cover is a recreation of Eldin's work by London design firm Stylorouge.{{cite web|url=http://egyptianstreets.com/2014/09/23/egyptian-teenager-designs-pink-floyds-new-album-cover/|title=Egyptian teenager designs Pink Floyd's new album cover|last1=Khairat|first1=Mohamed|date=23 September 2014|website=Egyptian Streets|publisher=ES Media Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925054412/http://egyptianstreets.com/2014/09/23/egyptian-teenager-designs-pink-floyds-new-album-cover/|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=live|access-date=23 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} Powell felt that the cover summed up the title and music, and was appropriate for the recording on the Thames.
The Endless River was also released in boxed DVD and Blu-ray "deluxe" editions, containing a 24-page hardback book, postcards, and a bonus disc of three additional tracks and six music videos. The DVD edition includes the album in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround sound, plus a 48 kHz /24 bit stereo version. The Blu-ray has DTS Master Audio and PCM, 96/24 5.1 surround and a PCM stereo 96/24 version.
Promotion
File:The Endless River Installation @ Southbank.jpg, London, were placed around the world in promotion of The Endless River.]]
Pink Floyd were affected by the sale of EMI to the Universal Music Group, which lasted from 2011 to 2013. The European Commission and the Federal Trade Commission approved the sale with conditions, including the sale of certain EMI assets.{{cite web|last1=Sweney|first1=Mark|title=Universal's bn EMI takeover approved – with conditions|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/21/universal-emi-takeover-approved|website=The Guardian|date=21 September 2012|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927140940/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/21/universal-emi-takeover-approved|archive-date=27 September 2013|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Pink Floyd, along with many other bands under the EMI roster, were transferred to different labels during the process. The Parlophone Label Group was formed under Parlophone as one of many assets to be sold off by Universal following the acquisition of EMI, with Pink Floyd transferred to the Parlophone Label Group during the sale.{{cite web|last1=Sisario|first1=Ben|title=Warner Music Group Buys EMI Assets for Million|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/warner-music-group-buys-emi-assets-for-765-million/|website=The New York Times|date=7 February 2013|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013000640/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/warner-music-group-buys-emi-assets-for-765-million/|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The Warner Music Group, in 2013, struck a deal with Universal to buy the Parlophone Label Group from EMI, acquiring publishing rights to Pink Floyd's back catalog and future releases in the process.{{cite magazine|last1=Knopper|first1=Steve|title=Pink Floyd, Radiohead Catalogs Change Label Hands|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/warner-music-pays-765-million-for-parlophone-20130208|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=8 February 2013|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183928/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/warner-music-pays-765-million-for-parlophone-20130208|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite magazine|last1=Hampp|first1=Andrew|title=Coldplay, David Guetta Go To Atlantic Records; Radiohead & Pink Floyd Catalogs, Kylie Minogue, Damon Albarn To Warner Bros: WMG's US Plans for Parlophone (Exclusive)|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/5840082/coldplay-david-guetta-go-to-atlantic-records-radiohead-pink-floyd|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=18 December 2013|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706122408/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/5840082/coldplay-david-guetta-go-to-atlantic-records-radiohead-pink-floyd|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
In a tweet on 5 July 2014, Samson released the album title and a projected release window of October 2014{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=Steve|title=David Gilmour's wife Polly Samson leaks news on Twitter about new Pink Floyd album|url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/680271/david-gilmours-wife-polly-samson-leaks-news-twitter-about-new-pink-floyd-album|website=The Georgia Straight|publisher=Vancouver Free Press|date=5 July 2014|access-date=6 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711032239/http://www.straight.com/blogra/680271/david-gilmours-wife-polly-samson-leaks-news-twitter-about-new-pink-floyd-album|archive-date=11 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} to pre-empt a tabloid newspaper report. The announcement was followed by backing vocalist Durga McBroom posting a photo of her alongside Gilmour in the recording studio.{{cite news|last1=McDonald|first1=Soraya Nadia|title=Pink Floyd is releasing its first new album in 20 years|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/07/pink-floyd-is-releasing-its-first-new-album-in-20-years/?tid=hp_mm|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings|date=7 July 2014|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122959/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/07/pink-floyd-is-releasing-its-first-new-album-in-20-years/?tid=hp_mm|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Details about The Endless River were announced on Pink Floyd's website on 7 July.{{cite news|last1=Palazzo|first1=Anthony|last2=Beech|first2=Mark|title=Pink Floyd to Release First New Album in Two Decades|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-07/pink-floyd-to-release-first-album-in-two-decades.html|website=Bloomberg Businessweek|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=8 July 2014|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712023610/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-07/pink-floyd-to-release-first-album-in-two-decades.html|archive-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
Pink Floyd and Parlophone unveiled The Endless River on 22 September 2014, including the release date, artwork and track listing, accompanied by a promotional website, a hyperstitial for the Pink Floyd website.{{cite web|last1=Johns|first1=Matt|title=New Pink Floyd album The Endless River - details and ordering info|url=http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/new-pink-floyd-album-the-endless-river-details-and-ordering.html|website=Brain Damage|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924174529/http://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/new-pink-floyd-album-the-endless-river-details-and-ordering.html|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The site featured an artist's statement, photographs from the Division Bell sessions, pre-order details and two teasers, one featuring a 30-second snippet of "It's What We Do", and a television advertisement, featuring the album's geometric-based artwork.{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=Patrick|title=Pink Floyd to release new album Nov. 10|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/09/22/pink-floyd-new-album-the-endless-river-november-10/16046587/|website=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company, Inc.|date=22 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924113210/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/09/22/pink-floyd-new-album-the-endless-river-november-10/16046587/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Gordon|first1=Jeremy|title=Pink Floyd Detail New Album The Endless River|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/56814-pink-floyd-detail-new-album-the-endless-river/|website=Pitchfork|publisher=Pitchfork Media Inc.|date=22 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924053436/http://pitchfork.com/news/56814-pink-floyd-detail-new-album-the-endless-river/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Pre-orders on physical and digital formats started the same day.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Pink Floyd sets release date for new album|url=http://www.aol.com/article/2014/09/22/pink-floyd-sets-release-date-for-new-album/20965803/|website=AOL|publisher=AOL Inc.|date=22 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924054405/http://www.aol.com/article/2014/09/22/pink-floyd-sets-release-date-for-new-album/20965803/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite magazine|last1=Iyengar|first1=Rishi|title=Pink Floyd Announces Its First New Album in 20 Years|url=https://time.com/3420020/pink-floyd-new-album-endless-river/|magazine=Time|publisher=Time Inc.|date=24 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923162204/http://time.com/3420020/pink-floyd-new-album-endless-river/|archive-date=23 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Prominent installations of the album's artwork were placed around the world, including a four-sided 8m tall billboard placed in South Bank, London,{{cite web|last=Sherwin|first=Adam|title=Pink Floyd new album: Band unveil cover art for first new record in 20 years|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-endless-river-pink-floyd-unveil-cover-art-for-their-first-new-album-in-20-years-9749012.html|website=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print Limited|date=22 September 2014|access-date=23 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923011858/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-endless-river-pink-floyd-unveil-cover-art-for-their-first-new-album-in-20-years-9749012.html|archive-date=23 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and large-scale poster advertisements in cities such as Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, Milan, New York and Sydney.{{cite web|last=Kumar|first=Revathi Siva|archive-date=20 December 2014|title=Pink Floyd's New Album To Be Released After 20 Years|url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/567361/20140924/pink-floyd-endless-river-album-sleeve-dark.htm#.VCJtsRYgshk|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141220015044/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/567361/20140924/pink-floyd-endless-river-album-sleeve-dark.htm#.VCJtsRYgshk|url-status=dead|website=International Business Times|publisher=IBT Media|date=24 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014}}{{cite web|author=Agence France-Presse|title=New Pink Floyd album to be released in November|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-pink-floyd-album-to-be-released-in-november.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72088&NewsCatID=383|website=Hürriyet Daily News|publisher=Doğan Media Group|date=23 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924085239/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-pink-floyd-album-to-be-released-in-november.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72088&NewsCatID=383|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
The album's only single, "Louder than Words", premiered on Chris Evans' breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 as a shortened radio edit. Gilmour and Mason appeared in an interview for BBC Radio 6 Music to promote the album and to discuss Wright's contributions. The track "Allons-y (1)" was made available to download from the iTunes Store on 4 November 2014. In the week before release, The Endless River became the most pre-ordered album in Amazon UK's history;Digital Spy: [http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a607495/pink-floyds-the-endless-river-beats-1d-to-most-pre-ordered-album-ever.html#~oUWmY7061Y6luY Pink Floyd's The Endless River beats 1D to most pre-ordered album ever] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318065102/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a607495/pink-floyds-the-endless-river-beats-1d-to-most-pre-ordered-album-ever.html#~oUWmY7061Y6luY |date=18 March 2015}}. Accessed 14 March 2015. the following week, the record was broken by III by Take That.{{cite magazine|last1=Pakinkis|first1=Tom|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/take-that-s-iii-becomes-amazon-uk-s-most-pre-ordered-album-of-all-time/060231?|title=Take That's III becomes Amazon UK's most pre-ordered album of all time|magazine=Music Week|date=27 November 2014|access-date=28 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129151035/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/take-that-s-iii-becomes-amazon-uk-s-most-pre-ordered-album-of-all-time/060231|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} There was no Endless River tour, as Gilmour said it was impossible without Wright.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/david-gilmour-theres-no-room-in-my-life-for-pink-floyd-20141029 |title=David Gilmour: There's No Room in My Life for Pink Floyd |date=29 October 2014 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=9 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108190911/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/david-gilmour-theres-no-room-in-my-life-for-pink-floyd-20141029 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk/david-gilmours-new-album-coming-along-very-well-in-2015 |title=David Gilmour's New Album "Coming Along Very Well..." in 2015 |date=29 October 2014 |website=Neptune Pink Floyd |access-date=9 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109154915/http://www.neptunepinkfloyd.co.uk/david-gilmours-new-album-coming-along-very-well-in-2015 |archive-date=9 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last1=Petridis|first1=Alexis|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River review – a fitting footnote to their career|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/06/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-review|website=The Guardian|date=6 November 2014|access-date=6 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106231053/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/06/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-review|archive-date=6 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
| rev3 = The Independent
| rev4 = Record Collector
| rev5 = NME
| rev6 = The Observer
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8Score = {{Rating|6|10|full=Gold medal icon blank.svg|empty=Silver medal icon blank.svg|rating=medal}}
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| rev10 = Uncut
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-endless-river-mw0002758626|title=The Endless River - Pink Floyd - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic |access-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127131020/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-endless-river-mw0002758626|archive-date=27 November 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
}}
On the review aggregator site Metacritic, The Endless River has a score of 58 based on 24 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|title=Reviews for The Endless River by Pink Floyd|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-endless-river/pink-floyd|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108134751/http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-endless-river/pink-floyd|archive-date=8 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the Financial Times praised the nostalgic "Floydian" sound, reminiscent of Pink Floyd's work prior to The Wall (1979), and wrote: "How fitting that a band so accustomed to loss should close their account with an engrossing elegy to their own past."{{cite web|last1=Hunter-Tilney|first1=Ludovic|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River – album review|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/23da931a-6432-11e4-8ade-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3IBqlVHgX|website=Financial Times|publisher=Pearson PLC|date=4 November 2014|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107054134/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/23da931a-6432-11e4-8ade-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3IBqlVHgX|archive-date=7 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Cameron Cooper of The Music gave the album three and a half out of five, writing that it felt "less like a swansong and more like a final homage ... the lack of vocals gives the music more freedom, allowing it to speak for itself".{{cite magazine|last1=Cooper|first1=Cameron|title=Pink Floyd - The Endless River|url=http://themusic.com.au/music/albumreviews/2014/11/03/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-cameron-cooper/|magazine=The Music|publisher=Street Press Australia|date=3 November 2014|access-date=5 November 2014}} In The Guardian, Alexis Petridis described it as "not a new album from an extant band, but an echo from the past – or a last, warm but slightly awkward group hug ... on those terms, it works just fine". He praised the lead single and final track "Louder than Words" as "stately, poignant and open-hearted". In Rolling Stone, David Fricke wrote: "Wright was the steady, binding majesty in the Floyd's explorations. This album is an unexpected, welcome epitaph."{{cite magazine|last1=Fricke|first1=David|title=Pink Floyd - The Endless River; Mostly instrumental set honors the band's psychedelic legacy|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-20141107|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|date=7 November 2014|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626004348/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-20141107|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The Observer wrote that the album is "an understated affair but unmistakably the Floyd ... a pretty good way to call it a day."{{cite web|last1=Woodcraft|first1=Molloy|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River review – 'a good way to call it a day'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/09/pink-floyd-endless-river-review|website=The Observer|date=9 November 2014|access-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109175029/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/09/pink-floyd-endless-river-review|archive-date=9 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
J.C. Maçek III of PopMatters wrote: "Without the vocals, something is very clearly missing and the listener is left wanting more. While this makes for a good album, The Endless River is not quite fitting to serve as the final album of the greatest rock band of their kind, to say nothing of one of the greatest rock bands of any kind ever to perform."{{cite web|work=PopMatters|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River|date=26 November 2014|author=Maçek III, J.C.|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/188361-pink-floyd-the-endless-river/|access-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801044607/http://www.popmatters.com/review/188361-pink-floyd-the-endless-river/|archive-date=1 August 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Andy Gill of The Independent called it "just aimless jamming, one long thread of Dave Gilmour's guitar against Rick Wright's pastel keyboards and Nick Mason's tentative percussion, with nary a melody of any distinction alighted upon for the duration .... without the sparking creativity of a Syd or Roger, all that's left is ghastly faux-psychedelic dinner-party muzak."{{cite web|last1=Gill|first1=Andy|title=Pink Floyd, The Endless River, album review: Boring and desperately disappointing|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-album-review-boring-and-desperately-disappointing-9840601.html|website=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print Limited|date=5 November 2014|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509204609/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/pink-floyd-the-endless-river-album-review-boring-and-desperately-disappointing-9840601.html|archive-date=9 May 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} The NME wrote that The Endless River was "a collection of spruced-up outtakes ... On those limited terms it works well enough, and it's interesting from a certain geeky perspective, but it's never quite as satisfying or substantial as you want it to be."{{cite web|last=Nicolson|first=Barry|title=NME Reviews - Pink Floyd - 'The Endless River'|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/pink-floyd/15772|website=NME|date=3 November 2014|access-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105054324/http://www.nme.com/reviews/pink-floyd/15772|archive-date=5 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Pitchfork wrote that The Endless River "is quintessentially and self-consciously Pink Floyd, for better or for worse ... it proves to be one of the few Pink Floyd releases that sounds like a step backwards, with nothing new to say and no new frontiers to explore."{{cite web|last=Deusner|first=Stephen|title=Pink Floyd: The Endless River|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20006-pink-floyd-the-endless-river/|work=Pitchfork Media|date=13 November 2014|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115171818/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20006-pink-floyd-the-endless-river/|archive-date=15 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times called it "so excruciatingly dull (even by Pink Floyd's often-dull standards) that the band's name on the cover feels like a straight-up bait-and-switch".{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-review-pink-floyd-endless-river-review-20141111-story.html|title=Pink Floyd drifts toward nothingness on 'The Endless River'|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Mikael|last=Wood|date=11 November 2014|access-date=19 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119032626/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-review-pink-floyd-endless-river-review-20141111-story.html|archive-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
Commercial performance
In the week before its release, The Endless River displaced Four by One Direction as the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon UK.{{cite web|last1=Kharpal|first1=Arjun|title=Pink Floyd album becomes most pre-ordered on Amazon|url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/102168695#.|website=cnbc.com|publisher=cnbc|date=10 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129061722/http://www.cnbc.com/id/102168695#.|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, with sales totaling 139,351 the third highest opening sales week of 2014,{{cite web |last1=Moss |first1=Liv |title=Pink Floyd on track for first Number 1 album in nearly 20 years! |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pink-floyd-on-track-for-first-number-1-album-in-nearly-20-years-3276/ |website=officialcharts.com |publisher=The Official Charts Company |date=5 November 2014 |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115175614/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pink-floyd-on-track-for-first-number-1-album-in-nearly-20-years-3276/ |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} making it Pink Floyd's sixth UK number one.{{cite web |last1=Moss |first1=Liv |title=Pink Floyd score first Number 1 album in nearly 20 years! |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pink-floyd-score-first-number-1-album-in-nearly-20-years-3290/ |website=officialcharts.com |publisher=The Official Charts Company |date=16 November 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120062753/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pink-floyd-score-first-number-1-album-in-nearly-20-years-3290/ |archive-date=20 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |title=Pink Floyd score first Number 1 album in nearly 20 years! |url=http://www.localuknews.co.uk/othernews/music/localnews/official-charts-analysis-wake-me-up-returns-to-singles-summit-as-children-in-need-charity-track |website=localuknews.co.uk |date=17 November 2014 |access-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225210830/http://www.localuknews.co.uk/othernews/music/localnews/official-charts-analysis-wake-me-up-returns-to-singles-summit-as-children-in-need-charity-track |archive-date=25 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }} As of 27 November 2014, the vinyl edition had sold 6,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling UK vinyl release of 2014 and the fastest-selling since 1997.{{cite web |last= Lee |first= Dave |title= Vinyl record sales hit 18-year high |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30216638 |access-date= 27 November 2014 |website= BBC News |date= 27 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141127080525/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30216638 |archive-date= 27 November 2014 |url-status= live |df= dmy-all }} The album also debuted at number one in several other countries, including France, Germany, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand,{{cite web |title=The Endless River Charts Overview |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/3cc43/Pink-Floyd-The-Endless-River |website=ultratop.be |publisher=Ultratop |date=16 November 2014 |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120092116/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/3cc43/Pink-Floyd-The-Endless-River |archive-date=20 January 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} and Canada.{{cite web|last1=Cross|first1=Alan|title=Weekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 19 November 2014|url=http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/weekly-music-sales-report-analysis-19-november-2014|website=ajournalofmusicalthings.com|publisher=ajournalofmusicalthings|date=19 November 2014|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123095837/http://ajournalofmusicalthings.com/weekly-music-sales-report-analysis-19-november-2014/|archive-date=23 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In the US, it debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 copies sold in its first week;{{cite web|last1=Caulfield|first1=Keith|title=Taylor Swift's '1989' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6320065/taylor-swift-1989-no-1-third-week|website=billboard.com|publisher=Billboard|date=19 November 2014|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121153019/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6320065/taylor-swift-1989-no-1-third-week|archive-date=21 November 2014|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} by January 2015, it had sold 355,000 copies there.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6436399/nielsen-music-soundscan-2014-taylor-swift-republic-records-streaming?page=0%2C3 |title=Music in 2014: Taylor Takes the Year, Republic Records on Top, Streaming to the Rescue |last=Christman |first=Ed |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=9 January 2015 |access-date=10 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111214255/http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6436399/nielsen-music-soundscan-2014-taylor-swift-republic-records-streaming?page=0%2C3 |archive-date=11 January 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} Worldwide, The Endless River sold over 2.5 million copies in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/downloads/Digital-Music-Report-2015.pdf |title=IFPI Digital Music Report 2015: Charting the Path to Sustainable Growth |website=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry |access-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310162132/http://www.ifpi.org/downloads/Digital-Music-Report-2015.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}} Tracks from the album have been downloaded/viewed a total of over two hundred million times on Spotify, the top track being Things Left Unsaid with over 20 million plays.[https://open.spotify.com/album/0yU7VItpGPmPcvKmwLg0JT?si=W9DVOuE1QK22nZ7orXUhIw The Endless River - Spotify]
Track listing
All tracks produced by David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, Youth and Andy Jackson.
{{tracklisting
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Things Left Unsaid
| writer1 = David Gilmour, Richard Wright
| length1 = 4:26
| title2 = It's What We Do
| writer2 = Gilmour, Wright
| length2 = 6:17
| title3 = Ebb and Flow
| writer3 = Gilmour, Wright
| total_length = 12:38
| length3 = 1:55
}}
{{tracklisting
| headline = Side two
| title1 = Sum
| writer1 = Gilmour, Wright, Nick Mason
| length1 = 4:48
| title2 = Skins
| writer2 = Gilmour, Wright, Mason
| length2 = 2:37
| title3 = Unsung
| writer3 = Wright
| length3 = 1:07
| title4 = Anisina
| writer4 = Gilmour
| total_length = 11:48
| length4 = 3:16
}}
{{tracklisting
| headline = Side three
| title1 = The Lost Art of Conversation
| writer1 = Wright
| length1 = 1:42
| title2 = On Noodle Street
| writer2 = Gilmour, Wright
| length2 = 1:42
| title3 = Night Light
| writer3 = Gilmour, Wright
| length3 = 1:42
| title4 = Allons-y (1)
| writer4 = Gilmour
| length4 = 1:57
| title5 = Autumn '68
| writer5 = Wright
| length5 = 1:35
| title6 = Allons-y (2)
| writer6 = Gilmour
| length6 = 1:32
| title7 = Talkin' Hawkin{{'-}}
| writer7 = Gilmour, Wright
| total_length = 13:39
| length7 = 3:29
}}
{{tracklisting
| headline = Side four
| title1 = Calling
| writer1 = Gilmour, Anthony Moore
| length1 = 3:37
| title2 = Eyes to Pearls
| writer2 = Gilmour
| length2 = 1:51
| title3 = Surfacing
| writer3 = Gilmour
| length3 = 2:46
| title4 = Louder than Words
| writer4 = Gilmour, Polly Samson
| total_length = 14:50
53:02
| length4 = 6:36
}}
- The vinyl track listing is used regardless of format (CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, digital).
Personnel
Adapted from the 2014 releaseliner notes to the 2014 release
Pink Floyd
- David Gilmour – guitars {{small|(all tracks)}}, EBow {{small|(1, 3, 10)}}, lead vocals {{small|(18)}}, backing vocals {{small|(7, 14, 17)}}, keyboards {{small|(7, 15, 16)}}, piano {{small|(6, 7)}}, EMS VCS 3 {{small|(4, 6)}}, bass guitar {{small|(2, 4, 7, 17)}}, Hammond organ {{small|(18)}}, percussion {{small|(8)}}, voice samples {{small|(1)}}
- Nick Mason – drums {{small|(2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18)}}, percussion {{small|(15, 18)}}, rototoms {{small|(5)}}, gong {{small|(5, 12, 16)}}, voice samples {{small|(1)}}
- Richard Wright – Hammond organ {{small|(1, 11, 13, 16)}}, Farfisa organ {{small|(4, 6, 14, 16)}}, Royal Albert Hall Organ {{small|(12)}}, piano {{small|(4, 6, 8, 14, 18)}}, Rhodes piano {{small|(9, 18)}}, electric piano {{small|(3)}}, keyboards {{small|(1, 2, 5, 16, 17)}}, synthesiser {{small|(1, 2, 8, 10, 14, 17, 18)}}, voice samples {{small|(1, 18)}}
Additional musicians
- Guy Pratt – bass guitar {{small|(9, 14)}}
- Bob Ezrin – bass guitar {{small|(11, 13, 18)}}, additional keyboards {{small|(1)}}
- Andy Jackson – bass guitar {{small|(5, 16)}}, effects {{small|(15)}}
- Jon Carin – synthesisers {{small|(9, 11, 13)}}, percussion loop {{small|(11, 13)}}
- Damon Iddins – additional keyboards {{small|(4, 12)}}
- Anthony Moore – keyboards {{small|(15)}}
- Gilad Atzmon – tenor saxophone {{small|(7)}}, clarinet {{small|(7)}}
- Durga McBroom – backing vocals {{small|(14, 17, 18)}}
- Louise Marshall – backing vocals {{small|(18)}}
- Sarah Brown – backing vocals {{small|(18)}}
- Stephen Hawking – voice sample {{small|(14)}}
- Escala:
- Chantal Leverton – viola {{small|(18)}}
- Victoria Lyon – violin {{small|(18)}}
- Helen Nash – cello {{small|(18)}}
- Honor Watson – violin {{small|(18)}}
Production and design
- Bob Ezrin – co-producer (1993 sessions)
- David Gilmour – producer
- Phil Manzanera – producer
- Andy Jackson – producer, engineer, mixing, mastering of bonus content on DVD and Blu-ray
- Youth – producer, engineer, additional programming, sound design, assorted synthesisers and keyboards
- Eddie Bander – engineer, additional programming, sound design, assorted synthesisers and keyboards
- Michael Rendall – engineer, additional programming, sound design, assorted synthesisers and keyboards
- Damon Iddins – engineer
- James Guthrie – mastering for CD{{cite web |url=http://www.soundbard.com/soundbard/louder-than-words-producer-andy-jackson-takes-us-exclusively-inside-the-making-of-the-final-pink-floyd-album-the-endless-river/ |title=Louder Than Words: Producer Andy Jackson Takes Us Exclusively Inside the Making of the Final Pink Floyd Album, The Endless River |publisher=soundbard.com |access-date=2014-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028011123/http://www.soundbard.com/soundbard/louder-than-words-producer-andy-jackson-takes-us-exclusively-inside-the-making-of-the-final-pink-floyd-album-the-endless-river/ |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}
- Joel Plante – mastering for CD
- Doug Sax – mastering for the vinyl issue
- Aubrey Powell – creative director
- Stylorouge – sleeve design
- Ahmed Emad Eldin – album cover concept
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|+Weekly chart performance for The Endless River ! scope="col"| Chart (2014–2015) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|3|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=15 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=18 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Brazilian Albums (ABPD){{cite web|url=http://www.portalsucesso.com.br/ranking?tipo=10top|title=Ranking ABPD - CD - 24/11/2014 a 30/11/2014|date=8 June 2012 |language=pt|publisher=Portal Sucesso|access-date=12 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604194356/http://www.portalsucesso.com.br/ranking?tipo=10top|archive-date=4 June 2016|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |
|---|
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Pink Floyd|access-date=20 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Croatia|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=15 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|date=201446|access-date=18 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|4|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|France|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Germany3|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Greece|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|year=2014|week=2|access-date=22 December 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Hungary|3|year=2014|week=46|access-date=20 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland|1|year=2014|week=46|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Israeli Albums Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaneto.com/best-seller/|script-title=he:חמשת הנצפים ביותר|publisher=Musicaneto|language=he|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606133744/http://www.musicaneto.com/best-seller/|archive-date=6 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|Italy|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=10 January 2016|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Oricon|7|date=2014-11-18|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|KoreaInt|4|date=2014.11.09~2014.11.15|rowheader=true|access-date=9 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=14 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Poland|1|id=897|access-date=10 January 2016|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Portugal|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=17 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20141116|access-date=19 November 2021|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|6|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|rowheader=true|access-date=16 November 2014}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=18 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Pink Floyd|album=The Endless River|access-date=18 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|1|artist=Pink Floyd|date=20141116|access-date=19 November 2021|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20141116112/|title=Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=23 September 2022}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|3|artist=Pink Floyd|access-date=20 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|2|artist=Pink Floyd|access-date=20 November 2014|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
=Decade-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Decade-end chart performance for The Endless River ! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/chartsoffiziell/status/1198633857504952320|title=Dieses Album und diese Single belegen Platz 38 unseres Jahrzehnts-Ranking.|via=Twitter|work=GfK Entertainment|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|language=de|access-date=25 November 2019}}
| 38 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2015|relyear=2014|access-date=6 March 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2014|access-date=17 November 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2014|access-date=13 December 2014|relyear=2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=video|relyear=2015|certyear=2015|note=DVD|access-date=19 December 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2014|access-date=30 December 2015|relyear=2014|salesamount=89,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6451045/nielsen-music-canada-report-2014-sales-streaming-data |title=Nielsen: Canada Loved Taylor Swift, Streaming Music and, Yep, Vinyl in 2014 |last=Bliss |first=Karen |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |date=27 January 2015 |access-date=30 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131070742/http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6451045/nielsen-music-canada-report-2014-sales-streaming-data |archive-date=31 January 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2014|certmonth=12|relyear=2014|id=5359|access-date=19 May 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2014|relmonth=11|certyear=2015|access-date=15 April 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|number=3|type=album|relyear=2014|relmonth=11|access-date=28 February 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=album|access-date=21 November 2014|relyear=2014|certyear=2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|number=4|type=album|access-date=30 December 2014|relyear=2014|certyear=2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|type=album|award=Platinum+Gold|number=3|relyear=2014|certyear=2019|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CertificacionesAmprofon/photos/a.1394085487382725/1396958990428708|title=Certificados Musicales Amprofon (in Spanish)|publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|access-date=5 October 2021}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|id=2014-11-14|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|type=album}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2014|relyear=2014|access-date=12 February 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|relyear=2014|certyear=2015|certmonth=1|title=The Endless River|artist=Pink Floyd|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|date=14 January 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2015|relyear=2014|certweek=4|position=56|access-date=12 February 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2015|access-date=21 November 2014|relyear=2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2014|certyear=2014|id=13040-1497-2|access-date=17 November 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2014|certyear=2015|access-date=17 November 2014}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|award=Platinum|relyear=2014|type=album|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|certyear=2014|access-date=24 March 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide (IFPI)|nocert=true|artist=Pink Floyd|title=The Endless River|type=album|salesamount=2,500,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/news/Global-digital-music-revenues-match-physical-format-sales-for-first-time|title=IFPI publishes Digital Music Report 2015|work=IFPI|date=14 April 2015|access-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414194629/http://www.ifpi.org/news/Global-digital-music-revenues-match-physical-format-sales-for-first-time|archive-date=14 April 2015|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
Release schedule
Adaptations
- Ian Emes, a British artist and film director, and Pink Floyd's original animator, created a film using The Endless River music that was released in 2019.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11686954/ | title=The Endless River | website=IMDb }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{citation | last = Mason | first = Nick | title = Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd | publisher = Phoenix | edition = paperback | editor = Philip Dodd | year = 2005 | isbn = 0-7538-1906-6}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://www.pinkfloyd.com/theendlessriver/ The Endless River promotional website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007185111/http://www.pinkfloyd.com/theendlessriver/ |date=7 October 2014}}
- {{Discogs master|type=album|754253|name=The Endless River}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Richard Wright}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Endless River, The}}
Category:albums produced by David Gilmour
Category:albums produced by Phil Manzanera
Category:albums produced by Youth (musician)
Category:albums published posthumously
Category:albums with cover art by Hipgnosis
Category:ambient albums by English artists
Category:blues rock albums by English artists