Delicate Sound of Thunder (Pink Floyd; Columbia). Given the kinds of cow palaces they generally played, Pink Floyd more often generated a distant rumble than a delicate sound during their much ballyhooed tour this past year. Anyone wondering what they missed can find the answer on this live, double-album set.
Like the shows themselves, ”Thunder” balances classic Floyd material
(”One of These Days,” ”Time,” ”Wish You Were Here”) with selections, such as ”Learning to Fly,” from their last studio album.
Surprisingly, their most over-worked number, ”Money,” is the one that gets the most interesting and varied treatment. The other songs stick closely to the studio originals, an attempt perhaps to prove the Roger Water-less trio (here with the aid of eight additional players and back-up vocalists)
really is the rightful heir to the Floyd name and legacy.
”Thunder” is an impressively crisp, clear and revealing recording (or is it a re-recording?) that, at least sonically, offers more than the original performances did. (Reviewed on LP.)
