Pink Floyd – More (1969)
Album Review, Credits, Tracklist, Chart Performance, Trivia, Awards & Legacy
More (1969) is the third studio album by Pink Floyd and their first full soundtrack project. Created for Barbet Schroeder’s French film More, the album showcases the band’s growing versatility — shifting between acoustic folk ballads, heavy psychedelic rock, and atmospheric instrumentals.
Often overlooked compared to their later masterpieces, More captures Pink Floyd in a creative transitional phase as they moved toward the expansive progressive sound of the 1970s.
Album Overview
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Artist: Pink Floyd
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Album Title: More (Original Film Soundtrack)
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Release Date: 13 June 1969 (UK)
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Label: Columbia (UK), Tower Records (US)
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Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Folk Rock, Soundtrack
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Length: 45:13
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Producer: Pink Floyd
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Recorded: January–February 1969
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Studio: Pye Studios, London
Background & Recording
More was written and recorded quickly after director Barbet Schroeder approached the band to compose music for his film about a young couple’s descent into heroin addiction.
Unlike their previous albums, More was produced by the band themselves — marking a step toward creative independence. The album highlights a growing dominance of Roger Waters’ songwriting, though all members contributed.
This project allowed Pink Floyd to experiment across genres, from soft acoustic melodies to hard-edged rock tracks.
Tracklist
Side One
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Cirrus Minor
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The Nile Song
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Crying Song
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Up the Khyber
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Green Is the Colour
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Cymbaline
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Party Sequence
Side Two
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Main Theme
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Ibiza Bar
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More Blues
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Quicksilver
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A Spanish Piece
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Dramatic Theme
Track Highlights
🌿 Cirrus Minor
A gentle acoustic opener featuring bird sound effects and church organ, creating a dreamy, pastoral atmosphere.
🔥 The Nile Song
One of the heaviest songs in Pink Floyd’s early catalog — aggressive and proto-hard rock in style.
🌊 Green Is the Colour
A delicate folk ballad that later evolved into live performances transitioning into “Careful with That Axe, Eugene.”
🌙 Cymbaline
A moody, introspective track that became a live favorite, often extended with atmospheric sound effects.
Album Credits
Band Members
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David Gilmour – Guitar, vocals
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Roger Waters – Bass guitar, vocals
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Richard Wright – Keyboards, vocals
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Nick Mason – Drums, percussion
Production Team
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Produced by: Pink Floyd
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Engineers: Brian Humphries and others
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Film Director: Barbet Schroeder
Chart Performance & Commercial Reception
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UK Albums Chart: #9
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US Billboard 200: Did not chart
The album performed respectably in the UK but had limited commercial impact in the US at the time. Over the years, it gained appreciation among dedicated fans for its stylistic diversity.
Awards & Recognition
While More did not receive major awards upon release, it is recognized for:
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Being Pink Floyd’s first full soundtrack album
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Expanding their musical range beyond psychedelia
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Helping establish their reputation in European cinema circles
Retrospective reviews often praise it as an important transitional record in the band’s evolution.
Musical Style & Themes
More stands out for its stylistic range:
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Acoustic folk ballads
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Heavy psychedelic rock
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Instrumental film score pieces
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Experimental ambient textures
Lyrically, the album reflects themes of:
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Isolation
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Addiction
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Emotional detachment
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Existential reflection
The soundtrack format allowed the band to experiment freely without the constraints of a traditional concept album.
Fun Facts
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🎬 The album was written specifically for a French art-house film about heroin addiction.
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🔥 “The Nile Song” is one of the heaviest early Pink Floyd tracks and influenced later hard rock acts.
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🌿 “Green Is the Colour” became part of extended live medleys.
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🎼 This was the band’s first album produced without Norman Smith.
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🇫🇷 The film More was primarily in French, boosting Pink Floyd’s popularity in Europe.
Did You Know? (Trivia & Goofs)
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Did you know the band composed much of the music after viewing rough cuts of the film?
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Did you know “Ibiza Bar” reworks the melody structure of “The Nile Song” in a bluesier style?
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Goof: The US album cover differed slightly in color tone compared to the UK release.
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Goof: Some early pressings had minor labeling inconsistencies regarding track timings.
Critical Legacy
Although not considered a top-tier Pink Floyd classic, More is significant because it:
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Marked the band’s shift toward atmospheric, cinematic compositions
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Showed Roger Waters emerging as a conceptual force
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Demonstrated their ability to work in multimedia formats
It serves as a bridge between the psychedelic experimentation of their early years and the expansive progressive era to come.
Final Verdict
⭐ Rating: 7.5/10
More is an underrated gem in Pink Floyd’s catalog. While uneven in places, its diversity and atmospheric depth make it essential for fans exploring the band’s complete discography.
