Pink Floyd - Obscured by Clouds - Released Year 1972
Tracklist front / back album covers
Side one
1. "Obscured by Clouds" 3:03
2. "When You're In" 2:18
3. "Burning Bridges" 3:29
4. "The Gold It's in the..." 3:07
5. "Wot's... Uh the Deal?" 5:08
6. "Mudmen" Instrumental 4:20
Total length: 21:25
Side two
1. "Childhood's End" 4:31
2. "Free Four" 4:15
3. "Stay" 4:05
4. "Absolutely Curtains" Instrumental 5:52
Total length: 18:43
Side one
1. "Obscured by Clouds" 3:03
2. "When You're In" 2:18
3. "Burning Bridges" 3:29
4. "The Gold It's in the..." 3:07
5. "Wot's... Uh the Deal?" 5:08
6. "Mudmen" Instrumental 4:20
Total length: 21:25
Side two
1. "Childhood's End" 4:31
2. "Free Four" 4:15
3. "Stay" 4:05
4. "Absolutely Curtains" Instrumental 5:52
Total length: 18:43
Obscured by Clouds is the 1972 album by Pink Floyd, serving as the soundtrack for Barbet Schroeder’s film La Vallée. Released just before their monumental The Dark Side of the Moon, this album showcases the band’s transition from psychedelic rock to a more refined, melodic style.
The album blends atmospheric instrumentals with folk-infused songs and bluesy grooves, foreshadowing the grand soundscapes of Pink Floyd’s 1970s masterpieces.
🎶 Fun Facts about Obscured by Clouds:
🎸 The album was recorded in just two weeks, with the band working quickly to meet the film’s deadline.
🎤 The track “Free Four” was one of the first Pink Floyd songs to feature explicit references to mortality and the music industry.
🎹 David Gilmour’s slide guitar and Richard Wright’s atmospheric keyboards hint at the cinematic sounds to come in The Dark Side of the Moon.
🎧 The album’s title track and “Wot’s… Uh the Deal” have become cult favorites among Floyd fans.
🥁 The album’s dreamy, laid-back vibe makes it a perfect companion for a relaxing listening session.
Obscured by Clouds is often considered an underrated gem in Pink Floyd’s discography. It’s a perfect snapshot of the band’s evolving sound, balancing introspective folk-rock and lush instrumentals. A must-hear for any Floyd fan or lover of early 70s rock!
Obscured by Clouds is the 7th studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 2 June 1972 by Harvest and Capitol Records. It is based on their soundtrack for the French film La Vallée, by Barbet Schroeder. It was recorded in two sessions in France, while they were in the midst of touring, and produced by the band members.
The album is shorter than some of their previous material, and makes heavy use of the acoustic guitar. Lyrically, the songs centre around love, a common theme in the film it was inspired by. The album's only single was "Free Four". Obscured by Clouds has been seen as a stopgap for the band, who had started work on their next album, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973). The work is often overlooked in the band canon, primarily because of the success of their later material. Nevertheless, the album reached number six in the UK and number 46 in the US, and retrospective opinions from both fans and critics have been positive, with some critics noting the similarities to their later material.
