Saturday, March 7, 2020

Pink Floyd - Discovery (Box Set) (2011) | Album Review, Fun Facts & Trivia

Pink Floyd - Discovery (Box Set) (2011)

Front and back image album covers of box set Discovery

Pink Floyd – Discovery (Box Set) (2011)

The Definitive Remastered Studio Album Collection

Released on September 26, 2011, Discovery is Pink Floyd’s complete studio album box set featuring newly remastered versions of all 14 studio albums. Part of the band’s massive “Why Pink Floyd…?” reissue campaign, this collection presented the most sonically updated and accessible version of their catalog to date.

For many fans and collectors, Discovery became the modern standard for Pink Floyd’s studio discography on CD.

Box Set Overview

Artist: Pink Floyd
Title: Discovery
Release Date: September 26, 2011
Format: 16 CDs (14 studio albums; The Wall on 2 discs)
Label: EMI (UK), Capitol (US)
Remastering: James Guthrie, Joel Plante, Bernie Grundman
Total Runtime: Over 12 hours of music
Era Covered: 1967–1994

Albums Included in the Discovery Box Set

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (1969)
Ummagumma (1969)
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979) – 2 CDs
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)

This marked the first time all albums were uniformly remastered under a single coordinated project.

Remastering & Audio Quality

The Discovery editions were remastered by longtime Floyd collaborator James Guthrie, with assistance from Joel Plante and mastering by Bernie Grundman.

Improvements Included:

Enhanced clarity and depth
Improved dynamic range
More balanced EQ
Cleaner low-end frequencies
Reduced harshness on earlier digital masters

Many audiophiles consider these the best standard CD versions of Pink Floyd’s studio albums.

Packaging & Presentation

The box set features:

Minimalist black slipcase design
Individually packaged CDs in cardboard sleeves
60-page booklet with album artwork and credits
Uniform spine design for clean shelf display

The presentation is modern and streamlined, focusing more on audio quality than elaborate packaging.

Part of the “Why Pink Floyd…?” Campaign

Discovery was one of three main tiers released in 2011:

1️⃣ Discovery

Standard remastered albums only

2️⃣ Experience Editions

Remastered album + bonus material

3️⃣ Immersion Editions

Deluxe multi-disc sets with demos, live recordings, Blu-ray, memorabilia

This campaign reignited global interest in Pink Floyd’s catalog.

Commercial Performance & Sales

The 2011 reissue campaign was commercially successful:

Multiple albums re-entered international charts
Strong sales during release week
Renewed interest from both longtime fans and new listeners

While the box set itself wasn’t aimed at topping charts, it became a popular catalog purchase worldwide.

Critical Reception & Ratings

Reception was very positive:

Praised for sound quality improvements
Applauded for consistency across the catalog
Considered a superior alternative to earlier remasters

Retrospective View

Fans often rank Discovery above:

The 1992 Shine On remasters
The 2007 Oh, by the Way box

Many collectors consider it the definitive standard CD edition of the Floyd catalog.

Fun Facts & Trivia

🎵 Did You Know?

The remastering process reportedly took over a year to complete.
Bernie Grundman is one of the most respected mastering engineers in music history.
The box does not include live albums or compilations.
It predates the 2016 archival mega-set The Early Years 1965–1972.
The minimalist black design contrasts sharply with the colorful Floyd album artwork inside.

Comparison to Other Pink Floyd Box Sets

Box Set	Year	Key Feature
Shine On	1992	Classic-era focus
Oh, by the Way	2007	Complete studio albums (older remasters)
Discovery	2011	Complete studio albums (new remasters)
The Early Years	2016	Archival material & rare recordings