David Gilmour (album)
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David Gilmour is the debut solo studio album by Pink Floyd guitarist and co-lead vocalist David Gilmour, released on 26 May 1978.<ref name="Mabbett-2010">Template:Cite book</ref> The album reached number 17 in the UK<ref name="officialcharts1">Template:Cite web</ref> and number 29 on the Billboard US album charts; it was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA. The album was produced by Gilmour, and consists mostly of blues and guitar-oriented rock songs, except for the piano-dominated ballad "So Far Away".
Production and recording
The tracks used for the album were recorded between February and March 1978 with engineer John Etchells at Super Bear Studios in France.<ref name="davidgilmour.com">Template:Cite web</ref> They were then mixed at the same studio by Nick Griffiths. Session musicians included bass guitarist Rick Wills and drummer Willie Wilson, both of whom used to be part of Jokers Wild with Gilmour.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> The album was recorded at the same studio where Pink Floyd bandmate Richard Wright had recorded his first solo album Wet Dream just weeks before, though it would not be released until September 1978.
Album's cover artwork
Template:Unreferenced section The album cover used for the first EMI pressings of the album LP was done by Hipgnosis and Gilmour and includes Gilmour, Rick Wills and Willie Wilson in the cover photo; Gilmour was credited on the cover for contributing "Keyboards, Vocals" though he was primarily a guitarist. The CBS/Columbia pressings (outside Europe) listed Gilmour as contributing "Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals". Among those depicted on the inner sleeve is Gilmour's then-wife, Ginger.
Single and songs
The album's only single was "There's No Way Out of Here." The single flopped in Europe, but became popular on album-oriented rock radio stations in the US.Template:Citation needed The song was originally recorded by the band Unicorn (as "No Way Out of Here") for their 1976 album Too Many Crooks (Harvest Records, US title Unicorn 2), which Gilmour produced.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Discogs artist</ref> It was also recorded later by New Jersey stoner rock band Monster Magnet on their Monolithic Baby! album,Template:Citation needed and by Iron & Wine on his 2015 covers album Sing Into My Mouth.Template:Citation needed
One unused tune that was written and demoed at the time would later evolve, with lyrics by Roger Waters, into Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" on The Wall.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> However, a song included on this album, the piano ballad "So Far Away", uses a chorus progression not unlike the chorus to "Comfortably Numb", albeit in a different key.<ref name=BobWall>Template:Cite book</ref>
Likewise, the song "Short and Sweet" can be seen as a musical precursor to "Run Like Hell" (also from The Wall), with its shifting chords over a D pedal point, using a flanged guitar in Drop D tuning.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Short and Sweet" was written in collaboration with Roy Harper, who recorded a version, on which Gilmour played, for his 1980 album The Unknown Soldier.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" />
Promotion
A five-song promotional film was made to promote the album.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> The band comprised Gilmour on guitars and vocals, the two musicians on the album (bass player Rick Wills and drummer Willie Wilson) plus David Gilmour's brother Mark on rhythm guitar and Ian McLagan on keyboards. They performed "Mihalis", "There's No Way Out of Here", "So Far Away", "No Way", and "I Can't Breathe Anymore".<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> There were three female backing singers on "There's No Way Out of Here" and "So Far Away": Debbie Doss, Shirley Roden, and Carlena Williams. The promo was recorded live at The Roxy, London.<ref name="BBC">Template:Cite web</ref>
Also, Gilmour promoted the album with his first everTemplate:Citation needed interviews with North American media and FM rock radio stations. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard album charts, which - until 2006's On an Island - was Gilmour's highest charting solo album in the US, eventually going Gold.
Release and reception
Template:Album reviews The album was released in the UK on 26 May 1978,<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> and in June 1978 in the US, on Harvest and Columbia respectively.
In an interview with Circus in 1978, Gilmour said: "This album [David Gilmour] was important to me in terms of self-respect. At first I didn't think my name was big enough to carry it. Being in a group for so long can be a bit claustrophobic, and I needed to step out from behind Pink Floyd's shadow."
Track listing
All music composed by David Gilmour except "There's No Way Out of Here" written by Ken Baker.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> All lyrics by Gilmour, except where noted.
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
2006 Remastered Edition
David Gilmour was re-released by EMI Records in Europe as a digitally remastered CD on 14 August 2006.<ref name="Mabbett-2010" /> Legacy Recordings/Columbia Records released the remastered CD in the US and Canada on 12 September 2006. It features slightly extended versions of some of the tracks. Template:Track listing
Personnel
- David Gilmour – lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel guitar, keyboards, piano on "So Far Away", harmonica on "There's No Way Out of Here", production, cover design
- Rick Wills – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Willie Wilson – drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Mick Weaver – additional piano on "So Far Away"
- Carlena Williams – backing vocals on "There's No Way Out of Here" and "So Far Away"
- Debi Doss – backing vocals on "There's No Way Out of Here" and "So Far Away"
- Shirley Roden – backing vocals on "There's No Way Out of Here" and "So Far Away"<ref name="davidgilmour.com"/>
- Production team
- Hipgnosis – cover design; photography
Charts
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 22 |
| Swedish Albums Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 20 |
| UK Albums Chart<ref name="officialcharts1"/> | 17 |
| US Billboard Top LPs & Tape<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 29 |