Reviewing greatest-hits CDs is simple when you apply the basic rules. Once again, to qualify for recommendation, a band releasing a best-of must be A, great, B, have hits, and C, come up with two new songs. The last point is in fact a standard clause in modern record contracts. It really is the law.

Pink Floyd is a great band. Check. Despite the fact that the band wrote dense, grandiose, psychedelic music so dramatic that every chord change feels like a brand new world - and which wouldn't stand a chance of getting on the radio were it to come out today - Floyd had hits.

A surprising number of them, actually. Check. They're all here and then some on two CDs, "digitally remastered" - just as the marijuana you need to really get into this stuff has been greatly improved since the '70s.

There are zero new songs here (those rebels), but the mind-blowing quality of older, more-obscure material makes up for it, especially the Syd Barrett tune, Bike. Whoa, man, what was he on? Thus, a top rating for Echoes. (More on: Pink Floyd).

Track Listing Disc: 1
  1. Arnold Layne
  2. See Emily Play
  3. Astronomy Domine
  4. Bike
  5. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
  6. Jugband Blues
  7. One Of These Days (Hey, Ho, Hey, Ho)
  8. Echoes
  9. Time
  10. The Great Gig In The Sky
  11. Money
  12. Us And Them
  13. Shine On You Crazy Diamond
  14. Wish You Were Here
  15. Sheep
 
  Disc: 2
  1. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
  2. The Happiest Days Of Our Lives
  3. Hey You
  4. Comfortably Numb
  5. The Fletcher Memorial Home
  6. When Tigers Broke Free - (previously unreleased)
  7. Learning To Fly
  8. Sorrow
  9. Marooned - (excerpt)
  10. Keep Talking
  11. High Hopes
  12. Keep Talking
  13. High Hopes