If (Pink Floyd song)
"If" | |
---|---|
Song by Pink Floyd | |
from the album Atom Heart Mother | |
Published | World Copyrights |
Released | 2 October 1970 (UK) 10 October 1970 (US) |
Recorded | 12 June - 21 July 1970[1] |
Studio | Abbey Road Studios, London |
Genre | |
Length | 4:31 |
Label | Harvest |
Songwriter(s) | Roger Waters |
Producer(s) | Pink Floyd, Norman Smith (executive producer) |
"If" is a song by English rock band Pink Floyd on their 1970 album Atom Heart Mother.[2][3] This song was one of several to be considered for the band's "best of" album, Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd.[4]
Writing
Written and sung by Roger Waters, like "Grantchester Meadows" before it, "If" carries on a pastoral and folky approach,[5][6] but instead deals with introspection.[7] The song is in the key of E major.
Live
The song was performed live at a
Reception
In a review for the Atom Heart Mother album on release, Alec Dubro of Rolling Stone gave "If" a negative review, calling the song "English folk at its deadly worst. It's soft and silly." Dubro said the same for "Fat Old Sun".[9] Rolling Stone would later praise the song in 2007, however, writing "Roger Waters' pastoral ballad on this flawed album was a moving examination of the terror of isolation; Floyd were finally rooting their astral travels in true songwriting."[10] In another positive review, Stephen Deusner of Paste described "If" as one of Roger Waters' best compositions.[11] In another positive review, Irving Tan of Sputnik Music believes "If" contains "very introspective lyrics that end up making a memorable outing", but also believed the track was not as well-written as some of his later and earlier pieces.[12] Tan also believed the track was reminiscent of "Grantchester Meadows", another Waters-penned track from Ummagumma a year before.[12]
Personnel
- Roger Waters – lead and backing vocals, classical guitar, bass guitar
- David Gilmour – slide electric guitar
- Richard Wright – Hammond organ, piano
- Nick Mason – drums
References
- ISBN 9780316439237.
- ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
- ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
- ^ Guthrie, James. "James Guthrie: Audio: Building A Compilation Album". Pink Floyd. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ISBN 1-84353-575-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-905139-09-8.
- ISBN 1-84353-575-0.
- ^ Bailie, Geoff (19 April 2022). "Concert Review: Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets - Ulster Hall, Belfast - April 14th, 2022". The Prog Report. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ Dubro, Alec (10 December 1970). "Atom Heart Mother". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ Gilmore, Mikal; David Fricke (5 April 2007). "The Madness & Majesty of Pink Floyd". Rolling Stone. No. 1023. Straight Arrow Publishers. p. 79 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen (6 October 2011). "Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother ("Why Pink Floyd?" Reissue)". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ a b Tan, Irving (18 September 2010). "Review: Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
External links