Pulse [Slipcase] by Pink Floyd (CD, Jun-1995, 2 Discs, Columbia USA)

Over time, this has become one of my favourite albums. As a rule, I don't go much for compilation albums. However, this double album, taken from a Floyd concert (and happily unflawed sound-wise) has a real life of its own. This remains true even though the tracks are all taken from former albums which I love to listen to all by themselves. Often when you hear a song out of its original album context, you miss the support it derived from the pieces that went with it. This is particularly true of bands like the Moody Blues, who made albums rather than just songs, and it ought to be true of Pink Floyd. Yet "Pulse" works and it works well; I find myself playing it more and more often with real pleasure, even though I have most of the original albums on CD now as well. For me, it has taken its place in the Floyd catalogue and is well worth owning. I wouldn't buy it for the packaging alone, but I have to admit that's impressive also, and somehow typical of the group.