Years ago, we had friends over for dinner and a record listening party. One of my favorite things to do is let friends play DJ, choosing records from my collection and bringing their own.
Late that evening, a friend pulled out Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut and said, “I can’t believe you own this. It’s garbage!”
I’d always enjoyed the record. We debated it while listening to other albums, but neither of us changed the other’s mind.
Roger Waters’ Last Pink Floyd Album
Released in 1983, The Final Cut was Roger Waters’ last album with Pink Floyd. The project grew from plans to revisit material connected to The Wall into a personal anti-war album shaped by the Falklands conflict.
Many people call this a Roger Waters solo record, and it’s easy to understand why. Waters wrote every song and sang lead on all but “Not Now John,” which features David Gilmour. Richard Wright was absent entirely. Even the album’s subtitle makes Waters’ role clear: “A Requiem for the Post War Dream by Roger Waters, performed by Pink Floyd.”
Reviews were divided when The Final Cut came out, but it still reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 6 in the US. My friend’s reaction certainly wasn’t the only unfavorable one. But whatever its standing in Pink Floyd’s catalog, it has remained a record I enjoy.
Michael Kamen co-produced the album with Waters and James Guthrie, and handled orchestral arrangements and conducting.
The Moment in “The Gunner’s Dream” That Keeps Me Listening
“The Gunner’s Dream” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, in large part because of Raphael Ravenscroft’s tenor saxophone. Around the 2:10 mark, Roger Waters’ voice blends into the saxophone as Ravenscroft’s solo begins. It’s a magical moment, and one of the reasons I keep returning to this record.
I wouldn’t argue that The Final Cut is Pink Floyd’s best album. But it’s still one I revisit regularly. My friend heard a record he couldn’t stand. I hear moments that make it worth putting on again.
