Pink Floyd’s New “8-Tracks” Compilation Resurrects a Lost Animals-Era Gem

Announced today, “8-Tracks” is a new compilation pulling eight songs from Pink Floyd’s imperial 1971 to 1979 run. It arrives June 5 via Sony Music on vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The tracklist covers familiar ground with “Money,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2,” “Time,” and “Comfortably Numb.” But the real draw is what’s buried at the end of Side B.

The compilation includes the full-length version of “Pigs on the Wing,” previously available only on the 8-track cartridge pressing of 1977’s “Animals.” That version bridged the two short acoustic parts of the song with a guitar solo performed by Snowy White, who was auditioning for the band’s touring lineup at the time. The story behind it is one of those perfect rock and roll accidents. White showed up to meet the band, and Roger Waters casually asked him to lay down a solo on the spot. David Gilmour handed White his famous white Stratocaster, White heard the song once, and played the part. He later admitted he wasn’t even a Pink Floyd fan at the time, describing himself as a narrow-minded blues player with little interest in anything outside that world.

That solo has been a collector’s curiosity for nearly fifty years. Its inclusion here, exclusive to this compilation, is the clearest reason for longtime fans to care about yet another best-of package.

The rest of the tracklist reaches beyond the obvious hits. “One of These Days” from 1971’s “Meddle” and the underappreciated “Wot’s… Uh the Deal” from 1972’s “Obscured by Clouds” round out the selection, pulling from five different albums across the decade. Steven Wilson sequenced the album and edited transitions between tracks using sound effects sourced from the original multitracks, creating what the press materials describe as a continuous listening experience in classic Floydian style. Wilson’s involvement adds credibility. His remixes and remastering work on Floyd’s catalog over the past decade have been consistently excellent.

An official statement frames the project as both a gateway for new listeners and a curated collection for the faithful, noting that the songs document Pink Floyd’s transformation from underground psychedelic experimenters into one of the biggest rock bands on the planet.

The announcement caps a strong stretch for the Floyd brand. The 50th anniversary reissue of “Wish You Were Here” charted in the Top 10 worldwide and hit number one in the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Before that, the cinematic re-release of “Pink Floyd at Pompeii” became a Top 10 box office hit, with its accompanying soundtrack earning the band their first UK number one album since 2014’s “The Endless River.”

Pre-orders for “8-Tracks” are open now. The full tracklist runs as follows.

Side A: “One of These Days,” “Wot’s… Uh the Deal,” “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” Side B: “Wish You Were Here,” “Time,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Pigs on the Wing” (full version).

For a band whose catalog has been repackaged more times than anyone can count, the presence of this lost Snowy White solo might be enough to make this one matter.