Pink Floyd have officially announced a 50th anniversary edition of their landmark 1975 album Wish You Were Here, set for release on 12 December — exactly fifty years and three months after its original arrival.
Rumours of the release began circulating after fans noticed a subtle but coordinated change across the band’s online presence. Album artwork on streaming services quietly reverted to the original Wish You Were Here design, while Pink Floyd’s social media profiles adopted the distinctive plain black shrink-wrap that originally concealed the LP on shop shelves back in 1975. Soon after, listeners discovered an early Apple Music listing showing a full tracklist, confirming suspicions that a major anniversary edition was imminent.
A Landmark Album Returns
Wish You Were Here was the band’s highly anticipated follow-up to The Dark Side of the Moon, and has since become one of Pink Floyd’s most acclaimed and enduring works. Known for its themes of absence, industry cynicism and tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, the album has long been a fan favourite — and this new edition promises to be the most expansive yet.
What’s Included in the 50th Anniversary Set
The newly announced release will feature unheard demos, alternate versions, and a full 1975 live recording from the Los Angeles Sports Arena, alongside the original five-track album. It’s a comprehensive celebration of Pink Floyd’s mid-’70s era at their creative peak.
Full tracklist:
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1–5)
- Welcome to the Machine
- Have a Cigar
- Wish You Were Here
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 6–9)
- Wine Glasses
- Have a Cigar (Alternate Version)
- Wish You Were Here (feat. Stéphane Grappelli)
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Early Instrumental Version)
- The Machine Song (Roger’s Demo)
- The Machine Song (Demo #2)
- Wish You Were Here (Take 1)
- Wish You Were Here (Pedal Steel Instrumental Mix)
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1–9, New Stereo Mix)
Live from the Los Angeles Sports Arena, 1975:
- Raving and Drooling
- You’ve Got to Be Crazy
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1–5)
- Have a Cigar
- Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 6–9)
- Speak to Me
- Breathe (In the Air)
- On the Run
- Time
- The Great Gig in the Sky
- Money
- Us and Them
- Any Colour You Like
- Brain Damage
- Eclipse
- Echoes
Part of a Wider Archive Project
The Wish You Were Here 50th anniversary set arrives as part of Sony Music’s reported $400 million acquisition of Pink Floyd’s back catalogue, giving the label free rein to mine the archives for future releases.
Earlier this year, Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii became the first release under the deal, and this anniversary edition appears to be the next major instalment. Fans had speculated about further archival material following the social media “black bag” teaser — a nod to the album’s original packaging — and those hopes have now been rewarded.
Pre-Save Now Available
Ahead of its December release, fans can now pre-save the Wish You Were Here (50th Anniversary Edition) on Spotify, with Have a Cigar (Alternate Version) and The Machine Song (Demo #2) already available as preview singles.
Half a century on, Wish You Were Here remains one of Pink Floyd’s most beloved works — and this definitive anniversary set promises to shed new light on the album’s creation, legacy, and enduring mystique.