Pink Floyd's ninth studio album, "Wish You Were Here", was released 50 years ago today. The album contained the nine-part piece "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" and the title song, both tributes to group co-founder Syd Barrett, who had been let go because of his drug use and mental state. The other two songs were bitter laments about the music industry, "Welcome to the Machine" and "Have a Cigar." Sadly, Barrett showed up unannounced and confused to the recording sessions. He had put on extra weight and had shaved his head and eyebrows, and the band members didn't recognize him at first. The album was difficult for the group in that it was the follow-up to the huge "Dark Side of the Moon". The cover was by Hipgnosis, which did other Floyd albums. The stuntman who was (actually) set on fire for the shoot was Ronnie Rondell Jr., who died just last month, aged 88.
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