A Momentary Lapse of Reason is the thirteenth studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in the UK on 7 September 1987 by EMI and the following day in the US on Columbia. It was recorded primarily on guitarist David Gilmour's converted houseboat, Astoria.
A Momentary Lapse of Reason was the first Pink Floyd album recorded without founding member Roger Waters, who departed in 1985. The production was marred by legal fights over the rights to the Pink Floyd name, which were not resolved until several months after release. It also saw the return of the keyboardist and founding member Richard Wright as a session player, after he was fired by Waters during the recording of The Wall (1979).
Unlike Pink Floyd's five preceding studio records, A Momentary Lapse of Reason is not a concept album. It includes writing contributions from outside songwriters, following Gilmour's decision to include material once intended for his third solo album. The album was promoted with three singles: the double A-side "Learning to Fly" / "Terminal Frost", "On the Turning Away", and "One Slip".
A Momentary Lapse of Reason received mixed reviews; some critics praised the production and instrumentation but criticised Gilmour's songwriting, and it was derided by Waters. It was nonetheless a commercial comeback for the band, reaching number three in the UK and US, and outsold Pink Floyd's previous album The Final Cut (1983). The album was supported by a highly successful world tour between 1987 and 1989, including a free performance on a barge floating on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.
Tracklist:
01. Signs Of Life - 0:00
02. Learning To Fly - 4:23
03. The Dogs Of War - 9:17
04. One Slip - 15:28
05. On The Turning Away - 20:33
06. Yet Another Movie - 26:15
07. A New Machine Part 1 - 33:42
08. Terminal Frost - 35:29
09. A New Machine Part 2 - 41:45
10. Sorrow - 42:25
Pink Floyd
David Gilmour – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sequencers, production
Nick Mason – electronic and acoustic drums, spoken vocals, sound effects
Richard Wright – backing vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Kurzweil synthesiser (credited as full group member on 2011 reissue)
Additional personnel
Bob Ezrin – keyboards, percussion, sequencers, production
Jon Carin – keyboards
Patrick Leonard – synthesizers
Bill Payne – Hammond organ
Michael Landau – guitar
Tony Levin – bass guitar, Chapman Stick
Jim Keltner – drums
Carmine Appice – drums
Steve Forman – percussion
Tom Scott – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
John Helliwell – saxophone (credited as John Halliwell)
Scott Page – tenor saxophone
Darlene Koldenhoven (credited as Darlene Koldenhaven) – backing vocals
Carmen Twillie – backing vocals
Phyllis St. James – backing vocals
Donny Gerrard – backing vocals
