Great Gig in the Sky Story

[@stevemasoero8489]

The Great Gig in the Sky, Fantastic, Utterly Fantastic, Thank You Clare, Thank You for something that is beyond words, Beautiful just Beautiful, I have listened to it thousands of times, Thank you, Thank you !!!

[@bernios3446]

When in the 70ies I listened to this song I thought the vocal performance was pure magic. Oh, wait, I still feel that way. Amazing how little this album has aged. This is: 40 years later.... Oh my...

[@carolk5770]

I heard this first as a kid and loved it. I knew it had to be a beautiful African American girl. I was mesmerized!When I found out it was 5’ nothing, Clare Torrey, I was amazed. SO very gifted! Rick Wright...I love your soul. RIP 😇

[@emilefeltesse]

Same here. It's been 30 years I've I've made up an amazingly gifted black backing vocalist in my mind... Until I discovered her real name and face today. 😮

[@kerrysikorski5076]

Same here!! So great to know the actual story-thank you!

[@cannonball666]

Pink Floyd to Torry: "OK, sorry but I don't think we can use it" Pink Floyd to Pink Floyd: "Wow fellas, the song and album's a hit. We've made millions!" Torry: "Hey guys" Pink Floyd: ***whistles nervously***

[@peppersander2457]

ha ha good one :)

[@friki71]

This entire album is beautiful, but this song is amazing, some sort of universal emotional expression of a human being. It's art.

[@RonAtubetje]

Listened to the song, and Claire's way of singing it, once more and still got overwhelmed, feeling the emotions in there, bringing tears in my eyes, again. Enough said . . .

[@samuelrossotto4220]

Torrey God bless u and your beautiful voice

[@island661]

For shame they didn't tell her that her voice was spot-on in this!!! Most beautiful and heart-felt moaning ever!

[@janethochstrasser1405]

Rereer... Hiss hiss ...reareer

[@shack8110]

There is no song like this in the history of Western Music. Maybe some imitations, but nothing so innovative and unique.

[@patriothammer1460]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGWlo2aLpt2gbMU

[@angelaandersons7918]

I always thought it sounded like a musical ecstacy release if you get me lol

[@brendapaddlety2413]

Love her voice,beautifully done 👍💚🤗 glad she won the lawsuit 😀 she was incredible and just one take 👍👍👍

[@hornerinf]

It was three takes..and some great engineering by Alan Parsons. This album stayed on the Billboard charts for 18 years!!!

[@marcusponce1]

Wow!!!! I didn't know about it! Amazing that Clare won her rights.

[@jackdorkcyisapedo4451]

Can you imagine a Laborer digging the footings for a high rise and sharing in the profits of the sale of it? GTFO!

[@dbvetter7485]

I was 13 in. 1973 when Dark Side came out, it (the album) stayed on the billboard top 100 for years and the top 500 for over 13 years continuously.

[@ramsoncole4605]

The most amazing thing to me about the song is not a word is spoken by her...just the beautiful sound of the human voice. Bravo.

[@michiganjfrog366]

Before the end of this song when she's slowing down the tempo, she says " I never said I was frightened of dying"

[@rhwinner]

I remember listening to this with a friend in college. When the song was over, there was a silence, and then he got up from the couch and exclaimed, "No words! No words!" He was as impressed as I was that so much meaning and impact could be derived from a pop song without lyrics.

[@raydjaarx1899]

Good for Clare to get writing credits, let's face it she was the one who single handedly wrote the melody to this beautiful track without any guidance from band members.

[@georgegeysen6499]

I do think Rick Wright had a bit of a hand in writing the melody ... just saying. What she did was truly inspired and beauteous and spontaneous. I could have probably only happened that way and at that time. However, it was Wright's beautiful chords and arrangement that set up the space for her amazing and incredible vocal.

[@MusicGunn]

I agree. Clare did a great job, but she was a studio musician. Studio musicians are paid by the hour or by the contract and royalties are not normally included. If she had negotiated for royalties she would have got them. However there is the issue of songwriting credits. She should have been included in the credits for her take on what Wright had started. That would have taken care of the royalties question. Anyway the court decided in her favor and PF can afford a bit of money for her and for that I am happy for her. No one has ever done it as well as her. And she did it one time ever...

[@Beadbud5000]

It is the magic of improvisation. Part of the beauty.

[@MrAitraining]

"There's no lyrics. It's about dying" awesome

[@cm8989]

A fascinating story along with a truly remarkable singing voice. I’m very glad I found this clip. This video is definitely a keeper. I appreciated knowing much more about this truly remarkable album and song. Thank you !

[@alimodiandude]

Thanks for sharing and for the story. Glad that Clare got what she deserves.

[@beanbuster204]

Didn;t Ren just change our lives?

[@RK-pi9nu]

Coin

[@1969bosshog]

We'll never know if she justly got what she deserved. She deserves about $10 million. Did they do that for her? Doubt it.

[@AliasMark69]

I met David Gilmour back stage at a concert in California 1984. I asked him about the meaning - reason for “Great Gig In The Sky”…. David’s answer was something like…. .I was asked if Pink Floyd would ever do a song about Religion like some others have… so I said, You are referring to the great gig in the sky they call god. What words could be used to describe all the pain and suffering caused by religious beliefs. All the crying and wailing from mothers who lost their husbands or sons in a war fought over religious differences. The only vocals should be just the sound of a mothers crying with pain and suffering. We didn’t want to make that public so as to avoid any religious boycott like what happened to the Beatles after Lennon made his comment about Jesus.

[@user-co3fe3ps1n]

I loved reading this, what an honor to. I never knew what it meant or pertained to just knew she was a badass belting it out. Ty for sharing!!

[@carolricard1903]

Great comment- at 70 I’m blessed to have My high school yrs To begin life with Pink Floyd to stear- guidance-lift- keep me on track which if may say so myself Has proven to be a well balanced great grandma.

[@jeffanderson9001]

So lovely wow! Get with this people. Heavy. You will get it. It's got. You hang on if you can. Master piece. Brilliant$ !!!

[@Beadbud5000]

Thank you for uploading. Yes this tune blew me away as did the whole album. The song is infectious! A favorite next to Time.

[@jriesmeyer]

Too bad she never sang this live with PF. At least we'd have a video of the original singer of Great Gig. It's still hard to believe she had to sue them.

[@cninh4574]

Not sure if you know about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH2YhHh4maxoiLM

[@dragonmanmark]

Claire Tory was hired as a session player not a songwriter. If they would have hired Eric Clapton to play on the song he wouldn't have gotten any royalties either. That being said the song is her singing which she did create herself so in a sense she was a songwriter and deserving of royalties.

[@donlanteigne8629]

She sang live with Roger Waters in 87.

[@skoockum]

Apparently the band leader, Pink, was a bit stingy with writing credit, hence the money that comes with it.

[@123456imagine]

Which one is Pink? Fail.

[@williamridgesr.6068]

Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon was on the Billboard top one hundred albums for 24 years. Second to that was Metallica for 18 months, recently beat out by Tom Petty. Try and beat 24 years. Greatest album ever.

[@MrThefox3]

She went the sky to get this. It's so special to me. What an ear and lungs for the note!!! a once in a life time vocal feat, not for her, but for my ears.

[@dancer7915]

Good for her ! Credit given where credit due ! Great job Clare and Floyd ! One of the best rock and soul dirges ever recorded

[@yogimarkmac]

30+ years before she got credit through legal action. What a bunch of nice boys. This song shows that the contributions of session musicians largely go unrecognized and unrewarded while the anointed ones bask in the stolen glory rather than share a little bit of it.

[@CopperCettle]

Well i am glad she finally got the credit and paid for her amazing vocals

[@brendapaddlety2413]

Standing ovation for Clare 👍💚

[@david.olivo.7306]

Excellent 💯👍.. My teenage life ❤️❤️.. beautiful..

[@davulcu64st]

The greatest band ever...

[@mogsydog]

Real shame she wasn't told how amazing she was.

[@nslvip]

Ive no idea how to describe pink floyd truly unique. And this is my favourite song. Simply genius.

[@longdark4ever]

It's incredible what they thought the song was, and ended up being, one of the best Floyd songs ever recorded. This is my goto song when I cue up Dark Side, this or Us and Them.

[@beanbuster204]

I HONESTLY CAN'T STOP WATCHING THIS VIDEO. IT IS CHANGING MY LIFE!

[@user-bh9pk9os5v]

This album is timeless

[@donvasquez1791]

Her interpretation of the last breaths is unforgettable. I believe this was compared to an aria.

[@Beadbud5000]

They released it on March 1st 1973. I saw the March 7th 1973 Cobo Hall show. I remember that they did the entire album and there was a female singer for Great Gig in the Sky. But I can't say who it was for sure.

[@mikemartin8088]

I believe "The settlement" was a well deserved 8 million give or take.

[@thepunadude]

CLARE TORRY IS THE EPITOME OF 'CREATION'! SOMETHING FROM, TRULY, NOTHING! BEST VOCAL EVER!

[@aybee63]

What a bunch of talented stiffs Pink Floyd were! Fancy NOT paying the very person who made the track what it was because there were NO LYRICS! And yet, the 'wailing' was an original melodic structure - improvised, performed and created by Clare Torry! It made the track! Pisses me off hearing about this! They go on to make zillions and leave other talented people behind! Glad she got her pound of flesh in the end!

[@alafenetre81]

That Clare had to sue to get her royalties is so depressing...

[@adrianatrevizan9743]

Procurei por anos... tipo uns 23. Wow!♥ Achei. Voz incrível. Amo muito. Imito igualzinho rs. Fiz minha filha tocar só p eu cantar♥! I love this music♥very much! Incredible and very very cool. Live very much

[@thepunadude]

ITS A SHAME THAT IT HAD TO COME DOWN TO A LAWSUIT... WHAT, CLOSE TO 40YRS LATER?!?! BULLSHIT!

[@frinidm]

one of the best songs ever

[@xenu-dark-tony]

Hearing what little information Clare had to go on to create her beautiful piece makes this all the more amazing. How does somebody even begin to do what she did? I really hope the remuneration wasn't as mean as that which Waters allowed for the schoolchildren on Another Brick In The Wall. Anyone would think he was a skint capitalist, not a champagne socialist with a pathological hatred for no-mark nonentities with no money - the people he smugly finds beneath contempt, as well as far beneath him, the lanky hypocrite. I love the music though.

[@BLK1349MTL]

Fantastic video. Thank you!

[@aayammusic4584]

They are from the another planet gotta love them❤❤

[@English-Rob]

Just an fyi. The voices heard on the album. “I’m not afraid of dying”etc. In Abbey Rd studio they set a mic up in a empty room/studio (not sure which) and asked everyone there to go and answer a set of questions they had there. The door man said some of the best ones apparently. But I digress the Beatles were there and they (not sure which one or if all did) went and answered the questions. But they tried to answer them funny and not just answer them so their answer was not used. I got this from an old interview with Pink Floyd. Some of the questions was things like “when did you last argue/fight” , “was you right or wrong”.

[@erasadewo]

Can be compared to Mozart's Lacrimosa!!!

[@BIGKEV57]

and Clare Torrey said..it was just another Gig..we had no fkn Idea..the Great gigg in the Sky..

[@jiive219]

Clare Torry should have read carefully all the titles of the album. One talk about "Money is all evil today" !

[@VirginiaWolf88]

She sung it with Roger Waters at Madison Square Garden in the late 80s. It was incredible. Everyone was talking about it after the show.

[@jandresmartinez3391]

que barbaro por el amor de dios simpemente perfecta unica maravillosa esto deberia tener un monumento en alguna parte del mundo monumento a la voz monumento a pink floyd una verdadera obra de arte unica e irrepetible

[@hollybischoff7490]

Beautiful

[@janstergaard703]

Wonderful justice prevailed, for once in that industry

[@ejp123md6]

I think they are the greatest

[@irisheyzgrl24murphy92]

What a shitty thing to do to her. She made that song explode! It's her song. There won't be another Clare Tory.. Glad she won the lawsuit. She should have been given monies from the beginning.

[@koretmulder6316]

Ok, the chords are sweet, arrangement is nice.... but does anyone think this track would stand the test of time, and be as iconic as it is, if it wasn't for Tory's vocals? She deserves every fucking penny. Her vocal interpretation is the reason we are still talking about this song almost 50 years later.

[@mandytalorda]

I wonder who her lawyer was? Need all my ROYALTIES be paid

[@xanthe5401]

About dying: All the words in the world are not enough and one word is too much.

[@BarryGordon58]

I enjoyed HER interview on the origination - creation of the track. Wailing about death? Sounds like one hell of an orgasm - am I the only one? Rings true to her interview as she seems to dodge specifically describing the sounds SHE ORIGINATED. And cue the haters...

[@MikeYeary]

Barry Gordon Right? I remember when I was young, sitting in an old farm house. I was with my father, at one of his many friends' houses. He was a bit of a partier, and an old hippy. Anyway, I remember sitting there, with a haze of marijuana smoke wafting about the room, and just zoning out in my own little world, while all of the adults talked. They were listening to DSOTM, and as this song was playing, one of dad's friends piped up and said, "Any woman that sounded like that in my bed, is THE one that I'd marry." And being just a young lad, I remember wondering, "Why would she have to sound like that in your bed? She would sound amazing anywhere." It wasn't until I had hit puberty, and had done a good bit of my own "buggering around", that I'd realized what he'd meant. And I'd have to say, I do very much agree with what he said that day.

[@philipmarq]

It may be that one's death is one of the greatest gifts given to us.

[@emilefeltesse]

How come she had to wait 2004 (=30 years) to get credited???

[@BIGKEV57]

Clare Torrey should get all the Royalties..its no argument..

[@loricrockett-owens5117]

When I found out she did that in that amount of time! I was thinking your sh*tting me right? Wow! Amazing❤

[@beanbuster204]

THIS VIDEO IS THE NEXT GENERATIONAL WIZARD

[@Liebe-Wahrheit-Gerechtigkeit]

I love it!!!!!!!!

[@douglee1911]

And the Beatle song Golden Slumbers should have included Thomas Dekker in the Abbey Road album credits. The tune was based on a poem written by Dekker.

[@harrywilson1223]

Not just pink Floyds greatest one of the greatest period.

[@dragonmanmark]

I don't understand, the text on the video appears briefly so there is not enough time to read it. I constantly had to stop and go back to read the full text which ruined the experience. Why include text if there is not enough time to read it.

[@MrStropparo]

Pause.

[@fo-le9ns]

вокализ Клары Торри всех затмевает.

[@theogentile4579]

Time is the best song ever from Floyd!

[@ilverioghinassi2989]

CLARE TORRY ISOSTITUIBILE♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@agostinhofratini7995]

E ela foi impecável...ninguám a igualou

[@Truckngirl]

For all of you youngsters that didn't own an original copy of the album....she was referred to as "Thunderthighs", a derogatory remark then and now. Why have they never been called out? Go find an original vinyl copy and look at the cover. I'm telling the truth.

[@kirstinetermansen7234]

My fanship. Is this spaceship of a voice....

[@robertrust441]

Clare Torry made sublime blush for lack of trying in this one. Without recognizing and properly rewarding Clare, Pink Floyd rapes it own soul. PF needs to shamefully and humbly thank Clare for merely forcing them to recognize and reward her for her contribution. It is on the same level and higher than anything else that PF ever accomplished. Angels cry when they hear her voice. Only shame comes to those who treat their picking as glory greater than Nature's wondrously given fruits.

[@user-rq3oj8xn6v]

Thank you

[@riccarrasquilla379]

thanks for the video

[@beanbuster204]

I honestly think this video needs credit. The editing is is superb. I have never seen this type skill before. It complete transcends the song and honestly I think the editing makes the song not Clare. The song would be nothing without the editing. An even more extraordinary video Ren James has done is her 2:30 Beat poetry. It is revolutionary ! Must see! Ren is an artist

[@2damnoldforUtube]

I'm surprised Ren James isn't credited on the liner notes of the album!

[@0ParisFrance]

Alan Parsons was right !

[@benthurr]

Bluecoats anyone?

[@dariogranito8822]

un capolavoro,

[@byhorse8897]

Thank Madame ♥️

[@leugimye]

Celestial, cósmica, enerva la mente

[@goose5462]

The greatest band title has already been taken by the first boy band ever. All the mindless drones have all complied. The deed has been done. Floyd is beyond comprehension of the troglodyte masses. Just like McD has had the most customers, rendering it the greatest restaurant.

[@Herbert04]

Over the years I've heard so many stories on this one. I don't really know which to believe any more.

[@donlanteigne8629]

It's the story in the video on this page.

[@Herbert04]

Yes I read it. Over the years though I seen Documentaries and interviews and listened to radio interviews. And I've heard different stories. Drives me crazy.

[@Hands2HealNow]

Baffles me that Clare Torry had to being the issue to court...There must be more to the story than we can appreciate.

[@daysmo]

Why do i well up every time I listen to this track?

[@lynnricher3087]

glad she won like really !

[@pyschoman9450]

but why did the 'floyd' screw clare from credit on the lp at the beginning..AND from royalties,....mind boggling to me..i didn't know they were that way...alas...u learn something new every day

[@robertmorrison1577]

It wasn't the band, but the record company. But of course the band members should have insisted.

[@JeromeHattKronen1664]

MONEY, it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash New car, caviar, four star daydream, think I'll buy me a football team

[@dbvetter7485]

A lot of studio musicians that played on great albums only got standard musicians union pay. That’s what they were hired for and they knew it.

[@pyschoman9450]

I got it dan ty

[@dreamabyss5423]

No one got screwed. Clare was hired as a session singer and that's what she agreed to and was paid for. Alan Parsons mixed the album and took the best parts of what Clare sang, added effects and put it in the song. Then PF went on with their lives. Then the Dark Side of the Moon blew up and the record company took over sales and marketing while Pink Floyd went on tour and started on their next album. It wasn't until the Dark Side of the Moon became commercially successful that Clare decided she needed more than session player wages. No one in Pink Floyd went..."gee, Clare sang great but let's screw her out of money." In the beginning, even Pink Floyd was shocked at the success of Dark Side of the Moon. I don't think they even gave it a thought that they should go back and pay Clare more money until she asked for it. Besides, that is something the record company is in charge of...not the band. If it went to court, that was because the record label was in charge of profits...and in some ways, that makes Pink Floyd session players for the label. I only say all of this to set the record straight in case anyone reads this. The OP is suggesting that Pink Floyd set out to rip Clare off and that's simply not true. I am glad the Clare got the money and recognition she deserved. But at the same time, she should have negotiated better. She didn't even know if they were going to use her voice or not and didn't seem to care at first. Don't let any of this diminish the fact that the Dark Side of the Moon is one of the best albums ever made.

[@ericcarrington1791]

Why couldn't they just respect her by paying her FROM the door????

[@michiganjfrog366]

It breaks my heart to hear that she had to sue. I love the album. Great gig in the sky is my favorite song on the album. The album was about life and death and all of the in between. Be sure to put another song in there about f****** someone over and not paying them what they deserve. Or at least added to the lyrics of money.

[@ausnewageman]

Classic.

[@Phosphoreessence]

PF were pretty shabby on this one. No recognition. Fortunately, Clare won. "Money, so they say ..": It's ironic, is not it?

[@troyalcorn1184]

Legal BS and we all know it. Only thing I have to say is we allowed it. Not acting, or allowing, is a precedent we set for ourselves I am not a judge I just see and remember my own mistakes

[@theStrangerInspired]

for those interested, this is the story of the compilation in Clare Torry's words: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3q6aKuQiNGNpa8

[@josejosebilbao9246]

Clare is amazing but Rachel Fury is my favorite on Pink Floyd vocals.

[@chrisahearn1735]

Invested time in arriving with results

[@twagn]

Happy accident?....more like brilliant accident

[@robvaniren2008]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

3:00. Actually it was 3 takes and parts of each were used. 3:50 Don't mention justin what's his name again. By the way it's also Clare Torry who yelling on Speak to Me.