Pink Floyd’s 1977 concept album “Animals” returns in September and October, making its debut in 5.1 surround sound.
Formats for the “Animals” reissue are CD, LP, Blu-ray, SACD and “Deluxe Gatefold” formats. Common to all is a 2018 stereo remix.
Good news: Both the Blu-ray and SACD are available as standalone products, meaning fans don’t have to spring for a “deluxe edition” just to get the surround and advanced-resolution audio.
The deluxe version includes the LP, CD, audio Blu-ray, audio DVD and a 32-page book. (The DVD is the only product not available separately.)
The Blu-ray and DVD include the 2018 remix in stereo, 5.1 surround (both by James Guthrie) and the original 1977 stereo mix. The SACD is being released by Analogue Productions; the rest is via Legacy.
There are no bonus tracks or live recordings on the new “Animals,” just iterations of the album.
Oddly for 2022, the restored album is titled “Animals: 2018 Remix.” The rerelease reportedly was held up for several years by a band dispute over the liner notes.
“Animals” was Pink Floyd’s 10th studio album. It was loosely inspired by George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm.” It reflects bassist Roger Waters’ deepening interest in social issues and the darkening worldview that soon led to “The Wall.” David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright made up the rest of Pink Floyd at the time. They produced themselves on the record but it was mostly Waters’ affair.
Waters wrote all of the songs on the album, with guitarist Gilmour co-authoring the 17-minute track “Dogs.”
“Animals” was a top 5 album in both Britain and the U.S. It was promoted via the volatile “In the Flesh” tours of the first half of 1977. A flying pig dubbed Algie that was used for the cover would make an appearance during the elaborate shows.
The album artwork has been “reimagined” for this release (top photo). The album’s iconic cover shows the inflatable pig floating between two chimneys of London’s old Battersea Power Station. The artwork was conceived by Waters, and designed by longtime band collaborator Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis Studios.
The artwork was redesigned for 2022 by Hipgnosis’ Aubrey Powell:
“Hipgnosis took the opportunity (of the station being renovated) to re-photograph the image to reflect a changing world and by using modern digital coloring techniques I kept Pink Floyd’s rather bleak message of moral decay using the Orwellian themes of animals, the pig Algie, faithful to the message of the album,” Powell said.
Most of the new “Animal” products are shipping in mid-September, but the deluxe edition comes out a few weeks later.