In this section you will find detailed description and collector's information on PINK FLOYD's "Obscured by Clouds". It is the seventh studio album by Pink Floyd, based on their soundtrack for the French film "La Vallée", by Barbet Schroeder.
Pink Floyd’s 1972 album “Obscured by Clouds” is a 12” vinyl LP that marks a transition for the band from the more psychedelic sound of their early years to the more polished and refined sound that would later define their most commercially successful albums, such as “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall.” This album is often overlooked by casual fans but is a hidden gem that demonstrates the band’s versatility and range.
The album was recorded in France in 1972 as a soundtrack for the film “La Vallée” (The Valley), directed by Barbet Schroeder. The band was commissioned to compose and record the music for the film and did so in only two weeks. The album was released a few months later, ahead of the film’s premiere, and contains a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks.
The album’s sound is largely influenced by the band’s experience playing live shows in Europe in the early 1970s, where they experimented with longer, more improvisational pieces. This influence is evident in tracks like “Obscured by Clouds” and “Mudmen,” which feature extended instrumental sections that showcase the band’s technical skill and musicianship.
The lyrics on “Obscured by Clouds” are somewhat sparse and abstract, with many of the songs featuring impressionistic, stream-of-consciousness imagery that seems to be more concerned with mood and atmosphere than with telling a straightforward narrative.
Some copies of the album refer to the film by its English title, The Valley. The LP was released in the United Kingdom on 3 June 1972 on Harvest/EMI and then in the United States on 15 June 1972 on Harvest/Capitol. The album reached #1 in France, #6 on the UK album charts and #46 on the US album charts (where it was certified Gold by the RIAA in March 1994)
The album covers of "Obscured by Clouds" can be found with the variations
The various released of "Obscured By Clouds" listed below and are ordered by name of the release country
Label & Catalogno | Band/Performers - Album Title |
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Harvest 2C 064-05.054
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PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (1972, France) |
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PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (1972,France) |
EMI Harvest 2J 062-05054
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PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds(1972, Greece) |
EMI Harvest SHSP 4020 | PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (UK / Gt Britain) |
Harvest 1A 064-05054 / |
PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (1972, Holland) |
Harvest 3C 064-05054 |
PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (1972, Itayly |
SW-11078 (Sw 1-11078)![]() ![]() |
PINK FLOYD - Obscured by Clouds (USA) Notice that this American issue of "Obscured by Clouds" has a back cover with a different layout and photos |
Below is an Index of albums released by the British Acid/Psych band Pink Floyd. As we have a large collection of Pink Floyd albums this index will have entries pointing for each album to the detailed listings. For example: "Animals" clicking the "Show Index" button will bring up listing of this album with information on the various countries it was released and collector's information on how to identify a particular release.
1977
"Animals" is the tenth studio album by Pink Floyd, and was released in January 1977. A concept album, it provides a scathing critique of the social-political conditions of 1970s Britain, and presents a marked change in musical style from their earlier work.
Show Index Page1970
"Atom Heart Mother" is the fifth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in 1970 by Harvest and EMI Records in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England, and reached number one in the United Kingdom, and number 55] in the United States charts, and went gold in the U.S. in March 1994.
Show Index Page1981
"A Collection of Great Dance Songs" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released on 23 November 1981 on Harvest/EMI in the UK and Columbia Records in the United States.
Show Index Page1973
"The Dark Side of the Moon" is the eighth studio album by Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. The concept album built on ideas explored by the band in their live shows and earlier recordings, but it lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure in 1968 of founding member, principal composer and lyricist Syd Barrett.
Show Index Page1988
"Delicate Sound of Thunder" is a Pink Floyd live double album from the David Gilmour-led era of the band which was recorded over five nights at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, New York in August 1988 and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in September 1988.
Show Index Page2001
"Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" is a compilation album by Pink Floyd. It was released by EMI Records on 5 November 2001, in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States through Capitol Records.
Show Index Page1983
"The Final Cut" is the twelfth studio album by Pink Floyd. A concept album, The Final Cut is the last of the band's releases to include founding member and longtime lyricist Roger Waters.
Show Index Page1974
This compilation album of Pink Floyd contains the hard to find tracks
Show Index Page1971
Meddle is the sixth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in October 1971. This album was recorded at Morgan Sound Stusdios, London
Show Index Page1987
"A Momentary Lapse of Reason" is the thirteenth studio album by Pink Floyd. It was released in the UK and US in September 1987. In 1985 guitarist David Gilmour began to assemble a group of musicians to work on his third solo album.
Show Index Page1969
The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog.
Show Index Page1973
The "Nice Pair" was released in December 1973 by Harvest and Capitol in the United States and the following month in the United Kingdom by Harvest and EMI.
Show Index Page1972
"Obscured by Clouds" is the seventh studio album by Pink Floyd, based on their soundtrack for the French film "La Vallée", by Barbet Schroeder.
Show Index Page1967
"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is the firs album by the Pink Floyd, and the only one made under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership. The album contains whimsical lyrics about space, scarecrows, gnomes, bicycles and fairy tales, along with psychedelic instrumental songs.
Show Index Page1978
Relics is a compilation album by Pink Floyd released in 1971. The album was released on 14 May in the UK and 15 July in the United States.
Show Index Page1968
"A Saucerful of Secrets" is the second studio album by Pink Floyd. It was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on various dates from August 1967 to April 1968. It is both the last Pink Floyd album on which Syd Barrett would appear and the only studio album in which all 5 band members contributed.
Show Index Page1990
Early Live recordings, complemented with interviews
Show Index Page1969
Ummagumma is a double album by Pink Floyd, released in 1969 by Harvest and EMI in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States. Disc A is a live album of their normal set list of the time, while disc B contains compositions by each member of the band recorded as a studio album.
Show Index Page1979
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd The Wall.
Show Index Page1975
"Wish You Were Here" is the ninth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd, released in September 1975. Inspired by material they composed while performing across Europe, it was recorded over numerous sessions at London's Abbey Road Studios.
Show Index PageEMI , 1997 , United Kingdom
This is a box-set of 7 albums with in total 8LP. Each album is issued in a ( FOC ) Fold Open Coveraka Gatefold cover.
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This Pink Floyd box-set includes 10 Pink Floyd albums with in total 13LP's as well as a large poster.
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Here you will find several European releases of David Gilmour's debut solo album.
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Here you will find several European releases of Roger Waters solo albums.
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