Why Pink Floyd Made 'Ummagumma' a Double Album (Live + Studio)

In 1969, Pink Floyd was still finding its post-Syd Barrett footing, and the label wanted a new album fast. The band decided to split the difference: a live disc to prove they could still rock, and a studio disc where each member got an entire side to themselves — essentially a solo EP per person. It was part contract filler, part creative experiment, and the result is one of the weirdest double albums ever.

David Gilmour used his side to write and record three linked pieces called “The Narrow Way.” It’s the first time he handled all the vocals, guitars, bass, and even some keyboards — a real sign of the multi-instrumental confidence he’d later show on solo albums like David Gilmour (1978). The track moves from a delicate fingerpicked acoustic intro into a melodic electric jam, with his voice sounding more like the Gilmour we know than the shy harmonies he’d done before. It’s a quiet but clear preview of the emotive guitar-player-who-also-sings he’d become.