Pink Floyd Deep Cuts That Should Have Been Bigger

2025-09-15

Pink Floyd album cover.

The best Pink Floyd deep cuts had the potential to be big hits but didn’t get the exposure that some of their other songs did. – Author: Cat Badra, Album cover via Harvest Capitol

Classic rock legends Pink Floyd had plenty of hits that still get played on rock radio, but they were more known for their epic albums than one-off singles. So, it should come at little surprise that there are plenty of Pink Floyd songs that are deep cuts but should have, and could have, been much bigger.

According to Britannica, “Formed in 1965, the band went through several name changes before combining the first names of a pair of Carolina bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.” It’s great to hear they went with Pink Floyd, because there’s something about that band name that just rings so perfectly.

Polar Music Prize notes that “Roger Waters and drummer Nick Mason met while they were studying architecture at the London Polytechnic,” which is a great place for two musicians to meet. Britannica adds that “the principal members of Pink Floyd were lead guitarist Syd Barrett bassist Roger Waters, drummer Nick Mason, keyboard player Rick Wright and guitarist David Gilmour.”

Of course, Waters and Gilmour are the two biggest names associated with Pink Floyd over the decades, although every band member is important. Britannica states that by 1968, Barrett, who they say “had overused LSD and was struggling with schizophrenia,” was replaced by Gilmour. At this point, the band didn’t have Barrett’s catchy lyrics, so they moved away from the singles market and instead working on their live act, incorporating modern sound and lighting innovations at the time.

The Best Pink Floyd Deep Cuts

“Summer ’68”

Don’t confuse this song with the massive Bryan Adam hit “Summer of ’69.” The Adams song is fantastic, but it’s totally different from this Pink Floyd number. “Summer ’68” is a song by Pink Floyd that appears on their 1970 album “Atom Heart Mother,” which is one of their lesser-known albums. The track has an incredible arrangement, complete with horns and sweet harmonies, and could have been a pop hit.

“Green is the Colour”

We couldn’t possibly leave this great song off the tally of the best Pink Floyd deep cuts, and it’s embarrassing how many people have never heard this song. “Green Is the Colour” is on Pink Floyd’s 1969 “More” album, which is another one of their less-popular albums, and features a tin whistle that adds the perfect touch.

“Childhood’s End”

“Childhood’s End” holds a special place in rock history, because it’s the final Pink Floyd song that features lyrics written by Gilmour up until their “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” release in 1987. The track, off Pink Floyd’s 1972 album “Obscured by Clouds,” almost sounds like a Gilmour solo track, but it’s Pink Floyd.

“Fearless”

Pink Floyd released “Fearless” in 1971, and even though it’s not a huge hit, the track off “Meddle” is well-respected in the music world and has been covered by a slew of artists, including Billy Strings and Ambulance LTD. It shows off their acoustic side.

What’s the best Pink Floyd album of all time? Audio Ink Radio is going with 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” “‘Dark Side of the Moon’ is beloved for its incredible instrumentals, trippy atmospheres and massive commercial success,” writer, reporter and expert Anne Erickson states in our feature about it. “Pink Floyd releasing ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ was really the moment when they went from rock sensations to worldwide superstars. Both sides of the album are great, but we prefer the second side, because it has more of an underground feel and character.”

So, for those who want to dig deeper into Pink Floyd’s discography, try those four deep cuts on for size. There’s always something new and magical to find in Pink Floyd’s music.

Cat Badra
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Posted by Cat Badra | Features

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