Richard Wright (5,550 views)

[EddieCheivz]

Voice Type:  The Great Tenor In The Sky
Vocal Range: F2-G5
Associated Acts: Pink Floyd, Zee
Years Active: 1964-2008
Nationality: English

Richard Wright was the keyboardist, organist and pianist from the legendary british rock band Pink Floyd since their beggining.
At the first years Ricky was mainly responsable to adding to Floyd music the psychedelic sound along with lot of reverb in the guitars, the organ in songs like "Scream Thy Last Scream" or "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" or the live versions of "Set The Controls for The Heart Of The Sun" are good proof of this.
By early 70s, when the band sound was changing, Richard style in keyboard obviusly had to change, but always having that psychedelic and new rock essence; like the synthesizers, making new electronic textures; as the ones in songs like "Welcome To The Machine", "Any Colour You Like", "Dogs", "Have a Cigar" or "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI–IX)".
At the same time, he started to sing less in the band. Practically, after Dark Side Of The Moon (where he just sings for a minute in one song, Time) Richard voice isn't heared nevermore in Floyd material, if i recall right, just until 1994, where has the lead vocals in "Wearing the Inside Out". His voice can be heared mainly in the first albums of the band, at late 60s.
Wright died from lung cancer at his home in London on 15 September 2008, aged 65.
After his death, David Gilmour and Nick Manson used some samples and material of him to create the last Pink Floyd album, which is a tribute to him: The Endless River.
 
Significant High Notes:

G5 (“Apples and Oranges”, “Let’s Roll Another One”, “Point Me At The Sky”, “See Saw”)
F♯5 (“Apples and Oranges”)
E5 (“It Would Be So Nice”, “Point Me At The Sky” BBC 1968, “See Saw”)
E♭5 (“It Would Be So Nice”, “Matilda Mother”)
D5 (“Atom Heart Mother” live, “Candy and a Currant Bun”, “Point Me At The Sky”, “See Saw”, “Summer ‘68”)
C♯5 (“Candy and a Currant Bun”)
C5 (“Paintbox”)
B4 (“Atom Heart Mother” live, “Corporal Clegg", "It Would Be So Nice", "Matilda Mother”, “Point Me At The Sky”, “Remember A Day”, “A Saucerful Of Secrets”)
B♭4 (“A Saucerful Of Secrets”)
A4 (“Arnold Layne”, “Corporal Clegg", "Paintbox”, “Summer ‘68”)
G♯4 (“It Would Be So Nice", "Remember A Day”, “See Saw”)
G4 (“Matilda Mother”, “The Scarecrow”, “See Emily Play”, “See Saw”, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” alternate version, “Stay”)
F♯4 (“Arnold Layne”, “Breakthrough” live with David Gilmour, “Echoes”, “Matilda Mother”, “Summer ‘68”, “Time”)
F4 (“Holiday”, “It Would Be So Nice”, “Singing Arnold Layne", "Stay”, “Time”)
E4 (“Against The Odds", "Astronomy Domine", "Bike", "Chapter 24”, “Echoes”, "The Gnome", “Paintbox”, “Remember A Day”, “The Scarecrow”, “See Emily Play”, "Summer Elegy")

Significant Low Notes:

D3 (“Astronomy Domine" live BBC 1967, "Blue Room in Venice”, “Comfortably Numb” live Pulse, “Let There Be More Light”, “Remember A Day”, “See Saw”, "Seems We Were Dreaming", “Stay”, “Summer ‘68”, "Summer Elegy", "Voices")
C♯3 (“Along The Shoreline”, “Arnold Layne” live 2006, “Echoes" Abbey Road Studios 2006, "Far from the Harbour Wall", “Stay”, "Summer ‘68", "Wearing the Inside Out")
C3 (“Far From The Harbour Wall”, “Hidden Fear”, “Holiday”, “Night of a Thousand Furry Toys”, "Reaching for the Rail", “Voices", "Wearing the Inside Out”, “Woman Of Custom”)
B2 (“The Blue” live Gdańsk, “Comfortably Numb” live Pulse, “Breakthrough” live with David Gilmour, “Matilda Mother", "Pink’s Song”, "Reaching for the Rail")
B♭2 ("Far from the Harbour Wall", "Wearing the Inside Out”)
A2 (“Arnold Layne” live 2006, “Blue Room in Venice”, “Breakthrough” live with David Gilmour, “Hidden Fear”, “Matilda Mother”, “Night of a Thousand Furry Toys”, “Pink’s Song”, “Talking About Echoes Piano Intro”, “Woman Of Custom”)
G♯2 (“Matilda Mother”, “Woman Of Custom”)
G2 (“Night of a Thousand Furry Toys”)
F♯2 (“Humming Echoes Piano Part”)
F2 ("Wearing the Inside Out" live from Remember That Night)

SPOILER: Click to show

{ALBUM RANGES}
Pink Floyd:
1967 Piper at Gates of Dawn: G♯2-G4-E♭5
1968 A Saucerful of Secrets: D3-B4-G5
1969 Soundtrack from a film "More": None
1969 Ummagumma: None
1970 Atom Heart Mother: C♯3-A4-D5
1971 Meddle: G♯3-F♯4
1972 Obscured by Clouds: C♯3-G4
1973 The Dark Side of The Moon: A3-F♯4
1975 Wish You Were Here: C4-G4 (literally just one vocal line on entire album loool)
1977 Animals: None
1979 The Walll: None
1987 A Momentary Lapse of reason: None
1994 The Division of Bell: B♭2-B3

Zee:
1984 Identity: C3-D4

Solo:
1978 Wet Dream: A2-F4
1996 Broken China: G2-E♭4

SPOILER: Click to show

{QUESTIONABLE NOTES}
E5 (“Atom Heart Mother” Live [2], “Astronomy Domine” Live [???] Rich sings along David falsetto, it's difficult to say what note he hit, i accept/want oppinions lol)
C♯5 ("Confusion" [2])
B4 "On An Island" Live Gdańsk [2])
F4 "Dogs" [2] Really sounds like Gilmour's voice, like the lead vocals)

G2 ("Hidden Fear" [1], "Woman Of Custom" [5])

[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

*Underlines marks notes sung in backing vocals/harmonies.
*Italics marks non-melodic notes.
*Blue marks soft falsetto notes.
*Boldface marks noteworthy singer's capabalities.

[Henny Macc]

Glad to finally see a thread for him! Got a few notes though:

- The name of the song is "Matilda Mother", not "Matila's Mother".
- The name of the song is "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", not "Shine On You Crazy Dimaond".
- The "Talking About Echoes Piano Intro” clip actually gets down to A2, but personally I would definitely not consider that a bolded note of any sort. He hits the note with some resonance sure, but it's not exactly with good tone or particularly impressive sounding.
- There are some belted B4s at the end of "It Would Be So Nice" that I've heard some people suggest might be Wright, and I'm starting to believe that that could indeed be true. Comparing them to the A4s in "Summer '68", it sounds like it could be a rare instance of him actually belting up into that range.
- While it is true that he didn't do any lead vocal singing in Pink Floyd after The Dark Side of the Moon until 1994, he did still contribute backing vocals on Wish You Were Here and Animals, so it's not entirely true to say his voice was "nevermore heard in Pink Floyd until 1994" after Dark Side.

[EddieCheivz]

Oct 18, 2020 7:26:18 GMT Henny Macc said:

Glad to finally see a thread for him! Got a few notes though:

- The name of the song is "Matilda Mother", not "Matila's Mother".
- The name of the song is "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", not "Shine On You Crazy Dimaond".
- The "Talking About Echoes Piano Intro” clip actually gets down to A2, but personally I would definitely not consider that a bolded note of any sort. He hits the note with some resonance sure, but it's not exactly with good tone or particularly impressive sounding.
- There are some belted B4s at the end of "It Would Be So Nice" that I've heard some people suggest might be Wright, and I'm starting to believe that that could indeed be true. Comparing them to the A4s in "Summer '68", it sounds like it could be a rare instance of him actually belting up into that range.
- While it is true that he didn't do any lead vocal singing in Pink Floyd after The Dark Side of the Moon until 1994, he did still contribute backing vocals on Wish You Were Here and Animals, so it's not entirely true to say his voice was "nevermore heard in Pink Floyd until 1994" after Dark Side.

-I'll remove the ' from Matilda Mother, though i never wrote "Matila"
-Done
-Yeah, now you say that i'd agree, A2 sounds good, but not completely to bold
-I thought the B4s in "It Would Be So Nice" are Gilmour, they're sounds like his voice, but now i'm confused because certainly also sounds like highest chest notes by Richard. Also he's the lead singer in that song. The only fact in them make me doubt a bit is i never heared Rich voice sounding so strong and ponderous in his chesty, even more if it's until B4, usually his chest voice is very soft, and when he puts more intensity in some notes doesn't sounds completely like the B4s, the excecution and texture in his voice sounds bit different to me (usually Richard voice doesn't sounds completely clean) I need more opinions to add it.
-Yeah, i forgot the backings in "Shine On You", are there more harmonies in "Wish You Were Here"? also i had no knownledge about backing vocals he sang in "Animals" what songs contains them?

[Henny Macc]

Whoops, that was actually a typo on my part where it said "Matila!" Either way, it's fixed now.

We did previously think that the "It Would Be So Nice" B4s were Gilmour yeah, but I'm starting to lean towards them being more likely as Wright instead. Sounds like Holsety is leaning towards that as well, though I agree that it's a little confusing because we've heard so little actual powerful belting in the upper fourth octave by Wright. However, I think there may be some similarities if you compare them to the "Summer '68" A4s that I linked.

Wright apparently sings backing vocals on "Dogs" off Animals. Here's what the Wikipedia article for that song says: "After another guitar solo over the new progression, Gilmour sings a melismatic vocal with overdubbed harmonies from Richard Wright, ending with the lyric "So have a good drown/As you go down all alone/Dragged down by the stone", as the dissonant A/F leads back to Dm9."

[NJ]

I think there's a F2 there, will need more opinions though.

[Henny Macc]

Pretty short note, but yeah I think he slides down to it as a deliberate enough melody note! I suspect there may be another one at 2:54 on "empty smiLE" as well, but it's pretty quiet if so.

[motorist]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sounds like an E4 from "Bike"}

SPOILER: Click to show

{There are some Bb4s (tape speed seems a bit slow) here in this alternate take of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" at 9:00, 9:22, 10:46, 18:00, and 18:23. Might be Rick considering David clearly sings a G4 and Roger sings the lead in front, but I have a hard time telling them apart.}

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sounds like a B4 from "Remember A Day". There also might be a backing Eb5 at 4:08 but it's extremely sketchy. Or maybe these are both instruments...}

I posted a comment in the Syd Barrett thread as well, just reminding here because I don't want to clutter up the page with more posts.

[EddieCheivz]

-Added the E4 from "Bike"
-Remember I checked for myself that video of "Shine On You" before yeah, but I'd say is pretty difficult to be sure, regarding Richard voice I only hear G4s that are already in the thread, I think I'm hearing a B♭ frequency beyond but I'm not sure is that is even a voice or instrument, exactly on which word do you hear B♭4?
-I have already B4 form that song, about that final note you comment, I haved always same doubt you have (exactly on 4:11) I hear a E5 but I'm not completely sure if it is a voice or not.

I'd like to receive more oppinions for that notes from "Shine On You" and from "Remember a Day" if it's possible. Also would be nice checking sopiler box for his "E5" from "Astronomy Domine" live, since it has been another constant questionable note from him all these years for me.

[motorist]

Jan 14, 2023 20:24:38 GMT EddieCheivz said:

I have already B4 form that song

True, but the other B4 from the song sounds like a black note to me, much fuller tone than the lead vocal. I know this would look weird but maybe it could be labeled like:
"Remember A Day"
They're kind of both relevant enough to list in my opinion, considering that the B4 is tied for his highest black note. Listening to it again I can't see that note not being Wright, but the E5 is... very strange.
I think the supposed Bb4 in the SOYCD alternate is most audible on the word "SHINE on" at 10:47: youtu.be/sjEdbuCu6IY?t=647.
I'm realizing now that it could easily just be an instrument making the sound since it's so hard to hear though.

That "Astronomy Domine" note is weird.. I tried, couldn't determine anything from it. Maybe the reason it's hard to distinguish is that they are singing the same note, but that seems like an irresponsible assumption.

[Homelander]

Oct 16, 2020 0:16:26 GMT EddieCheivz said:

the legendary britanish rock band

I think the correct term might be British, not britanish. :)

[Henny Macc]

Jan 11, 2023 4:14:36 GMT motorist said:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{There are some Bb4s (tape speed seems a bit slow) here in this alternate take of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" at 9:00, 9:22, 10:46, 18:00, and 18:23. Might be Rick considering David clearly sings a G4 and Roger sings the lead in front, but I have a hard time telling them apart.}

So I'm a bit confused by this...on some of those chorus parts the lead vocal sounds like Gilmour to me, and then on others it sounds like Waters. However, I don't hear any backing vocal around G4 during any of them - the lead is clearly sung around that pitch, but I'm hearing one backing vocal start on B♭4, and the other on E♭4. I think the one on E♭4 actually sounds more like Wright's voice to me, but I have no idea who would be doing the B♭4 backing vocal in that case... 

Jan 11, 2023 4:14:36 GMT motorist said:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Sounds like a B4 from "Remember A Day". There also might be a backing Eb5 at 4:08 but it's extremely sketchy. Or maybe these are both instruments...}

I wouldn't call that B4 backing vocal at all actually; it's quite clear to my ears. I could probably get on board with calling it black too, but I could go either way. As for the possible backing E5, I hear what you guys are talking about, but it's wayyy to iffy for me to get on board with counting it. I'd definitely call that one a questionable note.

[EddieCheivz]

Jan 11, 2023 4:14:36 GMT motorist said:

SPOILER: Click to show

SPOILER: Click to show

{There are some Bb4s (tape speed seems a bit slow) here in this alternate take of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" at 9:00, 9:22, 10:46, 18:00, and 18:23. Might be Rick considering David clearly sings a G4 and Roger sings the lead in front, but I have a hard time telling them apart.}

SPOILER: Click to show

I'm actually hearing a backing vocal at 10:47 on "SHINE" on B♭4, and after that on "CRAZY" going up to C5 I think...
Sounds like Wright voice, but I'm not completely sure. More oppinions please? looks like David sings lead vocal on this version or not? listening since previous verses before chorus.

[Henny Macc]

If that's Gilmour singing the lead vocals on the chorus, it may in fact be Wright doing both backing harmonies. However, I'm pretty sure it doesn't get up to C5 - both harmonies follow a melody descent, making "CRAzy" a G4.

[motorist]

I strongly doubt David is singing the lead vocals, it sounds pretty much the same tone as the original to me, although I think the speed is slightly slow (notes seem a bit flat).

I can see how the Eb4 could be there even though I have trouble hearing it. I hear a voice get down to C4 on the word CRAZY. I think that's the supposed C5 that eddie mentioned. I would agree that sounds like Wright, same as the studio version - but then I think the line would start at an Eb4 there as well.
In live versions, this sounds like Richard Wright doing the Eb4 on "Shine" and C4 on "CRAzy", down to an A3 on "DiaMOND". Huge departure from his original tone, but his voice to my ears. Also Gilmour doing a G4 on "Shine" and Eb4 on "CRAzy" I believe. I'm hearing a faint Eb4 in the studio version that sounds the same.. so I honestly think now Wright has no highs for the studio version either.

I'm still hearing that G4 in the alternate version though. I'm thinking the Bb4 is an overlay on top of that, but only on the words "Shine On" since it doesn't fit with the G4-Eb4 vocal line, which I think is Gilmour. And after all that, I'm leaning towards it just being Roger adding another vocal line above Wright and Gilmour. I know I suggested it - if it was either Wright or Gilmour singing that it would be worth putting into their threads, but not for Roger obviously. But just Eb4 for Wright in the studio version is what I'm thinking now.

[Macca]

I think I'm hearing more of David than Rick. When you hear the timber between the scatting in Any Colour You Like (David) and the bold E5 in It Would Be So Nice (Rick), there's some pretty prominent David timbre. And they are both hitting an E5