Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ to Get Deluxe Treatment With 50th Anniversary Editions This Fall

Marking a half-century since its debut, Pink Floyd's iconic album "Wish You Were Here" will be celebrated with an extensive 50th-anniversary reissue, scheduled to hit shelves on December 12. Titled "Wish You Were Here 50," the collection boasts a trove of never-before-released content, finally satisfying fans who felt the 2011 box set left gaps in the band’s archival offerings. A preview arrived this Friday with the streaming release of an early demo, "The Machine Song (Demo #2, Revisited)," an early version of what became "Welcome to the Machine."

The announcement aligns precisely with the album’s 50th birthday. "Wish You Were Here"—the band’s highly anticipated successor to the monumental "The Dark Side of the Moon"—has long been regarded as a masterpiece in its own right. This reissue forms part of Sony Music’s broader strategy following its acquisition of Pink Floyd’s catalog earlier this year, a deal estimated at around $400 million. Industry experts anticipate this as the first in a line of premium re-releases designed to engage both dedicated followers and younger listeners discovering the band’s influential sound.

Central to the new material are six previously unheard tracks, among them Roger Waters’ home demo of "The Machine Song" and an instrumental mix showcasing David Gilmour’s pedal steel work on the title track. Also included is a freshly mixed stereo version of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1–9)," presented as a unified piece for the first time on an official release. Beyond studio offerings, the set features a restored and remixed live recording from the band’s 1975 show at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, produced by Steven Wilson, marking its inaugural commercial availability.

A variety of formats will be offered, including 2-CD and 3-LP editions, a standalone Blu-ray, digital options, and an elaborate deluxe box set. The Blu-ray—an increasingly uncommon feature in modern reissues—contains a new Dolby Atmos mix by longtime Pink Floyd engineer James Guthrie, multiple surround sound options, concert films from the 1974–75 tours, and a short film by Storm Thorgerson. Its inclusion has drawn special praise from audiophiles, as it delivers nearly all the musical and visual content without requiring physical collectibles.

The top-tier deluxe box enhances the offering with exclusive clear vinyl pressings, a replica Japanese 7-inch single, a hardcover book filled with rare photographs, a comic-style tour program, and a poster from the Knebworth Festival. While some elements reappear from the 2011 Immersion set, the new edition substantially expands available content. This follows Sony’s reissue earlier this year of Pink Floyd’s 1972 live film "Live at Pompeii," underscoring the label’s dedication to curating and expanding the band’s recorded legacy. As music archivist Dr. Evelyn Shaw observes, "Reissues like this do more than revisit the past—they open up the creative process, offering listeners a window into how these timeless works were shaped."