Pink Floyd Share Restored ‘Echoes’ Surf Film Footage and New ‘Meddle’ Vinyl
Pink Floyd have shared newly restored, high-resolution footage of their 23-minute epic “Echoes,” pulled from the 1973 Australian surf documentary Crystal Voyager. The release arrives as the band prepares a special “San Tropez Orange Marble” vinyl reissue of their landmark 1971 album Meddle.
The Story Behind Crystal Voyager and Echoes
Directed by David Elfick, Crystal Voyager famously featured surfing footage captured from inside a wave by filmmaker, photographer, and surfer George Greenough. Looking for a soundtrack that matched his groundbreaking water footage, Greenough happened upon a record bought by his mother and noted that “Echoes” shared a matching 23-minute run time.
Lacking the funds to pay the band for the track directly, Greenough and Elfick struck a unique bargain: they could use the song if Pink Floyd were granted permission to use the surfing footage as background visuals during their live shows. Drummer Nick Mason recalled the band discovering the film while touring in Australia.
“We watched it for the first time when we were on tour in Australia and we were all blown away by it,” Mason said. “It was absolutely sensational. Nowadays everyone’s got a GoPro fixed to their wetsuit, but at the time it was mind-blowing to see the guy with the camera strapped to his chest, going through the water tunnel.”
Looking Back at Meddle
The visual release coincides with Sony Music’s upcoming National Album Day reissue of Meddle on October 17, pressed on San Tropez orange marble vinyl. Reflecting on the creation of the 1971 album, Mason noted the organic and unrestricted nature of the sessions.
“It did feel experimental at the time because basically we were left to our own devices, and we didn’t have a producer as such,” Mason explained. “We sort of made the album ourselves, and of course that meant that the engineering staff in Abbey Road were very happy to come along and see what they could do. The great thing with Meddle is that it’s the band playing for the enjoyment of it. It probably is one of the freest albums of all in terms of how we played it. It was one of those things that we really looked forward to playing.”
Related reading: Pink Floyd Reissuing ‘Meddle’ on Orange Vinyl Alongside Restored ‘Echoes’ Film
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