Studio Album · No. 11
A Momentary Lapse of Reason Songwriting Credits by Pink Floyd
Produced by Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour · Engineered by Andy Jackson, Bob Ezrin
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Pink Floyd carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
A Momentary Lapse of Reason was the first Pink Floyd album recorded after Roger Waters left following The Final Cut, and it marks David Gilmour stepping forward as the band's principal writer and creative leader. With Waters gone, Gilmour brought in a roster of outside collaborators: Anthony Moore wrote lyrics for 'Learning to Fly' and 'On the Turning Away,' Phil Manzanera contributed to 'One Slip,' Patrick Leonard co-wrote 'Yet Another Movie,' and co-producer Bob Ezrin and keyboardist Jon Carin helped shape 'Learning to Fly' and 'Signs of Life.' Nick Mason and Richard Wright participated in limited roles, with Wright not yet restored as a full credited member. The result is a Gilmour-driven record assembled with session musicians and external songwriters rather than the four-way Waters-era partnership.
"A Momentary Lapse of Reason" is the 1987 album by Pink Floyd, a progressive rock record that was the band's first without Roger Waters following his 1985 departure. David Gilmour led the project on vocals, guitars, keyboards, and bass, Nick Mason played drums and added sound effects, and Richard Wright returned as a session musician on piano, organ, and backing vocals after being fired during The Wall. Unlike most prior Pink Floyd albums it was a collection of individual songs rather than a concept work, producing the singles "Learning to Fly," "On the Turning Away," and "One Slip." The album reached number 3 on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, where it was certified four times platinum and far outsold The Final Cut. Roger Waters dismissed it as a clever forgery, though he later admitted it contained a couple of nice tunes.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Signs of Life
|
Not documented | David GilmourBob Ezrin | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | - |
| 2 |
Learning to Fly
#70
|
David GilmourAnthony MooreBob EzrinJon Carin | David GilmourAnthony MooreBob EzrinJon Carin | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
The Dogs of War
|
David GilmourAnthony Moore | David GilmourAnthony Moore | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
One Slip
#5
|
David GilmourPhil Manzanera | David GilmourPhil Manzanera | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
On the Turning Away
#1
|
David GilmourAnthony Moore | David GilmourAnthony Moore | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Yet Another Movie
|
David GilmourPatrick Leonard | David GilmourPatrick Leonard | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Round and Around
|
David GilmourPatrick Leonard | David GilmourPatrick Leonard | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
A New Machine, Part 1
|
David Gilmour | David Gilmour | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Terminal Frost
|
Not documented | David Gilmour | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | - |
| 10 |
A New Machine, Part 2
|
David Gilmour | David Gilmour | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
Sorrow
|
David Gilmour | David Gilmour | Bob EzrinDavid Gilmour | David Gilmour (Lead Vocals) |