David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, initially as a second guitarist alongside band leader and childhood friend Syd Barrett. After Barrett left the group, Gilmour applied his own style of playing. His signature guitar sound and vocals would become a centerpiece of the group\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n
Gilmour was a professional guitarist even before he joined Pink Floyd; recordings from his first group, Jokers Wild, recently became commercially available for the first time. And in the mid 1970s when Pink Floyd quietly went on a hiatus, he \u2013 like his three bandmates \u2013 released a solo album. And David Gilmour has continued his on-and-off solo career ever since; there are rumblings of a new album, possibly due this year.<\/p>\n
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his second album, 1984\u2019s About Face<\/em>, here are five non-Pink Floyd tracks that demonstrate the versatility of David Gilmour.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s No Way Out of Here\u201d from David Gilmour<\/em> (1978)<\/strong>
\nEnlisting the aid of Foreigner bassist Rick Wills and former Jokers Wild bandmate Willie Wilson on drums, Gilmour\u2019s self-titled solo debut was a modest chart success. Released as a single, \u201cThere\u2019s No Way Out of Here\u201d was a cover of a song by Gilmour\u2019s friends and prot\u00e9g\u00e9s Unicorn, a highly regarded country-rock band. Gilmour\u2019s version is similar to the original, but his distinctive guitar work \u2013 and the female chorus vocal backing \u2013 help make the song his own.<\/p>\n