Pink Floyd are opening another chapter of their musical history, and this time, one of their most distinctive albums is getting a much bigger spotlight. As Animals approaches its 50th anniversary, the band is preparing an expanded edition that revisits the record’s original sound while bringing previously unheard material and archival recordings into the picture.
But the biggest attraction may not be the familiar album itself. The anniversary collection reaches back into Pink Floyd’s 1977 recording sessions and tour, offering a closer look at the creative period behind one of the band’s darker and more confrontational releases.
Pink Floyd Announce Animals 50 Anniversary Edition for January 2027
Pink Floyd will release Animals 50 on January 22, 2027, through Sony Music. The expanded archival project celebrates the 50th anniversary of the band’s tenth studio album, originally released in January 1977.
Rather than simply repackaging the original record, the anniversary collection brings together several stages of the album’s history. These include the original 1977 version, the 2018 remix by James Guthrie, a five-track collection of rarities and a previously unreleased recording of Pink Floyd performing at Oakland Coliseum Arena on May 9, 1977.
The most extensive version is a Deluxe Box Set containing three LPs, five CDs, a Blu-ray and a 64-page hardback book. It also includes a stencil and three posters.
Other formats will make the collection available as a 1LP, 2LP, 2CD, standalone Blu-ray Audio and digital edition.
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Previously Unreleased Pink Floyd Recordings Are a Major Highlight
One of the most interesting parts of Animals 50 is the five-track rarities collection. It brings together recordings associated with the album’s development, including early versions of two major tracks and material that has not previously received an official release.
The complete rarities collection includes:
- “Dogs – Early Version, Rough Mix”
- “Sheep – Original Radio Edit”
- “Sheep – Early Version, Rough Mix”
- “Studio Jam”
- “Young Nicholas Jon”
The final track is particularly notable because Pink Floyd identify “Young Nicholas Jon” as an unheard Roger Waters track.
The collection also offers an opportunity to hear early versions of “Dogs” and “Sheep”, providing a glimpse into the development of songs that became central to the original album.
Another notable inclusion is “Sheep (Original Radio Edit)”. This four-and-a-half-minute promotional edit was created for radio in 1977. Although it had previously been used as a radio promotion, it had never been commercially available before its inclusion in Animals 50.
Together, these recordings offer more than a collection of alternate versions. They document different aspects of the music created around the album’s original recording period.
Pink Floyd’s Previously Unreleased 1977 Oakland Concert Gets an Official Release
The anniversary project also brings an entire Pink Floyd concert from the Animals tour period into the official catalogue.
Recorded on May 9, 1977, at Oakland Coliseum Arena, the performance captures the band during the period surrounding the album’s release. The recording was made by Reinhard Hohlwein, who was just 19 years old at the time.
The concert will appear as a two-disc live recording in the Deluxe Box Set and will also be included in the digital edition.
Its significance lies in the scale of the material being preserved. Instead of selecting a handful of live performances, the release presents the complete concert, including major pieces from Animals and songs from Pink Floyd’s earlier 1970s catalogue.
Complete Oakland Coliseum Arena 1977 Concert Tracklist
| No. | Track |
| 1 | “Sheep” |
| 2 | “Pigs on the Wing 1” |
| 3 | “Dogs” |
| 4 | “Pigs on the Wing 2” |
| 5 | “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” |
| 6 | “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5)” |
| 7 | “Welcome to the Machine” |
| 8 | “Have a Cigar” |
| 9 | “Wish You Were Here” |
| 10 | “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 6-9)” |
| 11 | “Money” |
| 12 | “Us and Them” |
| 13 | “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” |
The setlist moves beyond the five-track Animals album, incorporating material from the band’s wider catalogue. It includes songs from Wish You Were Here and earlier releases, making the recording a substantial document of Pink Floyd’s live performances during this period.
Why Pink Floyd’s Animals Album Still Stands Apart
Released in January 1977, Animals was Pink Floyd’s tenth studio album. Recorded at Britannia Row, the purpose-built studio developed by the band, it consists of five tracks:
- “Pigs on the Wing 1”
- “Dogs”
- “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”
- “Sheep”
- “Pigs on the Wing 2”
The album’s concept uses dogs, pigs and sheep as figures within its social commentary. Its approach is darker and more confrontational than some of Pink Floyd’s earlier 1970s work.
The musical direction also marked a noticeable shift from the expansive soundscapes associated with Wish You Were Here. David Gilmour described Animals as more aggressive, stripped-back and rough around the edges.
The changing musical climate of 1977, particularly the rise of punk, also formed part of the environment in which the album was created.
David Gilmour Explains How Punk Influenced Animals
In the official anniversary announcement, Gilmour reflected on the musical atmosphere surrounding the album’s production and how the band’s approach was changing.
He said:
“The mood in music was changing in ’77. Punk music was hitting everything and I suspect that had a little bit of an influence on the way we were working on the Animals album. I mean it’s quite an aggressive, stripped-back album. It was moving away from the sort of soundscapes that we had on Wish You Were Here. This album is more in your face and more rough and ready. And definitely the lyrics are a lot more aggressive from Roger. We had a lot of fun making it.”
His comments offer an insight into the contrast between the atmospheric presentation of Wish You Were Here and the harder-edged musical identity of Animals.
Nick Mason Recalls the Creation of Britannia Row Studios
The recording of Animals also coincided with an important development in Pink Floyd’s working environment: the creation of Britannia Row.
Nick Mason reflected on the band’s internal circumstances during this period, acknowledging that differences were beginning to emerge among its members. However, he also described the album as a remarkably unified project.
Mason said:
“There were all sorts of differences beginning to surface within the band but in some ways Animals was a remarkably cohesive enterprise.”
He specifically highlighted the development of Britannia Row, a building Pink Floyd had purchased some years earlier and converted into their own recording facility.
Explaining its importance, Mason said:
“The big thing was the development of Britannia Row. Britannia Row was this building we’d bought some few years before in which we’d actually started building our own recording studio.”
Mason also explained that the studio was designed to allow Pink Floyd members to operate the equipment themselves. Its connections and technical arrangements were organised so musicians could use the facilities without depending on another person to make every technical connection.
That practical setup became part of the circumstances behind the recording of Animals.
The Extraordinary Story Behind Animals’ Flying Pig Cover
Few album covers are as closely associated with Pink Floyd as the image of an inflatable pig floating above Battersea Power Station in London.
The concept was conceived by Roger Waters, while the artwork was produced through Hipgnosis, with Aubrey “Po” Powell and Storm Thorgerson involved in bringing the idea to life.
Waters had a personal connection with the building. He explained:
“I’d driven past Battersea Power Station every day going to and from my house in Clapham. I guess I just loved the building.”
He also described the symbolism he saw in the structure and its relationship with the flying pig.
The famous photograph involved a 40-foot inflatable pig named Algie, positioned above Battersea Power Station. The production included photographers stationed around the building, a helicopter film crew and a police marksman who was supposed to be available if the inflatable needed to be brought down.
However, a technical problem delayed the planned shoot.
When Algie was eventually released the following day, the inflatable broke free of its moorings and drifted towards Heathrow. According to Pink Floyd’s official account, RAF fighter jets were scrambled and flights were cancelled before the pig was eventually discovered by a farmer in Kent.
The incident became one of the best-known stories associated with the album’s artwork. It also influenced the use of inflatable pigs during Pink Floyd’s 1977 In The Flesh world tour.
Animals 50 Deluxe Book Includes Previously Unpublished Photographs
The visual history of Animals receives further attention through the 64-page hardback book included in the Deluxe Box Set.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the finished album, the book documents different stages of the project, from recording sessions to the iconic Battersea Power Station cover shoot and the subsequent tour.
Its contents include:
- New sleeve notes from Jonathan Lethem.
- An interview with Reinhard Hohlwein.
- An excerpt from Aubrey “Po” Powell’s memoir.
- Previously unpublished photographs.
These images provide additional documentation of the creative process surrounding Animals, complementing the music and live recordings included in the anniversary collection.
Pink Floyd Animals 50: All Editions and Formats Explained
The different editions of Animals 50 offer varying combinations of the original album, remix, rarities and archival concert.
| Edition | Included material |
| Deluxe Box Set | 3 LPs, 5 CDs, Blu-ray, 64-page hardback book, stencil and three posters |
| 1LP | Original 1977 Animals album |
| 2LP | Original 1977 album and five-track rarities collection |
| 2CD | Original 1977 album and five-track rarities collection |
| Blu-ray Audio | Original stereo mix, 2018 remix in stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos, rarities and Oakland 1977 concert |
| Digital | Original album, 2018 remix, rarities and complete Oakland 1977 concert |
What Does the Deluxe Box Set Contain?
The Deluxe Box Set is the most extensive option.
Its three LPs contain the original Animals album, the 2018 remix and the rarities collection.
The five CDs include the original album, the 2018 remix, the rarities and the Oakland Coliseum Arena 1977 concert spread across two discs.
The Blu-ray brings together the original album, the 2018 remix, rarities and the Oakland performance. The 2018 remix is presented in stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos.
The physical extras include the 64-page hardback book, a stencil and three posters.
The 2LP and 2CD editions provide the original album alongside the five-track rarities collection, while the 1LP edition presents the original 1977 record.
Pink Floyd’s official announcement also lists orange and sandstone colour variants for the 1LP edition.
The standalone Blu-ray Audio includes the original stereo mix, the 2018 remix in stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos, the rarities and the Oakland concert.
The digital edition includes all four musical sections: the original album, 2018 remix, rarities and Oakland Coliseum Arena 1977 performance.
Animals 50 Complete Tracklist: Original Album, Remix, Rarities and Live Recording
The official digital listing contains 28 tracks across four sections, with a total running time of approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Animals: Original 1977 Album
- “Pigs on the Wing 1”
- “Dogs”
- “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”
- “Sheep”
- “Pigs on the Wing 2”
Animals: 2018 Remix
- “Pigs on the Wing 1 – 2018 Remix”
- “Dogs – 2018 Remix”
- “Pigs (Three Different Ones) – 2018 Remix”
- “Sheep – 2018 Remix”
- “Pigs on the Wing 2 – 2018 Remix”
Rarities
- “Dogs – Early Version, Rough Mix”
- “Sheep – Original Radio Edit”
- “Sheep – Early Version, Rough Mix”
- “Studio Jam”
- “Young Nicholas Jon”
Live From the Oakland Coliseum Arena, 1977
- “Sheep”
- “Pigs on the Wing 1”
- “Dogs”
- “Pigs on the Wing 2”
- “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”
- “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5)”
- “Welcome to the Machine”
- “Have a Cigar”
- “Wish You Were Here”
- “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 6-9)”
- “Money”
- “Us and Them”
- “Careful with That Axe, Eugene”
How Animals 50 Continues Pink Floyd’s Archival Anniversary Projects
The release follows a series of projects revisiting important periods in Pink Floyd’s catalogue.
The Wish You Were Here 50th anniversary edition arrived in 2025, bringing together the original album, archival recordings and new mixes.
Pink Floyd subsequently released 8-Tracks in 2026. The compilation covered music from the band’s 1971–1979 period, including material from Meddle, Obscured by Clouds, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall.
Animals 50 continues this archival approach, but with a more concentrated focus on the 1977 album and its accompanying tour.
Each part of the collection serves a different purpose. The original album preserves the 1977 release, the 2018 remix offers a later presentation of the recordings, the rarities reveal additional archival material, and the Oakland performance documents the band’s live work during the same period.
When Is Pink Floyd Animals 50 Being Released?
Animals 50 is scheduled to arrive on January 22, 2027, through Sony Music.
The collection is currently available for pre-order in its announced formats:
- Deluxe Box Set
- 1LP
- 2LP
- 2CD
- Blu-ray Audio
- Digital edition
With its combination of the original record, the 2018 remix, previously unreleased recordings, a complete 1977 concert and previously unpublished photographs, the project offers an extensive look at one of Pink Floyd’s most distinctive musical periods.
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Conclusion
Pink Floyd’s Animals 50 is more than a conventional anniversary reissue. It brings together the album’s original identity, later remix, previously unheard recordings and a complete performance from the band’s 1977 tour. The addition of the archival book, photographs and material documenting the famous flying pig artwork further expands the historical scope of the collection.
For listeners revisiting Animals and those interested in understanding how the record came together, the January 22, 2027 release offers a substantial opportunity to explore the music and creative history behind the album.
Source and Research Disclaimer: This article has been prepared following research of the sources provided, including Pink Floyd’s official Animals 50 announcement and edition listings, Apple Music’s track listing and Pitchfork’s reporting. All release details, track information, quotations and historical details are based on the supplied source material and information available at the time of writing. Product configurations, pre-order availability and release details may be subject to change.
Sources
- Pink Floyd official announcement: Animals 50
- Pink Floyd official Animals 50 Deluxe Box Set
- Pink Floyd official Animals 50 2CD edition
- Apple Music: Animals 50 track listing
- Pitchfork: Pink Floyd Reissuing Animals for 50th Anniversary
Featured Image Credit: Fair use / Wikimedia Commons
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