The Last Few Bricks
Encyclopedia
"The Last Few Bricks" is an instrumental bridge/medley
used by Pink Floyd
and Roger Waters
at The Wall
live shows, between "Another Brick in the Wall
(Part III)" and "Goodbye Cruel World". It was composed specifically for the purpose of allowing the bricklayer roadies more time to finish constructing the wall, to seal off the stage almost completely, before Roger Waters appeared in the last one-brick-wide space in the wall to sing "Goodbye Cruel World", and end the first part of the show.
The piece doesn't have a strict composition, varying from venue to venue, but it usually contained themes from "The Happiest Days of Our Lives
", "Don't Leave Me Now", "Young Lust
", "Empty Spaces
"/"What Shall We Do Now?
", and occasionally, when the bricklayers were running especially late, a jam (in the jazzier style of the earlier, inmprov-oriented Floyd) similar to "Any Colour You Like
" (D minor to G major). There is also an original musical theme not found elsewhere, an eerie and dissonant movement which slowly outlined a diminished seventh chord
(last heard from the Floyd on "Sheep
"). Like much of the album, "The Last Few Bricks" is in D minor
-- which leads to an ironic "brightening" effect, when "Goodbye Cruel World" begins in the parallel key
of D major.
The longest performance of this medley was on 7 February 1980 at Los Angeles Sports Arena when "Another Brick in the Wall (Part III)
" was stretched to over 13 minutes.
Interestingly, before the release of the live album
, this bridge never had an official title. Fans called the track Almost Gone on some bootleg albums of the shows, but the official name -- The Last Few Bricks -- was not used at the shows in 1980-1982, and instead was suggested to Roger Waters by producer James Guthrie
during the mixing of the live album
.
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
used by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
at The Wall
The Wall
The Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
live shows, between "Another Brick in the Wall
Another Brick in the Wall
"Another Brick in the Wall" is the title of three songs set to variations of the same basic theme, on Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall, subtitled Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3...
(Part III)" and "Goodbye Cruel World". It was composed specifically for the purpose of allowing the bricklayer roadies more time to finish constructing the wall, to seal off the stage almost completely, before Roger Waters appeared in the last one-brick-wide space in the wall to sing "Goodbye Cruel World", and end the first part of the show.
The piece doesn't have a strict composition, varying from venue to venue, but it usually contained themes from "The Happiest Days of Our Lives
The Happiest Days of Our Lives
"The Happiest Days of Our Lives" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:The song is approximately 1 minute, 46 seconds in length, beginning with 24 seconds of a helicopter sound effect; followed by shouting from the schoolmaster . Then the sound effects abruptly...
", "Don't Leave Me Now", "Young Lust
Young Lust (song)
"Young Lust" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:"Young Lust" is approximately 3 minutes, 25 seconds in length...
", "Empty Spaces
Empty Spaces
"Empty Spaces" is a song by Pink Floyd. It appeared on The Wall album in 1979.-Composition:The song is 2 minutes and 10 seconds in length and features a long introductory section, which includes an airport announcement, a reference to Pink heading for an American tour. At approximately 48 seconds...
"/"What Shall We Do Now?
What Shall We Do Now?
"What Shall We Do Now?" is a song by Pink Floyd, written by Roger Waters.It was originally intended to be on their 1979 album The Wall, and appeared in demo versions of The Wall, but was omitted due to the time restraints of the vinyl format...
", and occasionally, when the bricklayers were running especially late, a jam (in the jazzier style of the earlier, inmprov-oriented Floyd) similar to "Any Colour You Like
Any Colour You Like
"Any Colour You Like" is the eighth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon. It is instrumental and was written by David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, making it one of two songs on the album that Roger Waters did not contribute to, and...
" (D minor to G major). There is also an original musical theme not found elsewhere, an eerie and dissonant movement which slowly outlined a diminished seventh chord
Diminished seventh chord
A diminished seventh chord is a four note chord that comprises a diminished triad plus the interval of a diminished seventh above the root. Thus it is , or enharmonically , of any major scale; for example, C diminished-seventh would be , or enharmonically...
(last heard from the Floyd on "Sheep
Sheep (song)
"Sheep" is a song by the English band Pink Floyd. It was released on the album Animals in 1977. In 1974, it was originally titled "Raving and Drooling".-History:...
"). Like much of the album, "The Last Few Bricks" is in D minor
D minor
D minor is a minor scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. In the harmonic minor, the C is raised to C. Its key signature has one flat ....
-- which leads to an ironic "brightening" effect, when "Goodbye Cruel World" begins in the parallel key
Parallel key
In music, parallel keys are the major and minor scales that have the same tonic. A major and minor scale sharing the same tonic are said to be in a parallel relationship...
of D major.
The longest performance of this medley was on 7 February 1980 at Los Angeles Sports Arena when "Another Brick in the Wall (Part III)
Another Brick in the Wall
"Another Brick in the Wall" is the title of three songs set to variations of the same basic theme, on Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall, subtitled Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3...
" was stretched to over 13 minutes.
Interestingly, before the release of the live album
Is There Anybody out There? The Wall Live 1980-81
Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81 is an album released by Pink Floyd in 2000. It is a live rendition of The Wall, produced and engineered by James Guthrie, with tracks selected from the August 1980 and June 1981 performances at Earls Court in London...
, this bridge never had an official title. Fans called the track Almost Gone on some bootleg albums of the shows, but the official name -- The Last Few Bricks -- was not used at the shows in 1980-1982, and instead was suggested to Roger Waters by producer James Guthrie
James Guthrie (record producer)
James K.A. Guthrie is a British recording engineer and record producer best known for his work with the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, having served as a producer and engineer for the band since 1978...
during the mixing of the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
.