I'"Wish You Were Here," the ninth studio album by Pink Floyd, emerged on September 12, 1975, via Harvest Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US, marking their debut for the latter label. Drawing from material crafted during their European performances, the album was meticulously recorded across various sessions throughout 1975 at EMI Studios in London.
Upon its release, "Wish You Were Here" swiftly attained gold certification in both the UK and the US, while also claiming the top spot on charts across Europe. By 2004, its global sales had surged to an estimated 13 million copies.
Though initial critical reception was mixed, with some reviewers deeming its music less compelling compared to Pink Floyd's earlier works, the album eventually garnered widespread acclaim, earning a place among the greatest albums of all time. Notably, it secured a spot on Rolling Stone's prestigious list of the 500 greatest albums. Both keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour hailed it as their favorite Pink Floyd record.