David Gilmour reportedly described Pink Floyd’s 2001 compilation *Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd* as a “perfect primer” for listeners unfamiliar with the band. The collection matters because it presents a concise overview of Pink Floyd’s long career, spanning its early psychedelic period through to its major commercial releases.

Released as a double album, *Echoes* brings together tracks from across the group’s catalogue and takes its title from the 1971 song of the same name. Its selection was intended to offer an accessible introduction to Pink Floyd’s changing sound, although any compilation inevitably leaves out material favoured by some longtime listeners.