Broken China is the second and final solo album by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright, released on 7 October 1996.[3]

Broken China
Studio album by
Released7 October 1996
RecordedStudio Harmonie, France; Whitfield Street Studios, London; RAK Studios and The Astoria[1]
Genre
Length59:24
Label
Producer
Richard Wright chronology
Identity
(1984)
Broken China
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Overview

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The album is a four-part concept album based on Wright's then-wife Mildred's battle with depression.[4] Two songs, "Reaching for the Rail" and "Breakthrough" feature Sinéad O'Connor on lead vocals, with Wright singing elsewhere. The album was recorded in Wright's studio in France. Broken China was Wright's first solo record since 1978's Wet Dream and the last before his death in September 2008.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour played on "Breakthrough", but the approach for the song was changed later on, and Gilmour's performance was not used on the finished release. On the DVD David Gilmour in Concert, a guest appearance is made by Wright, who sings "Breakthrough" accompanied by Gilmour and his band.

The packaging has artwork by Pink Floyd's regular designer, Storm Thorgerson, and Peter Curzon.[5]

Track listing

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Broken China track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Breaking Water"Richard Wright, Anthony Moore2:27
2."Night of a Thousand Furry Toys"Wright, Moore4:23
3."Hidden Fear"Wright, Gerry Gordon3:28
4."Runaway"Moore4:00
5."Unfair Ground"Wright2:22
6."Satellite"Wright4:05
7."Woman of Custom"Moore3:44
8."Interlude"Wright1:15
9."Black Cloud"Wright3:20
10."Far from the Harbour Wall"Wright, Moore6:08
11."Drowning"Wright1:38
12."Reaching for the Rail"Wright, Moore6:30
13."Blue Room in Venice"Wright, Gordon2:47
14."Sweet July"Wright4:14
15."Along the Shoreline"Wright, Moore4:36
16."Breakthrough"Wright, Moore4:19

Personnel

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Musicians

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Design

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  • Storm Thorgerson, Peter Curzon – sleeve design
  • Tony May – photography
  • Jason Reddy – computer
  • Julien Mils, Finlay Cowan – artwork

Charts

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Chart performance for Broken China
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[6] 24
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[7] 52
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[8] 39

References

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  1. ^ "Rick Wright – Broken China (1996, CD)". Discogs.
  2. ^ AllMusic review
  3. ^ Broken China, Richard Wright, Prog Archives.
  4. ^ Doskoch, Peter (1 March 1997). "When Pink Turns to Blue". Psychology Today. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ^ Broken China, The Pink Floyd Hyperbase, Denmark.
  6. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rick Wright – Broken China". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rick Wright – Broken China". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rick Wright – Broken China". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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