Over the last few weeks, David Gilmour's entertaining official blog has been gradually revealing details of the upcoming Live In Gdansk release. For those who've missed them, fear not, as the official announcement has now been issued by Columbia Records. With no less than FIVE different formats of the package, from a 2CD set through to a 3CD and 2DVD deluxe box set, there's plenty of goodies in store!

Included in some of the packages will be a two and a half hour DVD, and the long-awaited 5.1 surround sound version of On An Island, along with many other things that haven't appeared elsewhere.

With a release date of September 22nd in Europe, and September 23rd in North America, the various packages, detailed below and available for preorder, will be very eagerly awaited by fans across the world...

The album, 'David Gilmour Live In Gdansk,' his first solo live album, is a recording of his concert held in front of 50,000 in the Gdansk shipyards, the final performance of his critically acclaimed 2006 'On An Island tour.'

Former President of Poland Lech Walesa and Mayor of Gdansk Pawel Adamowicz invited David Gilmour and his band to perform this very special concert to mark the 26th Anniversary of the founding of trade union Solidarity. The concert, funded by the City of Gdansk and Solidarity, was titled "It Started in Gdansk -- The Space Of Freedom" and was held on August 26th, 2006, a National holiday for the Polish people commemorating the founding in 1980 of The Solidarity Trade Union. Nine years later The Solidarity Trade Union toppled the Communist Government, with its leader Lech Walesa elected President of a democratic Poland.

For this concert, the band were accompanied by an orchestra: the 40-strong string section of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic conducted by Zbigniew Preisner, orchestral arranger on David's "On An Island" album.

The two and a half hour DVD which accompanies the live album is directed by Gavin Elder. The DVD evocatively portrays the drama of the Gdansk concert, set against the urban landscape of the shipyard and crane-filled skyline. Hung above the stage, suspended on two giant cranes, were six, 16 ton screens, each one focused on a band member and lit in a kaleidoscope of colour and lasers by lightmeister Marc Brickman.

As well as 113 minutes of concert footage, the DVD includes a 36-minute documentary which includes Gilmour's private meeting with former President Lech Walesa, chats with the band and crew, concert rehearsals and a moving wreath-laying with Walesa at the Memorial to the shipyard workers killed in the 1970 uprising.

David Gilmour said of the Gdansk concert: "This was the first time I have played in Poland and it was a thrill to be there helping to mark one of the most important anniversaries in recent European history. The Gdansk shipyard is a deeply symbolic place and it was an honour to perform our music there. It was particularly exciting to have my friend Zbigniew Preisner there conducting the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra and to be able to perform my album for the first time as it was intended".

All formats of 'David Gilmour Live In Gdansk' include all the orchestral tracks; the 113-minute 'Concert DVD' includes footage of all the orchestral songs, plus 'Echoes' and 'Astronomy Domine.' 'Wot's Uh...The Deal?' is included only on the vinyl LP set. For a handy table of what includes what, visit this page at David's blog.

ORDERING INFORMATION
Amazon are taking orders on the various versions, and our special direct links - helping with the running costs of this site, at no additional cost to you - are shown here.

* Currently the best place for our US friends to secure their copy of the 3CD/2DVD set is their local Best Buy store. The chain has the exclusive on the set in the US, and their website has just (Sept 19th) dropped it to a staggering $49.99, far cheaper than Amazon.com's current price. They do sell by online mail order as well as instore, but please note that Best Buy only ship orders to these countries: US, the Virgin Islands, Guam, or an FPO or APO address. They are not able to ship internationally to other countries.

We will endeavour to keep this chart up to date, but please be aware that prices can change on a daily basis. We hope you find this chart useful! Should the price reduce after you have pre-ordered it from Amazon, they should automatically reduce the amount you pay when the item is released and you are charged for it (on despatch).

As they list the remaining versions, we will update this story accordingly. There are of course other retailers that you can choose, including our friends over at www.floydstuff.com, and at Play.com who will also be offering the various editions. As with Amazon, prices at other retailers change on a regular basis, so shop around for the best deals. We hope this chart will help you in your buying decisions, whichever retailer you choose.

Formats:

1. David Gilmour Live In Gdansk -- 2 CD + 1 DVD set and 12-page booklet, features:
   Disc 1 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 2 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 3 -- Concert DVD and Gdansk Diary documentary
   
2. David Gilmour Live In Gdansk -- 2 CD and 12-page booklet, features:
   Disc 1 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 2 -- Concert Audio CD
   
3. David Gilmour Live In Gdansk -- 2 CD + 2 DVD set and 12-page booklet, features:
   Disc 1 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 2 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 3 -- Concert DVD and Gdansk Diary
   Disc 4 -- Extras DVD including three previously unreleased 'Barn Jams' and 5.1 audio version of 'On An Island'
   
4. David Gilmour Live In Gdansk -- 3 CD + 2 DVD Deluxe Box set and 24-page booklet with collectable memorabilia items, features:
   Disc 1 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 2 -- Concert Audio CD
   Disc 3 -- Concert DVD and Gdansk Diary
   Disc 4 -- Extras DVD including three previously unreleased 'Barn Jams' and 5.1 audio version of 'On An Island'
   Disc 5 -- CD Bonus tracks (live from the 2006 Summer tour).
   
5. David Gilmour Live In Gdansk (Vinyl) -- 5 LP Box Set and 20-page booklet, plus web-pass to download the album, features:
   The full Live In Gdansk concert including 'Wot's...Uh The Deal?,' plus extra audio tracks that include two of the private recording sessions known as the 'Barn Jams.'
   

The full track listings for David Gilmour Live In Gdansk are as follows:

Disc 1 -- CD
Speak To Me
Breathe
Time
Breathe (reprise)
Castellorizon *
On An Island *
The Blue *
Red Sky At Night *
This Heaven *
Then I Close My Eyes *
Smile *
Take A Breath *
A Pocketful Of Stones *
Where We Start *

Disc 2 -- CD
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Astronomy Domine
Fat Old Sun
High Hopes *
Echoes
Wish You Were Here
A Great Day For Freedom *
Comfortably Numb *

* Accompanied by the 40-strong section of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zbigniew Preisner

Discs 1 & 2 -- CD Credits
Produced By: David Gilmour & Phil Manzanera
Audio Mixing: Andy Jackson, David Gilmour, Devin Workman, Damon Iddins

Disc 3 -- DVD
Part 1 -- David Gilmour Live in Gdansk
Castellorizon
On An Island
The Blue
Red Sky At Night
This Heaven
Then I Close My Eyes
Smile
Take A Breath
A Pocketful of Stones
Where We Start
Astronomy Domine
High Hopes
Echoes
A Great day For Freedom
Comfortably Numb

Part 2 -- Gdansk Diary
36 minute film documenting the Solidarity Concert events

Disc 3 -- DVD Credits
Part 1 -- Concert
Produced by: Dione Orrom
Directed by: Gavin Elder
Part 2 -- Gdansk Diary
Produced by: Dione Orrom
Director, Cameraman, Editor: Gavin Elder

Disc 4 -- DVD Extras
Live At the Mermaid Theatre, London, March 2006:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Wearing The Inside Out
Comfortably Numb

Live from the AOL Sessions, New York, April 2006:
On An Island
High Hopes

Live From Abbey Road, London, August 2006:
The Blue
Take A Breath
Echoes (Acoustic)

Barn Jams 2007 (previously unreleased), recorded live in the UK, January 2007:
Barn Jam 166
Barn Jam 192
Barn Jam 121

Disc 4 - DVD Credits:
Filming Directed by David Mallet
Filming Directed by Gary Corrigan and Shauna O'Brien
Filming Directed by A J Jankel
Filming Directed by Gavin Elder

'Barn Jam' only personnel:
David Gilmour: Guitar / drums
Richard Wright: Keyboards
Guy Pratt: Bass / Guitar
Steve DiStanislao: Drums / bass

Disc 4 -- DVD Audio 5.1 Surround Sound Version
Castellorizon
On An Island
The Blue
Take A Breath
Red Sky At Night
This Heaven
Then I Close My Eyes
Smile
A Pocketful Of Stones
Where We Start

Produced by David Gilmour, Phil Manzanera and Chris Thomas

Disc 5 -- CD Bonus Tracks from the 'On An Island' Tour, 2006:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Vienne, July 31/Venice August 12)
Dominoes (Paris, March 15)
The Blue (Vienne, July 31)
Take A Breath (Munich, July 29)
Wish You Were Here (Glasgow, May 27)
Coming Back To Life (Florence, August 2)
Find The Cost Of Freedom (Manchester, May 26)
This Heaven (Vienne, July 31)
Wearing The Inside Out (Milan, March 25)
A Pocketful Of Stones (Vienne, July 31)
Where We Start (Vienne, July 31)
On The Turning Away (Venice, August 31)

Disc 5 -- CD Credits
Produced by David Gilmour and Phil Manzanera
Audio mix by Phil Manzanera, Andy Jackson, Devin Workman, Damon Iddins.