Fifty years on, Animals still has teeth.
Pink Floyd’s dark, uncompromising classic reaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, and the forthcoming Animals 50 releases are available to pre-order at Punk to Funk Heaven. Choose from double CD, double LP, orange vinyl LP and Blu-ray, all currently scheduled for release on 22 January 2027.
Whether it’s an old favourite or the Floyd album you’ve yet to properly explore, this is a good excuse to switch off the distractions and settle in.
From the dark side to Battersea
Originally released in 1977, Animals followed The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, but took a sharper, more confrontational direction.
Drawing on animal imagery associated with George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the album turns its attention to power, class and social division. “Dogs”, “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” and “Sheep” form its sprawling centre, framed by the two parts of “Pigs on the Wing”.
It’s Pink Floyd at their most biting, with Roger Waters’ pointed writing, David Gilmour’s expressive guitar work, Richard Wright’s atmospheric keyboards and Nick Mason’s drumming giving the music its tension and momentum.
And then there’s the sleeve. Battersea Power Station, an ominous sky and a floating pig: few album covers make quite such an immediate impression.
An album that rewards the whole journey
Animals isn’t really a dip-in-for-one-song sort of record. Its long pieces have room to shift, build and reveal new details, moving between uneasy calm and full-band intensity.
“Dogs” is the great slow-burner, “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” brings the sneer, and “Sheep” builds towards a fierce release. The quieter “Pigs on the Wing” passages give that heavyweight middle section a very different frame.
If you know Pink Floyd mainly through their more familiar radio tracks, there’s a whole other side of the band waiting here.
Choose your Animals 50 edition
For CD collectors, the double-CD edition is one way to mark the anniversary and revisit the album.
Pre-order Animals 50 on double CD
Prefer the ritual of putting a record on? The double-LP edition is also available to pre-order.
Pre-order Animals 50 on double LP
For collectors who like a splash of colour on the turntable, there’s an orange vinyl LP edition.
Pre-order Animals 50 on orange vinyl LP
The anniversary selection also includes a Blu-ray edition. Check the product listing for updates on its contents before choosing your copy.
Pre-order Animals 50 on Blu-ray
Still a different animal
Part progressive rock landmark, part social commentary, Animals remains a record with plenty to say. Its anniversary is a chance to revisit the music, admire that unmistakable artwork and hear where it takes you this time.
Pre-order your preferred Animals 50 edition at Punk to Funk Heaven for the scheduled release on 22 January 2027. Pre-orders ship on release. Release dates are subject to change.
The pig may be airborne, but this one belongs in the record collection.