Back in time

1 March 2023

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON by prog-rock titans PINK FLOYD is one of the best known/sold albums ever, selling to its own and all of the future generations following
its release 50 years ago today, on 1 March 1973.

AllMusic/Stephen Thomas Erlewine: “By condensing the sonic explorations of sixth
album ‘Meddle’ to actual songs and adding a lush, immaculate production to their trippiest instrumental sections, Pink Floyd inadvertently designed their commercial breakthrough with ‘Dark Side of the Moon’. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren’t that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd’s slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an emotional resonance. But what gives the album true power is the subtly textured music, which evolves from ponderous, neo-psychedelic art rock to jazz fusion and blues-rock before turning back to psychedelia. It’s dense with detail, but leisurely paced, creating its own dark, haunting world. Pink Floyd may have better albums than ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, but no other record defines them quite as well as this one.” Score: 5/5.

10 Facts.

1. The LP has sold approximately 34 million copies worldwide… so far.

2. The album is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being on the charts longer than any other album in history, namely 591 consecutive weeks or 11.4 years in Billboard‘s top 200! A total of approx 14 whole years (741 weeks) in and back in top 200, and a staggering 26 years in some Billboard chart or other.

3. The original title for the album was Eclipse (A Piece for Assorted Lunatics). The band were upset to find out that the progressive folk rock act Medicine Head had released an album with the title of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ as recently as 1972 on John Peel’s Dandelion label. Since the release was less than successful sales-wise, the band decided go ahead with their plans.

4. The album was recorded at Abbey Road on its state-of-the-art 16-track equipment.

5. The longplayer was developed during the band’s live shows and was performed in concert before recording even started.

6. Australian radio listeners voted the album the best album to have sex to in 1990.

7. The Great Gig In The Sky was originally known as The Mortality Sequence. It featured
a similar piano introduction but no female vocals.

8. Single Money was influenced by 60s/70s hit band Booker T. & the M.G.’s

9. Proceeds from the album helped fund Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

10. Engineer Alan Parsons (Project) was paid a weekly wage of £35 to work on the album.

To celebrate the event a new deluxe box set will be released on 24th March.

It includes CD and gatefold vinyl of the new 2023 remastered studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. The set also includes additional new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix, plus CD and LP of ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon – Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974’, a 160-page hardback photo book, a music book, replica 7” singles and memorabilia. Details and Order Info HERE.

Remastered Version (2011)

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