Picture this, it’s 1973 and spring is approaching. March arrives and it’s time to visit the record store for the new Pink Floyd LP. Once “The Dark Side of The Moon” met people’s turntables, the world would never be the same. 47 years later, the album still stands tall as a masterful demonstration of complex musicianship, mature themes and commercial success with most consecutive weeks on Billboard 200 album chart.
Looking past the iconic art which has become a staple in pop culture, the record brought Pink Floyd to mainstream stardom. Originally, the band was led by Syd Barrett, who was forced to leave because of mental illness. This period of Floyd was less viable toward the masses, but Barrett’s influence reigned supreme. Roger Waters on bass and vocals, David Gilmour on guitar and side vocals, Richard Wright on the keys and Nick Mason on percussion, comprised the lineup for Dark Side. Waters saw Barrett’s downfall firsthand and wrote about them with songs like “Brain Damage/Eclipse.” The band would later expand these themes on their follow-up album “Wish You Were Here” with the song “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.”
If someone’s never heard this album before, a great suggestion is to listen seamlessly. The record is produced so wonderfully by Alan Parsons, with hidden sounds scattered throughout. Another individual that made her mark was Claire Torry. She wails away on “The Great Gig in The Sky” which ponders what happens as she is dying. A funny story about this song is that she wasn’t sure if her vocals were suitable enough for release, it wasn’t until she went to the store and saw her name in the personnel section for the track; the rest is history.
Going back to Barrett’s replacement, Gilmour’s guitar work is distinctive on all ends. Nobody else could play with the same feel as him, especially shown on the solos for “Time” and “Money.” Speaking of those songs, the revolutionary idea to disperse natural sounds on the introductions was sublime. For “Time” they recorded clocks at antique stores for an overwhelming effect. This is followed by Mason’s soothingly simplistic, not in a bad way, drum solo. “Money” somehow makes cash registers and coins an instrument, that alone is an incredible accomplishment.
After “Dark Side” Pink Floyd would become a household name with other masterpieces like “The Wall,” releasing. Still, there’s just something about this album that keeps us talking. It might even be the mythology, such as if it syncs up with the film “The Wizard of Oz.” Supposedly, if you listen to the album while watching the movie they go together well. The band has completely denounced this notion as someone having too much time on their hands, but it’s nonetheless an interesting experiment.
Vinyl records have recently surpassed CD’s in sales for the first time since the 1980s. For many classic rock bands, this has enhanced the sound quality of numerous records. Dark Side in record form might be the most surreal way to spend its 42-minute runtime. It’s going to be awesome seeing what celebrations are done in 2023 when the record turns 50. Some more tips for digesting this album the right way: just “Breathe” calmly because Pink Floyd will provide you with a great “Time.”
Image from Pink Floyd via YouTube
