“The Dark Side of the Moon” is the eighth studio album by
English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records. Primarily
developed during live performances, the band premiered an early version of the
record several months before recording began. New material was recorded in two
sessions in 1972 and 1973 at Abbey Road Studios in London.
The record builds on ideas explored in Pink Floyd's earlier recordings and performances, while omitting the extended instrumentals that characterised their earlier work. A concept album, its themes explore conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness, the latter partly inspired by the deteriorating health of founding member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. The group used recording techniques such as multitrack recording, tape loops, and analogue synthesisers. Snippets from interviews with the band's road crew, as well as philosophical quotations, were also used. Engineer Alan Parsons was responsible for many sonic aspects and the recruitment of singer Clare Torry, who appears on "The Great Gig in the Sky". The sleeve, which depicts a prism spectrum, was designed by Storm Thorgerson, following keyboardist Richard Wright's request for a "simple and bold" design, representing the band's lighting and the record's themes. The album was promoted with two singles: "Money" and "Us and Them".
“The Dark Side of the Moon” received critical acclaim upon release, and has since been hailed by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. The record reached number one on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart (now known as the Billboard 200), and has charted for over 900 weeks in total. With estimated sales of over 45 million copies, it is Pink Floyd's best seller, and one of the best-selling albums worldwide. The record helped to propel Pink Floyd to international fame, bringing wealth and recognition to all four of its members. It has been remastered and re-released on several occasions, most recently for digital distribution.
The record builds on ideas explored in Pink Floyd's earlier recordings and performances, while omitting the extended instrumentals that characterised their earlier work. A concept album, its themes explore conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness, the latter partly inspired by the deteriorating health of founding member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. The group used recording techniques such as multitrack recording, tape loops, and analogue synthesisers. Snippets from interviews with the band's road crew, as well as philosophical quotations, were also used. Engineer Alan Parsons was responsible for many sonic aspects and the recruitment of singer Clare Torry, who appears on "The Great Gig in the Sky". The sleeve, which depicts a prism spectrum, was designed by Storm Thorgerson, following keyboardist Richard Wright's request for a "simple and bold" design, representing the band's lighting and the record's themes. The album was promoted with two singles: "Money" and "Us and Them".
“The Dark Side of the Moon” received critical acclaim upon release, and has since been hailed by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time. The record reached number one on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart (now known as the Billboard 200), and has charted for over 900 weeks in total. With estimated sales of over 45 million copies, it is Pink Floyd's best seller, and one of the best-selling albums worldwide. The record helped to propel Pink Floyd to international fame, bringing wealth and recognition to all four of its members. It has been remastered and re-released on several occasions, most recently for digital distribution.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” este al optulea album de
studio al trupei engleze de rock Pink Floyd si a fost lansat la 1 martie 1973
de catre Harvest Records. Dezvoltat mai intai in timpul performantelor live, a
fost facuta o versiune timpurie cu cateva luni inainte de a incepe
inregistrarile. Noul material a fost inregistrat in doua ssesiuni la
studiourile Abbey Road din Londra.
Albumul e construit pe explorarea unor idei ale trupei din inregistrari si performaante live anterioare, cu omiterea vastelor pasaje instrumentale care caracterizeaza lucrarile anterioare ale lui Pink Floyd. Un album concept, temele lui explorand conflictul, lacomia, timpul, moartea si boala mintala, partial inspirata de recenta deteriorare mintala a lui Syd Barrett, membru fondator, plecat din grup in 1968. Trupa a folosit tehnici de inregistrare ca inregistraea pe mai multe piste, inregistrarea in bucla si sintetizatoare analoge. Fragmente din interviurile cu echipa in turnee si citate filozofice au fost folosite de asemenea. Inginerul Alan Parsons a fost responsabil de multe aspect ale sunetului si de recrutarea cantaretei Clare Torry care apare pe "The Great Gig in the Sky". Coperta, care prezinta spectrul unei raze printr-o prisma, a fost realizata de catre Storm Thorgerson, ca urmare a cererii claparului Richard Wright pentru un “design simplu si indraznet”, reprezentand lumina trupei si temele inregistrarilor. Albumul a promovat doua single-uri: “Money” si “Us and Them”.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” a fost aclamat de critica inca de la lansare si de atunci a fost laudat de critici ca fiind unul dintre cele mai bune albume din toate timpurile. Albumul a ajuns pe locul 1 in US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart ( cunoscut acum ca Billboard 200) si a sta in toate clasamentele un total de peste 900 de saptamani. Cu vanzari de peste 45 de milioane de copii, este cel mai bine vandut album de la Pink Floyd si unul dintre cele mai bine vandute albume din lume. Albumul a adus faima mondiala pentru Pink Floyd, aducand bunastare si recunoastere pentru toti cei patru membri ai trupei. A fost re-reimbunatatit si re-relansat in diverse ocazii, cel mai recent intr-o distribuire digitala.
Albumul e construit pe explorarea unor idei ale trupei din inregistrari si performaante live anterioare, cu omiterea vastelor pasaje instrumentale care caracterizeaza lucrarile anterioare ale lui Pink Floyd. Un album concept, temele lui explorand conflictul, lacomia, timpul, moartea si boala mintala, partial inspirata de recenta deteriorare mintala a lui Syd Barrett, membru fondator, plecat din grup in 1968. Trupa a folosit tehnici de inregistrare ca inregistraea pe mai multe piste, inregistrarea in bucla si sintetizatoare analoge. Fragmente din interviurile cu echipa in turnee si citate filozofice au fost folosite de asemenea. Inginerul Alan Parsons a fost responsabil de multe aspect ale sunetului si de recrutarea cantaretei Clare Torry care apare pe "The Great Gig in the Sky". Coperta, care prezinta spectrul unei raze printr-o prisma, a fost realizata de catre Storm Thorgerson, ca urmare a cererii claparului Richard Wright pentru un “design simplu si indraznet”, reprezentand lumina trupei si temele inregistrarilor. Albumul a promovat doua single-uri: “Money” si “Us and Them”.
“The Dark Side of the Moon” a fost aclamat de critica inca de la lansare si de atunci a fost laudat de critici ca fiind unul dintre cele mai bune albume din toate timpurile. Albumul a ajuns pe locul 1 in US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart ( cunoscut acum ca Billboard 200) si a sta in toate clasamentele un total de peste 900 de saptamani. Cu vanzari de peste 45 de milioane de copii, este cel mai bine vandut album de la Pink Floyd si unul dintre cele mai bine vandute albume din lume. Albumul a adus faima mondiala pentru Pink Floyd, aducand bunastare si recunoastere pentru toti cei patru membri ai trupei. A fost re-reimbunatatit si re-relansat in diverse ocazii, cel mai recent intr-o distribuire digitala.
List of tracks
Side 1
1."Speak to Me" 1:13
2."Breathe" 2:43
3."On the Run" 3:36
4."Time 6:53
5."The Great Gig in the Sky" 4:36
Side 2
1."Money" 6:23
2."Us and Them" 7:49
3."Any Colour You Like" 3:26
4."Brain Damage" 3:49
5."Eclipse" 2:03
Personnel
Pink Floyd
David Gilmour – vocals, guitars, Synthi AKS
Nick Mason – drums, percussion, tape effects
Richard Wright – organ (Hammond and Farfisa), piano,
electric piano (Wurlitzer, Rhodes), EMS VCS 3, Synthi AKS, vocals
Roger Waters – bass guitar, vocals, VCS 3, tape effects
Additional musicians
Dick Parry – saxophone on "Us and Them" and
"Money"
Clare Torry – vocals on "The Great Gig in the
Sky"
Doris Troy – backing vocals
Lesley Duncan – backing vocals
Liza Strike – backing vocals
Barry St. John – backing vocals
Production
Alan Parsons – engineering
Peter James – assistant (incorrectly identified as
"Peter Jones" on first US pressings of the LP)
Chris Thomas – mix supervisor
Design
Hipgnosis – sleeve design, photography
George Hardie – sleeve art, stickers art
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