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FINALLY. The moment we’ve all been waiting for… The Dark Side of the Moon. One of the biggest most successful albums of all time, and rightly so, but is it the strongest in Pink Floyd’s catalog? Episode 32 covers the eighth Pink Floyd Studio album, 1973’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” Mark, Kevin, Alex, and Chris take you on a historical journey surrounding the album as well as share our favorites and not-so favorites from the record. We go on a deep dive track-by-track listen of this progressive rock masterpiece as well as share personal stories of discovering Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” Tune in next week for Episode 33 covering the ninth Pink Floyd studio album “Wish You Were Here”.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review:
Quick Reviews
Mark An album that transcends the sum of what they were at the time – but not without its weak spots.
Chris The concept is finally understood.
Alex The absolutely perfect blend of Pink Floyd up until this point, and finally? Props to Nick Mason.
Kevin An album that fits the definition of this show – transcends generations, boundaries, and spoke to millions.
Love It or Flush It
| M | C | A | K | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Speak to Me" | 1:13 | L | L | L | L | |
| 2 | "Breathe" | 2:43 | L | L | L | L | |
| 3 | "On the Run" | 3:36 | F | L | B | F | |
| 4 | "Time" (containing "Breathe (Reprise)") | 6:53 | L | B | L | B | |
| 5 | "The Great Gig in the Sky" | 4:36 | T | F | F | F | |
| 1 | "Money" | 6:23 | L | L | L | L | |
| 2 | "Us and Them" | 7:49 | B | B | L | B | |
| 3 | "Any Colour You Like" | 3:26 | F | T | T | T | |
| 4 | "Brain Damage" | 3:49 | T | L | L | L | |
| 5 | "Eclipse" | 2:03 | L | L | L | L |
Love It or Flush It Legend
L = Love. As many as you like.
F = Flush. Must flush at least one track per album.
B = Buy. Purchased for the ultimate LTS “Best Of” playlist for each of us. One per album.
T = Terminate. Should have never even existed. One per album.
The Rules
Each of us must Love, Flush, Buy, and Terminate AT LEAST ONE track on an album, no matter how great or terrible the album is. Whoever wins the “7 for the Buy” section gets an extra Buy or Terminate to use on the album. Because Chris hosts this section and thus cannot win, he gets an extra Buy or Terminate every 4 albums.
Album Information
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the 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. The record was conceived as an album that focused on the pressures faced by the band during their arduous lifestyle, and dealing with the apparent mental health problems suffered by former band member Syd Barrett, who departed the group in 1968. 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. The group employed multitrack recording, tape loops, and analogue synthesisers, including experimentation with the EMS VCS 3 and a Synthi A. 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“.
A concept album, the themes of The Dark Side of the Moon explore conflict, greed, time, death, and mental illness. Snippets from interviews with the band’s road crew, as well as philosophical quotations, were also used. 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 is among the most critically acclaimed records in history, often featuring on professional listings of the greatest albums. The record helped to propel Pink Floyd to international fame, bringing wealth and recognition to all four of its members. It has been certified 14× platinum in the United Kingdom, and topped the US Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart, where it has charted for 952 weeks in total. With estimated sales of over 45 million copies, it is Pink Floyd’s most commercially successful album, and one of the best-selling albums worldwide. In 2013, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
