Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of The Moon (1972/73)

[umbertino]

By condensing the sonic explorations of 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. The primary revelation of Dark Side of the Moon is what a little focus does for the band. 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. [The Immersion Edition is the name Pink Floyd invented for their massive, mega-deluxe single-album reissue campaign, inaugurating the series with a six-disc box set of Dark Side of the Moon in the fall of 2011. Previously reluctant to open their vaults, Floyd now overcompensate with a ludicrously lavish box that truly does immerse a listener within the album's world. The original album, remastered again in 2011 by James Guthrie, accounts for the first disc, along with the first DVD-Audio that contains Guthrie's 5.1 mix from 2003, and Alan Parsons' quadraphonic mix from 1973, never before reissued. Also never issued officially is the Floyd's live set from Wembley in 1974, here as a second CD, nor has Parsons' original 1972 mix, issued here on an exclusive CD that also contains "The Hard Way," from the abandoned Household Objects album, live versions of blueprints for Dark Side in "Any Colour You Like," "The Mortality Sequence," and "The Travel Sequence," the latter also present in a studio version, and demos of "Us and Them" and "Money." All this doesn't account for the books, the collector cards and prints, the backstage and ticket replicas, the coasters and scarf that push this set to the cusp of parody while retaining a sense of silken indulgence for the dedicated Floyd fan. As nice as the packaging is, the real news of the set is the bonus audio: the live concert is excellent, the Parsons mix is notably different in parts - particularly during extended instrumental sections on "The Great Gig in the Sky," "Us and Them," "Any Colour You Like," and "Brain Damage" -- and the skeletal demos, along with thRolling Stone (12/11/03, p.110) - Ranked #43 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...One of the best-produced rock albums ever..."

Rolling Stone (5/24/73, p.57) - "...The sound is lush and multi-layered while remaining clear and well-structured....a fine album with a textural and conceptual richness that not only invites, but demands involvement....the excellence of a superb performance..."

Q (10/94, p.137) - 4 Stars - Excellent

Uncut (5/03, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...The subdued, darkly muttering, sombrely somnolent music of DARK SIDE OF THE MOON startles....An achievement of considerable merit..."

NME (Magazine) (3/20/93, p.33) - 8 - Excellent - "...although everything your punk rock elder brother said was undeniably true, it doesn't take a great mental leap to achieve the mind-set of the pot-smoking philosophy student and pronounce this album a super-sensory classic..."

Personnel: David Gilmour (vocals, guitars); Richard Wright (vocals, keyboards); Roger Waters (vocals, bass guitar); Nick Mason (percussion); Damon Iddins, Andy Jackson (loops); Doris Troy, Lesley Duncan, Liza Strike, Venetta Fields, Barry St. John, Carlena Williams (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Joel Plante, James Guthrie .

Audio Mixers: Damon Iddins; Andy Jackson.

Audio Remasterer: Andy Jackson.

Liner Note Author: Storm Thorgerson.

Recording information: Abbey Road Studios, London (06/1972); Brighton (06/1972); The Brighton Dome, UK (06/1972); The Empire Pool, Wembley, London (06/1972); Abbey Road Studios, London (06/1972-01/1973); Brighton (06/1972-01/1973); The Brighton Dome, UK (06/1972-01/1973); The Empire Pool, Wembley, London (06/1972-01/1973); Abbey Road Studios, London (06/29/1972); Brighton (06/29/1972); The Brighton Dome, UK (06/29/1972); The Empire Pool, Wembley, London (06/29/1972); Abbey Road Studios, London (10/1973); Brighton (10/1973); The Brighton Dome, UK (10/1973); The Empire Pool, Wembley, London (10/1973); Abbey Road Studios, London (11/1974); Brighton (11/1974); The Brighton Dome, UK (11/1974); The Empire Pool, Wembley, London (11/1974).

Enjoy.

00:00 - 1. Speak To Me;

01:10 - 2. Breathe In The Air;

04:00 - 3. On The Run;

07:51 - 4. Time;

14:37 - 5. The Great Gig In The Sky;

19:21 - 6. Money;

25:50 - 7. Us And Them;

33:34 - 8. Any Colour You Like;

37:05 - 9. Brain Damage;

40:53 -10 Eclipse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tt9w640alo&feature=related

[Santanna]

This album will always remind me of the wizard of oz.

[cooked]

This may offend some out there but, I always feel like I have to light a joint when I hear this album. Man what great music from those days.

[dinarbeleiver]

Brilliant album but I prefered the wall

[umbertino]

This may offend some out there but, I always feel like I have to light a joint when I hear this album. Man what great music from those days.

Pink Floyd Music tends to make some of us want to space out....Each one in his/her own way ( joint, deep reflections, sex,etc.)

Brilliant album but I prefered the wall

Ok...Will do ..."one of these days" ( Pink Floyd song from " Meddle")

[FlyHi]

Wow...the whole album....I've been listening and not getting much work done!! It sure brought back some good memories of those teenage years and parties...oh boy...not going there!

[umbertino]

Wow...the whole album....I've been listening and not getting much work done!! It sure brought back some good memories of those teenage years and parties...oh boy...not going there!

Why Not? Please do go there.... Share and by sharing you'll feel relieved....Smile.....

[Ms.Bean]

Brilliant album but I prefered the wall

Animals is another great album

Saw Pink Floyd on The Division Bell tour in 94. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

[Gooserider67]

This may offend some out there but, I always feel like I have to light a joint when I hear this album. Man what great music from those days.

It is truly amazing to see what a few talented individuals are capable of, but at such a young age that the mind's behind Pink Floyd were able to produce music that is loved by so many generations the same if not more than when the album was first released makes it a true masterpiece.... See you at 420...

[dog53]

Ahhhhhh Yes PINK FLOYD +1 light em if ya got em man

[umbertino]

Animals is another great album

Saw Pink Floyd on The Division Bell tour in 94. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

Will post it soon.

[Ms.Bean]

Will post it soon.

Why thank you

[jeepguy]

wow hahahah grew up on pink floyd and rush ,, in the mississppi area`s ,,, we use too goo in the deep wooded area near a river 5 or 6 cars in a circle,,, doors open ,,, all playing the same { cassette tape} hahahahah passing the dubbie around and drinking beers,,, remeber it is nite time pitch dark ,,only light was from the cigerettes and stars above ,,,,,,,, man i loved those days { glad i wasn`t rich ,,,, i would probably be dead } mommie ,,, look at all the planes

[k98nights]

{ glad i wasn`t rich ,,,, i would probably be dead }

I can relate!

[littlefeet]

Ahhhhhh Yes PINK FLOYD +1 light em if ya got em man

Always liked Floyd......., since the first time hearing them, when my older brother was checkin' out Dark Side in his teen years. Seen 'em twice, Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour and Division Bell Tour. Last week just got Tix for Roger Waters Show in Raleigh,NC in July......should be a great show....WOO HOO !

[showmemodinar]

Always liked Floyd......., since the first time hearing them, when my older brother was checkin' out Dark Side in his teen years. Seen 'em twice, Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour and Division Bell Tour. Last week just got Tix for Roger Waters Show in Raleigh,NC in July......should be a great show....WOO HOO !

I wore out Dark side of the Moon, James Taylor Sweet Baby James, The Doors, The Stones, Credence Clearwater, Siegel schwall (sp?), Fleetwood Mac - bare trees, crosby stills nash and young, The Beatles of course, Creme, Eric Burton and The Animals, Yardbirds, Jay Giles, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Dylan, Ottis reding, gladis knight and the pips, early buddy guy and all the great chicago blues men. We lived in the greatest time for music - If there is a god I thank him for allowing me to live and experience this time in history - because of the music! OH and just a little later on Phobe Snow! Lucky Lucky Lucky you and me:-)

[tumdrum]

Let's not forget some of the brains behind the album, the infamous Alan parsons!

[umbertino]

It is truly amazing to see what a few talented individuals are capable of, but at such a young age that the mind's behind Pink Floyd were able to produce music that is loved by so many generations the same if not more than when the album was first released makes it a true masterpiece.... See you at 420...

You're absolutely right.