CLASSIC ALBUMS: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Recorded as part of the BBC's recent classic albums series, this is an utterly compelling making of documentary featuring this legendary album.

The "Classic albums" series has covered a wide range of releases, but the quality of the programmes has invariably been superb. The fact that "Dark side of the moon" was such a ground-breaking album only serves to emphasise the essential nature of this DVD for anyone with an interest in the history of music, prog or otherwise.

What strikes me straight away when watching this particular programme, is the astonishing amount of archive footage available from around the time the album was made. All the band members contribute to the programme, plus noted producer Sir George Martin. Each track is effectively taken apart in turn, and reconstructed using the multi-tracked master tapes to demonstrate how the final results were put together. Studio demos are also used, along with impromptu performances by the band members, to meticulously demonstrate how an idea is developed, stripped back, redeveloped, and refined into the final product.

Watching this fascinating documentary, you quickly realise that "Dark Side of the Moon" could have been quite an ordinary album, had the band chosen to simply record the songs they had prepared and release them in that format. Instead, they spent months working on them both live and in the studio, adding effects, embellishing instrumental passages, and generally refining the product. Clearly around this time, all four band members had the Midas touch; every idea they had for the album was an inspired one, every change they made was an improvement.

The documentary itself is made with as much passion and attention to detail as the album was. This is an essential companion to a landmark release.

The DVD Extras section contains some interesting outtakes where the band members go into greater detail about specific tracks, and undertake additional demo performances.

One obvious, but significant word of warning. Do not expect to hear the original album in full here. This is a documentary about the making of "Dark side of the moon", and about its place in the history of music.

Share this PINK FLOYD review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Easy Livin
• Report this review (#79157)
• Buy PINK FLOYD music online with PA partners
• Show all PINK FLOYD MP3/Stream
• Go to PINK FLOYD page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Classic Albums: The Dark Side Of The Moon page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for PINK FLOYD related discussions