DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Interesting to note is that the first time the band played "The Dark Side Of The Moon" without technical difficulties was on January 21st 1972 at the Guildhall in Portsmouth. By the time the album was released some 14 months later the bootleg for that live concert had already sold 120,000 copies. The very first time I remember hearing about PINK FLOYD was when I was about 12 years old and in school. One of the guys in my class had a "Dark Side Of The Moon" sticker on his binder. The last name of this student happened to be Floyd, so i figured that was why he was into them. I never even heard their music until I was in high school, and it was this record that began my journey with PINK FLOYD. This was an album that most parents could actually tolerate, unlike the music from LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH etc. They may have thought it was weird, but the dreamy sounds were easy on their ears. Of course this music has always been associated with drugs. I remember a guy in his fifties with Elvis-like side burns, scoffing at my "Dark Side Of The Moon" t-shirt I was wearing, and implying I must like getting high. Whatever dude. The album really plays out like one long piece, with the songs blending together. Roger had approached the band about doing a themed album about mortality, madness and the need for universal human empathy. He proposed writing emotionally direct lyrics in suitable simple language.This album was Roger's idea and he was responsible for all the lyrics. He admits that Gilmour's input was crucial as David created almost all the music with Wright also helping out too. So like the "Meddle" album this too was a band effort. It was Roger's idea to record samples of people speaking and sprinkling them throughout the album. Roger asked questions to random people on Abbey Road and in the Abbey Road Studios for hours, all the while taping their answers. I'm surprised that after all these years Syd barrett is still on the band's minds as the title of the album comes from something Syd said after the band let him go as in "They've left me on the dark side of the moon". And also the song "Brain Damage" which unfortunately was inspired by Syd's mental problems. Maybe i shouldn't be surprised though as Syd was their leader and an incredible talent. There are two significant guests on this record, Clare Torry of course with her amazing vocals on "The Great Gig In The Sky", and Dick Parry who adds some very important sax melodies on this recording.

"Speak To Me" opens with the sound of a heart beat as mechanical and vocal samples join in. "Breathe" is like a dream. Wright and Mason lead the way before the vocals join in before 1 1/2 minutes. Love the organ work after 2 minutes. It blends into the instrumental "On The Run" which is so cool. It's like we're running from something and there's that feeling of panic. The sound builds and collapses all the while we keep running. An explosion comes in late but we're still on the run. It blends into "Time" where we can hear the clock ticking in the distant so we turn it up louder and then boom ! It's like a thousand alarm clocks just went off ! I love the drumming and organ work that follows. Aggressive vocals come in after 2 minutes that we're so unlike FLOYD back then. I like the guitar work of Gilmour here. The spacey section after 2 1/2 minutes is incredible, followed by Gilmour just lighting it up on his guitar. Fantastic solo ! It's spacey again after 4 minutes and again a minute later. Nice. The lyrics are so true. "Breathe Reprise" comes in before 6 minutes. Wright offers up some great spacey organ late.

"The Great Gig In The Sky" is an instrumental except there are those female vocal melodies from Clare. She puts on an incredible show here. This is just so emotional. Piano and a spacey soundscape as she comes in vocally. Organ joins in too. The drumming is worthy of a mention here as well. A calm 2 1/2 minutes as piano comes back to the fore. "Money" opens with those cash register sounds followed by bass and a full sound. Vocals follow and check out the sax solo 2 minutes in. Guitar follows that up with a solo as well. Ripping guitar 4 1/2 minutes in followed by vocals and samples to end it. It blends into "Us And Them" the longest song on the album and my favourite PINK FLOYD song. Thankyou Richard Wright ! Organ to open as sax comes in. It's all so laid back as the reserved vocals come in. The lyrics are so emotional as he sings "Forward he cried from the rear and the front rank died." It blends into "Any Colour You Like" which is a spacey, psychedelic jam. An outbreak of sound before 1 1/2 minutes, and it later blends into "Brain Damage". Great lyrics on this one too. It kicks into gear after a minute. Love the crazy laughter before 2 minutes and later 3 1/2 minutes in. "Eclipse" features some great organ runs from Wright early on. It ends as the album began with heart beats.

In my opinion this is the greatest recording ever made, and the only album I would give a perfect score to. 14 years on Billboards album charts means that it is the most popular progressive album ever made, and I know we've all played it to death but...this is the holy grail of music.