50 Years Ago, “Dark Side of the Moon” Released – IOTW Report

50 Years Ago, “Dark Side of the Moon” Released

The Independent

On 1 March 1973, a new moon rose over rock music. Immersive, quadrophonic, celestial and deeply introspective, Pink Floyd’s eighth album arrived in a heady flurry of cash tills, chiming clocks, pained-angel arias and cold, disembodied voices speaking of violence, death and insanity. Where their prog-rock peers were busy crafting grandiose yet chintzy pantomimes of Arthurian legend, sci-fi fantasy and messianic pinball, the Floyd delved into the dark universe of humanity’s inner space; into the stresses and horrors of everyday life that daily push us all to the brink. A record as relatable as it was cosmic, as melodic on the topics of “Time” and “Money” as it was climactic on the themes of war, division and madness, The Dark Side of the Moon set a new standard for high-concept intellectual rock. Forty-five million prism-clad units later, it remains the fourth best-selling record ever made. Progress

NPR found a shrink to psychoanalyze Pink Floyd’s masterpiece. It’s good for a lunatic laugh. Listen

38 Comments on 50 Years Ago, “Dark Side of the Moon” Released

  1. Got a copy.

    One of the more appreciated and played albums I bought back then. Hotel California right up there with it as background party music.

    Can almost still smell the pot residue on it.

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  2. DavidG March 1, 2023 at 4:51 pm

    Walters was the money man. Now the racsit man, god how people degrade into nothing & worthless trash.
    ==========

    You mean: “God how people reveal themselves as nothing worthless trash and ruin my perception of who they were.”

    He was always like he is, we just didn’t know. One more permutation of “Shut and sing”.

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  3. One of my favorite albums. Time and Brain Damage being my favorite tunes from it.

    I try to ignore the politics on bands and movies I like – I wouldn’t have much to watch or listen to if I did unfortunately.

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  4. Is dat why Da Pink kicked his sorry ass out out smart guy? Everyone luvs a racist righty.
    Old saying, don’t mix politics & entertainment or you’ll end up with the “WWE” Apprentice.

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  5. It’s fun to watch the reaction videos of people whom had never before heard them. Especially the hip hop crowd.
    And I concur with the comment you have to wear headphones to catch it all.

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  6. I’ve been thinking it’s time I got rid of all of my vinyl and CDs. I use Spotify that has almost everything I own. Almost.

    They don’t have Made for Television – So Araid of the Russians. 1983.

    I have some obscure vinyl. Including some 45s that need that little yellow insert thingy. Not sure if I have one of those.

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  7. I love my vinyl. Problem with a lot of sound systems after the rise of digital is many receivers no longer support old school turntables. I have a good Kenwood surround system in my living room which is great for DVD, VCR, etc but it won’t support my turntable. I have to play my albums in my sitting room off my very old Harmon Kardon hk880. But that old girl will rock a set of bose 201’s.
    I’d never get rid of my vinyl. That’s the way music is supposed to sound.

    3
  8. Different Tim, I have a setup just for my turntable. I scored 2 Technics SL-1800 Mk2s from ABC Radio’s trash. I run one on an Aiwa mini receiver out to a Wholer.

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  9. Polly Samson, author, lyricist and David Gilmour’s wife doesn’t best like Roger Waters. She tweeted this a few weeks ago:
    “Sadly @rogerwaters you are antisemitic to your rotten core. Also a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching,misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac. Enough of your nonsense.”

    Too bad she couldn’t be more specific and less ambiguous.

    3
  10. Wohlers are incredible, btw, 1RU, or 2RU, it doesn’t matter. ABC tossed all of their analog units when they went to AES. Another score for me.

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  11. Did a pest job in an apt that had a turntable and some 40-50 vinyls.

    ‘Wow’ I said. ‘I just don’t see that any more. I’ve got over 300 albums but no turntable right now.’

    Early 30-something her: “You’re probably sitting on a fortune.”

    Me: ‘Blink blink’. Didn’t really think about that. Kind of wish I didn’t unwrap the few I bought a collectibles in the late 70s now.

    3
  12. @ Dr. Hambone

    ‘I lost all of my vinyl in Hurricane Harvey. Sad day, indeed! It was quite a collection, too.”
    ====================

    Ouch. Sometimes we don’t see the passing of time/history until it’s too late.

    3
  13. ELP, quite so. Kind of a tossup of ELP, Traffic, The Moody Blues, Joe Cocker, and Eric Clapton. Clapton as in pieces from his entire career.

    And The Marshall Tucker Band. And The Allman Brothers. And QMS, and Fleetwood Mac. And The Electric Flag… and Chicken Shack…

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  14. I’m totally willing to bury the hatchet Erik.
    I imagine others on this site are more than tired of the bickering.
    After all, I believe we all want the same things for the most part.

    I also learned more about you on this thread than any before.
    Which is kind of odd arguing with a total stranger.
    I usually save my big arguments for family members.
    Peace.

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  15. If I hadn’t lost all my vinyl, my Pioneer SX-939 receiver would still blister the paint on the walls with them. I bought it in the UK in 1975 and it still works like it’s new. @Erik Clapton was always my favorite since I was in Jr. High. I saw him at the Odeon Hammersmith in London from six rows back in September 1974 and never looked back. Wish I could go back in time for that one, but alas, I turned sixty-nine three minutes ago.

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  16. General, yes! The connectors aren’t the problem. The amp itself won’t support the turntable without adding a preamp. I’ve still got my Harmon Kardon and an old Aiwa in storage should my Harmon give out. I worry more about finding good cartridges if mine gives out. Can’t just walk into an audio store and grab off shelf like we used to.

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