It was 50 years ago today (March 1st, 1973) that Pink Floyd released its most celebrated and beloved album, The Dark Side Of The Moon. The collection, which was the band's eight long player, is by far the band's biggest-selling and best known record — with a colossal 45 million copies sold.
Between 1973 and 1988 the album spent and astounding 741 weeks on the Billboard 200 album charts — longer than any other album in history.
Coming on March 24th is Floyd's new 50th anniversary deluxe box set edition of the album. The package includes the CD and gatefold vinyl of the newly remastered studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions. Also featured is the new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix plus CD and LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon — Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974.
Also issued separately that day on CD and first ever vinyl release of The Dark Side Of The Moon – Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974. The concert was taped in November 1974 as part of the band's winter tour and now features artwork of an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie.
The new book Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon: 50th Anniversary, part of the deluxe box offering, will also be published separately by Thames & Hudson and “showcases rare and previously unseen photographs taken during The Dark Side Of The Moon tours of 1972-1975 and was created with the involvement of the band members.”
David Gilmour recalled The Dark Side Of The Moon as being a highlight of his collaborative work with Roger Waters: “We thought that we were on to something that was going to do a bit better than anything we had previously done. Everyone thinks that the best of our moments are the moments where — I do, anyway — think that the best of our moments are when the best of Roger and his lyrics and ideas and driving force came together with some of my more melodic and emotional moments that, sort of, fall out of my guitar.”
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason told us he and his bandmates have never been able to fully grasp why The Dark Side Of The Moon has been so successful: “I don't think we ever really understood. There are elements that you would never have perceived at the time. It was partly about timing, and partly about the songs being relevant to people at the time, and that sort of gave it the lift that then brought it to the attention of another bunch of people, and so on.”