Dark side of the Moon

[flip-flop]

I 'discovered' this album quite late in life - I was a student in the late 80s/early 90s and played it to death. It is now on my iPod - I'd forgotten what a great album it truly is!

My question is, and if anybody on this site can remember that far back, how was the album received when it was first released? Good or bad?

[zara 4]

I got the impression that it was a big thing,a wonder album,maybe i'm wrong,my hubby loved it,i hate it!!

[andy-hughes]

It was received as a fantabulous piece of work - from the artwork to the inovative use of synthesisers and programmed guitars.

It was groundbreaking in so many ways - the recording of various people answering questions written on cards and handed to them by Roger Waters was unique. The most remembered is the Irishman saying "There is no dark side of the moon really ... matter of fact it's all dark ...." on the run-out (showing my age there!) - he was the doorman at the studios where the album was recorded.

This album shot to the top of a massive number of music fans' list of favourites, and has rightly remained there ever since.

Given the relatively primitive technology available, and used by the band, it is even more a feat of imagination and far-sightedness than it seemed at the time.

[gary baldy]

Bit of a fan then andy you old hippy?
Must admit that i didnt like The Floyd much but saw one of those Classic Album progs on the telly about DSOTM and was pretty bowled over.
As to your question - i'm thinking it perfectly captured the zeitgeist and signalled a shift in the musical landscape and the musos and pot heads lapped it up but sowed the seeds for punk by providing the perfect example of the pompous pretentious over blown 'prog' that followed and to which punk reacted against.
IMO though punk was rubbish and DSOTM still sounds ace!

[Sooper]

Couldnt agree more! A fantastic groundbreaking album from start to finish!

Great Lyrics,Great music , Artwork , excellent production from Alan Parsons. Im not sure if i am right or not but wasnt it one of (if not the first) album to be recorded in Quadraphonic sound? I know it was played at cinemas and was supposed to have sounded excellent? I may have have imagined that!!

Anyway a fantastic album that has stood the test of time in my opinion! and is in my all time top ten!

[andy-hughes]

Hey gary baldy - less of the 'old'! LOL!

Floyd were cited as an example of the 'tired old prog' bands that punk railed against - notably because Johnny Rotten wore a 'I Hate Pink Floyd' tee-shirt. I think there were far more guilty parties than Floyd - Yes are well in the frame, as are Genesis, although I'm not having a go, I loved, and still love both bands.

Of course, Mr Rotten had his forked tongue firmly piercing his cheek as usual, and has since confessed that he quite liked Pink Floyd!

[Goldspot]

Agree , Album is a classic. Not sure about the comparisons to punk though. Sure 1973 needed DSOTM just as 1976 needed Punk. If you read books on punk you will see that a lot of the protagonists regarded Pink floyd as influences and in some cases lifted tunes from them.

There is a quote from Tony Wilson that said "I'll give you 2 words why punk needed to happen , 'Rick' and 'Wakeman'.

From reading comments it sounds like this is a Marmite Album , You either love it or hate it !

[Greedyfly]

Pink Floyd - One word - AWESOME