Great Recordings: The Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd 

I was 9 years old in 1973 when my uncle brought over this blank, black prism rainbow album with no name or band photo on it which, as a kid I thought was crazy. My uncle called them Pink Floyd. he played it to my mom I listened to it for the very first time with headphones for most of the album. It was so futuristic, so technologically state of the art. I was totally blown away at that young age. I knew this album would stand the test of time.

Your reading of Time was a work of art in itself.

This album really changed my life. Since fourteen, I listened to it countless times. Now I'm 57. Great video.

As many times as we have all heard this album and it's stories, it still captures my imagination and emotion - thank you for sharing your thoughts, you did it so beautifully,

Since 1976, when I purchased LP "The Dark Side of the Moon", I never stopped listening to it. An evergreen..

My ONLY problem with the videos put out by you is that there aren't more of them! Thank you for another engaging and enjoyable video!

I was 22 in 1972, already a big Pink Floyd fan. Had all the previous albums. When to see them at the (now torn down) Spectrum hockey stadium that at that time Dark Side Of The Moon was not yet released. The concert was called Eclipse. I still have the paper program, it survives to this day with the original album. They did something that you could not do today: they blocked off all the mid level entrances to the seats with speakers that blocked all of them halfway. Fire codes today would not allow that. The stage was blacked out most of the time and the sound just went around in a way never heard before. No wild light show, no pigs flying over head, just the music. No, I was not tripping, LSD came years later at college. Now 72 and like you, still hold this work above all others. Thank you for your insight and appreciation of this work.

What a brilliant coverage of this iconic album. A shot right to the heart for me , I grow up with this album continuously listened to it and never tired of going back to listen some more. Thank you

Thank you for another insightful and powerful (your reading of the lyrics of Time) video. This album captured and expressed my teenage self. So much so, that when my nephew turned 16 (or 17) I got him this album (CD) and a copy of JD Salinger's "The Cather in the Rye," and said that these two works of art meant a great deal to me at his age. Some years after, he let me know that DSOTM resonated with him as well. Connections across generations.

Although I was a big prog-rock fan at the time, and owned a copy of Meddle, I was late to the party and didn't hear DSOTM until it was at least a year old. It was quite the revelation, a "trip" in many ways. My friend Paul, who I didn't meet until 1988 told me of seeing them live in 1975 in Hamilton Ontario. Hamilton is/was a blue-collar steel town about an hour west of Toronto. They played at the local football stadium, it was a huge sellout with crowds misbehaving and upsetting residents of the surrounding neighbourhood. The highlight was when some of the pyrotechnics got out of control and damaged the football scoreboard. As a result, all rock concerts were banned from the stadium, including ones already booked. According to Paul the first casualty of this was a crazy rocker by the name of Frank Sinatra. Thanks for your channel and for pointing out some things I didn't know about this album, like its beginnings in live performances.

The first album i ever bought was Animals. Later i got. of course this one. Animals i loved All the years More. Listening To your Video regarding the lyrics changed my mind. Thank you and greetings Bo

I watched your video for the first time earlier today, 1st Sept 2023, and this evening I’ve listened to the album from start to finish. You’ve inspired me, and Pink Floyd took me away with them 🙏🏼

I was seventeen when my uncle gave it to me as a gift. First, the cover caught my eye. I unfolded it and the lyrics of 'Time' caught my mind. Then I put it on the turntable and the music caught my ears ...and my soul. Yes, it is the perfect album.

I stumbled on this video and and couldn't stop smiling. It is truly one of the greatest recordings of the 20th century. I disagree with his critique that it could have been better if they had more tracks and digital recorders . 'More tracks' seldom means 'more better' and Had they had digital tools, god knows where the soul of this album would be. I wanted to make a point that Alan Parsons made multiple copies of the masters as he was recording so that the levels and quality would stay as high as possible. Still though his comments on distortion and overall fidelity are valid. Greatness cannot be predicted or engineered . Most of it really relys on happenstance and just plain old luck. This album is one of the most beautiful examples of that... Still a Wonderful discussion of the album and a new subscriber because of it :)

I always look forward to seeing your videos popping up in my feed great stuff as usual.

Love this series of videos, most make me want to discover new albums, this makes me want to listen again to a favourite, thanks

Whenever I meet new people and we start talking about music I ask them “what about Pink Floyd ? And Beethoven? And …..?If they saying it’s crap , rubbish, I ask them to change the subject because for me, but that is my personal opinion you haven’t a clue what musical works are and how to enjoy it time after time .Many THX for your great work 🙏

A friend and i took this round to another friend’s place in around ‘76 I think as he had a better stereo than either of us. We put it on, turned out the lights and listened intently. I was in a place I’d never been before after Great Gig in the Sky and could not get to the turntable fast enough to turn it over as I didn’t want it to stop. At the end of the 2nd side we just sat and after several long minutes one os us just went “wow”. We were totally blown away and wandered around in an otherworldly daze for about 10 minutes. As “Mr Pearl” said, it took you to another place. Right there and then I knew this was different from any other record and I feel it still is. Eclipse is one of the only songs I know that will absolutely give me goosebumps and shivers every single time I hear it. An incredible, powerful and emotion laden album.

Thank you for your review of Dark Side of the Moon, just loved it

How could I NOT click on this video ;) It's an album that lyrically and musically gives you chills and thrills. The fact that we're still talking about it 50 years later says it all.

Great video as always. Thank you. Gonna listen to it now !

I think I've owned 4 copies of this album including a remastered virgin vinyl album. Since the day I first owned it, it's never been out of my collection. I think it'll be like Beethovens 5th symphony in 200 years, just brilliant .

Great video, great dissection, I’m glad I grew up listening to this album,

The piece that introduced me to Pink Floyd as a young man was Echoes, from Meddle. So, when Dark Side came out, it brought a slice of gold into an otherwise grey life. The only thing which was better than the recording was to experience the Floyd doing this live, at Earls Court. I recall leaving the stadium, almost in a daze having been overwhelmed by the experience, looking back to see clouds coming from the roof where they had opened the panels to let out the smoke from the effects and THEN two giant beams of light pointing up into the sky! The lighting engineers had just swung the super trouper spotlights upwards (probably annoying Heathrow Flight Control) to take advantage of the smoke effects. Wow! Those were the days.

Appreciate the RU-vid algorithm taking me this way. Bought my dad a record player to play his old records and this is one that he was excited to explore again.

I’ve just discovered this channel on RU-vid, thoroughly enjoyed it, I’m 64 years old and I bought this album when I was 17 and still have it truly one of the greats. Thank you.

Great show, again and again...

Well done, Harley! I know all the lyrics but hearing them read out loud like that really made it come alive for me. Thanks!

Thank you sir. My vision blurs, my nose runs, I catch my breath and choke back the universe inside me crying to escape. Pink Floyd and particularly, this collection, gave me something I didn’t know I needed, filled a void of which I was unaware. What a gift. What a gift.

Never seen your videos before, great review, amazing Album to be picked and make this fantastic review, congrats...A little bit history on my side from this spectacular album, it was 1981, I was 11 years old, and one day I open a drawer of an Uncle, and what I saw was an empty cassette box recorded album, the name... Pink Floyd The Wall, never ever heard from them, so when my dad came home I ask him if he can take me to our local record store, to get this album "The Wall" we stop by, and for my surprise The Wall was not available, but mostly all the rest, from Works, A Nice Pair, Ummagumma, Meddle, More, Wish You Were Here, Atom Heart Mother, The Dark Side Of The Moon, but of course I never ever heard them before, so I was kind of "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo" and Pick up "The Dark Side Of The Moon, when I arrive home and play the record, from that day up until today there has not been ANY other album that makes me change my mind of listening music, simple no other album, and also I'm not of that kind of person that likes to go and purchase different re-issues to make comparisons, but except this album I think I have quite a bit of different copies.

I thought I'd learned everything there was to know about this album, but here we are. Excellent work, thank you for the video.

This is not just a video this is a piece of professional work from someone who knows what he's talking about. Take a bow Pearl Acoustics! This piece of work has given me a greater insight into one of the greatest albums ever produced. Thank you.

I always learn something in your videos. Thank you.

This album has become a landmark in English culture. A timeless masterpiece that has transcended the band.

This is just a very great video. Love how you take us through the album, it makes it much more meaningful for someone like me, who only started listening to PF not that long ago. Thanks.

I cannot read the lyrics of Time without crying. I have chosen that to be read at my funeral. Listening to it, Dave Gilmour's guitar is the human soul screaming at the universe.

Masterful storytelling Harley! Great video. Thanks for sharing. Cheers from Paris! 🙂🙏

Your analysis and critique is some of the most thoughtful that is widely available. Thank you for the time you put into this. I hope to hear more.

Mid seventies. Boys Grammar school in northern England. Last class before summer holidays. Coolest English teacher, Mr Steele. Old record player placed on desk. Room full of restless teenagers falls silent as DSOTM heartbeat begins. Years before punk. Long ago. Memory clear. 50 years have got behind you.

its the only perfect rock album from start to finish. l think its the greatest album ever made. thanks harley great video and commentary!

Hey happy I found this channel, really enjoy the factuals you present. I've enjoyed playing this album for the uplift it brings out. 'Any Colour You Like' is just unreal. You also have a nice Audio Cave'.

Just perfect explanation of an album that i always come back to throughout my life and it feels magical every time. Thank you

Did listen to it a 4 AM this morning! hahaha Thanks for the video.

Thanks Harley, loved your take on RAM, what a good surprise to see your view on this one, which I also love so.

I have been a PF fan since I first heard ATM, probably seen, heard everything there was ever recorded! You have a completely new perspective of this Album, and I appreciate very much your 20 minutes of a different way of looking at this amazing band/record!! Thank you!

A very big thanks for this amazing video, Harley. Really extraordinary how you go into the depth of the songs and their meanings. This is one of my favourite records of all times and I’ve been listening to it since I was a teenager. I will follow your advice and go put it on my turntable once more! Big congratulations on your amazing channel! Kind regards

I can feel it in my bones how passionate you are about music. Time well spent, thank you ;-)

Wow. Now that is how you do it. I hung on every word. Please keep doing these. Just subscribed!

Great video Harley, I thoroughly enjoyed your analysis which really resonated with me since I have been listening to this album regularly for most of my life. I must say Wish You Were Here is a very close second in my opinion. I listened to Animals recently after many years and had forgotten how good that album is too. You made a great comment about digital. I can only imagine what a joy it would be listening to Dark Side if it had been recorded in the quality that can be achieved with modern technology.

Such a great commentary on what I’ve always considered a classic. Hearing the lyrics read rather than sung brings a whole new meaning to them.

I'm always happy to hear about the record of my life (was 11 old)

When I was 15 this came out. It was a huge hit, all my friends were talking about it but I really didn't think too much of it a first listen. It seemed kind of slow and not really a rocking out record like my musical tastes were at that point in my adolescence. But it kept on creeping back onto my turntable over the next few weeks, put the enclosed poster up on my bedroom wall and plastered the stickers on my notebooks. Very quickly it became one of my favourites and still is to this day, an absolute masterpiece. Still slip it on the platter frequently. I must have 4 copies of it, the last one purchased was the 2011 remaster.

Excellent!!! Just re-watched this on my lunch break. Perfect way to break up the day!!!

Watching your video, as I am sitting here on my patio in the early morning having my first cup of coffee, I thoroughly enjoyed your critique of my favorite album. Thanks!

I’m always thrilled to see a video posted where you discuss a recording/album, especially such a wonderful one as this. I feel like we’re having a good discussion between friends. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

What a fantastic album! So many good times listening to this album. I remember the first time I heard it, a film called rumblefish was playing on mute and seemed to synchronise with the music to form one new body of work. Good times.

First heard DSotM aged 6 in March 1973... loved it then and still do, indeed Pink Floyd provide the soundtrack of my life...

A wonderful synopsis of this great LP. Thanks.

Thank God that digital recording didn't exist in 1973 - we would never have been gifted with this perfect album

We can't think of a person and audiophile better suited to consider this fabulous rock standard. Bravo sir!

I was busy tonight and this popped up on my Ytube not having a clue of what it was about besides the record. What a gold mine, I had to subscribe!

Absolutely beautiful Harley. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

This is by far the best review I’ve heard about that mythical Pink Floyd work of art. Thank you!

Hearing Meddle, and Dark Side of the Moon on vinyl after recently stepping back into the analog realm via 70’s era Pioneer manual turntable, upgraded to the Ortofon Blue, gives me goosebumps at a new level, one never attained in the decades of listening to these two albums, now with depth, soundstage, texture and clarity that the technical work to mix and master this truly shines. I watched a video by Alan Parsons, that produced Dark Side of the Moon, about his wanting a female vocalist on it. Claire was a local, paid for her time, but he didn’t give her any music, and when she started to sing some words, was stopped by Alan, saying wing it, but no words. She did it and was a one take wonder, iconic beyond words, yet she didn’t even know she was on the LP until she got a copy.

Another lovely video in the series, Harley. And it tickled me no end to see the DECware with a beloved “balloon” Type 80/280 rectifier! I recently got a 280 for my SE84UFO. I haven’t taken it through its paces yet, but I will soon. Cheers from the home of analog/film photography!

Possibly my favorite channel on youtube

Brilliant review! I can only agree with all in this video. I was born two years after this album was released, but it waited for me and when I was 15-16 I was absolutely shocked by Dark Side of The Moon, by its complexity, deep meaning of the lyrics, I have never heard before (and long after) so good match of music and lyrics. I am not English native speaker, but those lyrics I have learned by heart and I love it ever since. This is one of those albums which I am returning to regularly 30 years. There is some kind of magic atmosphere on this recording. Anyway, great analysis, well done.

Excellent review as always. I also enjoy the full play of Dark Side on the live Pulse album.

Thank you Harley. That was beautiful.

Thank you so much Harley for the great review. to this day this is still my favorite all-time album. Back in the drug culture days of the '70s this was everybody's favorite album in the states. Not very many people back in those days were able to comprehend the lyrics. Admittingly myself included. Absolute masterpiece lyrics. Personally until I got older did I really simmer down enough to really listen to the lyrics fantastic work of art thanks again Harley

The moment I first got in contact with Dark side of the Moon is best described by the opening scene of A space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick (1968). I entered a HiFi shop downtown and was blown away. It caught my and the impression never left me. Your presentation adds to the many pieces of information I accumulated over the years trying to get the full meaning and access to this masterpiece that imho has already become part of our musical heritage like Beethoven and other great composers. Highly appreciated, thank you!

One of my favorite albums! Great content too! Waters is a mastermind, years ahead of its time! Alan Parson did a great job too! And Harley, it's like he expressed what i had in mind for this album!

You know the music that you are listening is special when you can still remember the day you listened to it for the first time… even almost 40 years later… I still remember the moment, location and emotional vibe it got me into… just memorable…

Hope you will comeback with more videos like this one. Gave me some new angles to look for in an album I've already heard so many times. Waiting for some more!

The 30th anniversary version I just picked up today, is superb. By far the best analogue pressing Ive yet heard. Dynamics and emotion are all there.. some pressings sourced from the digital tapes are flat in comparison and just not right.. thanks for the great discussion it was a joy..

This vid takes me back a while, thank you for retrieving distant memories. I was 15 years old when I first bought this album, and I still have it with its original stickers and posters. It was played on a Pioneer PL12D turntable (which was bought new in 73 and I still have}, a Trio Amp {6008 I think} and Wharfedale Linton {or were they Glendale speakers}. This album sounded so good I thought it could not get any better. 50 years on and with some half decent gear you can really appreciate the effort that went into the recording of this classic album. The sub bass on Time is phenomenal and really shakes the house and stirs up my neighbours no end. I also bought the remastered 30th anniversary edition when it first came out and to be honest its not as good as the original. I really love the original 73 album {true analogue me thinks} and played through my B&W 803 D3's is a joy to behold.

Excellent video, Harley, your passion for this album is evident. It's not my favourite Pink Floyd album but it is a work of genius. There's something about it's slick perfection, though, which puts me off. Hard to express in words. If you have not seen it I highly recommend the 4k video of Roger Water's Us and Them tour. The songs from DSOM are performed wonderfully and attain a new significance in the context of the tour's message regarding refugees and global conflict.

Well said. I have been a professional musician for over 40 years, and have enjoyed the Pink Floyd (Yes, Moody Blues, Queen, The Who and Bad Company) since their inception. I have seen Pink Floyd (and the other mentioned bands) many many times and still enjoy them on my turntable(s) (Dual- mentioned in a comment underneath your turntable video) and enjoy them on CD as well. Thank you for showcasing this album.

Vídeo maravilhoso! Eu sempre fui fascinado por guitarras e, quando estava com 12 anos em 1974, eu ouvi a música Time pela primeira vez. Oh meu Deus! O que era aquilo? Um solo de guitarra com sonoridade etérea entrava pelos meus ouvidos e meu sangue parecia querer explodir nas minhas veias. Não conseguia parar de ouvir e ouvir inúmeras vezes. Quando eu parava, o som estava dentro da minha mente me lembrando que a cada audição parecia sempre vir algo novo nas notas que o Gilmour tocava. Ainda hoje é assim. Álbum incomparável! Simplesmente o melhor! Mais um inscrito aqui do Brazil.

I was lent this album when I was a sixth-former at school and played it that evening about eight times. It was a powerful and absorbing listen. Really magical.

I have the Mobile Fidelity gold disc version and it sounds very good. Played it many times. Thank you for your great review and assessment of this forever standing album. It will surely withstand the test of time.

first copy of this album for me was on 8 track tape, and I listened to it in my car on a Muncie tape deck, it was amazing! Over the years, I have owned it on vinyl, several times as they wore out, cassette, CD, Gold CD, and now DSD128 and it is a fabulous album!. I have seem them play it live 4 times, and thuroughly enjoyed it each time, through the smoky haze of cannibis, etc. (no longer) Time has been my favourite song for many many years... well done, thoughful, and true. Thank you.

It's the imperfections in recordings like this make them amazing. It's the imperfections that make them beautiful. It's the imperfections that ground it in reality and mark it as a moment in time. People aren't perfect and this was made by people. But that's what makes it timeless, that's why we're still talking about it and why we're still sharing it with our children. DSOTM on SACD is my favourite optical disc. 2 Channels is good, but the work done to up-mix from the original masters onto SACD 5.1 is another level. Still blows my mind that the songs were written by lads in their mid 20's!!!.

You are new to me. I was enlightened by your commentary on this masterpiece.

Hi Harley. I have this album on cd. It is a special box with beautiful cards in it and a little book. The cd sounds wonderfull. Gr André de vries.

Fantastic overview on the band’s early releases and their huge role as a band over the years. DSOTM stands out of the group and is a hugely important in music’s history. Side not: my favorite pressing (and I’ve heard many) is the original German pressing from ‘73. Thanks for the wonderful video.

Thanks for a great overview. I was 13 when this album was released and although I have listened to it numerous times, your comments regarding some of the lyrics made me think more about what they are communicating and how relevant they still are. After many years of upgrading, I am fortunate enough to have a high end system that gives better insight into the recording. For me, some tracks certainly sound better than others. ‘Money’ sounds very expansive whereas the chorus on ‘Us and Them’ sounds very closed in. I can’t think of any releases in the past few decades that will be considered classics. I know it is subjective but for me, the 70’s was the best era for music.

Well, looks like I’ll be buying Dark Side of the Moon this weekend on vinyl!

I've heard this album many times, and I've heard many pudits go on and on about it. I'll take the album 100 times out of 100.

Back in the early 70’s I purchased my first CD player. So I went to the biggest music store to buy so rock CD’s. I was so disappointed that I couldn’t find any rock CD recordings. So I asked a store employee if they had any new CD recording. He sent me to the end cap on one of the many vinyl recording display isles. On that one end-cap, I found about 10 to 20 CD recordings of classical music. At the bottom was a few CD copies of Dark Side of the Moon. At that time, CD recordings of classical music was where the recording companies thought the new CD platform would sell the best for the new technology. But someone must have realized that Dark Side of the Moon belonged with that new technology. It was the first CD I ever bought and I still have it.

I've only just come across Pearl Acoustics today - and listened with great interest to several of his videos on sound reproduction. Then I was surprised to find this - an excellent analysis of a great album (that I bought back in 1974 or so) - but from somebody who's not only highly knowledgeable about sound and hifi, but clearly knows music and musicians, probably played or plays at least one instrument, is widely read and very empathic - a true music professional. The discussion covers so many bases that are interconnected that I'll listen to it all again tonight on y music server - with new ears. Then tomorrow I'm going to dust down the Thorens TD150, the Rogers Cadet amp and the Ditton 25 speakers and find my original vinyl copy of the album :)

I got goosebumps when you read the lyrics from Time. I don't know how many thousands of times I've listened to Dark Side and the lyrics are just wired into my brain. I always listen to it from start to finish, it's a masterpiece.

This gentleman is the sort of person who I could spend hours talking to and exchanging opinions with. Not brash or "in yer face", just gentle and engaging.

I have nothing to say about this video because you have expressed everything I have always felt about this album. I simply cant add anything to it. This album brings out so may different emotions that it puts it into a category of only a very select group of records fall into. The follow up album Wish You Were Here is another. Bravo, your review was dead on. Thank you so much for this video!

Thanks for this. After being free of American "Classic rock" radio for a few years, I think it's time for me to rediscover this overplayed album! I think the more recent 5.1 reissues are a great choice, since they remove the 2 track mixdown tape from the equation, getting listeners a bit closer to the sound of "Dark Side." I do recall my first hearing of it and, about 3/4 of the way through saying out loud, "This album is about life and... madness!"

So moving, so enlightening...

one word.. Amazing!!

I purchased the Mobile Fidelity version of Dark Side of the Moon in 1979. I didn't really have time to listen to it properly but wanted to check it was okay before going on a trip across London so I recorded on a Uher CR240 portable cassette deck. Coming back on the buses late in the evening watching the lights I put on my AKG K240 head phones and played the cassette on the Uher. The time, the day nearly over, the evening lights and the traffic and the only sound the story developing in my head. Few albums never came near to match the emotion or have that impact.

Yes please do more great recordings for us 😊

I´ll enjoy it once again