On This Date in 1973 Pink Floyd Released the Groundbreaking ‘Dark Side of the Moon’

Ask any stoner around the globe their favorite album, and there's a 90% chance you'll hear, "Dark Side, dude".  In 2015 any pre-teen with Garage Band on a Mac can put together the sort of ideas heard on Dark Side, but in 1973 it was unheard of.

Dark Side of the Moon took Pink Floyd from a band known for their noodling, psychedelic sideshow act to arena rockers known for epic concept albums.  To say the albums are epic is an understatement.  Many use the term "concept album", but that, to me, is an insult.

Concept albums are less about the music and more about the concept.  Pink Floyd's brilliant musicianship, harmonies and amazing use of multitrack editing of vocals and sound effects elevates the band above "concept" status.  Take away the weirdness that appears at the surface and there's still a catalog of many of the greatest rock songs ever made.

As for the album released on this date 43 years ago, Dark Side of the Moon went to #1 for only one week, but its longevity was this album's calling card.  741 consecutive weeks saw up-and-coming stoners introducing themselves to this album.  My parents were freshmen in high school when the album hit the charts, and I, the 2nd child, was 10 years old when the album left the Billboard charts.

50-million albums later, the album continues to be introduced to new fans every single day.  As I mentioned, I wasn't born until the album had been out for five years, and yet I found myself at a Roger Waters concert a few years back that saw him doing the entire Dark Side of the Moon album front-to-back.

Take some time and enjoy Pink Floyd's masterpiece, Dark Side of the Moon.