My parents had Dark Side on vinyl. I know that's how I first heard it. I used to go through their record collection and play stuff to see if anything stuck out to me. I discovered Pink Floyd, Queen, Paul McCartney (but not the Beatles...my mom only had McCartney albums for some reason), Iron Butterfly, Beach Boys from their record collection. I don't think Dark Side initially stuck out as anything crazy special, though. I know I liked it and dubbed it to cassette so I could listen to it on my walkman, but I just feel like my true appreciation for it as an absolute timeless classic came later in my life. Probably around college age.
Anyway, great writeup! So happy that you're doing these!
And p.s., I don't really like "Money" very much either. It's easily the worst song on the album. Sue me.
Enjoyed this kickoff to the series. I was turned onto Floyd in ‘94 (The Wall) by my freshman psych professor. Still didn’t like it much though I’d heard Another Brick in the Wall plenty of times and that one was cool with me. It wasn’t until an older guy used to come into my retail store (probably less than a year later) and we’d frequently talk music. He told me I had to give Dark Side a chance. And said also to read Saucerful of Secrets about the band’s history. That changed everything for me. So many good tunes/albums. And, like how Dark Side should be consumed, I generally listen as full albums. The exception being Wish You Were Here.
(Btw, I still skip “Money” when I listen to Dark Side lol)
My father is an avid HiFi listeners with a few terabytes of music. Naturally, Pink Floyd on FLAC was something I listened to as a child but it didn’t click for me. When I was in college, I saved my money up to build a home theater system with quickly turned into a steep/multi-channel music focused system. As my own musical exploration occurred, specifically into multi-channel music, I encountered Dark Side…on multi-channel. Listened front to back and it had a deep impact. The best way I can describe it is that the sound was vibrant, colorized and created an experience in which I felt like I was hearing and watching a story take place. The sonic impacts and directionality of the multi-channel release to be honest are leaps and bounds ahead of anything else released. I can’t think of any other record you can sit down and listen to front to back that will allow your mind to wander so far. I’ve recently exposed my wife to dark side, who now feels similarly to myself about the record and it’s spectacular ability to colorize sound while creating an alternative monologue.
Regardless, I firmly believe that those who dislike Dark Side have not been explained the sequencing of the record and how to properly listen and digest, or have not experienced the record under the proper conditions to fully appreciate it. We won’t see another record like Dark Side; A front to back masterpiece.
Also, money is great in my opinions. Helps break the record up and the guitar player in me appreciated the tone and power or lack thereof to create a voice in the instrument. To each their own!
I had an uncle who I pretty much idolized growing up. He was THE coolest person on the planet, at least to me, and he had great taste in music. He turned me on to Pink Floyd, and a bunch of other classic rock staples, when I was really young. When I was 10, my parents got me "Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for Christmas. PF's singles never did much for me. "Money," "Another Brick in the Wall," "Wish You Were Here," etc. They were fine but the gold was in their more expansive material. "Us and Them" is my fav track off Dark Side. I was also more partial to "Wish You Were Here" for that reason. As I got older and a little more angsty and politically/socially conscious, "Animals" took the throne as my fav. Still is. Angry Roger + visceral David is the perfect combination.
I totally get how fans of certain artists can be total buzzkills. Springsteen fans were so adamant of his greatness that it took me ten years to give him a chance. I refused to listen to The Smiths until after college because of one especially cringy, pretentious jerk. And growing up, I always resented the assumption that I was a stoner because I liked Pink Floyd. Associations and assumptions, especially as a kid/teenager, play such a huge role in shaping our tastes and preferences.
Well, I may be the old man in the group, and these are many great comments and observations. I just challenge you to think of WHEN this album was recorded and the technology (lack of) available to mix it so beautifully. Alan Parsons was the engineer and if you’ll dig into some of the stories it will give you an even better appreciation. Plus if you paid attention to the recent Beatles doc you see him behind the mixer board at Abbey Road. Love it for what it is, an industry altering shift into what is possible with music.
I connected to Pink Floyd initially through The Wall. It had a dated feel, but an unmistakable darkness to it that attracted me. I too was more aware of the artwork then the band for a long time. I think the pack and energy of Pink Floyd is slower than slot of bands in that era. If you went to Geauga Lake for example, you’d see ton of people wearing Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin shirts. Pink Floyd is the outlier there. It’s a slow burn. I’m sure drug culture had role in the bands success, but they really delivered. As my desire and appreciation for new music slows, Pink Floyd is still going strong in my rotation. I played The Wall for the kids this weekend while we where camping and everyone liked it. I’m just hoping I don’t overdo it. I’ve already threatened to make my kids walk for not recognizing Radiohead on road trips. My wife agrees with me on that one.
My first full listen of this album really stuck with me as well. I was probably 16, and was proud of my stereo setup in my bedroom. I'd driven to a mall, bought the album, came home to an empty house, and played it loud. I recall it being a beautiful summer evening, and that I was standing up through most of it. Funny the things you remember.
And fwiw, I'm also firmly on Team Skip-Money-unless-it's-between-Time-and-Any-Colour-You-Like
My parents had Dark Side on vinyl. I know that's how I first heard it. I used to go through their record collection and play stuff to see if anything stuck out to me. I discovered Pink Floyd, Queen, Paul McCartney (but not the Beatles...my mom only had McCartney albums for some reason), Iron Butterfly, Beach Boys from their record collection. I don't think Dark Side initially stuck out as anything crazy special, though. I know I liked it and dubbed it to cassette so I could listen to it on my walkman, but I just feel like my true appreciation for it as an absolute timeless classic came later in my life. Probably around college age.
Anyway, great writeup! So happy that you're doing these!
And p.s., I don't really like "Money" very much either. It's easily the worst song on the album. Sue me.
Enjoyed this kickoff to the series. I was turned onto Floyd in ‘94 (The Wall) by my freshman psych professor. Still didn’t like it much though I’d heard Another Brick in the Wall plenty of times and that one was cool with me. It wasn’t until an older guy used to come into my retail store (probably less than a year later) and we’d frequently talk music. He told me I had to give Dark Side a chance. And said also to read Saucerful of Secrets about the band’s history. That changed everything for me. So many good tunes/albums. And, like how Dark Side should be consumed, I generally listen as full albums. The exception being Wish You Were Here.
(Btw, I still skip “Money” when I listen to Dark Side lol)
My father is an avid HiFi listeners with a few terabytes of music. Naturally, Pink Floyd on FLAC was something I listened to as a child but it didn’t click for me. When I was in college, I saved my money up to build a home theater system with quickly turned into a steep/multi-channel music focused system. As my own musical exploration occurred, specifically into multi-channel music, I encountered Dark Side…on multi-channel. Listened front to back and it had a deep impact. The best way I can describe it is that the sound was vibrant, colorized and created an experience in which I felt like I was hearing and watching a story take place. The sonic impacts and directionality of the multi-channel release to be honest are leaps and bounds ahead of anything else released. I can’t think of any other record you can sit down and listen to front to back that will allow your mind to wander so far. I’ve recently exposed my wife to dark side, who now feels similarly to myself about the record and it’s spectacular ability to colorize sound while creating an alternative monologue.
Regardless, I firmly believe that those who dislike Dark Side have not been explained the sequencing of the record and how to properly listen and digest, or have not experienced the record under the proper conditions to fully appreciate it. We won’t see another record like Dark Side; A front to back masterpiece.
Also, money is great in my opinions. Helps break the record up and the guitar player in me appreciated the tone and power or lack thereof to create a voice in the instrument. To each their own!
-Nick
I had an uncle who I pretty much idolized growing up. He was THE coolest person on the planet, at least to me, and he had great taste in music. He turned me on to Pink Floyd, and a bunch of other classic rock staples, when I was really young. When I was 10, my parents got me "Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for Christmas. PF's singles never did much for me. "Money," "Another Brick in the Wall," "Wish You Were Here," etc. They were fine but the gold was in their more expansive material. "Us and Them" is my fav track off Dark Side. I was also more partial to "Wish You Were Here" for that reason. As I got older and a little more angsty and politically/socially conscious, "Animals" took the throne as my fav. Still is. Angry Roger + visceral David is the perfect combination.
I totally get how fans of certain artists can be total buzzkills. Springsteen fans were so adamant of his greatness that it took me ten years to give him a chance. I refused to listen to The Smiths until after college because of one especially cringy, pretentious jerk. And growing up, I always resented the assumption that I was a stoner because I liked Pink Floyd. Associations and assumptions, especially as a kid/teenager, play such a huge role in shaping our tastes and preferences.
Well, I may be the old man in the group, and these are many great comments and observations. I just challenge you to think of WHEN this album was recorded and the technology (lack of) available to mix it so beautifully. Alan Parsons was the engineer and if you’ll dig into some of the stories it will give you an even better appreciation. Plus if you paid attention to the recent Beatles doc you see him behind the mixer board at Abbey Road. Love it for what it is, an industry altering shift into what is possible with music.
I connected to Pink Floyd initially through The Wall. It had a dated feel, but an unmistakable darkness to it that attracted me. I too was more aware of the artwork then the band for a long time. I think the pack and energy of Pink Floyd is slower than slot of bands in that era. If you went to Geauga Lake for example, you’d see ton of people wearing Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin shirts. Pink Floyd is the outlier there. It’s a slow burn. I’m sure drug culture had role in the bands success, but they really delivered. As my desire and appreciation for new music slows, Pink Floyd is still going strong in my rotation. I played The Wall for the kids this weekend while we where camping and everyone liked it. I’m just hoping I don’t overdo it. I’ve already threatened to make my kids walk for not recognizing Radiohead on road trips. My wife agrees with me on that one.
My first full listen of this album really stuck with me as well. I was probably 16, and was proud of my stereo setup in my bedroom. I'd driven to a mall, bought the album, came home to an empty house, and played it loud. I recall it being a beautiful summer evening, and that I was standing up through most of it. Funny the things you remember.
And fwiw, I'm also firmly on Team Skip-Money-unless-it's-between-Time-and-Any-Colour-You-Like