Album
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd's eighth studio album, released on 1 March 1973. It grew out of live performances and was conceived as a concept record about the pressures of the band's gruelling lifestyle, alongside the mental health struggles of former member Syd Barrett. Sessions took place at EMI Studios in London across 1972 and 1973, and it came after Meddle in 1971 and before Wish You Were Here in 1975.
Musically, it keeps the long instrumental stretches of their earlier work in check, favouring tighter songs built from multitrack recording, tape loops and analogue synthesisers. Engineer Alan Parsons brought in session singer Clare Torry, whose voice defines "The Great Gig in the Sky". Interview snippets and philosophical quotations thread through themes of conflict, greed, time and death, and Storm Thorgerson's prism sleeve is among rock's most recognisable images. "Money" and "Us and Them" were the singles.
The Dark Side of the Moon on Riffology
riffology.co →
The Dark Side of the Moon: tracklist, credits and charts
10 tracks · 43:02Tracklist
- 1Speak to MeNick Mason1:11
- 2BreatheGilmour, Wright, Waters2:44
- 3On the RunDavid Gilmour and Roger Waters3:34
- 4TimeGilmour, Mason, Waters, Wright7:03
- 5The Great Gig in the SkyClare Torry and Richard Wright4:47
- 6MoneyRoger Waters6:37
- 7Us and ThemRoger Waters and Richard Wright7:43
- 8Any Colour You LikeGilmour, Mason, Wright3:27
- 9Brain DamageRoger Waters3:52
- 10EclipseRoger Waters2:04
- Produced by
- Pink Floyd
- Recorded at
- Abbey Road Studios, EMI, London
- Recorded
- 31 May 19729 February 1973
- Mixed by
- Chris Thomas
- Engineered by
- Alan Parsons
- Label
- Harvest
- Length
- 43:02
Line-up
- Nick Mason · percussion, tape, drums (drum set), rototom, tubular bells, bass drum
- Roger Waters · tape, electric bass guitar, percussion, synthesizer, lead vocals
- Richard Wright · piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes piano, other instruments, farfisa, synthesizer, Wurlitzer electric piano, lead vocals, keyboard, Minimoog, background vocals
- Chris Adamson · spoken vocals · guest
- Gerry O’Driscoll · spoken vocals
- Clare Torry · other vocals, lead vocals · guest
- Peter Watts · other vocals · guest
- David Gilmour · pedal steel guitar, electric guitar, background vocals, synthesizer, lead vocals, vocals, other vocals
- Peter James · foot stomps · guest
- Roger “The Hat” Manifold · spoken vocals · guest
- Lesley Duncan · background vocals
- Barry St. John · background vocals
- Liza Strike · background vocals
- Doris Troy · background vocals
- Patricia “Puddy” Watts · spoken vocals · guest
- Dick Parry · saxophone · guest
Singles
- “Money” · 7 May 1973
- “Us and Them” · 4 February 1974
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 1973 | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart · 1973 | 2 |
| Austrian Albums · 1973 | 1 |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) · 1973 | 1 |
| French Albums (IFOP) · 1973 | 1 |
| Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi) · 1973 | 1 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1993–1994 | 1 |
| Portuguese Albums · Combined | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · Combined | 1 |
| US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) · 1973 | 1 |
All 36 charts
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1973 | 2 |
| Dutch Albums · 1973 | 2 |
| Italian Albums · 2003 | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums · 1973 | 2 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) · 1973 | 3 |
| German Albums · 1973 | 3 |
| Korea Int · Combined | 3 |
| Spanish Albums (AFE) · 1973 | 3 |
| Poland 2 · Combined | 5 |
| Swiss Albums · Combined | 5 |
| Belgian Albums (Wallonia) · 2011–2025 | 6 |
| Uruguayan Albums (CUD) · Combined | 6 |
| Croatian International Albums (HDU) · 2011–2025 | 7 |
| French Albums · 2011–2025 | 7 |
| Norwegian Rock Albums (IFPI Norge) · Combined | 8 |
| Hungarian Albums · Combined | 9 |
| Finnish Albums · 2005–2006 | 10 |
| Spanish Albums · Combined | 10 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 2011–2025 | 13 |
| Czech Albums · 2011–2025 | 13 |
| US Top Rock Albums · Combined | 13 |
| Swedish Albums · Combined | 15 |
| Danish Albums · 2011–2025 | 21 |
| Korea · Combined | 24 |
| Polish Albums · 2003 | 24 |
| Irish Albums · Combined | 25 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Argentina · 2011 | 2× Platinum |
| Argentina · 2011 | 2× Platinum |
| Australia · 2007 | 14× Platinum |
| Austria · 1993 | 2× Platinum |
| Belgium · 2008 | Gold |
| Canada · 2007 | 2× Diamond |
| Canada · 2011 | Gold |
| Czech Republic | Gold |
| Denmark · 2023 | 5× Platinum |
| France · 2007 | Platinum |
| Germany · 2023 | 3× Platinum |
| Iceland (FHF) | Gold |
| Italy · 2025 | 8× Platinum |
| New Zealand · 2011 | 16× Platinum |
| Poland · 2023 | 2× Platinum |
| Poland · 2003 | Platinum |
| Portugal · 2024 | 2× Platinum |
| Russia · 2003 | Platinum |
| United Kingdom · 2025 | 16× Platinum |
| United States · 1998 | 15× Platinum |
Awards
- SNEP double diamond album
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
97.7
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
21k
ListenBrainz listeners
1.1M
Wikipedia views, last 12 months
251k
Deezer fans (all editions)
Also released on 1 March
Every year →
More from Pink Floyd
Full discography →
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
1967
A Saucerful of Secrets
1968
More
1969
Ummagumma
1969
The Best of The Pink Floyd
1970
Atom Heart Mother
1970
Relics
1971
Meddle
1971
Obscured by Clouds
1972
A Nice Pair
1973
Wish You Were Here
1975
Animals
1977
The Wall
1979
A Collection of Great Dance Songs
1981
The Final Cut
1983
Works
1983
A Momentary Lapse of Reason
1987
Delicate Sound of Thunder
1988
Live at Pompeii
1990
Shine On
1992
The Division Bell
1994
London 1966/1967
1994
p·u·l·s·e
1995
1967: The First 3 Singles
1997
Is There Anybody out There? The Wall Live: 1980–1981
2000
Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
2001
Oh by the Way
2007
Discovery
2011
A Foot in the Door: The Best of Pink Floyd
2011
The Endless River
2014
1965: Their First Recordings
2015
The Early Years: 1965–1972
2016
The Later Years: 1987–2019
2019
8‐Tracks
2026
The best of 1973
All of 1973 →
More on Harvest
The label →The Wall
Pink Floyd · 1979
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd · 1975
Animals
Pink Floyd · 1977
Meddle
Pink Floyd · 1971
Ummagumma
Pink Floyd · 1969
Atom Heart Mother
Pink Floyd · 1970
Obscured by Clouds
Pink Floyd · 1972
Killers
Iron Maiden · 1981
A Nice Pair
Pink Floyd · 1973
A Collection of Great Dance Songs
Pink Floyd · 1981
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + wikidata; also seen: 1973-03-24 (musicbrainz), 1973-03-16 (wikidata)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 24 March 1973 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 1 March 1973 | |
| Wikidata | 16 March 1973 | United Kingdom |
| Wikidata | 1 March 1973 | United States |
| US release | 1973 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 24 March 1973 | earliest UK or European date |
121 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XE | Harvest | 0077774600125 | other |
| — | US | Capitol Records | 07777460012 | other |
| — | AU | Harvest | 0077774600125 | other |
| — | BR | Harvest | other | |
| — | XE | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| — | ZA | Harvest | 0077774600125 | other |
| 1973 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | US | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | YU | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | NZ | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | IT | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | CA | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | NZ | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | AU | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | MZ | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | FR | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | FR | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | DE | Harvest | other | |
| 1973 | JP | Harvest | other | |
| 24 March 1973 | GB | Harvest | original | |
| December 1973 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1974 | JP | EMI | other | |
| 20 December 1974 | JP | Harvest | other | |
| 1977 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1977 | DE | Harvest | other | |
| 1978 | DE | Harvest | other | |
| 5 June 1978 | JP | EMI | other | |
| June 1979 | US | Harvest | remaster | |
| 1981 | US | Harvest | remaster | |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records | 07777111631 | other |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records | 07777111634 | other |
| 21 May 1983 | JP | EMI | other | |
| 1984 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | other |
| August 1984 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1985 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | other |
| 1986 | JP | EMI | remaster | |
| 1986 | AU | Harvest | 0077774600125 | other |
| 1986 | JP | EMI | 4988006641594 | other |
| May 1986 | GB | Harvest | other | |
| 1987 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | other |
| 1988 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 1988 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600149 | other |
| 1988 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 1988 | JP | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 21 December 1988 | JP | EMI | 4988006628977 | other |
| 22 July 1991 | AU | Harvest | 0077774600149 | other |
| 1993 | — | EMI | 077778147923 | deluxe |
| 1993 | CA | EMI | 077778147923 | deluxe |
| 1993 | CA | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | remaster |
| 1993 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 1993 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 1993 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | 015775151727 | other |
| 1993 | NL | EMI | 077778147923 | deluxe |
| 1993 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | other |
| 1993 | GB | Harvest | 0077746001257 | other |
| 8 March 1993 | GB | EMI | 077778147923 | deluxe |
| 31 March 1993 | JP | EMI | 4988006683129 | deluxe |
| 28 April 1993 | JP | EMI | 4988006680951 | other |
| 1994 | XE | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 1994 | XE | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 1994 | XE | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 1994 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | other |
| 1994 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | remaster |
| 1994 | IT | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 1994 | AU | EMI | 724382975229 | other |
| 25 July 1994 | GB | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 25 July 1994 | GB | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 25 July 1994 | GB | EMI United Kingdom | 724382975229 | other |
| 27 March 1996 | JP | EMI | 4988006715578 | other |
| 14 February 1997 | GB | EMI | 724385567315 | other |
| 30 August 2000 | JP | EMI | 4988006784161 | other |
| 16 June 2001 | JP | EMI | 4988006791800 | other |
| 2003 | XE | EMI | 094635259223 | other |
| 2003 | US | Capitol Records | 724358213621 | deluxe |
| 2003 | GB | EMI | 724358213614 | deluxe |
| 25 March 2003 | US | Capitol Records | 724358213621 | deluxe |
| 29 March 2003 | JP | Capitol Records | 4988006809994 | deluxe |
| 31 March 2003 | XE | EMI | 724358213621 | deluxe |
| 31 March 2003 | XE | EMI | 724358213621 | deluxe |
| 8 March 2006 | JP | EMI | 4988006840751 | other |
| 6 September 2006 | JP | EMI | 4988006846586 | other |
| 2007 | XE | EMI | 724358213621 | deluxe |
| 2007 | XE | EMI | other | |
| 2010 | US | Capitol Records | 077774600125 | remaster |
| 2011 | BR | EMI Music Brasil | 5099902945323 | other |
| 26 September 2011 | GB | EMI | 5099902943121 | deluxe |
| 26 September 2011 | XE | EMI | 5099902895529 | other |
| 26 September 2011 | GB | EMI | 5099902945323 | other |
| 27 September 2011 | US | EMI | 5099902945323 | other |
| 27 September 2011 | CA | EMI | 5099902943121 | deluxe |
| 28 September 2011 | US | EMI | 5099902895529 | other |
| 28 September 2011 | JP | EMI | 4988006887466 | other |
| 27 November 2011 | XE | Harvest | 5099902987613 | other |
| 2013 | XE | Parlophone | 5099902895529 | other |
| 2013 | XE | EMI | 5099902987613 | deluxe |
| 2014 | US | Parlophone | 603497914944 | other |
| 29 January 2014 | JP | Parlophone | 4943674164493 | other |
| 2016 | — | Columbia | 886445635829 | other |
| 2016 | XW | Pink Floyd Records | 886445613261 | other |
| 2016 | XW | Pink Floyd Records | 886445613261 | other |
| 2016 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 888751709126 | other |
| 8 January 2016 | XE | Pink Floyd Records | 5099902895529 | other |
| 4 November 2016 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 888751842519 | other |
| 4 November 2016 | XE | Pink Floyd Records | 5099902987613 | remaster |
| 4 November 2016 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 888751842519 | other |
| 1 November 2017 | JP | Pink Floyd Records | 4547366312669 | other |
| 1 November 2017 | JP | Sony Records International | 4547366312669 | other |
| 23 July 2021 | US | Analogue Productions | 190758103327 | other |
| 19 October 2021 | XW | Pink Floyd Records | 886445613261 | other |
| 2023 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 5054197141478 | other |
| 21 March 2023 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 196587134518 | deluxe |
| 24 March 2023 | XW | Legacy | 196589805232 | remaster |
| 19 April 2023 | JP | Pink Floyd Records | 4547366581799 | other |
| 13 October 2023 | JP | Sony Records International | 4547366644029 | remaster |
| 13 October 2023 | XE | Pink Floyd Records | 5054197631634 | other |
| 13 October 2023 | XE | Columbia | 196587714024 | remaster |
| 13 October 2023 | US | Pink Floyd Records | 196588137792 | other |
| 13 October 2023 | XE | Pink Floyd Records | 5054197181146 | deluxe |
| 13 October 2023 | AU | Pink Floyd Records | 196587714024 | remaster |
| 28 March 2025 | XW | Columbia | 196587202712 | remaster |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · upscaled: major: best source 1210x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1210×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1210x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |