Product Description

A behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the making of one of the greatest sonic masterpieces and most commercially successful albums of all time. Over three decades after its release, Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon' remains one of the most acclaimed albums of all time. Its sales total around 30 million copies worldwide. In its first run, it took up residence in the US charts for a mind-boggling 724 weeks. According to recent estimates, one in five British households owns a copy. This, however, is only a fraction of the story. 'Dark Side' is rock's most fully realised and elegant concept album, based on themes of madness, anxiety and alienation that were rooted in the band's history -- and particularly in the tragic tale of their one -- time leader Syd Barrett. Drawing on original interviews with bass guitarist and chief songwriter Roger Waters, guitarist David Gilmour, and the album's supporting cast ,'The Dark Side of the Moon' is a must-have for the millions of devoted fans who desire to know more about one of the most timeless, compelling, commercially successful, and mysterious albums ever made.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #135827 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
Praise for 'The Dark Side of the Moon': 'A fascinating read.' Observer 'John Harris's account of the making of the Floyd's 35 million-selling concept album, "The Dark Side of the Moon", has come along at just the right time ! Harris's book is good enough to make me want to sit down and, for the first time, give "The Dark Side of the Moon" a proper, prejudice-free listen.' New Statesman '[A] clear-sighted examination of Floyd's famous epic ! Harris' admirably concise study sidesteps the usual mythologising to provide a detailed and coherent retelling of how "The Dark Side" ! came into being. ****' Q Magazine

About the Author
John Harris, author of 'Britpop!: Cool Britannia and the Spectacular Demise of English Rock', has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo, Q, Independent, NME, Select, and New Statesman. He lives in Hay on Wye, England.

Customer Reviews

Great read, Great book.

As you can tell I loved this book. What a joy to read, it was like a really good indepth magazine article. [I mean not hard to read] Or a long chapter from Nick Mason's book, just on the subject of DSOTM.

As you can tell? As well, is that I love Pink Floyd, their music and their dvd's the whole package!! I have read a lot of books on them and magazines, but I don't have the T shirt. I have been lucky enough to see them twice. Don't love everything they have done in music, like Ummagumma, Obsured by clouds. So I feel I can give you a Floyd based view but not a totally blinded view, it is well worth buying. I also found out one or two new things about the group.

Overall, it is a well written and well researched. It is worth getting it in hardback as the cover is worthy of Pink Floyd. If it was written by a member of Pink Floyd it would be 5 stars. This is the only niggle I have,
but he still makes you feel, you were there at the time of the recording.

Very good account of this band and their best record
This was bought for me as a Christmas present, which I read immediately. The author gives an expansive, detailed account of the making of DSOTM, but in the context of the history of the band. He sees their artistic effort and inspiration (not, I think, inaccurately), as building up to this album, and then decaying away afterwards. Interestingly, this view seems to be shared by some of the group - particularly Roger Waters, who comments on p168: "To be that successful is the aim of every band. And once you've cracked it, it's all over."

Harris seems to have done a pretty thorough job in researching the story (such as it is) behind DSOTM, and generously cites his sources. Chief among these is the relevant episode of the Classic Albums series, but he also finds useful things in "Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii", along with some careful listens to bootlegs of the band's live performances at the time. He also appears to be refreshingly free from any hero-worship, as he takes a commendably dim view of some of Roger Waters' dafter comments, especially during the lengthy and bitter break-up of the band. This means, however, that his praise and enthusiasm is more meaningful, especially when he lavishes it on this inventive, original and thoroughly memorable record.

Nothing you haven't read before
After reading Harris' excellent "The Last Party" on the story of British music through the 90s, I was eager to read his efforts on the most famous album by my favourite band.

Unfortunately I was disappointed and found this book quite a let down. It appeared as if Harris had read "Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey", listened to a couple of bootlegs and based everything on this. There's very little insightful or that you won't already have read in other Floyd books.

This isn't having a go at the author at all. As I mentioned above his book "The Last Party" is outstanding but it seems Harris should stick to writing about an era he is clearly more knowledgable of.