THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

I am trying my best not to select and gush over the most obvious albums, but why not just say for the billionth time that this must be the greatest rock album of all time? I love Dark Side of the Moon just as much - or more - today as I did when I first discovered it back in the 80s. Sure, some purists like to claim it's the more spontaneous recordings that capture a moment of inspiration, but if you had the time and money - and patience - wouldn't you rather refine that baby until it's as close to perfection as possible? Some might not, instead seeking a raw, urgent sound and vibe. But the guys in Pink Floyd were at the top of their game in '73, with a very different goal in mind, so they went the other way. Overkill? Not a chance. Dark Side of the Moon rocks and rolls and chills and souls. Does that make any sense? No, but who cares - it seems to sum up this recording sufficiently.

If reliance on electronics and tape effects can heighten the experience, send chills down the spine, and engage the brain (without any mind-altering substances, I might add), then why argue with it? Floyd, as masters of their instruments and writing progressive music, and pioneers of new recording technologies, did not goof around. They sought out the best in the business to aid them in their aim to make history (but did they really know that they would?), recruiting engineering wizard Alan Parsons, saxophonist Dick Parry, guest vocalist Clare Torry, and a quartet of backup singers that made Dark Side stand out in the Pink Floyd canon.

Some of the music, like the single Money ("it's a hit"), was originally written with a stripped- down bluesy approach. But electrified and performed by one of the tightest acts around, the track blisters and stings both lyrically and instrumentally. Just listen to the whole album from start to finish. That is the only way to properly appreciate all the work that went into this masterpiece. And for critics of the album, well, how do you explain a disc that held a spot on the charts for fifteen years? Right. "... though I'd something more to say".