The Dark Side of the Moon: The Making of the Pink Floyd Masterpiece

John Harris' THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON: THE MAKING OF THE PINK FLOYD MASTERPIECE is a must for any Pink Floyd fan; even those already well aware of the power of the album. The album remained on the Billboard charts for over seven hundred weeks and has sold some thirty million copies around the world - and continues to sell thousands yearly. Here journalist John Harris reveals the album's underlying foundations, the band's stormy history, and uses original interviews with band bassist and lyricist Roger Waters, guitarist Nick Mason and more to add authoritative insights. Just as you wouldn't be without DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - you shouldn't be without this survey of the making of the masterpiece itself.

I never write reviews, but the current ones for this book as of this writing are so insulting to me that I feel compeled. One reviewer gives one star because it relates nothing new. But, as another review stated, this book contains exlusive interviews from '03 as well as unpublished photos. In any case, if you know the story so well why are you reading a book about it? Another review has felt it necessary to write an huge tome of words describing his feelings. Like anyone will read it after taking a glance at its towering size. Paragraphs anyone? And then there is Mr. Carlberg. I suspect a man who reviewed the book Crimes Against Logic would have more sense (but then again he did also give The Wall a 1 star rating). He scoffes "Yeah, right" at the statement that DSoM is "one of the most beloved albums of all time," even though it spent 741 weeks on Billboard. Carlberg seems to refute the book for the author's opinion by claiming his own is more correct. There is no doubt the difference between objective analysis and subjective personal views is a mystery to him, but when you are busy writing nearly 400 reviews who has time for that nonsense? Less a review and more a rant, I hope this compels you read the book and make your own judgements.

I'm very baffled by the negative reviews below. One fellow seems irritated that Harris doesn't like certain albums as much as he does, and another mistakedly states that there's nothing new in this book, which couldn't be further from the truth. John Harris' "Dark Side.." is bursting with previously unpublished photos, and the bulk of the quotes from the band are exclusive to the book, from interviews conducted in 2003. Further, it's the most clear and succinct account of the creation of this album I've ever read, and I've read every book about Floyd. Harris places the album in context with the band's orgins expertly, and I left with an even clearer understanding of how it all fits together. Any Floydian will dig this.

It's been awhile since I listened to Pink Floyd, as my journey from classic rock and metal to punk rock has stripped me of my patience for self-indulgence, but this book did make me revisit old memories and older albums. It's amazing, if you think about it, that Dark Side of the Moon was such a commercial success and has persevered so long (30 million sold with decades-long presence on the billboard charts), considering that the album is a droning high-concept album about insanity and greed. This book doesn't get too analytical about why this is, but it does provide interesting insight into the making of it, as well as the aftermath of its success. But first, the book begins with a recap of Floyd during the Syd Barrett years, since Dark Side is of course a nod to Barrett, even if it's downright poppy compared to Barrett's genuine, fractured psychedelic mind. I've read this all this stuff before, but it's been awhile, so I didn't mind the revisit, especially since this book offers new and candid interviews. The middle part of this book is the meat of it, as it gets into the details surrounding the writing, recording and live playing of the album, which are very illuminating and interesting. The book runs out of steam after that, but overall it's a good read, and I don't mind the semi-coffeetable book design (it contains a load of great photos). My main gripe is the author's dismissal of other post-Barrett albums before Dark Side, as Meddle and Obscured By Clouds are nothing to sneeze at. This book, though, made me dust off the Floyd albums, and I tip my hat to anything that can make do that. I can only hope no one writes about Led Zeppelin anytime soon or I'll have to rethink my punkness.