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List Price: $15.95 | | Publisher: Da Capo Press
Salesrank: 77804
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
"Harris's book is an indispensable, exciting read for anyone who's ever wanted to fully understand this enduring, mystifying album." (American Songwriter)
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) is one of the most acclaimed albums of all time. A stunning exploration of madness, death, anxiety, and alienation, it remained on the Billboard charts for 724 weeks--the longest consecutive run for an LP ever--and has sold 30 million copies worldwide. It still sells some quarter million copies every year.
Besides being perhaps rock's most fully realized and elegant concept album, The Dark Side of the Moon was among the most technically advanced records of its time, perfectly blending studio wizardry and fearless innovation. The rich story behind The Dark Side of the Moon is now skillfully illuminated by acclaimed journalist John Harris's exploration of the album's many secrets and the band's fractured history, including the mental collapse of group founder Syd Barrett.
Drawing on original interviews with bassist and chief lyricist Roger Waters, guitarist Dave Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, keyboardist Richard Wright, and the album's supporting cast, The Dark Side of the Moon is a must-have for the millions of devoted fans looking for the definitive story of one of the most timeless, compelling, and mysterious albums ever made.
The Dark Side of the Moon: The Making of the Pink Floyd Masterpiece Reviews:
Not Just for the Floydian 
2009-11-16 - I've always been a little ambivalent regarding Pink Floyd--loved the Syd Barrett years, found Roger Water's increasing megalomania stifling post 1975, and was rather in between about everything in between. Left on my own, I've always liked "The Dark Side of the Moon," but found myself tuning out when harangued on its merits by the true believers.
So John Harris's book was a minor revelation to me. In my estimation, Harris strikes the right balance, providing just enough of the band's earlier history to give meaning to his discussion of the making of the album without reinventing the wall, as it were. His discussions of the dynamics of all the personalities involved--band members, engineers, management, record industry suits, even their audience--is acute and well-observed. Particularly insightful was his comparison of the album to "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band," a connection I never would have made.
Harris demonstrates an unparalleled understanding of the band, their work, and their world; more important, he's able to convey that understanding to his readers. It's simply a fine piece of writing and reportage.
worthy but reads like a thesis 
2009-06-14 - This is the story behind one of the great albums of all time and certainly one of my favourites.
Harris takes us from the origins of the band and the influence of Syd Barrett through to the production of the classic album that was almost called Eclipse. It is worthy but does read a little like a thesis, about the influences that drove the eventual album and it's contents, but then also one could also argue that any band of that age were evolving and Dark Side was when it first all came together.
It has some interesting moments and facts but is a little dry and clinical. Perhaps such a classic as DSOTM deserved a little better, but then it is quite hard to write a book on just one album I suppose.
Fans of the album must have this, too!
2006-04-13 - 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.
OK for the diehard Fan, but this Band and this Complex Concept Album Deserves Better
2005-12-31 - Like most kids of the latter 1960s and early 1970s I grew up listening to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and others when I wanted to be "cool." That was more often than I like to admit now, however; and I also went to the concerts, got stoned there (if only from the second-hand smoke wafting through the halls), and tried to act like I understood what the bands were trying to communicate. On the other hand, I was never as much of a fan of these groups and their style of music as some of my friends, but I had all of their albums and listened to them regularly, including "The Dark Side of the Moon." This book tells about the making of this extraordinary album and a little about its significance since its release more than three decades ago.
Of course, the remarkable thing about "The Dark Side of the Moon" is its popularity over such a long time, since it is a complex concept album dealing with greed and insanity and very much anchored to its time and place. I haven't listened to it in years, but had to do so after reading this book. That may be the greatest compliment I can pay to this book, for John Harris's work, unfortunately, is very much once over lightly and both Pink Floyd as a band and their classic album deserve better. There are some fascinating interviews that interlace the book, a good biographical appendix of what happened to the people associated with the album, and a set of photos that are interesting, but as a whole this is a book for fans of the album. As such it is worthwhile. For those seeking a serious consideration of the place of "The Dark Side of the Moon" in American culture they will want to read "Speak To Me: The Legacy Of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon," edited by Russell Reising, released in March 2006 from Ashgate Publishing.
Read it for yourself 
2005-12-08 - 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.
