Pink Floyd

The Dark Side of the Moon

First released1973

The Dark Side of the Moon was recorded between February 1972 and January 1973 at Abbey Road Studios in London, primarily in Studio Two. The album was produced by the band themselves in collaboration with engineer Alan Parsons, with assistance from Chris Thomas, and mixed by Parsons. The recording utilized innovative studio techniques for its time, including the use of multitrack recording, extensive overdubbing, and early synthesizer work, particularly with the Mellotron and ARP synthesizers. The sessions were conducted during a period of significant creative confidence for Pink Floyd, following their successful Meddle tour, and the album became one of the first concept albums to achieve massive mainstream commercial success. The production process emphasized sonic experimentation and thematic cohesion, with the band spending considerable time refining the album's transition between tracks and perfecting its overall sound design.