This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pink Floyd's legendary album, The Dark Side of the Moon. Below you'll find a few selections from the Dark Side along with some of the many variations and tributes that have appeared over the years.
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Dark Side of the Moon: 30th Anniversary
Speak to Me/Breathe
The opening track fades in slowly before erupting with David Gilmour's slide guitar. It's a pedal steel Gilmour bought at a pawnshop in Seattle in 1968.
The Great Gig in the Sky
Claire Torry is the vocalist for this song. Apart from some hints from the band, she improvised the melody and recorded a half a dozen variations. The final song heard here is a compilation of the best parts from each take.
Money
"Money" was built around the bass line. The song follows traditional blues chord progressions. But it's anchored by an odd, 7-4 rhythm. To create the cash register rhythm, the band recorded the different sounds on analog tape, cut the pieces together and made a giant loop.
Breathe
This version of "Breathe" is from Roger Waters' 1970 solo album, Music From the Body. It was an early take on the familiar classic, recorded a couple of years before the band began working on Dark Side.
Breathe
Released in early 2003, this is a meticulously crafted reggae version of the original album, from the Easy Star All Stars.
Any Color You Like
Performed by the string quartet, The Section, this version of Dark Side of the Moon was released to celebrate the original album's 30th anniversary.
Breathe
This tribute features a number of Pink Floyd favorites performed bluegrass style, including two tracks from The Dark Side of the Moon: "Money" and "Breathe."
