LP of the Week 01/02/22-01/08/22

And we’re off!

With 2022 officially here, I thought this would be a great time to start a series, that for lack of a better name, I’m going to call “LP of the Week”. Here’s the deal… each week I will feature an LP from my record collection and discuss the record while also explaining what it means to me and why it deserves a spot in any music lovers record collection. I don’t really have a specific format for these as i’m just having some fun and shooting from the hip but I hope all 52 will be fun reads. The plan is to post every Wednesday at Noon, CST.

Music covered will be highly diverse, ranging across multiple genres so chances are there will be something here for everyone. Picking a record off the shelf at random has always been a fun way to spend an evening (along with your favorite beverage or plant) so if you’ve got the record I’m featuring in a given week, feel free to throw it on while reading for a maximum experience boost.

Being that this weeks moon phase is a ‘New Moon’ (and is therefore dark) I’m kicking off 2022 with one of my all-time favorite albums….yep, you guessed it… Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon!

Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Tracklist

A1	Speak To Me	1:13
A2	Breathe	2:44
A3	On The Run	3:53
A4	Time	6:47
A5	The Great Gig In The Sky	4:37
B1	Money	6:29
B2	Us And Them	7:45
B3	Any Colour You Like	3:27
B4	Brain Damage	3:47
B5	Eclipse	1:58

Elements & Character

When I was younger, I spent countless hours taking recordings of songs with my brother (many of which we recorded with whatever the stock recording software was on my parent’s Dell Gateway and a crappy microphone that used to sit on top of the monitor) and then reversing them, trying to find hidden messages in the jumble. This infatuation for easter eggs in my music all started when I was first introduced to Led Zeppelin’s, ‘Stairway to Heaven’, and the, “…here’s to sweet satan…”, hidden message… thanks Dad.

Ever since that moment, these types of purposeful “accidents” have held a special place in my heart. It’s such a unique discovery that it simply gives a record character. Dark Side Of The Moon is no exception and may even be the holy grail when talking about such little meanderings.

One of the coolest starts at the 1:36 mark of Eclipse; If you crank the volume and listen closely, you can hear an orchestral version of The Beatles, “Ticket to Ride”, that was caught in the background while recording the doorman at Abbey Road Studios (where DSoTM was recorded). The doorman says, “There is no dark side of the moon, really…as a matter of fact it’s all dark”, and then you can clearly hear what I’m assuming was just the soundtrack of the lobby where the doorman worked. Like I said….character.

How To Listen

Dark Side of the Moon is a one of a kind record and being so, it requires a one of a kind listening experience. What you’ll need to do is find a nice dark room, get yourself a pair of noise canceling headphones (preferable over the ear), spin this record at 33 1/2 RPM and feel the power of the needle in each groove.

If this is too spooky of an option, I do have a less extreme way you can listen to this album while also viewing one of the greatest movies of all time… The Wizard of Oz.

Now I know you’ve probably heard this one but I doubt you’ve ever tried it. The age old tale is that if you start DSotM and The Wizard of Oz at just the right time, they sync perfectly to the point where it could very easily be the soundtrack. All I can say is that it works..I’ve done it multiple times, both with VHS and DVD…I think you should try it…it’s really cool (I’ll leave the steps below for anyone looking for a weekend activity – you’ll thank me later).

Place Dark Side of the Moon on your turntable (or Spotify – make sure gapless playback is selected in settings); press play.
Start The Wizard of Oz DVD (or stream it if you can find it). I recommend choosing subtitles to play with the movie because it lets the music take front stage.
Wait for the black and white MGM lion to appear. Once he roars for the third time, drop the needle (or press play on Spotify).
Now press mute on your TV and crank up the volume in your headphones (if it’s too late for your neighbors)
To ensure you are in sync, you will see the credit, “Produced by Mervyn LeRoy.” This credit should be fading during the transition from “Speak to Me” to “Breathe.”
Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Record Shelf Ranking

Of the music I have in my collection from the 70’s, Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ comes in as my #21 favorite record for the decade.

It’s as well received in 2022 as it was in 1973 and I think a big part of that is because it’s realistic, both sonically and metaphorically. It has stood the ultimate test, which is that of time and each subsequent generation has found this album and embraced it with open arms. 2023 will be the 50 year anniversary of DSotM and I think it will continue to be the inspiring baseline for prog rock standards another 50 years after.

If you’ve never listened (no judgement from this guy), I highly recommend you set aside 43 minutes and 09 seconds fully devoted to one of the greatest albums of all-time.