One of the best-selling albums of all time, Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon, has been remastered and will be released in a deluxe box set on 24 March 2023 via Warner Music [Sony Music outside Europe]. A November 1974 live performance, book and a music videos competition have also been announced.
Partly developed during live performances, Pink Floyd premiered an early version of the suite at London’s Rainbow Theatre several months before recording began. The Dark Side Of The Moon is the eighth studio album by Pink Floyd, originally released in the US on 1 March 1973 and then in the UK on 16 March 1973. The new material was recorded in 1972 and 1973 at EMI Studios, now Abbey Road Studios, in London.
Deluxe boxset
The new deluxe box set includes CD and gatefold vinyl of the new 2023 remastered studio album and Blu-Ray + DVD audio featuring the original 5.1 mix and remastered stereo versions.
The set also includes an additional new Blu-ray disc of Atmos mix plus CD and LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon – Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974.
This November 1974 performance will also be released independently on CD and vinyl for the first time. The artwork features an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie.
To pre-order, visit https://pinkfloyd.lnk.to/DarkSide50th.
Anniversary book
A new book, Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon: 50th Anniversary, will be published by Thames & Hudson. Curated by photographer Jill Furmanovsky and art directed by Hipgnosis co-founder Aubrey Powell, this LP-sized volume showcases rare and previously unseen photographs taken during The Dark Side Of The Moon tours of 1972-1975 and was created with the involvement of the band members.
Visit https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/pink-floyd-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-hardcover for more details.
Video Competition
The 50th Anniversary release will also be celebrated as Pink Floyd invite a new generation of animators to enter a competition to create music videos for any of the ten songs on the iconic 1973 album.
With names like Ian Emes and Gerald Scarfe, Pink Floyd has a rich history of collaborating with animators from the beginning of the band, and in some cases, the visuals that accompany the songs have become synonymous with the music itself. The 50th Anniversary will be no exception.
The band would like to give all animators an opportunity to present a fresh take on these timeless aural works. Animators can enter up to 10 videos, one per song on the album. A winner will be selected from a panel of experts which will include Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Aubrey’ Po’ Powell (Pink Floyd’s creative director) and the BFI (British Film Institute). The deadline for submissions is 30 November 2023. To enter and for more information, go to https://www.pinkfloyd.com/competition/.
London Planetarium
On 27 February 1973, EMI Records held a press conference for the debut presentation of Pink Floyd’s new album, The Dark Side Of The Moon, at the London Planetarium. Although the Planetarium dome could only show an array of stars, constellations and images of the cosmos whilst the music played, it was an unprecedented success.
Fifty years on, in recognition of the iconic album and with the help of huge strides in technology, an official full dome experience with stunning visuals of the solar system and beyond and played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side Of The Moon, will be released in Planetariums around the world in March. Contact your local Planetarium for any screening details.
The show itself will be divided between the ten tracks from the album, in chronological order, each having a different theme; some futuristically looking forward and some a retro acknowledgement to Pink Floyd’s visual history, all relating to a time and space experience, embracing up to the minute technology that only a Planetarium can offer.
It promises to be immersive, an all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat that will transcend reality and take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience.
