Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Receives 50th Anniversary Box Set Treatment on March 24, and This Super Deluxe Collection Includes 2LPs and a Nice Pair of Replica 45s

As a matter of fact, it’s all dark. Well, let me clarify that — Pink Floyd’s seminal March 1973 The Dark Side of the Moon album is getting a much-anticipated, and quite appropriately lavish, 50th anniversary super deluxe box set release via Pink Floyd Records/Columbia on March 24. A nice pair of 180g LPs and two replica 7-inch singles are included in the box set alongside 2CDs, 2BDs, 1DVD, a 160-page hardback with rare photos, a 76-page music book, and other related paraphernalia.

The stats are these. In the box set, The Dark Side of the Moon 180g LP is a 2023 remaster by James Guthrie along with Joel Plante at das boot recording, and it appears in a gatefold sleeve with the original posters and stickers. (I freely admit to having said poster up on my wall as a kid.) The original Dark Side studio album itself was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London between May 1972 and January 1973, and it was produced by Pink Floyd, engineered by Alan Parsons with assistant Peter James, and the mixing was supervised by Chris Thomas.

The second 180g LP in the box set, The Dark Side of the Moon – Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974, was recorded at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, in November 1974, and engineered by Brian Humphries with Phill Brown. It was mixed by Andy Jackson as assisted by Damon Iddins, and mastered by Andy Jackson at Tube Mastering. It comes in a gatefold sleeve with two posters. This is the first official appearance of the 1974 Empire Pool concert on vinyl, as it was only previously available on CD as included in the The Dark Side of the Moon – Immersion Box Set collection that was released in September 2011.

The pair of replica 7-inch 45s in the Dark Side 50 box set each come housed in of-era Harvest bags/sleeves. The first single is “Money” b/w “Any Colour You Like,” and the second single is “Us And Them” b/w “Time.”

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Also on March 24, The Dark Side of the Moon – Live at Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974 will be released independently from the box set in a 1LP configuration. It was originally recorded in November 1974 as part of Pink Floyd’s winter tour, and this is the first time it will be available officially as a standalone album. Its artwork features an original 1973 line-drawn cover by George Hardie.

I must note that the original Dark Side LP itself is not being issued separately from the box set, at least not as of yet — but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see it being released later in the year all on its own, given the staggered Pink Floyd release strategy that has been in effect for the past decade-plus. Either way, pressing plant details for all of the box set’s core vinyl elements are forthcoming.

The box set’s SRP is $299.98, while the separate Live at Wembley Empire Pool 1LP lists for $35.98. In terms of the box set packaging itself, the 2023 creative director is Aubrey Powell/Hipgnosis, with design and art direction by Peter Curzon/StormStudios, and the overall 50th anniversary concept and design are courtesy of Pentagram.

What else does the mondo Dark Side 50 box set include? Glad you asked. First off — no, this new box does not house the other comparable bonus audio, video, and/or marbled/scarved componentry in the aforementioned box set. What the new box does include are 2CDs paralleling the content of the 2LPs, 1BD including Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes of the core Dark Side album, 1BD with 5.1 and stereo mixes of the core album, and 1DVD with the 5.1 and stereo mixes of the core album.

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Additionally, the included 160-page hardback Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon: 50th Anniversary has been 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 between 1972-1975, and it was created with the involvement of the bandmembers. (This book will be published separately by Thames & Hudson, also on March 24, for an SRP of $48.)

Also in the box set are a 76-page music book of the original album and a replica of the EMI pamphlet and invite to the preview of The Dark Side of the Moon at the London Planetarium on February 27, 1973. Show of hands — how many of you have attended a planetarium Dark Side “experience” over the years? I will gladly admit to getting the full surround-sound planetarium experience at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City on September 26, 2011, with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason in attendance. (Come to think of it, Roots drummer Questlove was also there that night.)

I’m told planetariums around the world will be offering the official full-dome experience with visuals of the solar system (and beyond) as played out to all 42 minutes of Dark Side in March — but you’ll need to contact your local planetarium directly to glean any further information regarding their involvement.

Also, there’s an official competition for animators to create music videos for any of the ten songs on Dark Side. Animators can enter up to ten videos, one per song on the album, and a winner will be selected from a panel of experts that includes the above-noted Nick Mason and Aubrey “Po” Powell, in addition to a BFI (British Film Institute) representative. The deadline for submissions is November 30. Entry information and more can be found out here.

And there you have it! So, are you all-in on getting this Dark Side 50 box set, and/or will you get the Live LP separately, and/or will you wait to get the original LP reissue, if/whenever it becomes available on its own? Share your deepest Dark Side thoughts in the Comments section below.

Music Direct Buy It Now

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PINK FLOYD
THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON – 50 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

180g 2LP/2 45s/2BD/1DVD (Pink Floyd Records/Columbia)

The Dark Side Of The Moon (Remastered)
Side A

1. Speak To Me
2. Breathe
3. On The Run
4. Time
5. The Great Gig In The Sky

Side B
1. Money
2. Us And Them
3. Any Colour You Like
4. Brain Damage
5. Eclipse

 0119apnews.PFR50LP2_TDSOTM_LiveAtWembley_Breakout_Cover_Warner.jpg

The Dark Side Of The Moon – Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974
Side A

1. Speak To Me (Live)
2. Breathe (Live)
3. On The Run (Live)
4. Time (Live)
5. The Great Gig In The Sky (Live)

Side B
1. Money (Live)
2. Us And Them (Live)
3. Any Colour You Like (Live)
4. Brain Damage (Live)
5. Eclipse (Live)

Music Direct Buy It Now

REPLICAS OF TWO 7-INCH SINGLES
1) 7-Inch Money single (in Harvest sleeve)
Side A

1. Money

Side B
1. Any Colour You Like

2) 7-Inch Us And Them single (in Harvest sleeve)
Side A

1. Us And Them

Side B
1. Time

COMMENTS
Anton D's picture

I remember many parts of some of the many times we went to the Laserium Experience at the planetarium in San Francisco and listened to this while having flights of fancy to their laser show.

Laserium closed in SF in 2000...I think this could make for a great (!) revival. Added bonus: it will now be legal to relive the experience.

Looking forward to the pressing info and sonic report. I guess I can always do with a 10th or 11th different release!

Anton D's picture

We don't really have a chat area, it's fun to talk pressings.

A surprisingly good pressing of this LP is actually the "SQ" Quadraphonic issue played back with fine modern stereo stylus, the more acute the stylus profile, then better.

I was semi-amazed.

jazz's picture

once more not answered…is it AAA?

Keen Observer's picture

Impossible for it to be 100% AAA from the master tape. See my previous, separate post which explains why.

Keen Observer's picture

But N/A if it's a remix.

ivansbacon's picture

$300.00 - Money, its a hit, don't give me this do goody good bull shit.
Sadly this box set is a bull shit money grab and not a true thank you to all of us who love the album and the band and who have been anticipating a proper 50 year celebration. OK, so it is nice, 300.00 nice? No , and it falls short of what the album deserves.

I am highly disappointed at being totally disrespected by the greed and lack of respect for the fans (and also that the original Quadraphonic mix was not included, i know- 5.1, Atmos , crap bla bla bla. i want the Quad on vinyl,)
I might consider paying that if a quad LP was included and some other unreleased stuff.
i am NOT interested in any digital music.

I remember very well going to Hansen Planetarium in salt lake city and hearing the whole album while watching the accompanied laser show. Wow.

"or will you wait to get the original LP reissue" Is it a NEW reissue, or just the same as the last reissue???
I have a vinyl bootleg of wembley but i may get the official stand alone being offered.

ivansbacon's picture

Missed this. "The Dark Side of the Moon 180g LP is a 2023 remaster by James Guthrie" Still, 300.00 for a remaster?

Anton D's picture

Your post was well stated.

Nice to see another fan of the old quad pressing.

The original US pressing is pretty good, too, and not crazy pricey, under a hundred bucks, or so, for mint or near mint.

DSOM, KOB (Kind of Blue,) and BOTT (Blood on the Tracks) are up in my top group of albums that I love to compare pressings with.

The main LP on its own might be a purchase for the fun of comparison! And to show how well a tape can hold up after 50 years.

One of my almost LP 'superstitions:' I tend to find most/many original releases sound better to my ear than many/most new remasters.

sasm.1971@gmail.com's picture

I am very disapointed; I was expecting for a UHQR from Analogue Productions for 2023...

Tom L's picture

but I can do without this overpriced mess. I'll just play my clean original pressing and enjoy it as it transports me back to 1973.

Russo7516's picture

A lot of great early pressings out there. At the price they’re charging you can grab a 1 press.
Wait until the You Boob reviewers post . We are looking at 10,000 reviews. Great
See you on the Dark Side of the Moon .

Puffer Belly's picture

...with vinyl and the quadraphonic mixes replaced with Atmos mixes. Do that many people have Atmos systems? I have a 5.1 speaker set (with an Atmos AVR) and have no interest in adding more speakers. I know few people who have 5.1 systems, much less Atmos systems. The quadraphonic mixes are quite interesting and are worth having.

Mike Mettler's picture
For the record, I do indeed have an Atmos setup in the 5.1.2 configuration in my listening room, and, of course, can dial it back to 5.1 for "standard" surround mixes.

That said, today (Friday, that is), was two-channel-only listening of some of my favorite LPs from the David Crosby catalog -- CSN, CSNY, and a few solo albums of his.

markmck12's picture

Well said, I too listened to his stuff yesterday. Magical.

Crosby sounds so laid back, happy and funny on this BBC Mastertapes episode discussing his solo album. Should be accessible from U.S.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b021mjc4?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=sha...

Lazer's picture

What a genius. I’ve listened to his last album on vinyl”For Free” every night since his death. What a great and beautiful last album

Mike Mettler's picture
There is a sweet David Crosby/Pink Floyd connection, btw. Along with Graham Nash, Croz sang background vocals on the title track to David Gilmour's March 2006 solo album On an Island, and both Croz & Nash did so again on "A Boat Lies Waiting" on Gilmour's September 2015 LP, Rattle That Lock.

Besides that, Croz & Nash joined Gilmour onstage on occasion during his On an Island Tour to sing vocals on "On an Island," "The Blue," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V)," and then, during the encore. come out to join Gilmour for a stirring, mostly a capella cover of CSNY's "Find the Cost of Freedom." I was lucky enough to see them all do so together live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC on April 4, 2006.

mauidj's picture

....when I was a manager in the project department of the Audiotronic Group (UK's largest HiFI retailer) and we built an incredible demo room at the Earls Court HiFi show to premier the Quadraphonic version of DSOTM. If memory serves me correctly we had "Money" on a 4 track reel to reel tape. I cant remember much about it or how we got to premier the release but I do remember the place being jammed with people for each show.
Meanwhile this release sounds like of Money for Nothing ;-)

Keen Observer's picture

Years ago in an interview, Gregg Schnitzer of MFSL revealed, "Did you know that the Dark Side of the Moon master was ruined? Somebody put it on a recorder instead of a playback-only mastering deck, and a little piece of Supertramp got dubbed onto the outro of Breathe. Big secret, that. Stan had left the company so a redo wasn't gonna happen. Makes me seriously wonder where MFSL got the source for the Dark Side of the Moon CD. Hmmm. It would have had to have been a second generation safety or the digital master I made for the cassette run."

ivansbacon's picture

Your post is a direct copy of this post.
https://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=137641

A reply was posted that states.
Posted by Todd Fredericks on July 11, 2002 at 09:27:20

"In Reply to: 1st generation mastertape DSOM was ruined 25yrs ago posted by StylinLP on July 10, 2002 at 19:06:56:

Yes, this is true that the very small portion of the master tape was damaged ala 'Supetramp' but the tape is back in service and doing fine. The "damaged" portion of the master tape was repaired by splicing in tape from a safety copy. Fear not, 'DSOTM' has made a healthy recovery...

Todd "

For What it is worth

evilroyslade's picture

What a bunch of BS total money grab. I already have all this and tired of all the useless books all I want is the Atmos and a Quad vinyl. I'll pass.

X