Dark Side of the Moon: 40 years on

On March 27th I turned 50. Only three days earlier, one of the most popular, biggest-selling albums in rock history, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, celebrated its 40th anniversary, which means I was a tender 10-year-old, still in Franco's days, when it was released in the UK. 

It wasn't until 1978/9, when I went to Bilbao to stay for a few days in summer at my godfather's flat that I first listened to the glorious album. His elder daughter, Begoña, happened to have the vinyl record somewhere and I was immediately attracted by the futuristic cover when I came across it. On the outside a ray of light passing through a prism, a simple, elegant layout against a black background. Then inside the mix of sound waves with the colour spectrum ... I don't know why, but I found the design mesmerizing and so I kept staring at it as I started listening to its ground-breaking music. 

I vaguely remembered the name Pink Floyd in those days but I had probably not heard any music by the mythical British band before, so to me it was sort of a revelation. Begoña had a very primitive turntable and the sound was not particularly good. But still, there was something odd, different, almost magical about it. Of course I wouldn't try to understand the lyrics, my main focus was the captivating melodies that came out of the loudspeaker. 

Honestly, I found some of the songs too weird, as it were, in particular the instrumental piece "On the Run". What the hell was that repetitive, almost nightmarish noise produced by a synthesizer! Indeed I loved the soothing opening theme, "Breathe", the ethereal beauty of "The Great Gig in the Sky" (such an awesome vocal performance!), the more rock-oriented "Money" (arguably the best known song of the album and my mobile's ringtone right now), the velvety, jazzy "Us and Them" ... You know, being used to hard-rock stuff in those days, the sound Pink Floyd created definitely opened my ears to new sounds.

The band in the early 70s. Left to right: Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour.

When I came back to Salamanca a few weeks later, I talked to one of my mates - who at the time had an enviably good music collection - about Dark Side of the Moon, and right away he lent me a cassette, Wish you were here, probably the other most famous album by Pink Floyd, which of course I love too, quite as much. My diehard affection for the British band was complete, and what's more, I guess I changed my taste from hard rock to progressive rock, so I started listening to symphonic rock bands like Yes, Genesis, Camel and stuff. 

There are so many things I could tell you about DSOTM: how influential it has been in rock music, the staggering 15 years it remained in the US Billboard charts, the mind-blowing overall sales of 50 million copies to date ... Whatever the facts, The Dark Side of the Moon is, no doubt, one of Pink Floyd's most popular albums among both the fans and the critics, and is often cited as one of the greatest records of all time.

So if you want to listen for the first time to this rock gem or savour its music more lavishly yet again, here is the full album - with the lyrics captions:

And it you are, like me, a Pink Floyd fanatic, you will surely enjoy this enlightening documentary on the making of the album, featuring interviews of the band's four classic members, as well as the legendary sound engineer Alan Parsons and different rock critics on both sides of the Atlantic praising the masterpiece.

Are you keen on Pink Floyd's music? Do you like DSOFT? Post your comments here below!

My earliest memories (part 2)

Rebeca:

Eating a croissant stuffed with chocolate while watching a Santa Claus animation film every December 24th.

Staring at my brother's room's locked door while sitting until he ended studying - which could last for hours and hours.

Rosa: 


Getting out of my crib.

Eating bread with nocilla at my grandparents' house in their village.

Smelling wet land in Spring.

Going to the Helmántico stadium with my little sister holding my father's hand.



Nuria:

One of my favourite childhood memories is the first time I visited the sea with my family. My father had to drive our old Peugeot for many hours until we arrived in Santander. Such an amazing moment, I couldn’t believe it! I have to say that I was really afraid of the water, but also terribly excited about the sand and my “beach toys”, like the shovel or the rackets!

But definitely, the best moment of the journey was when we went to La Magdalena. I had never seen penguins, seals, lions, polar bears …  I thought that those animals only existed in my books!

That reminds me of this photo that I attach. I was so angry! I didn’t want to leave that fantastic place!

After that, my father took me to eat one of the best ice-creams I’ve ever tasted. I can’t remember the name of the shop, but I still can feel that marvellous chocolate.

Esther:

Touching my smooth hair while sucking my thumb.

Looking at the sunset in my father's warm arms on a peaceful beach.

Sweet liquorice. Not the black one, but red.

Eva Lopez:

Touching wood, smelling sawdust and looking at my grandfather´s big hands carving amazing pieces of furniture.

Smelling boiling milk, waking up early for school.

Eating bread with cream and sugar while watching "Aplauso" on TV with my grandmother.

Encarna:

It  was a scorching summer day and the dark curtains scarcely let  the light into my room. I was sleeping on the sofa, just a  short  nap to pass  the  boring  hours that  always seemed so long to me.

Suddenly, a beautiful melody woke me up, I listened carefully and decided to go out. As I rushed  down the stairs I could  hear my parents whispering in a  quiet voice and dancing slowly. The radio  was still on ... Mrs Robinson, their favourite song, was  completely unknown  to me at the time.

They  could not have seen me but I stood  in front of them near the door while a  delicious apple cake was being baked in the oven   and made me feel like a  princess in her gold shelter.

That unforgettable song always brings back the delightful,  peaceful  memories of my childhood and sometimes I still hum the tune while I try to cook a  delicious cake for my family once again.

Sara Saez:

Smelling the dish that was being cooked while I was playing with my Pin & Pon.

Looking at the camera as my aunt took a photo of me. I was wearing her sunglasses.

Lourdes:

Looking at the untiring, hard-working ants as they were fetching food in the garden. I would follow them and try to move them back to their nest using fine sand and little round grey pebbles.

Smelling the freshly cut grass while my father was mowing the lawn.

Smelling the wet soil on stormy summer days.

Singing old traditional songs with my parents and sisters on our way to my grandparents' village.

Sarahi:

Smelling and eating my grandma's delicious food, after a "tough" day at school.

Having a picnic (or barbecue) in a beautiful natural park with my lovely family and then playing a great baseball-soccer-volleyball match (or whatever we could).

Watching the shining, twinkling stars and the high desert mountains while listening to Eric Burdon & The Animals' song "San Franciscan night", as my dad was driving to our holiday destination.

Feeling my mom's soft scratching on my back in bed until I fell asleep.

My earliest memories

Some people say "We are what we remember". This is one of the mottos of a US project called Exploratorium, which collected the earliest memories of thousands of American citizens.

So I thought you guys would like to do just that too, you know, post on this blog some of the things you remember as young kids, as vividly, evocatively as possible. 

Leticia:

Smelling the wet soil in summer in my village, while I was going for a walk when the sun went down.

Looking at the mountains full of snow, and starting playing with my younger sister.

Drinking Coca Cola when it was banned for me.

Cuchi:

Looking at the clouds with my mum, trying to find funny patterns.

Listening to an ancient gramophone playing old songs in my grandma’s home, in the company of my big family.

Smelling lilacs in my aunt’s garden.

Meme:

Being on the beach, under my young parents' protection, watching  the waves coming and going steadily.

Digging a huge hole, where I unsuccessfully tried to keep the salty sea water.

And, above all, building sandcastles, always with the help of my patient beloved father.

Enrique Gonzalez:

Touching the soft ears of my teddy bear.


Listening to the annoying sound of my bike´s little wheels.

Smelling my mother´s perfume when she held me in her arms.

Looking at the ants in my school´s playground with my friends.

Eating candy cotton.

Having fun in summer afternoons in the countryside, watering the plants.

Carlos:

Listening to my father's favourite hits early on Saturday mornings. He used to start with "Get up, stand up" by Bob Marley and continue with The Beatles, Supertramp, Dire Straits and many more! Then me and my brother would dance with him.

Looking at the sea, just arrived in La Orotava (Tenerife), where we had moved, and listening to my father's first mobile phone ringing. Someone was calling to tell him that the ship with all of our things had sunk in the middle of the ocean. All my toys were spread all over the sea. I was four.

Feeling the wind caressing my face and my skin as I tried to skate faster and faster to jump higher. I wanted to have a rest on a comfortable cloud.

Guess who ...

Spending long hours with my cousin Estebi, who is six / seven years older than me and was in those days my play companion, kind of the brother I never had. He would show me his endless collections of Spanish comics, especially Capitán Trueno and Jabato, who truly became my first childhood heroes.

Look at the stupid fringe I used to have ... gosh, I remember how much I hated it! Then, I wonder why I look so serious in the photo. Probably because of that weird school smock I was wearing, I guess. Those were the days! 

Chani:

Listening to the deafening brave waters flowing into the Alagón River and crashing furiously against the rocks.

Smelling the dense green forest in spring, when flowers shedded their sweetest fragrance.
 
Touching the smooth, shiny hair of my darling, loyal dog Tito.

Belén:

Going to bed very early on the magical Three Kings’ Night, after leaving my polished shoes under the Christmas tree full of coloured lights.

I tried to fall asleep very fast, even though I was so anxious just thinking of the next morning.

I jumped out of bed when it was still dark, and rushed into my parents’ room shouting for joy. 

I remember having goose-bumps and I could hardly breathe when I saw all those presents under the tree.