Off-script

NCPA March 27, 2024

Pink FloydToday in 1973, Pink Floyd’s never-bested album, “Dark Side of the Moon,” reached number one on the Billboard charts, having been released less than a month before on March 1. Time, mortality, avarice, ecstasy, irony, and existential anxiety — lighthearted topics, all — defined the lyrical palette (mainly penned by Roger Waters), and otherworldly, blues-infused psychedelia defined the music, written by Waters, guitarist and singer David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, and keyboardist Richard Wright. It was the first of their albums to include printed lyrics on the sleeve. It was also their first introduction to mainstream listeners, who rewarded the band by making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It was reported about 30 years ago that the album also, uncannily, syncs with key events in the film “The Wizard of Oz,” not only musically but also lyrically, referring to events on screen. In a qAM exclusive, we can confirm that it’s completely true.

NCPA