"The Dark Side of the Moon", Pink Floyd's eighth studio masterpiece, emerged on March 1, 1973, courtesy of Harvest Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. Born from live performances and fueled by the band's tumultuous journey, it was conceived as a concept album delving into the pressures of their demanding lifestyle and the haunting specter of mental illness, notably that of former member Syd Barrett, who departed in 1968. Recorded in two sessions at London's EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in 1972 and 1973, the album became a magnum opus exploring themes of conflict, greed, time, death, and mental turmoil, interwoven with snippets from interviews and philosophical musings.
 
Storm Thorgerson's iconic sleeve design, a prismatic spectrum, was crafted in response to keyboardist Richard Wright's desire for a design that echoed the band's lighting and thematic depth. The album's promotion was bolstered by singles "Money" and "Us and Them."
The Dark Side of the Moon stands tall among the most revered albums in history, frequently topping professional lists of the greatest of all time. It catapulted Pink Floyd to global stardom, showering the band with acclaim, wealth, and accolades. A cornerstone of the era's music industry, it set record sales soaring throughout the 1970s. Certified 14 times platinum in the UK, it dominated the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, charting for a staggering 990 weeks. By 2013, it had sold over 45 million copies worldwide, securing its place as Pink Floyd's crowning achievement, the quintessential album of the 1970s, and the fourth-best-selling album in history. Recognized for its cultural and historical significance, the album was preserved in the United States National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2012 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.