Why “Dark Side” was successful according to Richard Wright

Released by Pink Floyd back in 1973, “Dark Side of The Moon” became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with an estimated amount of more than 45 million copies worldwide. At the time the band was formed by Roger Waters (Bass, vocals), Richard Wright (Keyboards), David Gilmour (Guitar, vocals) and Nick Mason (Drums).

It was the record that brought Pink Floyd to the mainstream and showed him the way they should move forward. The result was a series of incredible albums like “Wish You Were Here” (1975), “Animals” (1977) and “The Wal” (1979).

Everyone has a theory on why “Dark Side of The Moon” is so successful, but what was the opinion of the late keyboardist Richard Wright on that?

Why “Dark Side of The Moon” was successful according to Richard Wright

“Dark Side of The Moon” has 5 songs on each side and a total length of a little bit more than 43 minutes. Tracks like “Time”, “The Great Gig In The Sky”, “Money” and “Brain Damage” became real classics but it was really by listening to the entire album that the fans had a real experience.

In an interview with John Edginton back in 2001 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), the keyboardist Richard Wright was asked why that album was so successful. “I think it is a combination of the lyrics and the feeling of some of the music with the lyrics. Obviously, that’s what makes a good song. I think it’s the continuity of it, this kind of whole musical and lyrical story, if you like. It all made sense and even some songs weren’t related to the other. “Money” wasn’t related to “Us and Them”, or whatever.”

He continued:

“But I can’t tell you, really at the end of the day how to make another one, obviously. I think it was probably the height of mine and possibly everyone’s period of creativity. Also was a time when there were disagreements between me and Roger. We weren’t best friends. But as a band we were working together. Everyone was encouraging each other. So it was just maybe the… ‘Wish You Were Here’ as well, but there were strains there.”

“But definitely ‘Dark Side of The Moon’ was (the one) we were working together. Now, I always believed that’s the best Floyd music. When it was a combination of Dave, me and Roger, let’s say the three of us writing together. Obviously there’s individual songs which I didn’t write or Dave didn’t write. But basically just being in the studio playing together,” Richard Wright said.

Although the music made for the album had the participation of everyone, all the lyrics were written solely by Roger Waters. Richard Wright shared the vocals of the track “Time” with David Gilmour, who sang most of the tracks.