<P> As the quadraphonic mix of the album was not then complete, the band (with the exception of Wright) boycotted the press reception held at the London Planetarium on 27 February . The guests were, instead, presented with a quartet of life - sized cardboard cut - outs of the band, and the stereo mix of the album was presented through a poor - quality public address system . Generally, however, the press were enthusiastic; Melody Maker's Roy Hollingworth described side one as "so utterly confused with itself it was difficult to follow", but praised side two, writing: "The songs, the sounds, the rhythms were solid and sound, Saxophone hit the air, the band rocked and rolled, and then gushed and tripped away into the night ." Steve Peacock of Sounds wrote: "I don't care if you've never heard a note of the Pink Floyd's music in your life, I'd unreservedly recommend everyone to The Dark Side of the Moon". In his 1973 review for Rolling Stone magazine, Loyd Grossman declared Dark Side "a fine album with a textural and conceptual richness that not only invites, but demands involvement". In his 1981 review of the album, Robert Christgau found its lyrical ideas clichéd and its music pretentious, but called it a "kitsch masterpiece" that can be charming with highlights such as taped speech fragments, Parry's saxophone, and studio effects which enhance Gilmour's guitar solos . </P> <P> The Dark Side of the Moon was released first in the US on 1 March 1973, and then in the UK on 16 March . It became an instant chart success in Britain and throughout Western Europe; by the following month, it had gained a gold certification in the US . Throughout March 1973 the band played the album as part of their US tour, including a midnight performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on 17 March before an audience of 6,000 . The album reached the Billboard Top LP's & Tape chart's number one spot on 28 April 1973, and was so successful that the band returned two months later for another tour . </P> <P> Much of the album's early American success is attributed to the efforts of Pink Floyd's US record company, Capitol Records . Newly appointed chairman Bhaskar Menon set about trying to reverse the relatively poor sales of the band's 1971 studio album Meddle . Meanwhile, disenchanted with Capitol, the band and manager O'Rourke had been quietly negotiating a new contract with CBS president Clive Davis, on Columbia Records . The Dark Side of the Moon was the last album that Pink Floyd were obliged to release before formally signing a new contract . Menon's enthusiasm for the new album was such that he began a huge promotional advertising campaign, which included radio - friendly truncated versions of "Us and Them" and "Time". In some countries--notably the UK--Pink Floyd had not released a single since 1968's "Point Me at the Sky", and unusually "Money" was released as a single on 7 May, with "Any Colour You Like" on the B - side . It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973 . A two - sided white label promotional version of the single, with mono and stereo mixes, was sent to radio stations . The mono side had the word "bullshit" removed from the song--leaving "bull" in its place--however, the stereo side retained the uncensored version . This was subsequently withdrawn; the replacement was sent to radio stations with a note advising disc jockeys to dispose of the first uncensored copy . On 4 February 1974, a double A-side single was released with "Time" on one side, and "Us and Them" on the opposite side . Menon's efforts to secure a contract renewal with Pink Floyd were in vain however; at the beginning of 1974, the band signed for Columbia with a reported advance fee of $1 M (in Britain and Europe they continued to be represented by Harvest Records). </P> <P> The Dark Side of the Moon became one of the best - selling albums of all time and is in the top 25 of a list of best - selling albums in the United States . Although it held the number one spot in the US for only a week, it remained in the Billboard album chart for 741 weeks . The album re-appeared on the Billboard charts with the introduction of the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart in May 1991, and has been a perennial feature since then . In the UK, it is the seventh - best - selling album of all time and the highest selling album never to reach number one . </P>

Who is going to rock you to the dark side of the moon