Roger Waters shares the moment he realised The Dark Side of the Moon was ‘something special’

The work of progressive rock band Pink Floyd was called “something special” by frontman Roger Waters.

His realisation that The Dark Side of the Moon was truly special came towards the end of making the album. The bassist and songwriter suggested the group had worked so well together on the album that it was hard not to consider the “special” feeling which surrounded the record before its release. Waters has previously shared the album should have been the end of the band as it gave them the critical and public acclaim they had been searching for. But the group would continue for nearly two decades after the release of The Dark Side of the Moon, which Waters considers the peak of the group’s work together.

In an interview with Uncut Magazine, Waters confirmed one song in particular is a treasured moment for him, and fuelled his belief that the band had made a truly special album.

He said: “Certain tracks started to turn out really well, like when [vocalist] Clare Torry came in and we worked on The Great Gig In The Sky. Alan Parsons had invited her in for the session. We were amazed at what she did. I didn’t know her then. 

“But we became friends afterwards when I moved to East Sheen in 1980, and we lived a few doors away from each other. I used to see her walking her bull terrier on Sheen Common. I’d have the cocker spaniel with me.

“When we finished the record, I had a very strong feeling (a) that the work was really good and (b) that it was going to be successful. It was exciting to work on.” The Dark Side of the Moon is, as of today, a sixteen-time platinum-selling album in the UK.

Despite its acclaim, the album peaked at number two in the UK charts. It does not appear to have affected Waters, who is more upset about the writing credits which feature on the album. The bassist has shared his regret over adding Nick Mason, Richard Wright, and David Gilmour to the credited songwriters for The Dark Side of the Moon.

Waters shared: “I’ve regretted it rather a lot since, but I’m over that now. I went through many years when I really regretted having given away half the writing credits, particularly [Nick Mason’s solo credit for] Speak To Me. I gave it to him. Nobody else had anything to do with it at all.”

Waters shared: “I’ve regretted it rather a lot since, but I’m over that now. I went through many years when I really regretted having given away half the writing credits, particularly [Nick Mason’s solo credit for] Speak To Me. I gave it to him. Nobody else had anything to do with it at all.”