Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon probably needs no introduction. It's frequently rated one of the greatest albums of all time, and enjoys both staggering mainstream popularity and an even more devoted cult following, all of which it thoroughly deserves. Dark Side is poetic and cryptic, melancholic, ironic, hopeful, psychological and philosophical in its lyrics, and a pinnacle of shimmering progressive rock sound incorporating samples, tape loops and studio effects in addition to the masterful musicianship of David Gilmour and Roger Waters, plus Nick Mason on drums and Richard Wright's electric piano and organ. From "Speak to Me," the album's breathtaking sound collage opening, to "Eclipse," its dramatic orchestral rock close, listening, re-listening and re-re-listening to Dark Side of the Moon is a transcendent experience.

First listen: