Released 50 years ago today is Pink Floyd’s seminar album The Dark Side of the Moon. The album is among the most critically acclaimed and often appears in professional listings of the greatest albums. It brought Pink Floyd international fame, bringing wealth and plaudits to all four band members. A blockbuster release of the album era, it also propelled record sales throughout the music industry during the 1970s. The Dark Side of the Moon is certified 14 times platinum in the United Kingdom, and topped the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, where it has charted for 972 weeks. As of 2013, The Dark Side of the Moon has sold over 45 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of the 1970s and the third-best-selling album in history. In 2012, it was selected for preservation in the US National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

To celebrate this monumental release, Abbey Road Studios has redecorated the exterior wall of the grounds, which are usually covered in personal messages and graffiti from the public, which has become very iconic, with brand new graphics depicting the recent Abbey Road x Dark Side of the Moon merchandise collaboration.

Photos with thanks to Peter Chow