Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon climbs to No. 2 on the U.K.’s Rock & Metal Albums chart, marking a new peak for the 50th-anniversary edition of the classic. LONDON – JULY 02: (L to R) David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright from the band Pink Floyd on stage at “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
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Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon has ranked as one of the most successful albums of all time for more than half a century now. The full-length is regarded as a classic and a masterpiece, and it still moves thousands of copies every week all around the planet. Multiple versions of The Dark Side of the Moon have been released throughout the years, with Pink Floyd and its record label looking to capitalize on its continued popularity — and fans seem eager to snap up any edition they can.
Multiple versions of The Dark Side of the Moon have appeared on a variety of charts in the United Kingdom as separate entities throughout the past decade or so. This week, one edition of The Dark Side of the Moon just misses out on giving Pink Floyd another No. 1 as it ascends to a new all-time high.
The Dark Side of the Moon Barely Misses No. 1
The Dark Side of the Moon rockets from No. 6 to No. 2 on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. The U.K.-based roster focuses only on the top-selling full-lengths and EPs in those styles in the country. No. 2 marks a new high point for The Dark Side of the Moon — at least for this version.
When Did Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Debut?
The original The Dark Side of the Moon debuted on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart in October 2012. The bestseller has already spent 649 frames on the tally, 32 of which have been spent at the summit, though the first take hasn’t appeared in some time, as a newer edition is the focus at the moment.
How Many No. 1 Albums Does Pink Floyd Have in the U.K.?
Throughout the years, Pink Floyd has collected a total of seven rulers on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, in addition to many other top 10 successes. The band added to its collection of champions in May of this year when At Pompeii – MCMLXXII hit No. 1 and spent two weeks running the show.
How Many Versions of The Dark Side of the Moon Have Charted?
Throughout the decades, several versions of The Dark Side of the Moon have appeared on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. In addition to the original, which arrived in 2012, another edition issued in May 2017 spent three weeks on the ranking. Coincidentally, that set peaked at No. 3. The current version, which serves as a fiftieth-anniversary release, debuted at No. 4 in November 2024. It has now spent 29 weeks rising and falling on the chart.
The Dark Side of the Moon (Live at Wembley 1974)
Interestingly, several takes of The Dark Side of the Moon have now stalled at No. 2 on the Rock & Metal tally. In 2023, The Dark Side of the Moon (Live at Wembley 1974) also missed running the show by just one spot, just as one take does this frame.
Who Blocks Pink Floyd From No. 1?
This week, Pink Floyd is blocked from ruling as the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart welcomes a new No. 1 debut. Metal group Orbit Culture rules with Death Before Life, which opens in first place. It’s the first top 10 and first chart-topper for the band. The rockers had only ever appeared on the tally once prior, in 2023, when Descent opened and peaked at No. 14.
The Dark Side of the Moon Appears on Several Charts
CIRCA 1973: Pink Floyd (L-R: Rick Wright, Dave Gilmour, Roger Waters and Nick Mason pose for a publicity shot circa 1973. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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The Dark Side of the Moon is the only Pink Floyd album to appear on multiple rankings across the ocean this frame. As it hits its new high on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, the blockbuster also climbs and lives inside the top 40 on the Official Vinyl Albums, Official Album Sales, and Official Physical Albums rosters, coming in at Nos. 26, 34, and 72, respectively. The Dark Side of the Moon does, however, decline by more than 20 spaces on the Official Album Downloads chart.
The Wall, Wish You Were Here and Animals
Pink Floyd sees four projects appear on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart this week, led by The Dark Side of the Moon. Fellow classics The Wall, Wish You Were Here, and Animals settle at Nos. 16, 26, and 39, respectively. The latter two dip from where they sat last frame, while The Wall remains steady.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/10/16/pink-floyds-masterpiece-barely-misses-reaching-no-1/
