Early Live 'Money': 7/4 Without the Cash Register Clatter (1972)

During the 1972 pre-Dark Side of the Moon tour, Pink Floyd played a 40-minute suite called “The Dark Side of the Moon” that contained an early draft of “Money.” The time signature was already in 7/4—the same lopsided groove that would anchor the studio version. But the famous cash register sound effects (coins, paper tearing, till drawer) were nowhere to be heard.

Instead of tape loops, the band used a straightforward drum beat from Nick Mason and a simple bassline from Roger Waters. The live arrangement also lacked the saxophone solo and the 4/4 middle section—that breakdown came later. The lyrics were mostly intact, but Waters sang them over a raw, less-polished instrumental. The cash register effects were added during the album’s recording sessions at Abbey Road in mid-1972