There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Pink Floyd’s 1973 opus, Dark Side of the Moon, is one of the most iconic albums of all time. The Hipgnosis designed sleeve, A prism refracting white light into a rainbow on a black background, is in some cases more recognisable than the music itself. Even those who haven’t heard a note of Pink Floyd’s music will know what it is. Then, however, something different appeared on the market from Japan.
While details are somewhat scarce, is said that this alternative sleeve was created sometime in late 1977 or 1978 for Toshiba-EMI’s (TOEMI) mail-order only record club in Japan. These were a popular marketing tool in Japan at this time, and it is believed TOEMI wanted to expand their international artist repertoire through their club releases.
The unique sleeve artwork depicts a live stage scene from their 1977 Animals Tour, which adds to the narrative that this was released between 1977/78. The famous tan and red EMI label design also supports this date range. Further evidence in support of its record club origin is that there is very little on the sleeve or label that’s printed in English. The song titles, band name and album title of course, but very little else. The back cover is virtually all Japanese script. The lyric insert is similarly basic, albeit with English lyrics.
This is, without doubt, the rarest pressing of The Dark Side of the Moon, and it’s widely regarded to be the rarest Pink Floyd record never issued. This has sold as high as £3500, and is one of the ultimate investment pieces. Regardless of its origin and the divided opinion about when and why it was manufactured, there is no doubt about its authenticity and extreme rarity.
This article appeared in issue 25 of Long Live Vinyl magazine, available now
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- Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb - Japanese - 7" vinyl - £250.00, $315.00, €302.50 (New Item) (arrived 20-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD Comfortably Numb (Rare original 1979 Japanese wide centred 7" vinyl single, also including Hey You, with a unique picture insert printed with English song lyrics on the reverse, and in a die-cut CBS/Sony company sleeve. The insert &the vinyl appear Near Mint 07SP-491)
- Pink Floyd - The Final Cut - Australian - vinyl LP - £50.00, $63.00, €60.50 (New Item) (arrived 18-Feb-2025 14:34)
PINK FLOYD The Final Cut (Rare 1983 Australian 12-track LP with 'All tracks published by CBS' label print, the last studio album to feature Roger Waters with the bassist on writing, artwork & vocal duties. Comes housed in a soft gatefold picture sleeve with the original lyric content sticker attached & jet black printed inner. Both the sleeve & vinyl are Near Mint SBP237817)
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - Remastered 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £29.99, $37.79, €36.29 (New Item) (arrived 11-Feb-2025 16:09)
PINK FLOYD Wish You Were Here (2016 UK/EU remastered limited edition heavyweight 180-gram black vinyl LP, their all-time great classic album originally released in September 1975. The Hipgnosis designed picture sleeve and bonus postcard are concealed inside a black shrink-wrap replicating the original packaging concept, complete with the George Hardie designed 'machine handshake' sticker on the front. This edition is now deleted & out of print. Final copies available! Essential) #Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - 50th Anniversary Remaster 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £29.99, $37.79, €36.29 (New Item) (arrived 11-Feb-2025 16:15)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary 2023 UK/EU limited edition 10-track LP, newly remastered for this special anniversary release and pressed on 180-gram heavyweight black vinyl. First released as part of The Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary Box Set, this is the first time that the new remaster of this classic album has been available separately. Gatefold picture sleeve with iconic original cover artwork and replicas of the original poster & sticker inserts. New hype sticker, factory sealed. If you still don' have this album you can't go wrong with this edition... highly recommended!) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - Meddle - 7th - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.90, €18.15 (Back In Stock) (arrived 11-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD Meddle (1989 UK issue of the 1971 6-track LP on the black Harvest label, textured barcoded gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve has some light edgewear and a little foxing on the inner gatefold, whilst the displays only light signs of play SHVL795)
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 2nd (A) - Complete - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £295.00, $371.70, €356.95 (New Item) (arrived 11-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD Wish You Were Here (1975 UK second issue 5-track vinyl LP, housed in an iconic picture sleeve complete with round cornered lyric inner & serated edge 'diving man' postcard. Though not sealed, this one previous owner example is stillin its original open black shrinkwrap with the circular title sticker attached with an overlapping vintage price sticker which has catalogue number clearly printed. The inner shows just a little light shelfwear whilst the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with just a couple of light surface scuffs to show for over forty years. Recommended SHVL814) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - Remastered 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £49.99, $62.99, €60.49 (Back In Stock) (arrived 12-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Out of print 2016 UK/EU remastered edition 180-gram black vinyl LP, the all-time Hall of Fame classic 1973 album expertly remastered from the original analogue master tapes by James Guthrie, Joel Plante &Bernie Grundman. Deluxe gatefold picture sleeve with two posters and two stickers inside, plus replica circular hype sticker and large info sticker intact on the outside, still factory sealed from new. This 2016 edition is now outof print, replaced by the new 2023 remaster) #Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - shrink - US - picture disc LP - £125.00, $157.50, €151.25 (New Item) (arrived 15-Feb-2025 12:00)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Limited Edition 1978 US 10-track LP Picture Disc, featuring the familiar Hipgnosis 'prism' & 'heartbeat' images, housed in a die-cut tracklisting sleeve. The sleeve has a small deletion hole top left & is still in the partially opened shrinkwrap, the disc is untouched SEAX-11902) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - shrink - US - picture disc LP - £125.00, $157.50, €151.25 (New Item) (arrived 15-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Limited Edition 1978 US 10-track LP Picture Disc, featuring the familiar Hipgnosis 'prism' & 'heartbeat' images, housed in a die-cut tracklisting sleeve. The sleeve has a small deletion hole top left & is still in the partially opened shrinkwrap, the disc is untouched SEAX-11902) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Final Cut - Australian - vinyl LP - £50.00, $63.00, €60.50 (New Item) (arrived 18-Feb-2025 17:00)
PINK FLOYD The Final Cut (Rare 1983 Australian 12-track LP with 'All tracks published by CBS' label print, the last studio album to feature Roger Waters with the bassist on writing, artwork & vocal duties. Comes housed in a soft gatefold picture sleeve with the original lyric content sticker attached & jet black printed inner. Both the sleeve & vinyl are Near Mint SBP237817)
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