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
Find more rare and collectable Pink Floyd titles on eil.com, and if you have any items to sell, please call us on 01474815099
eil.com… the world’s largest online retailer of rare and out of print vinyl, CDs and music memorabilia – since 1987
- Pink Floyd - The Division Bell - 180gram Blue Vinyl - Sealed - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £149.99, $190.49, €181.49 (New Item) (arrived 17-Dec-2024 18:00)
PINK FLOYD The Division Bell (2019 UK/EU Limited 25th Anniversary Edition 11-track remastered double LP issue of their classic 1994 album which was originally released on a single disc LP and is now pressed on Blue Heavyweight Vinyl, including the singles Take It Back and High Hopes / Keep Talking. Complete with full colour lyric inner sleeves, both discs are BRAND NEW & unplayed housed in the gatefold picture sleeve which remains sealedwithin its hype-stickered shrinkwrap! PFRLP31)
- Pink Floyd - Animals - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £50.00, $63.50, €60.50 (New Item) (arrived 13-Dec-2024 15:20)
PINK FLOYD Animals (1977 UK first press 5-track LP with picture labels, the band's tenth studio concept album based on the conditions of British society in the seventies & loosely influenced by George Orwell's Animal Farm. Comes housed in theoriginal wide spined gatefold sleeve which is non barcoded & complete with the round-cornered lyric inner. The sleeve is Very Good and shows some general shelfwear and scuffing (and the inner has a bottom split) . The vinyl is clean & grades Excellent with a couple of light cosmetic scuffs and few signs of play SHVL815)
- Pink Floyd - Hey Hey Rise Up - Sealed - UK - 7" vinyl - £18.00, $22.86, €21.78 (New Item) (arrived 10-Dec-2024 15:38)
PINK FLOYD Hey Hey Rise Up (2022 UK limited edition 7" single seeing David Gilmour and Nick Mason joined by long time Pink Floyd bass player Guy Pratt, with Nitin Sawhney on keyboards and a lead vocal by Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Ukrainian band Boombox, with vocal harmonies by Romany and David Gilmour, also including a reworked version of A Great Day For Freedom, picture sleeve with hype sticker, factory sealed)
- Pink Floyd - Meddle - Remastered 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £24.99, $31.74, €30.24 (New Item) (arrived 10-Dec-2024 16:11)
PINK FLOYD Meddle (2016 UK/EU 6-track remastered stereo edition of their sixth studio album, originally released in November 1971. Side two features the 23 minute epic 'Echoes'. Pressed on 180-gram Heavyweight Vinyl, with deluxe textured gatefold picture sleeve reproducing the original album artwork. Large hype sticker & factory sealed. Recommended)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - UV Printed Art On Clear Vinyl - Sealed - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £69.99, $88.89, €84.69 (New Item) (arrived 10-Dec-2024 16:27)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary Collector's Edition 2024 UK/EU UV Printed Art On Clear Vinyl double album 2-LP, a stunning presentation of their classic album pressed on Crystal Clear vinyl featuring UV artwork printed on the non-groove side. This set features the iconic prism spectrum seen through the playable side of the vinyl while maintaining the best quality sound. Housed inside a wide-spine gatefold picture sleeve with outer slipcase and an exclusive poster. Hype sticker & factory sealed. Impressive!) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - Hey Hey Rise Up - Sealed - UK - 7" vinyl - £18.00, $22.86, €21.78 (New Item) (arrived 10-Dec-2024 18:00)
PINK FLOYD Hey Hey Rise Up (2022 UK limited edition 7" single seeing David Gilmour and Nick Mason joined by long time Pink Floyd bass player Guy Pratt, with Nitin Sawhney on keyboards and a lead vocal by Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Ukrainian band Boombox, with vocal harmonies by Romany and David Gilmour, also including a reworked version of A Great Day For Freedom, picture sleeve with hype sticker, factory sealed)
- Pink Floyd - See Emily Play - Sealed - UK - 7" vinyl - £49.99, $63.49, €60.49 (Back In Stock) (arrived 11-Dec-2024 18:00)
PINK FLOYD See Emily Play (2013 UK Record Store Day limited edition of 5000 copies 7" single pressed on PINK vinyl, also including Scarecrow, replica Columbia die-cut paper sleeve with a 7” 4 panel booklet/posterand picture backing card - still shrink sealed from new!)
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 2nd (A) - Complete - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £295.00, $374.65, €356.95 (Back In Stock) (arrived 13-Dec-2024 15:07)
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. 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 - Wish You Were Here - 2nd - Complete - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $120.65, €114.95 (New Item) (arrived 13-Dec-2024 15:09)
PINK FLOYD Wish You Were Here (Classic 1975 UK second press 5-track LP with 'Waters' label credit for Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part V, complete with round cornered illustrated lyric inner, glossy postcard with serrated edges & picture sleevestill in the opened black stickered shrinkwrap. The sleeve is graded VG showing some curvature with the delicate black shrink still (mostly) intact revealing a small split along the top edge whilst the vinyl is clean & grades VG+/EX- with a few faint paper hairlines not affecting play SHVL814) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Division Bell - 180gm - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £54.99, $69.84, €66.54 (New Item) (arrived 13-Dec-2024 16:03)
PINK FLOYD The Division Bell (2014 UK 20th Anniversary Edition 11-track double LP pressed on 180gram Vinyl, featuring the original album remastered for vinyl from the original analogue masters, including full-length tracks for the firsttime,ultra glossy gatefold picture sleeve with picture inners. The sleeve shows minimal wear and the vinyl displays minimal signs of play)
Be the first to comment