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 - Live At Knebworth 1990 - 180 Gram - 45RPM - Sealed - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £44.99, $59.84, €52.19 (New Item) (arrived 17-Apr-2025 10:31)
PINK FLOYD Live At Knebworth 1990 (2021 UK/EU limited edition double album 2-LP pressed on 180-gram vinyl and cut at 45RPM for enhanced audio quality. Remixed from the original master tapes by David Gilmour and Andy Jackson, this concert was previously unreleased until it appeared on 2019s Later Years box set, and now available for the first time as a stand-alone release. Gatefold picture sleeve with 16-page booklet and hype sticker, factory sealed)
- Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother - 3rd - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $26.60, €23.20 (New Item) (arrived 08-Apr-2025 11:08)
PINK FLOYD Atom Heart Mother (1978 UK issue of the 1970 5-track vinyl LP, with 'EMI Records' perimeter label print & small boxed EMI logo. The gatefold picture sleeve is Excellent with light shelf/edge wear & some signs of sticker removal, whilst the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with only a few faint signs of play SHVL781)
- Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall - P/S - UK - 7" vinyl - £15.00, $19.95, €17.40 (New Item) (arrived 05-Apr-2025 10:53)
PINK FLOYD Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) (1979 UK 7" vinyl single with picture labels & intact four prong centre, also including One Of My Turns. The picture sleeve shows just a little light wear and some ringwear, the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with only light signs of handling & play HAR5194)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall - Remastered 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £49.99, $66.49, €57.99 (New Item) (arrived 07-Apr-2025 15:02)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (2016 UK/EU limited edition 26-track remastered 2-LP of their legendary double album, first released in November 1979. Pressed on 2 x 180-gram heavyweight vinyl records, including the classic three-part opus AnotherBrick in The Wall, as well as the beloved Comfortably Numb. Complete with card lyric inners housed inside the iconic gatefold 'brick wall' picture sleeve with its original graffiti-style title sticker, large hype sticker & factory Sealed. The edition is now deleted & out of print! Essential) #Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
- Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother - EMI - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £35.00, $46.55, €40.60 (Back In Stock) (arrived 07-Apr-2025 16:00)
PINK FLOYD Atom Heart Mother (1978 UK issue of the 1970 5-track LP with 'EMI Records' label perimeter text & small boxed logo, gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve has only light signs of storage/age with a couple of marks of the reverse, whilst the vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with just minor signs of play play SHVL781)
- Pink Floyd - Meddle - 2nd - UK - vinyl LP - £30.00, $39.90, €34.80 (Back In Stock) (arrived 07-Apr-2025 16:00)
PINK FLOYD Meddle (1978 UK second issue of the 1971 6-track vinyl LP with 'EMI Records' label perimeter text & EMI logo, featuring the epic classic Echoes. The sleeve shows minimal wear and the vinyl appears barely played SHVL795)
- Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall - P/S - UK - 7" vinyl - £15.00, $19.95, €17.40 (Back In Stock) (arrived 07-Apr-2025 16:00)
PINK FLOYD Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) (1979 UK 7" vinyl single with picture labels & intact four prong centre, also including One Of My Turns. The picture sleeve shows just a little light wear and some ringwear, the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with only light signs of handling & play HAR5194)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - Remastered + Shrink - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $126.35, €110.20 (New Item) (arrived 08-Apr-2025 09:18)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (2016 UK/EU remastered edition 180 gram vinyl LP of the all-time Hall of Fame classic 1973 album, expertly remastered from the original analogue master tapes by James Guthrie, Joel Plante & Bernie Grundman.Housed in a deluxe gatefold picture sleeve with two posters and two stickers inside - still in its opened double hype-stickered shrinkwrap. This copy remains complete and in near 'as new' condition PFRLP8) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - 5th + Posters - UK - vinyl LP - £40.00, $53.20, €46.40 (New Item) (arrived 08-Apr-2025 10:14)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (1979 UK issue of the classic 1973 10-track LP with 'EMI Records' label perimeter text, housed in the iconic gatefold sleeve with blue copyright statement inside lower left & two colour posters. The sleeve is Excellent & shows some light shelf wear scuffing, the posters are unused with a little minor foxing on the back - The vinyl is clean & in Excellent condition with the odd faint paper scuff not affecting play SHVL804) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother - 3rd - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $26.60, €23.20 (Back In Stock) (arrived 09-Apr-2025 16:00)
PINK FLOYD Atom Heart Mother (1978 UK issue of the 1970 5-track vinyl LP, with 'EMI Records' perimeter label print & small boxed EMI logo. The gatefold picture sleeve is Excellent with light shelf/edge wear & some signs of sticker removal, whilst the vinyl remains in Excellent condition with only a few faint signs of play SHVL781)
Be the first to comment