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 - Obscured By Clouds - Remastered - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £24.99, $31.24, €27.99 (New Item) (arrived 15-Jan-2021 09:55)
PINK FLOYD Obscured By Clouds (2016 UK/EU 10-track remastered stereo edition of their seventh studio album with music from the French film La Vallée by Barbet Schroeder, originally released in June 1972. Pressed on 180g Heavyweight Vinyl, the picture sleeve reproducing the original album artwork with replica rounded corners and pink sleeve sticker. Factory sealed from new with its hype sticker intact)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - Japanese - vinyl LP - £195.00, $243.75, €218.40 (New Item) (arrived 08-Jan-2021 10:12)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Rare 1978 Japanese Pro-Use Series edition of the classic 1973 10-track LP, manufactured by Toshiba. Comes housed in a deluxe gatefold picture sleeve which has the series logo printed in the top left corner& includes the fold-out Japanese insert & 12-page discography booklet. The packaging is Excellent with some faint shelf wear & the vinyl is Near Mint with few signs of play EMLF-97002)
- Pink Floyd - Masters Of Rock - Italian - vinyl LP - £35.00, $43.75, €39.20 (New Item) (arrived 06-Jan-2021 16:29)
PINK FLOYD Masters Of Rock (Rare 1974 Italian 10-track stereo compilation LP, glossy picture sleeve with sleeve notes in English on the reverse. The sleeve shows only the lightest storage wear and the vinyl appears near as new)
- Pink Floyd - Tour '75 - US - vinyl LP - Promo - £395.00, $493.75, €442.40 (New Item) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:19)
PINK FLOYD Tour '75 (Rare 1975 official US white title label promotional 7-track LP sampler with custom black on white labels & 'Mastered by Capitol' machine stamped in the run off area on each side. Includes tracks from Obscured By Clouds, Meddle, Atom Heart Mother & Ummagumma, housed in a custom rubber stamped bootleg style white sleeve that seems to pay homage to the early seventies TMOQ Tour '72 & Tour '73 boots. The sleeve shows very little signs of wear and is in near mint condition, the vinyl with just a couple of faint scuffs is also near mint - a top copy of this Floyd rarity SPRO-8116/7)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - 30th - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £195.00, $243.75, €218.40 (New Item) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:25)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Sealed 2003 UK 30th Anniversary Edition of the 1972 10-track LP pressed on Heavyweight Virgin Vinyl with specially remastered tracks, housed in a deluxe gatefold picture sleeve reproducing the original album artwork with stickers & posters, plus a a new exclusive 30th anniversary poster. This copy remains factory sealed from new, therefore the packaging & the vinyl discs are Mint)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall - 2nd - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $62.50, €56.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:55)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (1979 UK second issue 26-track double LP with picture labels, complete with round cornered lyric inners, gatefold picture sleeve with the band member names listed inside. The sleeve shows minimal shelfwear & the vinyl remainsin near mint condition & looks barely played SHDW411)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - 30th - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £195.00, $243.75, €218.40 (New Item) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:55)
PINK FLOYD The Dark Side Of The Moon (Sealed 2003 UK 30th Anniversary Edition of the 1972 10-track LP pressed on Heavyweight Virgin Vinyl with specially remastered tracks, housed in a deluxe gatefold picture sleeve reproducing the original album artwork with stickers & posters, plus a a new exclusive 30th anniversary poster. This copy remains factory sealed from new, therefore the packaging & the vinyl discs are Mint)
- Pink Floyd - High Hopes - Etched Blue Vinyl - Complete - UK - 12" vinyl - £125.00, $156.25, €140.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:55)
PINK FLOYD High Hopes (Archive quality 1994 UK limited edition 3-track single sided 12" single pressed on laser etched Blue Vinyl, also including Keep Talking and a live vesion of One Of These Days recordedat the Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover in August '94, glossy picture sleeve in outer envelope picture cover with seven bonus film cards housed in their own 6" x 5" envelope with silver logo - a superb collectors item with no need to upgrade! 12EM342)
- Pink Floyd - Tour '75 - US - vinyl LP - Promo - £395.00, $493.75, €442.40 (New Item) (arrived 07-Jan-2021 09:56)
PINK FLOYD Tour '75 (Rare 1975 official US white title label promotional 7-track LP sampler with custom black on white labels & 'Mastered by Capitol' machine stamped in the run off area on each side. Includes tracks from Obscured By Clouds, Meddle, Atom Heart Mother & Ummagumma, housed in a custom rubber stamped bootleg style white sleeve that seems to pay homage to the early seventies TMOQ Tour '72 & Tour '73 boots. The sleeve shows very little signs of wear and is in near mint condition, the vinyl with just a couple of faint scuffs is also near mint - a top copy of this Floyd rarity SPRO-8116/7)
- Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets - EX - Japanese - vinyl LP - £125.00, $156.25, €140.00 (New Item) (arrived 08-Jan-2021 10:14)
PINK FLOYD A Saucerful Of Secrets (1969 Japanese 7-track stereo LP pressed on regular black vinyl by Toshiba with black & silver Odeon labels, housed in the first issue Hipgnosis designed sleeve with unique 1969 'New Rock Series' print bottom right & English lyric insert enclosed. The sleeve is Excellent with a thin 3" hairline split in the top edge & some foxing to the insert, whilst the vinyl is Excellent with just a few spindle marks around the centre holes to show play OP-8743)
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