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 Soundtrack From The Film More (1970 Japanese 13-track stereo LP pressed on Wine Red Vinyl. This was originally issued in limited quantities in red vinyl because of improved sound quality & included an experimental ingredient called 'Everclean' which reduced static. Comes housed in an internal pasted gatefold picture sleeve with lyric booklet still attached. The packaging is Excellent with some minor foxing & the vinyl is Near Mint with few signs of play OP-80165)
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PINK FLOYD Obscured By Clouds (1972 UK first issue 10-track stereo LP on the Harvest label with 'The Gramophone' perimeter text and with A1/B1 matrices, featuring music from the soundtrack to the film 'La Vallée', textured picture sleeve withrounded corners. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in fantastic near 'a new' condition with very little sign of play SHSP4020)
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PINK FLOYD Meddle (1978 UK issue of the 1971 6-track LP with 'EMI Records' label perimeter text & EMI logo, featuring the epic classic Echoes, smooth gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve is Excellent [1" hairline split in a bottom edge] with a little minor shelf wear & the vinyl appears barely played SHVL795)
- Pink Floyd - A Nice Pair - 3rd - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £25.00, $34.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 30-Aug-2021 09:51)
PINK FLOYD A Nice Pair (70s UK third issue 18-track double LP repackaging of the classic albums, Piper At The Gates Of Dawn & Saucerful Of Secrets, with 'EMI Records' label perimeter text, gatefold picture sleeve with artwork inners. The sleeve is Excellent with a little minor foxing or ring wear & both vinyl discs are in superb Excellent condition with minimal play SHDW403)
- Pink Floyd - Echoes - 180gm - UK - 4-LP vinyl set - £250.00, $342.50, €292.50 (New Item) (arrived 30-Aug-2021 15:44)
PINK FLOYD Echoes (2002 UK limited edition 26-track quadruple LP audiophile box set pressed on 180gm Vinyl, each disc is housed in its own individual picture sleeve, complete with lyric inners and fabulous 12" outer slipcase picture box. A superb digitally remastered 'best of' compilation pressed in Holland, featuring an array of hits from See Emily Play through to Shine On and Comfortably Numb. All four discs appear in fantastic near mint condition in their individual picture sleeves within the glossy picture slipcase which also grades as near mint)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall - 1st - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £75.00, $102.75, €87.75 (New Item) (arrived 31-Aug-2021 09:18)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (1979 UK first press 26-track double LP with picture labels, complete with round cornered card lyric inners & the original gatefold picture sleeve that does not list the band members inside. The sleeve shows just the lightest edgewear and minor discolouration, whilst the vinyl has just a few faint hairlines to indicate play - a top copy SHDW411)
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PINK FLOYD Obscured By Clouds (1972 UK first issue 10-track stereo LP on the Harvest label with 'The Gramophone' perimeter text and with A2/B2 matrices, featuring music from the soundtrack to the film 'La Vallée', textured picture sleeve with bevelled corners. The sleeve shows just a little light edge wear, whilst the vinyl remains in near 'as new' condition with very little sign of play SHSP4020)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall - 2nd - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £25.00, $34.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 08-Sep-2021 13:55)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (1979 UK second issue 26-track double vinyl LP with picture labels, the gatefold picture sleeve features a white brick wall with brick outlines in blue & the band member names listed inside & card inners. The sleeve has light discolouration throughout and the vinyl has a few light surface scuffs - overall an excellent example SHDW411)
- Pink Floyd - Obscured By Clouds - 1st (A) - UK - vinyl LP - £150.00, $205.50, €175.50 (New Item) (arrived 09-Sep-2021 16:45)
PINK FLOYD Obscured By Clouds (1972 UK first issue 10-track stereo LP on the Harvest label with 'The Gramophone' perimeter text and with A1/B1 matrices, featuring music from the soundtrack to the film 'La Vallée', textured picture sleeve withrounded corners. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in fantastic near 'a new' condition with very little sign of play SHSP4020)
- Pink Floyd - Take It Back - Red Vinyl - UK - 7" vinyl - £25.00, $34.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 11-Sep-2021 15:29)
PINK FLOYD Take It Back (1994 UK limited edition 7" single, pressed on RED vinyl with picture labels, also including a previously unreleased live version of Astronomy Domine recorded at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida on 30th March 1994. The picture sleeve shows just a little light wear & the vinyl looks barely played EM309)
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