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 - The Wall - 1st - VG - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $70.50, €58.00 (New Item) (arrived 17-Jun-2021 11:34)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (1979 UK first press 26-track double LP with picture labels, housed in a gatefold picture sleeve which does not list the band members inside, with matching round-cornered card lyric inners, which do not include the brick with the band members credited inside, denoting a first press. The sleeve is Very Good with some cosmetic wear and discolouring with one small split to one of the inners, whilst the vinyl is clean & grades VG+/EX- with just a few minor hairlines & spindle marks not affecting play SHDW411)
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $28.20, €23.20 (New Item) (arrived 09-Jun-2021 10:29)
PINK FLOYD Wish You Were Here (1975 UK first issue 5-track vinyl LP with 'EMI Records Ltd' perimeter text on the labels & 'Waters-Gilmour-Wright' label credit for Part 5, indicating a first press. Housed in a matte picture sleeve and card lyric inner with the cropped corners [later issues had rounded corners]. The sleeve [VG+] has a light/faint discolouration; the previous owner has stuck a review clipping of the time - exhorting the youth of the day to: "Tomorrow, don't shave, don'tgo to work - go out and steal this album." (!) The vinyl grades VG+ with light scuffs and a few hairlines SHVL814)
- Pink Floyd - Ummagumma - 2nd - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £35.00, $49.35, €40.60 (New Item) (arrived 28-May-2021 16:30)
PINK FLOYD Ummagumma (1969 UK second press 9-track double LP with 'Gramophone Co' perimeter label text & EMI boxed logos, front laminated gatefold 'Gigi' picture sleeve. The sleeve shows a little light ring wear scuffing & the vinyl remains inExcellent condition with minimal play SHDW1/2)
- Pink Floyd - Ummagumma - Japanese - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $70.50, €58.00 (New Item) (arrived 30-May-2021 16:39)
PINK FLOYD Ummagumma (1975 Japanese issue of the 1969 9-track double LP, housed in a pasted gatefold 'Gigi' picture sleeve complete with illustrated Japanese/lyric insert & the black 'live' picture obi-strip with a 'Pro-Tech' sticker attached. The sleeve is Excellent with some light foxing inside & the vinyl grades EX/EX- with the odd paper hairline scuff on the last side not affecting play EMS-67043.44)
- Pink Floyd - Ummagumma - Japanese - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $70.50, €58.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 31-May-2021 08:09)
PINK FLOYD Ummagumma (1975 Japanese issue of the 1969 9-track double LP, housed in a pasted gatefold 'Gigi' picture sleeve complete with illustrated Japanese/lyric insert & the black 'live' picture obi-strip with a 'Pro-Tech' sticker attached. The sleeve is Excellent with some light foxing inside & the vinyl grades EX/EX- with the odd paper hairline scuff on the last side not affecting play EMS-67043.44)
- Pink Floyd - Division Bell - Remastered - Sealed - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £34.99, $49.34, €40.59 (New Item) (arrived 03-Jun-2021 11:21)
PINK FLOYD Division Bell (2016 UK remastered 2-LP edition of their 11-track album, first released in March 1994. Pressed on audiophile quality 180 Gram Heavyweight Vinyl, featuring the sinlges Take It Back and High Hopes. Housed insideits beautiful gatefold picture sleeve featuring the Ely Cathedral artwork. Factory sealed from new with the hype sticker intact PFRLP14)
- Pink Floyd - Animals - 1st - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $133.95, €110.20 (New Item) (arrived 08-Jun-2021 14:02)
PINK FLOYD Animals (1977 UK first press 5-track LP, complete with the original round cornered card lyric inner with 'SHVL 815 (I)' print & wide spined gatefold picture sleeve with 'Made and printed in Great Britain 7701 TM Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd'text inside. The sleeve is Excellent with a little minor scuffing [tiny seam split to inner] & the vinyl is nice & clean & remains in Excellent condition with superb sound performance, despite a few faint spindle marks to show play. A nice, ifnot mint, example & increasingly in demand SHVL815)
- Pink Floyd - Animals - 1st - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $133.95, €110.20 (Back In Stock) (arrived 09-Jun-2021 08:04)
PINK FLOYD Animals (1977 UK first press 5-track LP, complete with the original round cornered card lyric inner with 'SHVL 815 (I)' print & wide spined gatefold picture sleeve with 'Made and printed in Great Britain 7701 TM Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd'text inside. The sleeve is Excellent with a little minor scuffing [tiny seam split to inner] & the vinyl is nice & clean & remains in Excellent condition with superb sound performance, despite a few faint spindle marks to show play. A nice, ifnot mint, example & increasingly in demand SHVL815)
- Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - 5th + Posters - UK - vinyl LP - £35.00, $49.35, €40.60 (New Item) (arrived 09-Jun-2021 10:07)
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 shows a bitof age wear scuffing, the posters show light signs of use & the vinyl is Excellent with minimal play SHVL804)
- Pink Floyd - The Wall - 2nd + Sticker - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £50.00, $70.50, €58.00 (New Item) (arrived 09-Jun-2021 12:31)
PINK FLOYD The Wall (1979 UK 26-track double LP with picture labels, housed in the second edition glossy gatefold sleeve with brick outlines in blue & the band member names listed on the inside right panel, complete with the artist/title stickerattached to the front & card lyric inners. The sleeve shows only minor wear, one of the inners has a little discolouration, whilst the vinyl has just the odd light surface scuff. Classic Floyd! SHDW411)
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