Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon DSOTM Japan + Obi 12" Vinyl LP Album

  This Japanese pressing of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" includes a beautiful 32 page booklet with black/white and colour photos of Pink Floyd, album details, history of pink floyd in both English and Japanese

 

‘Album cover of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Japanese edition. Features a black background with a prism in the center, refracting a white beam of light into a rainbow. On the left, a white Japanese obi strip with bold kanji characters (狂気, meaning “Madness”) and a small image of the band members. The album details are in Japanese text on the obi strip, adding a unique cultural element to the iconic artwork.’

Pink Floyd Collector's Info: 

The Toshiba LP was released in Japan in 1973, just a few months after the original UK release. However, this version of the album had some unique features that set it apart from other releases. Firstly, it featured a different cover than the UK and US versions. The cover art was created by Japanese graphic designer, Tadanori Yokoo, who is well-known for his psychedelic and surreal artwork. The cover art features a collage of images that represent different themes explored in the album, such as time, money, and death.

The Japanese LP also featured a gatefold sleeve, which was not present in the UK and US releases. The gatefold sleeve included lyrics and liner notes in both Japanese and English. This was a significant addition as it allowed Japanese fans to fully understand and appreciate the lyrics and themes of the album.

Another notable feature of the Japanese release was the inclusion of a unique poster. The poster featured the same artwork as the cover and was folded inside the LP. The poster was not included in other releases and has since become a highly sought-after collector's item.

In addition to the unique packaging, the Japanese release also featured superior sound quality. The LP was pressed on high-quality vinyl and featured a special mastering process that was done specifically for the Japanese market. This resulted in a warmer and more dynamic sound than other releases.

The significance of the Japanese release of "Dark Side of the Moon" goes beyond just the unique packaging and sound quality. It marked a turning point in the music industry as it was one of the first albums to be marketed globally. The success of the album in Japan paved the way for other Western artists to gain popularity in the Japanese market.

Furthermore, the Japanese release of the album had a significant impact on the band itself. Pink Floyd's popularity skyrocketed in Japan after the release of the album, and they went on to become one of the most successful Western bands in the Japanese market. The band also became close with Tadanori Yokoo, who went on to create more artwork for their subsequent albums.

Music Genre:

Psychedelic Acid Progressive Rock Music

Album Cover Design

Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design

Album Production: 
Produced by Pink Floyd. Recorded Abbey Road Studios London. Engineer: Alan Parsons, Peter Jones. Sleeve design: Hipgnosis, George Hardie. All lyrics by Roger Waters
Alan Parsons, born in 1948 in London, is a legendary sound engineer, producer, and musician. He gained fame for his work on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and later co-founded The Alan Parsons Project with Eric Woolfson. Known for his meticulous production style and innovation, Parsons has influenced generations of artists. Learn more about Alan Parsons
Hipgnosis, the legendary British art design group, revolutionized album cover art for rock music. Explore their iconic visual creations on our website, featuring a vast collection of their innovative designs for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and many more. Here is the web-page with a gallery of album covers created by Hipgnosis

Record Label & Catalognr:

Toshiba-EMI EMS-80324 Mfd by Toshiba

Media Format:

12" Vinyl LP Gramophone

Year and Country:

1973 Made in Japan
Band Members and Musicians on: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon DSOTM Japan + Obi
    Pink Floyd Band: members/musicians
  • Roger Waters - bass, vocals
    Roger Waters Journey into the mind of Roger Waters! Explore the complexities of Pink Floyd's creative powerhouse. Uncover his profound lyrics and the stories behind his iconic albums .
  • Nick Mason - percusssion
    Nick Mason delve into the life of him! From driving Pink Floyd's iconic rhythm to his passions for racing and music production. Discover the man behind the beat.
  • Dave Gilmour - Guitar, vocals
    David Gilmour discover the man behind the music! Explore David0s ^ captivating journey from Pink Floyd's legendary guitarist to a celebrated solo artist. Uncover the stories behind his iconic solos and timeless songs.
  • Richard Wright - keyboards, vocals
    Richard Wright uncover the musical heart of Pink Floyd! Explore Richard Wright's captivating journey, from weaving ethereal keyboard textures to crafting timeless melodies.
  • Guest performers:
  • Dick Parry

    Dick Parry (Real-name: Richard Parry) an English saxophonist, known for his work as a session musician and for his collaborations with various artists. He began his career as a session musician in the 1960s and 1970s and has played on many albums and tours. He is best known for his work with Pink Floyd, where he played saxophone on several of their albums, including "The Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here" .

    He also worked with other musicians such as Elton John, Kate Bush, Supertramp and on several albums of Roger Waters, Gary Moore and Jethro Tull. He also played with Rory Gallagher in the album "Fresh Evidence" and on the tours of 1991 and 1992. He is considered one of the best saxophonist of UK and his style is heavily influenced by the blues and jazz.

  • Doris Troy
  • Leslie Duncan
  • Liza Strike
  • Barry St John
  • Clare Torry
Complete Track Listing of: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon DSOTM Japan + Obi
    Side One:
  1. Speak To Me
  2. Breathe
  3. On the Run
  4. Time
  5. The Great Gig in the Sky
    Side Two:
  1. Money
  2. US and Them
  3. Any Colour You Like
  4. Brain Damage
  5. Eclipse
Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon DSOTM Japan + Obi
Photo of Front Cover 

‘Album cover of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Japanese edition. Features a black background with a prism in the center, refracting a white beam of light into a rainbow. On the left, a white Japanese obi strip with bold kanji characters (狂気, meaning “Madness”) and a small image of the band members. The album details are in Japanese text on the obi strip, adding a unique cultural element to the iconic artwork.’

This album cover is the Japanese edition of Pink Floyd’s iconic The Dark Side of the Moon. The cover art features the instantly recognizable prism design by Hipgnosis and George Hardie. A beam of white light enters the prism, splitting into a spectrum of colors against a black background, symbolizing the album’s themes of light and darkness, life’s complexity, and emotional spectrum.

On the left side of the cover, a white obi strip in Japanese provides album details. Bold kanji characters appear, giving the title as 狂気 (which translates to ‘Madness’), the Japanese title for The Dark Side of the Moon. Below, in smaller text, it includes information about the album, the artists, and the label, as well as a small image of the band members. This specific cover design reflects the Japanese market’s unique packaging style, blending the album’s iconic visual with cultural elements specific to Japanese releases.

 

High Resolution Photo #2 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Japan  

Photo of Album's Cover  and one of the pages of the booklet
High Resolution Photo #3 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Japan  
Photo of Record Label 
‘Record label of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Japanese edition. Features an orange and red background with an EMI logo and catalog number EMS-80324 at the top. The label displays essential details, including “33⅓ r.p.m.” and the “JASRAC” logo. Credits for Roger Waters and Pink Floyd appear, along with copyright and licensing information. The label includes “A Harvest Recording” and the Harvest logo, and the edge text notes “Mfd. by TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. in Japan,” indicating Japanese manufacturing.’

This is the record label for the Japanese edition of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, released under the EMI label with the catalog number EMS-80324. The label design is predominantly orange and red, with a stylized “EMI” logo and “Stereo” printed at the top.

The label includes essential details such as ‘33⅓ r.p.m.’ and displays the “JASRAC” logo, indicating the Japanese rights management association. The text layout is clear and structured, with production credits attributed to Roger Waters and Pink Floyd, along with copyright and licensing information at the bottom. The phrase ‘A Harvest Recording’ and the circular “Harvest” logo are also printed, marking the association with EMI’s progressive rock-focused sub-label. The edge of the label has text in red, giving manufacturing details as ‘Mfd. by TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. in Japan,’ further emphasizing its Japanese origin.

 Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon (Index Page)

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon France 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD Dark Side of the Moon France album front cover

EMI 2C 068-05.249   , 1973 , Made in France

The French release LP of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' is unique for its distinct artwork featuring a prism and the inclusion of an additional track, "Eclipse." It had a significant impact on music culture, cementing Pink Floyd's reputation as an innovative and experimental band.

DSOTM French Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon First Release 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD Dark Side of the Moon First Release album front cover

EMI Harvest 1C 062-05 249 , 1973 , Made in Germany

This German 1st release LP of Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" is a significant piece of music history. The album's success in Germany helped solidify Pink Floyd's status as one of the most influential bands of all time.

DSOTM 1st German Release Details

PINK FLOYD - The Dark Side Of The Moon Quadraphonic 12" LP

EMI 1C 062-05 249 Q Quadrophonie , 1973 , Germany

The quadrophonic LP album of Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" was released in Germany in 1973, showcasing the potential for new listening experiences and Pink Floyd's experimentation with sound. Its unique mix and quadraphonic sound technology make it a valuable collector's item.

DSOTM Quadrophonic Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon White Vinyl 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon White Vinyl album front cover

EMI Harvest 1C 064-05 249 , 1977 , Germany

The white vinyl LP German release of "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd is a valuable and sought-after collector's item. The white vinyl LP added a unique aesthetic to the iconic album, and its rarity has made it a valuable addition to any Pink Floyd collection.

DSOTM White Vinyl LP Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon Italy 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon Italy album front cover

Harvest 3c 064-05249  , 1973 , Made in Italy

The Italian LP release of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973 featured a unique cover art, label design. The value of the Italian LP release varies depending on its condition and rarity. Mint condition copies can sell for several hundred dollars

DSOTM Italian Release Details

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Japan 12" LP

Thumbnail of Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Japan album front cover

Toshiba-EMI EMS-80324 , 1973 , Japan

The Japanese release of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on the Toshiba LP is a unique and significant release in the history of the album. It featured a different cover, gatefold sleeve, lyrics and liner notes in both Japanese and English, a unique poster, and superior sound quality.

DSOTM Japanese Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon MFSL Japan 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon MFSL Japan album front cover

MFSL 1-1017 , 1973 , Made in Japan

The MFSL Japan LP edition of "The Dark Side of the Moon" is highly valued by collectors and audiophiles. The LP was pressed on high-quality virgin vinyl and features a unique mastering process that enhances the sound quality of the original recording. The LP also comes with a custom-designed sleeve and a fold-out poster of the album's iconic cover art.

DSOTM Japanese MFSL Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon Swiss Limited Edition 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon Swiss Limited Edition album front cover

EMI F 667 332 , 1973 , Switzerland

The Swiss limited edition LP release of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is a unique version of the classic album, featuring a bonus track and special features. Its innovative production and timeless themes have made it a cultural phenomenon and classic work of art.

DSOTM Swiss Limited Edition Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon USA 12" LP

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD - Dark Side Of The Moon USA album front cover

Harvest SMAS-11163 The Gramophone Company Ltd , 1973 , USA

Pink Floyd's 1973 USA release of "Dark Side of the Moon" is an iconic album that has left an indelible mark on the history of music. The album has been recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time, selling over 15 million copies in the United States alone.

DSOTM USA Release Details

PINK FLOYD - Dark Side of the Moon MFSL GOLD Ultradisc II

Thumbnail of PINK FLOYD . Dark Side of the Moon MFSL GOLD Ultradisc II album front cover

UDCD 517 , - , USA

  This is the enhanced USA version of DSOTM, produced with the Ultradisc II process (not the Japanese Ultradisc). The MFSL GOLD Ultradisc II edition of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is a highly sought-after version among audiophiles and music enthusiasts. Its gold disc and Ultradisc II pressing process result in a clean and accurate sound reproduction.

DSOTM MFSL Gold Ultradisc Release Details
PINK FLOYD Main Index