Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Germany 1st Issue/Release

    This is a genuine 1st Issue/release of the Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (DSOTM). The facts that this is a first issue are:

    Album back cover: upper right corner: catalogno 1C 062-05 249 D

  Record label: catalog no in the upper right half

 

High Resolution Photo #1 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Germany

Pink Floyd Collector's Info:

Pink Floyd was formed in London in 1965 and quickly gained popularity in the underground music scene. Their music was experimental and pushed the boundaries of what was considered rock music at the time. The band's popularity grew in the 1970s with the release of several critically acclaimed albums, including "The Dark Side of the Moon."

"The Dark Side of the Moon" was recorded between 1972 and 1973 at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was produced by the band's longtime collaborator, Alan Parsons. The album's themes revolve around human nature, greed, and the human experience. It features iconic tracks such as "Money," "Time," and "Us and Them," which have become some of the most recognizable songs in the history of rock music.

The German 1st Release LP:

The German 1st release LP of "The Dark Side of the Moon" was released on 1st March 1973, the same day as the UK release. The album was released by Harvest Records, a subsidiary of EMI, in Germany. The album's cover art was the same as the UK release, featuring the iconic prism and rainbow design created by Storm Thorgerson and Hipgnosis.

The German 1st release LP was pressed on high-quality vinyl and featured a gatefold sleeve. The gatefold sleeve included the lyrics to all the songs on the album, which was a rare feature at the time. The sleeve also included artwork by George Hardie, who created the famous "pyramid" image that has become synonymous with the album.

The album was released in both stereo and quadrophonic formats in Germany. The quadrophonic format was a relatively new technology at the time, and Pink Floyd was one of the first bands to release an album in this format. The quadrophonic format allowed for four-channel sound, which created a more immersive listening experience for the listener.

"The Dark Side of the Moon" was a commercial and critical success when it was released in Germany. The album reached number 2 on the German charts and remained in the charts for over a year. The album's success in Germany helped cement Pink Floyd's status as one of the biggest bands in the world.

Listen to Track "Time":

Music Genre:

Progressive, Psychedelic Acid Rock
Album Cover Design Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design
Album Production Information: 

Produced by Pink Floyd.

Recorded Abbey Road Studios London.

Engineer: Alan Parsons, Peter Jones.

  • Alan Parsons – Sound engineer, producer, musician

    Alan Parsons is my go-to “how does this record sound THAT good?” answer: the studio brain behind classic-era clarity, from Pink Floyd sessions to The Alan Parsons Project’s glossy sci-fi pop-rock.

    Alan Parsons is the guy I picture behind the glass when a record sounds ridiculously clean, wide, and expensive (in the best way). His first big “period” is the Abbey Road years, working as a tape operator and engineer across the late 1960s into the mid-1970s, right in the era when studios were basically science labs with guitars. In 1973 he engineered Pink Floyd’s "The Dark Side of the Moon", and that alone would’ve earned him a lifetime pass to the control room. Then he moved from “genius in the booth” to “name on the cover” as co-founder of The Alan Parsons Project, active from 1975 to 1990, where he blended pristine production with big melodies and concept-album vibes. From the 1990s onward he’s kept the music alive on stage with touring lineups commonly billed as The Alan Parsons Live Project, proving he’s not just a behind-the-scenes wizard but a musician who can carry the material in the real world too.

    Alan Parsons Wiki
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    Sleeve design: Hipgnosis, George Hardie.

    All lyrics by Roger Waters

  • Hipgnosis – British album cover art design group

    Hipgnosis is my favorite proof that a record sleeve can be a full-on mind game, not just a band photo with better lighting.

    Hipgnosis is the legendary London-based art design group that turned rock sleeves into visual myths. The core duo, Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey "Po" Powell, were childhood friends of the Pink Floyd inner circle in Cambridge—a connection that allowed them to bypass the stiff mandates of EMI’s in-house design department in 1968. Their debut, "A Saucerful of Secrets," was only the second time in EMI history (after The Beatles) that an outside firm was granted creative control. The very name "Hipgnosis" was a piece of found art; Syd Barrett, during one of his more enigmatic phases, scrawled the word in ballpoint pen on the door of the South Kensington flat he shared with the duo. Thorgerson loved the linguistic friction of it: the "Hip" for the new and groovy, and "Gnosis" for the ancient, hidden knowledge. While Peter Christopherson later joined as a third partner in 1974, that initial Barrett-endorsed moniker defined a decade of surrealist mastery for bands like Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and 10cc, before the group dissolved in 1983.

    Hipgnosis Gallery

    		•

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    EMI Harvest 1C 062-05 249
    Media Format: 12" Vinyl LP Record 150 grams vinyl

    Year and Country:

    1973 Made in Germany
    Band Members and Musicians on: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Germany 1st Issue/Release
      Pink Floyd Band: members/musicians
    • Roger Waters - bass, vocals
    • Roger Waters – Bass, vocals, songwriter

      Roger Waters is the guy I blame (politely) when a Pink Floyd song stops being “spacey vibes” and starts staring straight through you with lyrics that feel like a courtroom cross-examination.

      Roger Waters is, to my ears, Pink Floyd’s razor-edged storyteller: bassist, singer, and the main lyric engine who pushed the band from psychedelic drift into big, human-scale themes. His key band period is Pink Floyd (1965–1985), where he became the dominant writer through the 1970s and early 1980s, before leaving and launching a long solo career (1984–present). After years of public tension, he briefly reunited with Pink Floyd for a one-off performance at Live 8 in London on 2 July 2005—basically the musical equivalent of spotting a comet: rare, bright, and gone again. Since the late 1990s he’s toured extensively under his own name, staging huge concept-driven shows that revisit Floyd classics like "The Dark Side of the Moon" (notably on the 2006–2008 tour) and "The Wall" (2010–2013), because apparently subtlety is not the point when you’ve got something to say.

      Roger Waters Wiki
    • Nick Mason - percusssion
    • Nick Mason – Drums, percussion

      Nick Mason is the steady heartbeat I always come back to in Pink Floyd: the only constant member since the band formed in 1965, quietly holding the whole weird universe together while the rest of the planet argues about everything else.

      Nick Mason is Pink Floyd’s drummer, co-founder, and the one guy who never clocked out: his main performing period with Pink Floyd runs from 1965 to the present, and he’s the only member to appear across every Pink Floyd album. Outside the mothership, he’s had a very “I’m not done yet” second act: in 2018 he formed Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets (2018–present) to bring the band’s early psychedelic years back to the stage. He’s also stepped out under his own name with projects like the solo album "Nick Mason’s Fictitious Sports" (released 1981), which is basically him taking a left turn into jazz-rock just to prove he can. And yes, he was part of that blink-and-you-miss-it full-band moment at Live 8 in London in 2005, when the classic lineup briefly reunited and reminded everyone why this band still haunts people.

      Nick Mason Wiki
    • Dave Gilmour - Guitar, vocals
    • David Gilmour – Guitar, vocals

      David Gilmour is the voice-and-fingers combo I hear whenever Pink Floyd turns from “spacey” into straight-up cinematic: he joined in 1967 and basically helped define what “guitar tone with emotions” even means.

      David Gilmour is, for me, the calm center of Pink Floyd’s storm: an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose playing can feel gentle and devastating in the same bar. His earliest band period worth name-dropping is Jokers Wild (1964–1967), before he stepped into Pink Floyd in 1967 as Syd Barrett’s situation unraveled. From there his main performing era is Pink Floyd (1967–1995), including the post-Roger Waters years where the band continued under his leadership and released "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" (1987) and "The Division Bell" (1994), with a later studio coda in "The Endless River" (2014). Outside Floyd, he’s had a long solo run (1978–present) with albums ranging from "David Gilmour" (1978) to "Luck and Strange" (2024), and he even did a sharp side-quest in 1985 with Pete Townshend’s short-lived supergroup Deep End. And for one historic night, the classic lineup reunited at Live 8 in Hyde Park, London on 2 July 2005—one of those “you had to be there (or at least press play)” moments.

      David Gilmour Wiki
    • Richard Wright - keyboards, vocals
    • Richard Wright – Keyboards, vocals

      Richard Wright is the secret atmosphere machine in Pink Floyd: the guy who can make one chord feel like a whole weather system, and then casually add a vocal harmony that makes it hit even harder.

      Richard Wright (born Richard William Wright) is, for me, the understated genius of Pink Floyd: co-founder, keyboardist, and occasional lead vocalist whose textures are basically baked into the band’s DNA. His main performing period with Pink Floyd runs from 1965 to 1981 (including the early albums through the massive arena years), then he returned as a full member again from 1987 to 1994 for the later era tours and albums. In between those chapters, he didn’t just vanish into a fog machine: he released a solo album, "Wet Dream" (1978), and later "Broken China" (1996), and he also had a proper side-project moment with Zee (1983–1984), which produced the album "Identity" (1984). He passed away in 2008, but his playing still feels like the part of Pink Floyd that makes the air shimmer.

      Richard Wright Wiki
    • Guest performers:
    • Dick Parry
    • Dick Parry – Saxophone, session musician

      Dick Parry is the reason “Money” and “Us and Them” don’t just groove… they glow. He’s that classy, human burst of sax that turns Pink Floyd’s big cosmic machine into something that breathes.

      Dick Parry (real name: Richard Parry) is an English saxophonist and lifelong “secret weapon” in the Pink Floyd universe. His main performing timeline starts with his early career in the Cambridge scene (he began with The Soul Committee in the mid-1960s), and then the famous chapter: Pink Floyd brought him in for landmark studio moments, including the sax parts on "Money" and "Us and Them" on "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973), plus "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" on "Wish You Were Here" (1975). Live-wise, he wasn’t a one-night cameo either: he played in Pink Floyd’s live shows between 1973 and 1977, returned for the 1994 world tour, and even added keyboards on parts of the 1977 "In the Flesh" tour. Outside Floyd-land, he also toured as part of The Who’s brass section on their 1979–1980 tours, because apparently he collects legendary bands the way I collect pressings.

      Dick Parry Wiki
    • Doris Troy
    • Leslie Duncan
    • Liza Strike
    • Barry St John
    • Clare Torry
    Complete Track Listing of: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Germany 1st Issue/Release
      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 Germany 1st Issue/Release
    Photo of Front Cover 
    High Resolution Photo #1 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Germany  
    Photo of Album's Back Cover  
    High Resolution Photo #2 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Germany  
    Photo of DSOTM inner gatefold Cover  
    High Resolution Photo #3 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Germany  
    Photo of DSOTM inner gatefold Cover  
    High Resolution Photo #4 PINK FLOYD Dark Side Moon Germany  
    Photo of Record Label 

    This record label is from the German pressing of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, released by EMI on the Harvest label. The design features a minimalist style with a black background and a faint blue triangle, symbolizing the album’s iconic prism imagery. The Harvest logo appears in the top right, and the catalog number is displayed on the upper right as “1C 062-05 249,” indicating a German EMI release.

    Details on the label include:

    Band Name: “Pink Floyd” is prominently displayed in uppercase at the center.

    Album Title: “The Dark Side of the Moon” appears below the band name, with track titles for Side A listed.

    Track Information: The tracks for Side A are listed along with the songwriters’ names and timings, including credits to members like Mason, Waters, Gilmour, and Wright.

    Rights and Usage Notices: Text around the outer rim in German specifies copyright information, prohibiting unauthorized public use and rental.

    Additional Details:

    The EMI and GEMA logos are included, marking rights management and the record label’s association.

    “Made in Germany” is printed at the bottom, emphasizing its German origin.

    Production credits are noted at the bottom, with lyrics by Roger Waters, music by Pink Floyd, and the production attributed to Pink Floyd.

    This label is distinctive of the Dark Side of the Moon German release, aligning with the visual and minimalist aesthetics associated with Pink Floyd’s work during this era.
    ‘Record label of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, German pressing by EMI on Harvest label, catalog number 1C 062-05 249. Black label with a blue triangle prism design, featuring track listings for Side A and credits to Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. Includes “GEMA” and “ST 33” logos, with text “Made in Germany” at the bottom.’
    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