Gatefold: Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London between June 1972 and January 1973. ℗ 1973 E.M.I Records (The Gramophone Company Ltd) Hayes · Middlesex · England Made and Printed in Great Britain File under POPULAR : Pop Groups
Labels: ℗ 1973 The Gramophone Company Limited Made in Gt. Britain
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This is the original form of the release, it has solid light blue prism LP picture labels with silver lettering, later forms have an empty prism. It has a gatefold sleeve, and there are several known variations - see below. Originally delivered with 2 posters and 2 stickers.
There are 2 systems for track numbering on the release. The cover lists the titles A1 to B5 (used in this submission). The labels however number the tracks from (a) to (i) so, for example, "Breathe" is listed as "(a)(II)" on the label but "2" on the cover (see images).
The following is a guide to identifying the elements that make up the first pressing, but for a more comprehensive guide it is best to refer to the Pink Floyd Archives website
Huge numbers were pressed to meet advance orders and there are 88 documented runout variations. There are several variations of sleeves, posters and stickers, and as these were produced by different companies and delivered to the pressing plant at different times there are several combinations.
1. The label has a solid light blue prism. Subsequent pressings have a blue glowing inner edge prism with the centre black. 2. 'The Gramophone Co.' text starts at 10 o'clock on label. 3. A-2/B-2 matrix stamps appear in the runout area. 4. There is 1 ink variation used for printing sleeve blue/black. 5. There are 3 sleeve opening variations. 1. The right front opening of the gatefold cover is sealed with the two sides glued together. 2. The right front opening of the gatefold cover is sealed with a fold-over flap that is glued inside the opening. 3. The right front opening of the gatefold cover is not sealed. 6. Inner sleeve is a distinctive polythene lined die cut black semi-matte paper with white printed text stating 2 patent numbers bottom left [1125555/1072844] and 'MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN' bottom right. 7. Posters and stickers were printed on either matte or gloss paper. 8. Stickers may have printed backs with diagonal lines across them, and the words 'Fasson', 'FasPrint' and 'Crack-Back', or plain white backs with the word "Permanent". 9. Some copies came with a small round sticker on the front cover stating "Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon" (confirmed for stampers GL/MO). Early cover stickers are a lighter, faded grey-purple/blueish colour and measure ~67mm diameter, later cover stickers are a darker black and measure ~62mm diameter. 10. Some early copies have a manufacturing defect on the track Money, where the song skips. This only appears to affect some records made with A2/B2 stampers.
This first edition was initially pressed by The Gramophone Co. Ltd., from July 1st, 1973 by its legal successor, EMI Records at the same plant. International E.M.I. catalog number 1E 064 o 05249 appears in small font and parentheses on the cover rear.
Note on credits: Though credited for the entire album, Barry St John, Doris Troy, Leslie Duncan, and Liza Strike perform backing vocals only on tracks A4, B2, B4, and B5.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Other (Printer date/format code, gatefold inner): Ⓛ 7303 TPS
Other (Patent numbers on inner sleeve): 1125555 1072844
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): SHVL 804A
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): SHVL 804B
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped, variant 1): SHVL 804 A-2 G 1
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped, variant 1): SHVL 804 B-2 G 1
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped, variant 2): SHVL 804 A-2 ML 2
Purchased a 2024 remastered version from HMV in May this year, and gave it a spin today. What a disappointment! What was this LP remastered from? An AM radio? Awful pressing. Dull, muffled and distorted sound.
According to Pink Floyd Archives website A/3 A/2 matrixes were part of the first run with solid prism. I can't see this matrix listed here. My A/3 B/2 and A/3 B/3 which both have their original blue tint sleeves and these have a black and white sticker and not the lighter sticker. My 5th issue which has a much thinner sleeve and no blue tint has the lighter sticker. I think the info here re this is incorrect.
THE REAL PRESSING FROM 1988 HAS A STICKER ON THE FRONT OF COVER THAT READS: limited tour edition PINK VINYL THE FAKE UNOFFICIAL ONE HAS NO STICKER! IT IS PRINTED ON FRONT OF COVER! AND IT READS TOTALLY DIFFERENT!
I hope there is someone who can clear my doubts. my DSOTM triangle solid blue 1st UK has in matrix/runout written side a: SHVL 804 - A; in side b: SHVL 804 - B without other numbers or letters. Someone told me that this copy was made for the foreign market, called "contract press" perhaps for Denmark, is it true? if it is true can I continue or not to consider my album a first English pressing? In discogs my press is there, the first in the list. Hepl me please.
This is the most wanted record on Discogs, It has over a million wants which is a record for Discogs (no pun intended) if you look on the artists page and scroll down to the albums master release of course. Nonetheless this is probably the most iconic album of all time.
There seem to have been a lot of fairly suspicious sales of this record in the last few weeks (April 2023) - all VG+ to M for £50 to £100... Bootlegs? Or fake sales to lower the median price (fo whatever reason - can't really see one)?