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Tracklisting & More Information
01. Speak To Me
02. Breathe
03. On The Run
04. Time
05. The Great Gig In The Sky
06. Money
07. Us & Them
08. Any Colour You Like
09. Brain Damage
10. Eclipse
Background:
By some strange quirk at the manufacturing stages, the first white label promo sample copies were sent out with the cover misprinted to show the large prism image on the front instead of the back. This was not a simple assembly bungle, as the catalogue number sits in the top right corner of the back, meaning that these first copies were actually printed that way.
This only exists as a white label promo sample copy, as the error was quickly spotted and later promos and the retail release all have the sleeve printed correctly. This is one of those first copies, manufactured by Toshiba Musical Industries in April 1973.
The Package Itself:
There were a few differences between this release and the UK release that warrant a mention. The two posters are pretty much as you'd find them elsewhere & they both have the catalogue number [EOP-80778] printed in the border at bottom right.
The familiar stickers are replaced with an identical sized double sided postcard with the images printed on either side.
The sleeve is also different [apart from the reversed prism images] in that it is fully silk laminated. A softer, not quite so glossy laminate to those that you are probably used to. Like the UK issue, the left hand side is closed, so all the goodies fit into the right pocket.
Unique to the Japanese issues was a thirty two page illustrated booklet measuring 11½" x 8", with text in English & Japanese, featuring credits, biography information, discography & lyrics [again] in English & Japanese. A little more lush than the usual single page insert, I think you'll agree.
Condition:
The Booklet, Postcard & Posters remain in excellent condition with just a little wear evident at the edges of the booklet but no major creases, writing or pinholes. For forty year old paper goods, this is a rare thing indeed.
The Sleeve shows a little light shelfwear to the extent that it can be seen that it had once lived on a shelf. Apart from one small dent of less than one centimeter on the back which does not even break the laminate, there is just a small amount of wear evident upon very close inspection. Nothing at all to write home about and far less than you would expect for a comparable age item, even a Japanese one.
The labels are white with EMI/Odeon & Harvest logos, tracklisting info & promo sample characters. After forty years, they remain white. No stickers, stains, writing or other defects.
The vinyl remains in fantastic condition, with no more grooves than the two it was originally pressed with. It is not unplayed, as you can expect, but remains near 'as new' and has obviously been well looked after, played sparingly or with a system having the tracking weight of an anorexic mosquito.
A gem of a copy of one of the rarest Pink Floyd rarities in the world !
LP RECORD
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