Identifying First Press Pink Floyd Vinyl Records: A Guide
Cracking open the world of Pink Floyd vinyl records? Here's a guide filled with juicy insights into identifying those all-essential first presses!
Start with 'The Dark Side of the Moon,' where UK first pressings are king. The label's center sporting a solid cobalt prism—spot it on both sides—sets you up for success. Don't forget those sweet extras like stickers and posters, typically hitching a ride on rare, quality copies.
Next, delve into 'Wish You Were Here.' The inner sleeve is your top tip: look for one cut diagonally on three or all four corners. First press matrices could carry the mystical 'HTM' etching, with 'A-1 B-3' or matrix variants up to 'B-7' also joining the first-press club. A kingly vintage Black shrink-wrap with the famous diving man postcard guarantees an even higher collectible value.
Moving on to 'Animals,' a first press isn’t too tricky to spot, as it never saw the light again until its 1997 remaster. The main identification feature? Lack of a barcode on the back sleeve. The pressing rings on the label deserve a closer look, too.
'The Wall' won't elude you either, as first pressings lack the characteristic band members listing and "Written by Roger Waters" text inside the right side gatefold.
'Atom Heart Mother' and 'Meddle' follow, featuring minor changes in label details due to evolving label requirements. 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' boasts over ten different first press variants, each distinguished by minor alterations in label text and layout.
'The Final Cut' is straightforward, with barcodes absent on the first pressure. 'A Saucerful of Secrets' swings back to complexity, sporting both stereo and mono pressings with the characteristic blue Columbia logo as a unifying feature.
Tying up the collection, 'Obscured by Clouds' won't trip you up. The clearly marked 'SHSP 4020 A-1 / SHSP 4020 B-1' matrix on the first press quickly gives you the heads up on what you've snagged.
For the vinyl connoisseur, noteworthy enrichments:
- 'HTM' on Pink Floyd records is short for "His Master's Voice," an iconic record label and trademark connected to EMI. Early UK pressings of Pink Floyd records often showcase this abbreviation as a mark of originality and authenticity.
- Collectors value early pressings for their ties to Pink Floyd's history and association with EMI, making them desired pieces in any vinyl collection.
Enjoy the captivating music on 'The Dark Side of the Moon', and while you're at it, be on the lookout for the unique cobalt prism in the label's center, a symbol of the sought-after first pressings.
When you venture into 'Wish You Were Here', the intricate, diagonal cut on the inner sleeve's corners can serve as a guide for identifying those rare, precious first pressings.
