Which Pink Floyd DSOTM on Vinyl?

msg

Anyone pick up a copy of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon in recent years? I was on Discogs looking for a copy. Sheesh, so many different versions - 816 different versions, according to Discogs. That thing's been reissued and remastered I'm not sure how many times.

I'm looking for a single-record version, not double record editions.
Mixed reviews on the latest issue, which was remastered. Some rumor that it was pressed from a digital remaster, and some comments of quality control. Not looking for a crap pressing either.

Anyone got any info on a good release to look for?

pitdogg2

Is the Mobile fidelity in there? IIRC those were pretty good.

msg

Thanks Ivan, I'll have a look. Are you talking about the older pressing MOFI?
I think there was a 30th anniversary pressing of that one that's supposed to be good, too.

I found a site for vinyl reviews.
https://vinylreviews.com/

Discogs has some comments from people at the bottom of the release pages. That's how I was warned off the latest pressing. It was 50/50 "sounds great" / "this is awful".

msg

I just remembered @tratliff Todd posted up about his when he finally found it.
https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/189904/dark-side-of-the-moon
That one's the MOFI pressing too, Ivan, yeah.

I'll review that thread.

aprazer402

IMO you can go beserk searching for a best version. Read the reviews, be ready to pay well for a top rated one. I think I have about four versions on vinyl, two of the Harvest SMAS-11163, 1973 US. I played it so much when it came out, it's gotten kind of old, not worn (I always copied new albums to cassette and played those over and over, rather than wear out the record and cartridges). I do have the SA-CD of it that I play when someone really needs to hear it. I wish I had bought a Mofi version. I like I Wish You Were Hear just as well and it gets more play. Sorry I wasn't much help! I don't get engrossed in run out matrixes... Life's too short!

EDIT: I even had the DSOTM green pyramid poster taped on the wall.

msg

I'll give the 2016 PFRLP8 version a shot per a review I read over on vinylreviews.

My vinyl setup isn't highly resolving and needs a bit of work, but hopefully this is a decent and clean pressing without the problems common to new record pressings. It's possible/probably that this was pressed from a digital remaster, so probably not anything special. This'll be more just for the vinyl ritual.

https://www.discogs.com/Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon/release/12214436

msg

aprazer402 wrote: »

IMO you can go beserk searching for a best version. Read the reviews, be ready to pay well for a top rated one. I think I have about four versions on vinyl, two of the Harvest SMAS-11163, 1973 US. I played it so much when it came out, it's gotten kind of old. I do have the SA-CD of it that I play when someone really needs to hear it. I wish I had bought a Mofi version. I like I Wish You Were Hear just as well and it gets more play. Sorry I wasn't much help! I don't get engrossed in run out matrixes... Life's too short!

Ah, just missed you. Great info, thanks. I'll have a look at those you listed. That MOFI version is going for $$$ these days. $250 and up. I saw a couple for over $700.

I usually prefer to buy earlier original pressings when I can, but I don't think anything else I have has had so any versions.

tratliff

@msg just replied to your PM.

Yes, I picked up the MOFI early this year. I really like it as I do all the original MOFI's that I have. With the majority of them being sealed when purchased them over the last few years.

Mike Reeter

The 2016 Bernie Grundman Mastered Reissue is not a bad copy by any means. It sounds very good actually.

msg

Great, thanks Mike! I'll let you guys know how it turns out. I only have the CD to compare against, but I'll be happy if it's clean, flat, centered, and not awful.

Do I need a black light?

I do need to find a cool little turntable lamp...

msg

There's also the Peruvian version, El Lado Oscuro De La Luna.

tratliff

msg wrote: »

Do I need a black light?

I do need to find a cool little turntable lamp...

Yes, and some Lava Lamps. I don't have a black light but I do have 4 Lava Lamps in my listening room. And quite a few Pink Floyd pictures. I'll take some pictures later and post.

msg

I need more Lava Lamps. I have Lava Lamp envy.

I'm gonna need to find a poster like Tim has, too. Maybe even some felt ones. Hopefully some that haven't been felt too much.

tratliff

Here is a picture of some of my Pink Floyd garb along with my Beatles Lava Lamps.

ken brydson

Not sure that black lights would be a good idea in some of your rooms. Just saying...

Viking64

tratliff wrote: »

Here is a picture of some of my Pink Floyd garb.

I don't see any garb.

msg

I like that graphic with the body paint. I've seen that before but not as a print.

Great lava lamp collection. I have a blue one from the 90s. I need more colors. Maybe orange/red/yellow for some warmth!

msg

I always have to skip Time, by the way. Too... alarming.

In fact, I'm going to try to find a way to tape a ramp onto the record over that track with a little groove in it that will gently take the tonearm past it and gently onto Great Gig.

First time I heard DSOTM was on a cold winter night when I was in high school. I had my windows open and happened to start it when the sun was setting. I'd swiped the thrift-store copy of the record from my little brother, which was a change, because he was always taking my tapes and records. I listened to the whole album, which was rare back then because we always just sort of skipped around to our favorite tracks. Great Gig In The Sky was one of the standouts for me, but the whole album, except for Time, was a great experience. That's what I like about this album - it's an experience. It was dark and chill by the time I finished listening to it, and everything was good.

tratliff

msg wrote: »

I like that graphic with the body paint. I've seen that before but not as a print.

That is a puzzle.

msg

What?! Ah, no way, cool.
Looks like a good one to do with the in-laws.

F1nut

The 2016 PFRLP8 version is pretty good. I also like the EMS-80324 from Japan.

Mike Reeter

A Fathers Day gift from my son



Note the label



A 1975 Capital copy is as close to the original that I've got.



Pretty much sums it up.

tratliff

That’s cool Mike.

msg

woh, how did he cut it out like that?

Interesting on the quadraphonic. I was looking at a Doors album earlier that's available in quadraphonic. What happens with that on 2 speaker systems?

jdjohn

Following this as my used eBay is an Israeli pressing of all things.

Mike Reeter

msg wrote: »

woh, how did he cut it out like that?

Interesting on the quadraphonic. I was looking at a Doors album earlier that's available in quadraphonic. What happens with that on 2 speaker systems?

He purchased it from a vender in Europe I believe, it's cut with a Laser.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=laser+cut+record+albums&_sacat=0

I've never had the privilege of hearing a Quad Version, but I do know they are quite collectable.

SIHAB

I HAD the original US and the MOFI when it came out the MOFI is
nice.

My quad vinyl gives me more depth and separation of the instruments.
Plus it just sounds different on most titles so that is fun.

msg

What's it like playing quad on 2ch? I don't have any quad records, but do have an old Sansui Quad receiver not currently hooked up.

gudnoyez

This Japanese pressing that I was able to find while living in Germany is the best sounding vinyl copy of DSOTM I've ever heard and I own a few.
Love the english and Japanese lyrics contained in the booklet.

gudnoyez

6v7qya9b.jpg



Came with a 32 page booklet and different posters than any of the other ones I own this is a keeper and bests the SACDs I own.

msg

Very cool, Steve.
That's from back in your service days? That thing looks to be in amazing condition.