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Data as of Jun 16, 2026
Pink Floyd – Atom Heart Mother
1970 · UK · Harvest · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
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Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Matrix / runout
- (SHVL.781A)(SHVL.781B)SHVL 781 A-1GSHVL 781 B-1GSHVL 781 A-1G 1 AASHVL 781 B-1G 1 RHSHVL 781 A-1G GG 1 2SHVL 781 B-1G RT 2SHVL 781 A-1G V 12SHVL 781 B-1G AP 2SHVL 781 A-1G RD 1 2SHVL 781 B-1G AG 2SHVL 781 A-1G AGSHVL 781 B-1G AGSHVL 781 A-1G RH 12SHVL 781 B-1G RA 2SHVL 781 A-1G GG 12SHVL 781 B-1G AD 2SHVL 781 A-1G MO 1SHVL 781 B-1G OT 2SHVL 781 A-1G PD 1SHVL 781 B-1G OP 2SHVL 781 A-1G J 1SHVL 781 B-1G GA 1SHVL 781 A-1G GD 1SHVL 781 B-1G GD 1
- Other
- 7010 TPS (Printer / date code)
- Record Company
- EMI
- Record Company
- E.M.I. Records
- Record Company
- The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
- Recorded At
- EMI Studios
- Pressed By
- The Gramophone Co. Ltd.
- Printed By
- Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.
- Made By
- Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.
Specifications
- Artist
- Pink Floyd
- Genre
- Rock
- Style
- Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock, Experimental
- Year
- 1970
- Label
- Harvest
- Catalog number
- SHVL 781
- Country
- UK
Tracklist
- Atom Heart Mother
- B1If
- B2Summer '68
- B3Fat Old Sun
- Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast
- Executive-Producer
- Norman Smith
- Producer
- Pink Floyd
- Engineer
- Alan Parsons
- Engineer
- Peter Bown
- Written-By
- David Gilmour
- Written-By
- Nick Mason
About this record
The A-1G and B-1G matrices stamped in the runout grooves identify this as Variant 1 of the first Harvest label pressing, pressed by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. and Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. in 1970. The 'Made in Gt.
Britain' text positioned at bottom center inside the ring, combined with the absence of a boxed EMI logo and the small ℗ symbol on side two, distinguishes this earliest stock from three subsequent variants that followed on the same label. Demand reflects the album's canonical status: 13567 collectors own a copy against 5373 who want one, yet the runout matrix codes remain the primary verification tool for separating first issues from later pressings.
What drives its value
Variant 1 of Atom Heart Mother commands attention because the matrix codes A-1G and B-1G appear only on this earliest pressing run. The publishing credit split—'World Copyrights' on tracks A, B1, and B2, with 'Lupus Music' sole credit on B3—is unique to Variant 1 and absent from Variant 2 (matrix 8926246), Variant 3 (matrix 8926432), and Variant 4 (matrix 13585432).
The small ℗ on side two label further separates Variant 1 from Variant 2, which carries a large ℗. The locked groove at the end of side B—where Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast's water faucet drip continues—is not present on all LP versions, making pressing-plant origin (Gramophone Co. or Garrod & Lofthouse) and matrix verification essential for collectors seeking the original 1970 UK Harvest release.
Community engagement is robust: 1139 ratings average 4.23, reflecting strong collector interest in the first-issue variant.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by checking the catalogue number SHVL 781 on the label and sleeve. Examine the runout groove on both sides: side A should read SHVL 781 A-1G and side B should read SHVL 781 B-1G.
Verify the label rim text reads 'The Gramophone Co., Ltd.' at the top and 'Unauthorised public performance, broadcasting, and copying of this record prohibited' at the bottom, with 'Made in Gt. Britain' on its own line at bottom center inside the ring.
Confirm the absence of a boxed EMI logo on the label. Check that the small ℗ symbol appears on side two.
Inspect the publishing credits printed on the label: tracks A, B1, and B2 should credit 'World Copyrights,' while B3 credits 'Lupus Music' alone. The sleeve should state 'Recorded at EMI Studios - Abbey Road' and list 'Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.' as printer (patent 943895).
Listen for the locked groove at the end of side B where the faucet drip from Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast continues uninterrupted.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Release notes
First issue, first label, variant 1.
Distinguishing features: A-1G / B-1G matrices in runouts. First label stock with 'Gramophone Co.' rim text, NO boxed EMI logo on labels, 'Made in Gt. Britain' at bottom center inside ring. Publishing credit to 'World Copyrights' on all tracks, except B3 to 'Lupus Music'. Small ℗ on side two label.
NOTE: Other variants on the first label stock: Variant 2 8926246 A1, B4 publishing credit is 'World Copyrights/Lupus Music'; B4 credit over two lines; large ℗ on side two. Variant 3 8926432 moves B4 'World Copyrights/Lupus Music' credit to one line; small ℗ on side two. Variant 4 13585432 B4 publishing on two lines like variant 2; small ℗ on side two; A-2G / B-2G matrices.
Labels: Rim text at top: The Gramophone Co., Ltd. All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Rim text at bottom: Unauthorised public performance, broadcasting, and copying of this record prohibited. 'Made in Gt. Britain' on its own line bottom center, inside ring. - - - Publishing info: A, B1, B2, B4: World Copyrights B3: Lupus Music - - - ℗ 1970
Sleeve: Recorded at EMI Studios - Abbey Road ℗ 1970 - - - E.M.I Records (The Gramophone Company Ltd) Hayes • Middlesex • England Harvest - regd. trademark of The Gramophone Co. Ltd. - A Company of The EMI Group Made and Printed in Great Britain - - - 7010 TPS Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. Patent No. 943,895 SHVL 781
Inner sleeve: Released with a Harvest Records inner sleeve.
Runout groove: The water faucet drip at the end of Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast continues into a locked groove at the end of side B. This is not present on all LP versions.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
How do I distinguish Variant 1 from the later Variant 2, 3, and 4 pressings?
Variant 1 is identified by the A-1G and B-1G matrices in the runout grooves. Variant 2 carries matrices 8926246 with A1 and B4 designations and features a large ℗ on side two, whereas Variant 1 has a small ℗. Variant 3 (matrix 8926432) moves the B4 publishing credit to one line and retains the small ℗. Variant 4 (matrix 13585432) shows A-2G and B-2G matrices with B4 publishing on two lines and a small ℗. The publishing credit split on B3 ('Lupus Music' alone in Variant 1) is also diagnostic.
What does the locked groove at the end of side B indicate?
The locked groove where Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast's water faucet drip continues into a repeating groove is a pressing-plant feature not present on all LP versions. Its presence confirms you have an original 1970 pressing rather than a later reissue. This detail is particularly useful when combined with matrix verification (A-1G and B-1G) to confirm Variant 1 status.
Why does the publishing credit vary between tracks on this pressing?
Variant 1 credits 'World Copyrights' on tracks A, B1, and B2, but assigns 'Lupus Music' sole credit to B3. This split reflects the original composition and publishing rights as they existed in 1970. Variant 2 onwards consolidate B4 to 'World Copyrights/Lupus Music,' indicating a later administrative decision. The presence of the split credit on Variant 1 is a reliable marker of first-issue status.
What pressing plants manufactured this Variant 1 release?
Two pressing plants are credited on Variant 1: The Gramophone Co. Ltd. and Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. (patent 943895). The sleeve notes '7010 TPS Printed and made by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.' Both plants produced copies of this variant during the initial 1970 pressing run, so either plant attribution is consistent with Variant 1 authenticity.
How many collectors actively seek this specific variant?
Within the broader Atom Heart Mother community, 5373 collectors indicate they want the album, while 13567 already own a copy. The 1139 ratings averaging 4.23 reflect strong engagement with the title overall. Variant 1 status (confirmed by A-1G and B-1G matrices) commands particular attention among serious collectors because it represents the first pressing and carries the unique publishing credit split and small ℗ symbol.