No Australian LP is perhaps more misunderstood internationally than The Essential Beatles. This February 1972 budget compilation (a bargain at just $3.99!) brought together sixteen tracks that had all, with the exception of 'With A Little Help From My Friends', reached at least the top 3 in Sydney (13, including 'Honey Don't', reached number 1). It was a loose attempt at celebrating The Beatles 10th Anniversary.
The Essential Beatles is an Australian compilation that withstood the onslaught of overseas "greatest hits" packages, remaining in print on and off well into the 1980s. It was included in the World Record Club Superstars of the '70s boxset (SSB 1-6), released in August 1980 and was coupled in December 1982 with Barry Miles' book The Beatles In Their Own Words (London: Omnibus Press, 1978) and reissued as The Beatles Sight & Sound box set (click on the "Sight & Sound" icon above for more information).
It was also marketed in New Zealand through joint agreement between EMI (NZ) Ltd and Music For Leisure Ltd (not to be confused with Music For Pleasure!). For the NZ market, copies were pressed at both EMI and Phonogram using mothers sourced from Australia.
Upon initial release it was heavily marketed through radio and TV. Indeed, it was catalogued as part of EMI (Australia)'s 'TV' promotion series. Please visit the "Promotion" page for more information.
The album spent 14 weeks on the charts, reaching #10.
Individual chart performance (Sydney):
1. Love Me Do - #1
2. Boys - #1 (EP - Requests)
3. Long Tall Sally - #1 (EP - Requests)
4. Honey Don't - #1
5. P.S. I Love You - #1 (EP - All My Loving)
6. Baby You're A Rich Man - #1
7. All My Loving - #1 (EP - All My Loving)
8. Yesterday - #3
9. Penny Lane - #1
1. Magical Mystery Tour - #2
2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - #1
3. With A Little Help From My Friends - N/A
4. All You Need Is Love - #1
5. Something - #1
6. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - #1
7. Let It Be - #1
EVOLUTION OF THE ALBUM
The Essential Beatles had an interesting development history. Please visit the "Production Master Tape" page for more information.
Apple TVSS8
| RELEASE DATE | SIDE 1 MATRIX | SIDE 2 MATRIX | PARTS |
| 2 Feb 1972 | YAPAX1071-3 | YAPAX 1072.2 cp | AU |
| 2 Feb 1972 | YAPAX1071-3B | YAPAX 1072.2 cp | AU |
| 2 Feb 1972 | YAPAX1071-3B | YAPAX 1072-2B | AU |
| 2 Feb 1972 | YAPAX1071-3 | YAPAX 1072-2C | AU |
| 2 Feb 1972 | YAPAX1071-3B | YAPAX 1072-2C | AU |
| Aug 1979 | YAPAX1071-3B | YAPAX 1072-3 TVSS 8 | AU |
| ~1982 | YAPAX 1071-3C | YAPAX 1072-3 TVSS 8 | AU |
| It appears that a few lacquers were cut for initial pressing - see "Production Master Tape" page for more information | |||
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
| ORIGIN | CODE | CIRCULATED | SLEEVE DETAILS |
| AUST | A1 | Feb 1972 | |
AUTVSS8S1
2 Feb 1972
AUTVSS8S2
Apr 1982