OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA / WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
Apple A-8693

Released: 20 February 1969
APPLE
AU8693apple.a / A-8693 / Apple / variation a
AU8693apple.a

Music publ. royalty stamps
AU8693apple.b / A-8693 / Apple / variation b
AU8693apple.b

Different font/style for non-templated elements
AU8693apple.c / A-8693 / Apple / variation c
AU8693apple.c

Different font/style for non-templated elements
Side 2 title over two lines
Australia was one of the very few countries that released this coupling with the true mono mixes. However, as the single was cut "on the fly" from the mono The Beatles LP, the fade out on 'While My Guitar Gentry Weeps' was cut by a few seconds. This was also a common tactic used to 'hide' vinyl floor noise; if one listens closely (with headphones!) to many Australian Beatles singles they'll hear the slightly trimmed endings.

After their contracts with Northern Songs expired in March 1968, new George Harrison and Richard Starkey-penned titles were published in Australia by Apple Corps Pty Ltd, on behalf of their respective UK publishing companies Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd. Commencing November 1968, Apple Corps was administered here by Essex Music of Australia.

The single remained available until the late 1980s.
SILVER/BLACK - STYLE 'C'
AUAB3425A8693 / 20th Anniversary Singles Boxset (AB34) / A8693
AUAB3425A8693

First appeared in Oct 1982 with the release of the Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection

Visit the "AB34" page for more information or to see an image of the picture sleeve
CHART PERFORMANCE

BRISBANE
(QLD)

SYDNEY
(NSW)

MELBOURNE
(VIC)

HOBART
(TAS)

ADELAIDE

(SA)

PERTH

(WA)

GO-SET

(AUS)

Chart Entry

01-Mar-69

07-Feb-69**

01-Mar-69*

22-Jan-69*

18-Jan-69**

21-Feb-69*

05-Mar-69

Highest Position

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

Weeks In

11

24

20

20

19

12

19

With The Beatles and EMI UK choosing not to issue a single from The Beatles LP, other artists stepped in for their own hopes of a hit. In the UK, The Marmalade, The Bedrocks and The Chris Shakespeare Globe Show released recordings of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da in late 1968, while in the US, Arthur Conley did the same.

These singles were also released in Australia, with each having variable levels of success, perhaps prompting EMI (Australia) to unilaterally release the original Beatles' version. Once released, The Beatles' version either 'replaced' the cover versions in the charts, or were 'bracketed' with those other artists. In essence, this makes the chart entry dates rather meaningless in this instance, as most refer to one or more of the earlier singles before The Beatles 'took over'.
Listed as "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps" except * "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
** Bracketed with The Marmalade
Bracketed with The Marmalade/Arthur Conley/The Bedrocks/Chris Shakespeare [Globe Show]
AU8693apple.d / A-8693 / Apple / variation d
AU8693apple.d

Different font/style for non-templated elements (same typeface for some elements but with different weight)
'S T E R E O' at left of spindle hole
Production credit on side 2 label not split across apple core