Having debunked the common belief that Australian vinyl, by simple virtue of not being UK vinyl, must therefore be "rubbish", what, then, are the Australian records that collectors should be directing their attention (and wallets) toward?
The Webmaster has spent significant time comparing the myriad pressings of Australian Beatles vinyl against international releases as well as discussing the releases with other collectors from all over the world. As a result, a list of Australian Beatles vinyl considered by the majority to represent the ultimate listening experience has been compiled and is listed below. While the list focuses on vinyl with the best sound quality, it does list a few "curios" that may be of interest to collectors.
LPs
Please Please Me (mono). First pressings with the gold/black label have slightly heavier vinyl. These pressings are preferred, mainly because of the unique and rarer label style; however, copies can be very expensive. Copies with the more common yellow/black label are sufficient and much cheaper. The only downside to this album is the poor quality sleeve, which was not laminated and thus easily damaged by the heavy vinyl contents. All mono copies were pressed from 1N masters (UK mothers).
With The Beatles (mono). Again, for uniqueness and rarity, copies with the original gold/black label are preferred, but also very expensive. Copies with the later yellow/black label are sufficient and much cheaper. A unique local-designed sleeve adds to the appeal and, being laminated, withstands damage better than the Please Please Me sleeve. All mono copies were pressed from 1N masters (UK mothers), which had been withdrawn in the UK within one week of release due to excessive jumping (more an issue in the 1960s than with more modern playback systems).
The stereo versions of Please Please Me and With The Beatles may well be equally as favourable, but as the Webmaster has yet to hear from impartial sources about how they compare to the equivalent UK releases, they cannot be objectively recommended.
Rubber Soul (mono). In the UK the first mono mothers used to press Rubber Soul were quickly retired when it was discovered that the pressings suffered from a tonal imbalance. This makes the UK release, known rightly or wrongly as the "loud cut" (it's really more compressed than loud), very rare and quite expensive. But for those wanting to hear what all the fuss was about without spending a fortune, there is an alternative. As EMI UK had sent mothers to Australia prior to replacing them, EMI (Australia) also released the "loud cut" version… and it was this version that remained in production until the mono catalogue was deleted in June 1969.
Greatest Hits Volume 1 (stereo). This album is one of only a few worldwide to contain the 1965 stereo mix of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'. Only copies appearing on the 1980s black label are recommended, as they carry Alan Parson's superior 1982 -2/-2 recut. These copies are not as common as orange label copies, but given their sonic improvement are worth seeking out and can be found quite cheap even in near-mint (NM) condition. The mono release is not recommended as it is merely a folddown of the stereo master (with only 'She Loves You' and 'I'll Get You' in true mono).
Sgt Pepper's (mono). All mono copies were pressed from UK -1/-1 mothers. Many consider the Australian release sonically equivalent, if not superior, to the UK release. The vinyl is heavier. The sleeve is usually the UK widespine variation with "Patents pending" text; rare in the UK but quite common here. Mono copies regularly sell for $50 on ebay in VG+ to NM condition. MUCH cheaper than a UK copy!
Sgt Pepper's (stereo). All copies up until the mid-1980s were pressed from UK -1/-1 mothers. Some collectors claim that common 1970s orange label copies sound better than original UK copies. Stands to reason as significantly fewer of the former were pressed. The much cheaper price tag also helps! Early copies were housed in imported UK gatefold sleeves, with copies from late December 1969 housed in locally-made single-pocket sleeves. A locally-made gatefold sleeve, including cut-out sheet, replaced the single sleeve in July 1987.
Sgt Pepper's (Audiophile). See individual LP entry for detailed information. This pressing is considered by some to be the finest sounding Sgt Pepper's ever released. Of course, quality and rarity comes at a price, so expect to pay well over $1,000 for a copy. Not bad for an LP that originally sold for $25!
Sgt Pepper's (coloured vinyl limited edition). See individual LP entry for detailed information. Half-speed mastered in 1987 from the same 30ips tapes as the 1983 Audiophile release, this low-key affair is essentially the "poor man's" equivalent, with similar sound, but a considerably lower price tag. Later black vinyl copies are even cheaper.
Greatest Hits Volume 2 (stereo). This album was, until 1980, the only LP worldwide to contain 'She's A Woman' in stereo. 'Day Tripper' and 'We Can Work It Out' are the 1965 stereo mixes, ie same as those issued in the USA. Copies appearing on the 1980s black label are recommended, as they carry Otto Ruiter's superior 1982 -2/-2 recut. Like Volume 1, the recut is worth seeking out and can be found quite cheap even in NM condition. The mono release is not recommended as it is merely a folddown of the stereo master.
Abbey Road. All copies up until 1979 were pressed from UK -2/-1 mothers. All sleeves have the misaligned Apple logo, which was corrected early on UK sleeves. Very early pressings have what is referred to as a "blood stain" cover; a red tinge (particularly prominent between Ringo and John) caused as a result of a printing error. An Australian Abbey Road is a very cheap way to get the UK -2/-1 cut.
Hey, Jude!. Hey, Jude! is a very cheap way to obtain a copy of the album pressed from UK export mothers. Original copies (on heavier vinyl within fully laminated sleeves) sound best and can still be found cheaply in nice condition. Avoid later black Parlophone label copies as they are pressed from an inferior local recut.
Rarities. EMI (Australia) released both the US and UK configurations of Rarities. Both were cut locally using the "Maxicut" process. Many people who have copies think they sound great; equal to, if not better than, the US or UK equivalents. The UK configuration also has the ‘wide stereo' versions of the German tracks rather than the ‘narrow' versions that appear on the UK release.
The Number Ones. This is the only LP worldwide to contain the 1963 stereo mix of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' (notwithstanding the dubbing mistake mentioned earlier). It's Australia's version of the 20 Greatest Hits package, but as Australia had 23 number ones, the album was retitled and included a 3-track EP/single.
EPs
Australian EPs offer nothing sonically over equivalent UK releases. Their interest lies in the often unique artwork and track listings (the keen-eyed will notice that even EPs based on corresponding UK releases will often have different tracks). Following are some of the more interesting EPs.
The Beatles With Tony Sheridan. One of five Polydor releases (1 LP, 1 EP and 3 singles) released between February and June 1964 to cash in on The Beatles' new found popularity. The EP has a distinctive cover exclusive to Australia and New Zealand. Contains the 1963 re-recorded version of 'Sweet Georgia Brown'.
Further Requests. This EP is desirable for the unique Australian artwork, containing Tony Merrick photos of The Beatles' Sydney concert, and on the reverse, a photo of The Beatles at Castlereagh Street with the gold discs presented to them by EMI (Australia).
With The Beatles. This EP proves that the With The Beatles LP artwork was better suited to the smaller format, making an attractive—and with the interesting coupling of tracks, a rather unique—package.
SINGLES
Like EPs, Australian singles generally offer nothing sonically over equivalent international releases. Most were cut locally, with many from vinyl sources, thus suffering from trimmed fades and other anomalies. However, a few singles can be recommended for other reasons.
I Want To Hold Your Hand/This Boy (stereo). The 1976 reissue. This was the only single in the world to contain the 1963 stereo mix of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'. Also contains the true stereo mix of 'This Boy'.
Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand/Sie Liebt Dich (mono). Germany and Australia were the only two countries to press this coupling. Not surprisingly, it failed to impress here, with less than 2,000 copies sold (less than even the Polydor singles!). As such, it was the first Beatles single deleted from the catalogue, in June 1967. Original copies are therefore very rare and expensive. The later 1982 reissue is much more plentiful.
I Should Have Known Better/If I Fell (mono). Why were Australia, and, of all places, Nigeria, the only two countries that thought of this great coupling? Another #1 single. Out of print between June 1968 and October 1982.
I Feel Fine/She's A Woman (stereo). The 1976 reissue. The only single in the world to contain the stereo mix of 'She's A Woman'.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps (mono). 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, the fade out on 'While My Guitar Gentry Weeps' was trimmed a few seconds.
The Ballad Of John And Yoko/Old Brown Shoe and Something/Come Together (mono). These are both folddowns of the stereo mixes, with the latter taken from Abbey Road. While the term "folddown" tends to equate to the word "avoid", these sound quite good, with a nice deep bass and solid sound.
The Long And Winding Road/For You Blue (mono). Not quite the great "mono" sound as the above, but still a curio in that it is a mono folddown of the two tracks taken from the Let It Be LP. You can hear the "…B.I members" of John's spoken intro just before 'For Your Blue'!
The Beatles Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection. Perhaps the best way to get all 34 Australian Beatles singles released up to October 1982 in one place. Contains original mono, 1976 and 1982 stereo recuts, housed in (albeit cheap) paper picture sleeves with stills from the newsreel footage of The Beatles' 1964 Australasian tour. The set also included a six-page insert with details of each single. Not really a 20th anniversary of Australian singles though, as the first single was not released locally until 1963!
The above recommendations provide a very good introduction to anyone interested in Australian Beatles releases and should satisfy most Beatles collectors. Other local releases arguably offer nothing sonically superior, and in the case of A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale and Help!, collectors are better off looking elsewhere, as these albums in particular suffer sonically, presumably a result of being cut locally from UK supplied tapes. The common consensus with these three albums is that they are muddier than the UK equivalents.