Australian Beatles Label Styles

A guide to the label designs used on Australian Beatles LPs, EPs and singles from 1963 to 1990
Australian Beatles releases appeared on a wide range of label designs during the vinyl era, reflecting changes in company branding, manufacturing and distribution. Select LPs, EPs or Singles below, then click any label style to view its history, variations and associated releases.
LP Label Styles
The first pressings of both Please Please Me and With The Beatles featured a gold-text on black label similar to that which graced the earliest UK mono pressings of Please Please Me. Despite being withdrawn in the UK almost a year earlier, the gold/black style continued in Australia until March 1964. Original labels used on Please Please Me had "MADE IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD. SYDNEY, NSW" printed in the perimeter. In January 1964, the text was replaced with "MADE IN AUSTRALIA BY E.M.I. (AUST.) LIMITED" and moved to the centre of the label, running horizontally each side of the centre hole. Somewhat "busier" than the UK original, the Australian gold label still possesses a certain antique charm.
First appearing in March 1964, the Parlophone yellow/black label was modelled off the corresponding UK label style, with the main differences being: perimeter text; placement of the words "TRADE MARK" under the Parlophone logo; and, white "33 1/3 R.P.M." text. However, unlike in the UK where both mono and stereo LPs utilised a single label style, EMI (Australia) initially only used the yellow/black label on mono pressings. It would not be until February 1969 before EMI (Australia) adopted the yellow/black label for stereo pressings, primarily to use up existing label stock resulting from the phasing out of mono pressings before the adoption of the new Parlophone orange label. The stereo labels featured the word STEREO in a silver box to the top right of the label, and, additionally in the case of Sgt. Pepper's, as unboxed text to the left of the centre hole.
At the same time that the Parlophone yellow/black label was introduced for mono records, a silver and dark blue/black label loosely based on the defunct UK gold stereo Parlophone label was introduced for stereo records. This label style would continue throughout the 1960s until the first attempt at standardisation occurred in February 1969.
Debuting on The Beatles in December 1968, the Apple label appeared on all Apple releases until its replacement in April 1982 by the black Parlophone label. There was only one major change of note: in July 1969 the royalty stamps printed to the left of the centre hole were dropped and replaced with "33 1/3 R.P.M." and the LP side matrix number.

Custom Apple labels were introduced for the release of The Beatles 1962–1966 (red background) and The Beatles 1967–1970 (light blue background) in July 1973. These labels remained in use until replaced by standard Apple labels in 1979.
Although the Australian Parlophone yellow/black label is generally associated with mono pressings, the label style was also used on stereo pressings of select titles between February 1969 and July 1969, primarily to use up existing label stock resulting from the phasing out of mono pressings before the adoption of the new Parlophone orange label.

The stereo format is designated via PCSO number and a prominent grey rectangular box containing STEREO text situated above and somewhat justified-right of "PARLOPHONE". A second variant (B) appeared on Sgt. Pepper's, in which the 'STEREO' text is printed to the left of the spindle-hole, where music royalty stamps were hitherto placed.

In the first half of 1968, EMI UK designed a completely new label style. The label style, known colloquially as the "EMI one-box" due to the presence of a box containing the letters "EMI" centred at the bottom, was adopted by all EMI imprints, including Parlophone. The style first appeared in most countries, albeit with localised modifications, in 1969, although some countries, such as Germany, never adopted the style. Australia's main modification was to adopt a somewhat "loud" orange paper stock, commensurate with that used on early 1960s Columbia singles. The Parlophone orange label first appeared on new releases around April 1969, some ten months after the style debuted on new Columbia releases, but did not appear on Beatles reissues until progressively between June and September 1969, after the depletion of existing label stock. Most Beatles LPs were reissued on this label after royalty stamps had been dropped and speed and matrix text moved to the left, however, copies of Rubber Soul, Greatest Hits Volume 2 and A Collection of Beatles Oldies exist with royalty stamps, indicating a pre-July 1969 issue.


The Parlophone orange label is perhaps the most recognised with Australian Beatles LPs. Although similar in layout to the UK "EMI one-box" label, the prominent placement of "STEREO" at the top, the opaque black Parlophone logo box and, of course, the orange base, all contribute to a unique label style for Australian Beatles albums.


Three key styles of orange EMI one-Box label were used between April 1969 and and March 1982, identified predominently by the placement of the word "STEREO". These styles can be categorised as:

  • Style 'A' - Top STEREO, where "STEREO" appears at the top of the label, above the boxed Parlophone logo. Earlier labels tend to have "STEREO" printed higher on the label, creating a greater gap between it and the boxed Parlophone logo
  • Style 'B' - Side STEREO, where "STEREO" appears to the right of the spindle-hole (left in the case of Rarities (UK)), above the catalogue number
  • Style 'C' - No STEREO, where "STEREO" is absent from the label altogether

Styles 'B' and 'C' were introduced in October 1978 and early 1979 respectively. Not all albums were released in all styles - see illustrated list, below (COMING SOON!).

A unique-coloured label pressed into service between February and May 1973 for the limited edition Greatest Hits Vols 1 & 2 souvenir package, the Parlophone purple label differed from the Parlophone orange label only in colour, with its use limited to TV-promoted releases. When the package was deleted three months after release, remaining label stock was used on the individual Greatest Hits volumes, retaining the respective PCSS 7533/7534 catalogue numbers rather than the individual volume PCSO 7533/7534 numbers.
A temporary aberration within Australian Beatles LP labels, the Parlophone teal label was usually reserved for reissues through EMI's budget Encore and Drum series. Exactly when and why the label was used on the two Greatest Hits volumes remains a mystery, but evidence pinpoints its use to around late 1979.
In April 1982, EMI (Australia) replaced both the Parlophone orange and Apple labels with a silver text on black version of the Parlophone orange label. The new colours had the effect of making the label look much more contemporary.

In July 1987, EMI (Australia) Limited and EMI (New Zealand) Limited combined to form the EMI Music Group Australasia. Vinyl and CD labels were updated to reflect the change, which occurred right in the middle of the Sgt. Pepper's red-vinyl pressing run. The change coincided with EMI (New Zealand)'s decision to cease domestic production of vinyl records; all future vinyl issued in New Zealand by EMI was pressed at the Homebush plant. This label style remained in use until the cessation of vinyl production in November 1990.

In November 1988, the labels for Rubber Soul and Past Masters were re-typeset using Mergenthaler Linotype (or equivalent) phototypesetting, providing a unique appearance amongst Beatles LPs.
Three Beatles LP titles were released on the Polydor imprint in Australia: The Mersey Sound (1964); The Beatles Tapes (1976); and, Rock Legends (1980). Across these releases, five main label styles can be distinguished:

Style ‘A’ — 1964: Used on The Mersey Sound, with a manufacturing and distribution credit to Philips Electrical Industries Pty Ltd.

Style ‘B’ — 1976: Used on original copies of The Beatles Tapes. The red label features the Polydor logo at the top, fine white perimeter lettering crediting Phonogram Pty Limited, and a horizontal panel containing the speed, matrix and catalogue details and side number.

Style ‘C’ — later 1970s: Retained the red design but used heavier white perimeter lettering. On The Beatles Tapes, the printed matrix details changed from MX numbers to catalogue-based numbers with A/B suffixes, while “RECORD ONE” or “RECORD TWO” appeared above the central panel.

Style ‘D’ — 1980: Updated the perimeter credit to PolyGram Records Pty Limited. Found on later copies of The Beatles Tapes and Australian pressings of Rock Legends.

Style ‘E’ — New Zealand: Used on New Zealand pressings of Rock Legends supplied to the Australian market, with manufacture credited to Phonogram Limited.

These distinctions reflect changes in label printing, corporate identity and manufacturing source, rather than changes to the recordings themselves.
COMING SOON
The only Beatles LP released on the World Record Club (WRC) imprint was Magical Mystery Tour and Other Splendid Hits, issued in June 1969. The LP appeared on two main label styles, each with minor typesetting variations. The first was the classic WRC "S" stereo label, featuring a large white letter "S" over a blue-green base, surrounded by a black-and-white striped border. The second style, introduced in August 1972, featured an 18th-century trumpeter in green against a blue background. The "STEREO" text was later dropped from the label perimeter in 1979.
The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl was the only Beatles album to receive a custom set of labels, with EMI (Australia) replicating the labels used on the UK release.
The cream-coloured EMI label was used on the earliest copies of Rarities (UK), found almost exclusively in the first 2,000 Beatles Collection box sets (housed in UK-made boxes).
The Columbia orange label that graced around 300 copies of With The Beatles pressed in 1979 was, in all probability, a simple paper-stock mistake on account of how both standard Parlophone and Columbia releases used similar orange coloured labels. Copies also exist with Parlophone labels on either side.
The first Beatles LPs reissued through Axis Records were Rock 'N' Roll Music Volumes 1 and 2, released as two separate albums in the AXIS 6000 series in August 1981. Three main label styles appeared:

Black-and-white — 1981: A vertically divided black-and-white design with a grey centre, a large AXIS name to the left and the slogan “THE WORLD OF SOUND REVOLVES AROUND THE AXIS” curving around the right. Used on the original AXIS-6439/6440 releases.

Yellow Style ‘A’ — 1982–1987: Black printing on a yellow background, with a boxed Axis logo at the bottom and “THE BEATLES” prominently displayed above it. The perimeter credits manufacture to EMI (Australia) Limited. Introduced with the AX-1002/1003 reissues in April 1982.

Yellow Style ‘B’ — 1987–1990: Retained the yellow design but updated the perimeter credit to “EMI MUSIC GROUP – AUSTRALASIA”. The Rock 'N' Roll Music volumes also received new AX-701270/701271 catalogue numbers.

Other Beatles LPs reissued with yellow Axis include A Collection of Beatles Oldies in April 1985 and The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in January 1990.
EP Label Styles
Despite being withdrawn in the UK over a year earlier, the old-style Parlophone green label would remain in use locally until the end of March 1964, hence the appearance of the first three Australian Beatles EPs on this label style.

At first glance this label style appears similar to the EMI UK EP label of the same period, yet closer observation reveals some key differences: localised perimeter text; placement of the words "TRADE MARK" under the transparent Parlophone logo, which itself is offset to the top left of the label; and, white "45 R.P.M. EXTENDED PLAY" text. This label style first appeared on All My Loving in April 1964 and remained in use until the end of June 1987, making it the most common label style to appear on Beatles EPs.


Several variations existed:

  • April 1964-June 1969: Royalty stamps to the left of the centre hole, catalogue and matrix numbers to the right. Some labels printed during 1968/69 have completely different typesetting, due to the use of a second printing house.
  • July 1969-June 1987: No royalty stamps, catalogue and matrix numbers to the left of the centre hole. New fonts used on track titles. Commencing around 1976, labels were reprinted with newer IBM Selectric-based typesetting. Post-September 1979 reissues generally credit Lennon-McCartney tracks to "ATV Northern Songs". From August 1980, EPs appeared without the anti-skid ribbing and from 1981 with a smaller inner ring as a result of EMI (Australia) installing new Toshiba-EMI automatic presses and subsequently changing the 7" mould.
Identical to the Parlophone silver/black single label (style 'A'), this label style was used insofar as EPs exclusively on pressings of Magical Mystery Tour, as the masters were actually part of the Parlophone singles catalogue (7XCE for mono and 7YCE for stereo), rather than the EP catalogue (7TCE). The label typesetting is reflective of 1968/69 labels and differs to that usually seen on single and EP labels, although the layout is the same, with royalty stamps to the left of the centre hole and catalogue and matrix numbers to the right.

The label style continued on early 1970s pressings of Magical Mystery Tour , now sans royalty stamps and with the catalogue and matrix numbers to the left of the centre hole, before disappearing and  reappearing again in the 1980s on copies of More Requests! and Penny Lane, at least. The logo and "45 R.P.M." text were (scaled) slightly smaller on the latter appearance.

In July 1987, the label perimeter text was updated to reflect the newly formed EMI Music Group Australasia (identical to the silver/black style 'D' singles label). At least three EPs—Beatles For Sale, Help! and Norwegian Wood—received new phototypesetting around 1989. In addition to new fonts, the label also included both side designations and a large "A" on the A side. It's amazing that EMI (Australia) was still pressing EPs in the late 1980s!
Only one EP was released on the Polydor label – The Beatles with Tony Sheridan – which remained in print throughout the 1960s with numerous slight changes.
Single Label Styles
Although Parlophone, Columbia and HMV in the UK had forsaken their early identifiable red, green and blue singles labels for a generic black design back in January 1963, it would not be until October before Australia fell into line, hence the original appearance of the first three Australian Beatles singles on this label style.

Used from October 1963 to November 1979 and again from April 1982 to 1990, the Parlophone silver/black label was the most common label to appear on Australian Beatles singles. It was identical to the Parlophone yellow/black EP label but with all text and logos in silver rather than yellow. Four main print variations existed (with each having minor typesetting variations

within):

  • Oct 1963-Jun 1969: Royalty stamps to the left of the centre hole, catalogue and matrix numbers to the right. Some labels printed during 1968/69 have a completely different typesetting, due to the use of a second printing house.
  • Jul 1969-Nov 1979: No royalty stamps, catalogue and matrix numbers to the left of the centre hole. Labels were re-typeset for the 1976 single reissues, with most labels stating “STEREO” above the catalogue number regardless of whether the content was stereo or not. Track titles were also printed in a much smaller font. As at least 10 of the 23 Parlophone singles were out of print by July 1969, not all Beatles singles exist with the pre-1976 layout.
  • Apr 1982-Jun 1987: New and more consistent typesetting. “E M I (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED” perimeter text. The logo and “45 R.P.M.” text were also slightly smaller.
  • Jul 1987-1990: “EMI MUSIC GROUP – AUSTRALASIA” perimeter text.
Debuting approximately eight weeks after the release of 'Hey Jude'/'Revolution', this label style remained in use until replaced by the Parlophone silver/black label in April 1982 (although 'Something'/'Come Together' would be reissued on the orange Parlophone label in 1979). Royalty stamps were dropped in July 1969.

From August 1980, singles appeared without the anti-skid ribbing and from 1981 with a smaller inner ring as a result of EMI (Australia) installing new Toshiba-EMI automatic presses and subsequently changing the 7" mould.

The Parlophone orange label was essentially the Parlophone silver/black label but with black text on an orange base. The colour was the same as that used on LPs and Columbia singles pressed in the early 1960s. The style existed for just over two years, from December 1979 to March 1982. Not all Beatles singles were reissued on this label style.


From August 1980, singles appeared without the anti-skid ribbing and from 1981 with a smaller inner ring as a result of EMI (Australia) installing new Toshiba-EMI automatic presses and subsequently changing the 7" mould.

Four Beatles singles were released on the Polydor imprint in Australia: 'My Bonnie'/'The Saints' (1964); 'Cry For A Shadow'/'Why' (1964); 'Ain't She Sweet'/'If You Love Me Baby' (1964); and, 'My Bonnie'/'Cry For A Shadow' (1986).
Around June 1979, EMI (New Zealand) issued a series of singles that had been hits in Britain. Included were two Beatles singles: 'Can't Buy Me Love'/'You Can't Do That' (BRIT 6) and 'Help!'/'I'm Down' (BRIT 45). Both singles were imported by EMI (Australia) as they were not in print locally at the time, with many copies ending up at Discontinued Records, a record store with outlets in Hurstville and Melbourne. EMI (New Zealand) also released a set of Australian hit singles (AUS series), which included 'Roll Over Beethoven'/'Hold Me Tight' (AUS 32), but these were for domestic New Zealand release, not export to Australia as is often incorrectly claimed.

Two distinct label typesetting variations of each single exists: one with 'ATV Northern' printed under the side/catalogue/matrix number; and one without. Evidence indicates that only the variation with the extra printing was destined for Australian shores, thus it is the only variation shown in this archive.