A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
Original Motion Picture Sound Track
Parlophone PCSO 7584
Released 27 July 1981
Original recommended retail price: $8.99
Released in July 1981 following EMI’s acquisition of United Artists Records, this short-lived Australian reissue revived the US soundtrack album’s mixture of Beatles songs and instrumental music from the 1964 film.
Labels & Related Material
AULP7584OC
July 1981
Tracks
Same tracks as US release
Pressing & Mastering

First Issued

Side 1

Side 2

Parts

27-Jul-81

✎SW1-11921

~MAXICUT~ Otto

✎SW2-11921

÷MAXICUT÷ Otto

AU
Sleeve Information

Code

Circulated

Comments

AU1

Jul-81

US replica sleeve; stereo catalogue number only; local EMI details on rear cover
Overview
This edition of A Hard Day’s Night reached Australia through a change in corporate ownership rather than a new Beatles compilation project. EMI’s February 1979 acquisition of United Artists Records and its Liberty and Imperial subsidiaries brought the American soundtrack album into the wider EMI catalogue.

Capitol reissued it in the United States in August 1980 and, following established practice, offered the tapes to EMI companies worldwide. EMI (Australia) took up the opportunity, releasing the soundtrack locally on 27 July 1981. Its mixture of Beatles performances and instrumental music from the 1964 film distinguished it from the familiar British-format album.

The tapes also preserved the American soundtrack’s original sound presentation. Capitol had used the old United Artists masters rather than replacing the Beatles performances with newly sourced stereo recordings. Consequently, the instrumental tracks appeared in stereo, while the Beatles tracks were electronically rechannelled from mono, producing the characteristic “ping-pong” effect.

The Australian release appears to have had a short catalogue life. No copies have been confirmed on the black Parlophone label introduced in April 1982, suggesting deletion within its first year. Remaining stock subsequently went to the World Record Club, which offered it in mid-1983 as (R) 91929; an example is illustrated in the associated image.

Otto Ruiter mastered the album at Studios 301 using Maxicut. Both sides were held on production master tape PARLO 574.