The Beatles

Pressing & Mastering

Format	First Issued	Side 1	Side 2	Side 3	Side 4	Parts
MONO	4-Dec-68	XEX 709-1	XEX 710-1	XEX 711-1	XEX 712-1	UK
STEREO	4-Dec-68	✎SWBO 1-101-J41: B	✎SWBO 2-101-J41: B	✎SWBO 3-101-J41: B	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	US
STEREO	~78	✎SWBO 1-101-J41: B	✎SWBO 2-101-J46 #4	✎SWBO 3-101-J41: B	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	US
STEREO	Dec-80	✎SWBO 1-101-J46 #3	✎SWBO 2-101-J46 #4	✎SWBO 3-101-J41: B	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	US
STEREO	Mid-81	✎SWBO 1-101-J46 #3	✎SWBO 2-101-J46 #4	✎SWBO 3-101-J48 #2	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	US
STEREO	198?	✎SWBO 1-101-J46 #3	✎SWBO 2-101-J46 #4	✎SWBO 3-101-J41: B	✎SWBO-4-101-J44: #5	US
STEREO	22-Oct-82	✎SWBO1 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO 2-101-J41: B	✎SWBO3 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	AU (S1,3)
STEREO	Oct-82	✎SWBO1 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO 2-101-J46 #4	✎SWBO3 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	AU (S1,3)
STEREO	~84	✎SWBO1 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO 2-101 -2	✎SWBO3 101 -2 DB	✎SWBO-4-101-J41: B	AU (S1-3)
STEREO	24-Aug-87	✎PCSO 7067A SWBO1-101-3 AP 682	✎PCSO 7067B SWBO2-101-3 AP 682	✎PCSO 7068BA SWBO3 101-3 AP SIDE 3	✎PCSO 7068AB SWBO4 101-3 AP	AU*
STEREO	24-Aug-87	✎PCSO 7067A SWBO1-101-3 AP	✎PCSO 7067B SWBO2-101-3 AP	✎PCSO 7068BA SWBO3-101-3 AP	✎PCSO 7068AB SWBO4-101-3 AP	AU
STEREO	19-Dec-88	PCSO 7067D-A	PCSO 7067D-B	PCSO 7068D-A	PCSO 7068D-B	AU

*White vinyl pressing; only 2,000 pressed

Sleeve Information

Code	Circulated	Comments
AU1	Dec-68	Local made sleeve, five digit numbered with "A" prefix, top loader, black inner sleeves*
AU2	69	Local made sleeve, five digit numbered with "No." prefix, top loader, black inner sleeves*
AU3	~73	Local made sleeve, unnumbered, side loader, plastic inner sleeves
AU4	Dec-88	"DIGITALLY REMASTERED" footer on rear cover

*During 1969, the print-colour changed from grey to green but inconsistently applied; for example, a green-ink A 60### has been confirmed as has a grey-ink No 69###; 'go figure' as "they" apparently say

Overview
The Australian White Album brought together British and American manufacturing sources within a carefully specified local package. Mono records used UK mothers, while stereo records used American mothers—a combination that continues to prompt questions among collectors.

No definitive explanation has emerged. Timing or supply difficulties are commonly suggested. New Zealand also used Los Angeles-made stereo parts, identified as J40 and one plate earlier than the Australian parts. Because this was the first album by The Beatles issued in the same form in Britain and America, obtaining stereo mothers from the United States may have been cheaper or more convenient. America issued no mono edition, making Britain the necessary source for that format.

Making the Australian sleeve
EMI UK provided detailed instructions covering the embossed band name, the slightly angled individual numbers and the exact quantity of sleeves to be numbered. The early Australian package followed the international presentation: top-opening pockets, black paper inner sleeves, four colour portraits and a fold-out poster with lyrics on one side and a photographic collage on the other. The Australian poster was censored; images and details appear on the Censored Australian Poster page.

Z. Nosek & Co printed the sleeves. Having installed suitable equipment at the beginning of 1968, it was then the only Australian printer capable of manufacturing gatefold record sleeves.

A single outer sleeve served both formats. The spine carried mono and stereo catalogue numbers, but the rear referred only to stereo. Mono copies therefore received a large black-and-white MONO sticker over that word. Its appearance matched the STEREO stickers used on other dual-format sleeves, and two MONO sticker variations are known.

The angled numbering nearly caused a costly misunderstanding. During a factory visit, Z. Nosek’s General Manager saw the sloping numbers, considered them ridiculous and contemplated scrapping and reprinting the batch. A Sunday telephone call to EMI (Australia) confirmed that the angle was intentional. The completed sleeves reached Homebush with their specified numbering intact, although a day late.

The cassette postscript
The Australian cassette finally appeared in September 1971, using newly supplied British tapes. Its artwork showed Parlophone rather than Apple logos, apparently because the Acceptance Sheet had been misread. The error was never corrected.

The Numbered Sleeve Register provides further information and confirmed Australian sleeve numbers. The Production Master Tape page covers the cassette sources and the 1987 white-vinyl reissue.