The Beatles Box

Pressing & Mastering

First Issued	Disc	Side 1	Side 2	Parts
Mar-81	1	SW 10373 ✎DB	SW 10374 ✎DB	AU
	2	SW 10375 ✎DB	SW 10376 ✎DB	AU
	3	SW 10377 ✎DB	SW 10378 ✎OR	AU
	4	SW 10379 ✎OR	SW 10380 ✎OR	AU
	5	SW 10381 ✎OR	SW 10382 ✎OR	AU
	6	SW 10383 ✎OR	SW 10384 ✎OR	AU
	7	SW 10385 ✎OR	SW 10386 ✎OR	AU
	8	SW 10387 ✎OR	SW 10388 ✎OR	AU
81/82	6	✎SW 10373-2 AP	SW 10384 ✎OR	AU
	8	SW 10387 ✎OR	✎SW 10388-3 AP	AU
83/84	6	✎RD4 330-6A-3 OR	SW 10384 ✎OR	AU
	7	✎RD4 330-7A-2 OR	SW 10386 ✎OR	AU

Sleeve Information

Code	Circulated	Comments
AU1	Mar-81	World Record Club
AU2	Nov-82	Reader's Digest

Overview
Specially compiled by EMI UK for the World Record Club, the eight-record Beatles Box reached Australian club members in March 1981. Its contents and artwork closely followed the British original, but the local edition combined small corrections with a distinctive extra.

The reversed photograph on the British disc-two sleeve was corrected, although the disc-seven composer errors for “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Piggies” and “Don’t Pass Me By” remained. Australian boxes also included a “free”, American-printed poster dating from 1976, measuring approximately 23 × 35 inches (583 × 885 mm). The poster is illustrated at the bottom right.

Demand for Beatles records following John Lennon’s death prompted EMI (Australia) to import Toshiba-EMI sets from Japan for ordinary retail sale. A clerical error caused an order to be placed for substantially more sets than intended. Submitted on a Friday, it was not discovered until the following week, by which time it could no longer be corrected. Japanese editions consequently remained readily available in Australian shops for years.

The World Record Club renewed its promotion in 1982 with a stronger television campaign. By then, black Parlophone labels had replaced the original orange labels. The set remained available in that form for the rest of the club’s Australian existence.

Late in 1982, Reader’s Digest introduced its own Australian edition through an arrangement with EMI. Reader’s Digest versions had already appeared overseas; the Australian records were specially manufactured locally by EMI (Australia). A regular subscriber mail-out announced the collection with the customary “All Cash Giveaway” promotion, a promised free gift, a double-sided brochure measuring approximately 20 × 17 inches (515 × 430 mm), and a one-sided promotional flexi-disc. The Promotional Material page includes further material and the flexi-disc recording.

Reader’s Digest replaced the World Record Club’s relatively simple flip-top box with a sturdy slipcase containing a solid cardboard pouch. Each record retained an individual sleeve, now carrying Reader’s Digest branding. The composer errors were corrected, and the discs received black Reader’s Digest labels. This edition omitted the poster.

The collection’s eventual fate contrasted with its elaborate promotion. By the late 1980s, unsold stock had reached wholesale, discount and remainder outlets, where complete sets could cost less than $10 and individual records as little as $1.

The Australian records were mastered at Studios 301 by Don Bartley and Otto Ruiter from tapes PARLO 557–572. Later recuts were undertaken by Allan Parsons and, subsequently, Otto Ruiter.