YESTERDAY / I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER
Parlophone A-11115
Released 17 May 1976
Original recommended retail price: $1.50
The Australian counterpart to Britain’s first “Yesterday” single—even though both songs had already appeared as A-sides here more than a decade earlier.
Matrix Information
Side 1: (stereo) 7YCE 21783
Side 2: (stereo) 7YCE 21784

Overview
In March 1976, following the expiration of the former Beatles’ recording contracts with EMI, EMI UK reissued all 22 of the group’s original British singles and made them available together as The Singles Collection 1962–1970. A twenty-third single paired ‘Yesterday’—which had never previously been issued as a UK single—with ‘I Should Have Known Better’.

The campaign coincided with enormous publicity surrounding American entrepreneur Bill Sargent’s US$50 million offer for a one-off Beatles reunion. When Sargent’s offer began, EMI UK “jumped in” and re-released the group’s hits. Sargent’s offer may have provided the publicity, but the expiration of the EMI contracts was certainly the principal commercial reason for the campaign.

The British response was remarkable. Contemporary reports claimed that ‘Yesterday’ was selling around 10,000 copies a day, while all 23 singles entered the top 100. EMI (Australia), however, was more reticent and decided to “feel its ground a little more carefully” by releasing only the new ‘Yesterday’ single. Ironically, both tracks had already appeared as A-sides in Australia more than a decade earlier.

The single received a relatively lukewarm response. Despite this, EMI (Australia) proceeded with a wider, though still selective, revival of the catalogue—encouraged also in part by the June release of the double album Rock ’N’ Roll Music, which brought renewed attention to the Beatles’ earlier recordings. In June, EMI (Australia) recut six out-of-print Beatles singles, which were reissued on 19 July 1976. Please visit the Bulk Recuts page for more information on these recuts.
Chart Performance

Brisbane

(QLD)

Sydney

(NSW)

Melbourne

(VIC)

Hobart

(TAS)

Adelaide

(SA)

Perth

(WA)

Chart Entry

-

-

-

-

04-Jun-76

-

Highest Position

 

 

 

 

30

 

Weeks In

 

 

 

 

4

 
Listed as "Yesterday"
Promo
AUSP11115PP.a
Silver/Black Style 'B'
AUSP11115SBB.a
Orange
AUSP11115O.a
Silver/Black Style 'C'
AUSP11115SBC.a

First appeared in October 1982 with the release of The Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection

Visit AB34 for more information or to see an image of the picture sleeve