LADY MADONNA / THE INNER LIGHT
Parlophone A-8293
Released 28 March 1968
Original recommended retail price: $1.00
The final Parlophone single issued under EMI (Australia)’s old label-specific catalogue-numbering system.
Matrix Information
Side 1: (mono) 7XCE18438 7XAPA1471
Side 2: (mono) 7XCE18439 7XAPA1472

Overview
Another single initially placed on heavy performance restriction by Northern Songs (Leeds Music), hence its release here some two weeks after the UK.

Just after release of this single, EMI (Australia) ended the separate cataloguing systems used on its in-house and distributed labels and created a unified numbering system, beginning at 8301. The 8000 series was chosen because Parlophone's catalogue—the highest range in use at the time—was then numbering in the low 8000s. 'Lady Madonna'/'The Inner Light' was the last Parlophone single issued under the old numbering system.

As EMI (Australia) was somewhat preoccupied with meeting demand for both Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the recently released Rolling Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request, let alone anything else, they turned to the Australian Record Company (ARC) to supplement production of select contemporary singles, of which this was one. Such ARC pressings can be identified by a smaller centre pressing ring with distinct groove and a raised ridge along the outside of the label.

The single remained available until the late 1980s.
Chart Performance

Brisbane

(QLD)

Sydney

(NSW)

Melbourne

(VIC)

Hobart

(TAS)

Adelaide

(SA)

Perth

(WA)

GO-SET

(AUS)

Chart Entry

30-Mar-68

29-Mar-68*

06-Apr-68

03-Apr-68

30-Mar-68

05-Apr-68

10-Apr-68*

Highest Position

1

1

2

2

1

9

1

Weeks In

12

17

13

9

12

12

13
Listed as "Lady Madonna" except * "Lady Madonna/The Inner Light"
Promo
AUSP8293PP.a
Silver/Black Style 'A'
AUSP8293SBA.a
AUSP8293SBA.b

Not so much a label variation as a 'contract' pressing by the Australian Record Company (ARC), with a smaller centre pressing ring with distinct groove and a raised edge along the outside of the label (not anti-skid ribbing like EMI pressings). The text elements of this label are identical to AUSP8293SBA.a
Silver/Black Style 'B'
AUSP8293SBB.a
Orange
AUSP8293O.a

Almost identical layout to AUSP8293SBB.a, however, the line spacing (leading) here is ever so slightly larger
Silver/Black Style 'C'
AUSP8293SBC.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