PAST MASTERS VOLUMES ONE & TWO
Parlophone PCSO 791135/6/7
Parlophone PCSO 791135/6/7
MATRIX INFORMATION
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
| RELEASED | VOLUME 1 SIDE 1 MATRIX |
VOLUME 1 SIDE 2 MATRIX |
VOLUME 2 SIDE 1 MATRIX |
VOLUME 2 SIDE 2 MATRIX |
PARTS |
| 19 Dec 1988 | PCSO 791136 A PB EMIDISC DMM |
PCSO 791136 B PB EMIDISC DMM |
PCSO 791137 A PB EMIDISC DMM |
PCSO 791137 B PB EMIDISC DMM |
AU |
SLEEVE INFORMATION
| ORIGIN | CODE | CIRCULATED | SLEEVE DETAILS |
| AUST | A1 | Dec 1988 | Uncoated gatefold sleeve. “DIGITALLY REMASTERED” footer on rear cover |
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 26 OCTOBER 2022
BLACK 1-BOX B
AU791136/7S1
19 Dec 1988
AU791136/7S1
19 Dec 1988
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
In 1986, EMI UK digitally remastered The Beatles' UK catalogue for release on CD, and subsequently vinyl and cassette. In doing so, the catalogue was standardised worldwide, establishing a canon comprising the twelve original UK studio LPs plus the US album version of Magical Mystery Tour. The remaining Beatles material that had not been issued on the original studio LPs was gathered on this two-volume Past Masters compilation.
Much like EMI UK, EMI (Australia) initially released the compilation on CD (imported) in the first half of 1988. Both volumes reached the low 70s on the charts across five weeks.
When the decision was made to release the catalogue in a new box set, including vinyl and cassette formats, EMI (Australia) dutifully followed instruction and remastered all albums from CD copies that they had in their library. The new masters were cut at EMI's Homebush factory by Paul Bryant (up to and including Rubber Soul, plus Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters) and Allan Parsons (Revolver to Let It Be) over the weekend of 12/13 November 1988 on a Neumann VMS-80/82 disc lathe utilising Direct Metal Mastering technology.
The resulting Beatles Box Set was released on 19 December 1988 (CDBBX 1, BBX 1 and TCBBX 1). The collection was encased in a black oak-laminated roll-top box imported from the UK, including soft-cover book with commentary on the songs by Beatles recording historian Mark Lewisohn. The box set marked the first local release of the 'Digitally Remastered' albums on LP and cassette. See individual album pages for specifics. The box set spent 4 weeks on the charts, reaching #82.
The Past Masters sleeve was essentially the same as the UK sleeve, with the only differences being the localisation details on the back plus the addition of the text "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" on the lower left. Mouseover the above sleeve image to see the inner gatefold.
Past Masters on LP and cassette was released separately on 13 February 1989.
Much like EMI UK, EMI (Australia) initially released the compilation on CD (imported) in the first half of 1988. Both volumes reached the low 70s on the charts across five weeks.
When the decision was made to release the catalogue in a new box set, including vinyl and cassette formats, EMI (Australia) dutifully followed instruction and remastered all albums from CD copies that they had in their library. The new masters were cut at EMI's Homebush factory by Paul Bryant (up to and including Rubber Soul, plus Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters) and Allan Parsons (Revolver to Let It Be) over the weekend of 12/13 November 1988 on a Neumann VMS-80/82 disc lathe utilising Direct Metal Mastering technology.
The resulting Beatles Box Set was released on 19 December 1988 (CDBBX 1, BBX 1 and TCBBX 1). The collection was encased in a black oak-laminated roll-top box imported from the UK, including soft-cover book with commentary on the songs by Beatles recording historian Mark Lewisohn. The box set marked the first local release of the 'Digitally Remastered' albums on LP and cassette. See individual album pages for specifics. The box set spent 4 weeks on the charts, reaching #82.
The Past Masters sleeve was essentially the same as the UK sleeve, with the only differences being the localisation details on the back plus the addition of the text "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" on the lower left. Mouseover the above sleeve image to see the inner gatefold.
Past Masters on LP and cassette was released separately on 13 February 1989.