PLEASE PLEASE ME
Parlophone PMCO 1202 (MONO) / PCSO 3042 (STEREO)
Parlophone PMCO 1202 (MONO) / PCSO 3042 (STEREO)
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 29 JUNE 2026
| FORMAT | RELEASE DATE | SIDE 1 MATRIX | SIDE 2 MATRIX | PARTS |
| MONO | 17 Oct 1963 | XEX 421-1N | XEX 422-1N | UK |
| STEREO | 9 Apr 1964 | YEX 94-1 | YEX 95-1 | UK |
| STEREO | 5 Nov 1980 | YEX 94-2 | YEX 95-1 | AU/UK |
| STEREO | Aug 1981 | YEX 94-2 | YEX 95-2 | AU |
| STEREO | 12 Dec 1986 | PCSO 3042 A-3 YEX 94-3 | YEX 95-2 | AU |
| MONO | 14 Nov 1988 | PCSO 3042 D-A PB - EMIDISC - DMM | PCSO 3042 D-B PB - EMIDISC - DMM | AU |
MATRIX INFORMATION
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
| ORIGIN | CODE | CIRCULATED | SLEEVE DETAILS |
| UK | UK1 | Oct 1963 | 500 sleeves |
| AUST | A1 | Dec 1963 | Mono catalogue number only; flipback sleeve |
| AUST | A2 | Mar 1964 | Mono + stereo catalogue numbers; flipback sleeve |
| AUST | A3 | Dec 1969 | Stereo catalogue number only; non-flipback; stereo EMI footer on rear cover |
| AUST | A4 | Dec 1980 | UK replica sleeve; stereo catalogue number only; local EMI details on rear cover |
| AUST | A5 | Nov 1988 | UK replica sleeve; "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" footer on rear cover |
SLEEVE INFORMATION
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
Australian Please Please Me labels all include commas, where grammatically correct, in the following track titles:
1.7 Please, Please Me
2.1 Love Me, Do
2.3 Baby, It's You
The 1988 digital remaster, despite being mono like the 1987 CD release, maintained the stereo numbering system.
THE AUSTRALIAN VERSION OF THE SLEEVE
The front image on the Australian sleeve is subjectively "brighter" than that of the UK original, with detail that is lost in shadow on the UK sleeve clearly visible on the local version. This difference can be ascribed to the way sleeves were produced in Australia. Please visit the With The Beatles album page for more information on Australian sleeve production and printing.
Cyan, or blue, text was used on both sides of the sleeve. This was not an attempt to make the sleeve distinctively Australian, but rather a cost-saving measure. Using cyan instead of black reduced the number of required printing blocks from four to three, saving EMI (Australia) approximately £50, or around $100, in set up costs — a reasonable sum in 1963. It should be remembered that, at that time, The Beatles were still largely unknown in Australia, and EMI (Australia) was reluctant to spend any more than necessary on sleeve production. This also explains why 500 sleeves were imported from the UK to house the first Australian copies of the album.
In December 1980, EMI (Australia) replaced the sleeve with a replica of the UK sleeve.
1.7 Please, Please Me
2.1 Love Me, Do
2.3 Baby, It's You
The 1988 digital remaster, despite being mono like the 1987 CD release, maintained the stereo numbering system.
THE AUSTRALIAN VERSION OF THE SLEEVE
The front image on the Australian sleeve is subjectively "brighter" than that of the UK original, with detail that is lost in shadow on the UK sleeve clearly visible on the local version. This difference can be ascribed to the way sleeves were produced in Australia. Please visit the With The Beatles album page for more information on Australian sleeve production and printing.
Cyan, or blue, text was used on both sides of the sleeve. This was not an attempt to make the sleeve distinctively Australian, but rather a cost-saving measure. Using cyan instead of black reduced the number of required printing blocks from four to three, saving EMI (Australia) approximately £50, or around $100, in set up costs — a reasonable sum in 1963. It should be remembered that, at that time, The Beatles were still largely unknown in Australia, and EMI (Australia) was reluctant to spend any more than necessary on sleeve production. This also explains why 500 sleeves were imported from the UK to house the first Australian copies of the album.
In December 1980, EMI (Australia) replaced the sleeve with a replica of the UK sleeve.
GOLD MONO A
AU1202M1A
17 Oct 1963
AU1202M1A
17 Oct 1963
GOLD MONO B
AU1202M1B
Jan 1964
AU1202M1B
Jan 1964
'BANNER' STEREO
AU3042S1
9 Apr 1964
AU3042S1
9 Apr 1964
YELLOW/BLACK mono
AU1202M2
Mar 1964
AU1202M2
Mar 1964
ORANGE 1-BOX A
AU3042S4A
Q3 1969
AU3042S4A
Q3 1969
ORANGE 1-BOX B
AU3042S4B
Oct 1978
AU3042S4B
Oct 1978
NZ YELLOW mono
AU1202M3
1968
AU1202M3
1968
BLACK 1-BOX B
AU3042S5B
Jul 1987
AU3042S5B
Jul 1987
NZ DK GREY 1-BOX
AU3042S3C
1981
AU3042S3C
1981
BLACK 1-BOX A
AU3042S5A
Apr 1982
AU3042S5A
Apr 1982