The album as it was released was not how it was originally compiled. The original source was a tape compiled by EMI UK (room 11) on 11 November 1971, upon request of EMI (Australia). Ken East, head of EMI (Australia) at the time, was personally involved in the compilation, along with EMI (Australia) employees Jim Ellis and Bill Ramsey.
There is a myth circulating that The Essential Beatles was created in New Zealand by Music For Leisure's (not to be confused with EMI's Music For Pleasure) boss John McCready. The story goes that "McCready licensed the tracks from HMV New Zealand for release and that Ken East, head EMI UK, pointed out to HMV just after its release that they had issued an album without Apple's permission. This led to the album being immediately withdrawn. East, being suitably impressed with McCready's ballsiness, gave him a job a few years later."
This myth couldn't be further from the truth. The album was not created by either HMV New Zealand or Music For Leisure, nor was it unsanctioned, unofficial, withdrawn or cancelled. Indeed, the album was available through EMI (Australia) on and off well into the 1980s and EVERY copy released, either in Australia or New Zealand, carries YAPAX matrices, which was EMI (Australia)'s numbering system for Parlophone releases. Further, at the time of release, Ken East was not at EMI UK; he was head of EMI (Australia). And his name is all over the Acceptance Sheets.
The tape as provided by EMI UK contained the following tracks:
This Boy
Love Me Do
Roll Over Beethoven
All My Loving
If I Fell
Tell Me Why
Yes It Is
I'm Down
Yesterday
Penny Lane
All You Need Is Love
Along with the notation 'Approx 32 mins'.
Sticky taped over most of those titles on the tape box was a sheet that stated:
Love Me Do
Boys - level 8 !!
Long Tall Sally
Honey Don't
PS I Love You
Baby You're A Rich Man
All My Loving
Yesterday
Penny Lane
(LEVELS VARY GREATLY)
On 26 November 1971, Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) (AWA) compiled a new tape (with notation "tape ex A&R"), which contained the notes:
Tell Me Why replaced with Boys
This Boy replaced with Long Tall Sally (ex 45)
Roll Over Beethoven replaced with Honey Don't
Yes It Is replaced with Baby You're A Rich Man (ex 33 stereo disc)
I'm Down replaced with Norwegian Wood (ex 33 disc)
'Magical Mystery Tour', 'With A Little Help From My Friends', 'Something', 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' and 'Let It Be' were all later additions.
Numerous cuts were made, with the Acceptance Sheet stating acceptance on 11 February 1972 (note this is after the album was released), along with the note "THIS CANCELS PREVIOUS ACCEPTANCE FOR THIS NO OF 9.2.72". Other writing on the sheet suggests that new sources for 'Boys' and 'Honey Don't' were used on this subsequent cut. It's possible that this new cut replaced an initial cut used on the first commercial release, as there were multiple lacquers created very early.
In any event, the album is a very messy affair! And it's perhaps no wonder that the end result sounded a bit frankenstein, with various sound level and quality issues. For example: