THE BEATLES GREATEST HITS VOLS 1 & 2
AKA AUSTRALIAN 10th ANNIVERSARY 1963-1973 SOUVENIR PRESENTATION
Parlophone PCSS 7533/4
AKA AUSTRALIAN 10th ANNIVERSARY 1963-1973 SOUVENIR PRESENTATION
Parlophone PCSS 7533/4
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
When The Beatles' 10th anniversary came around in the UK in 1972, EMI UK considered issuing a specially boxed anniversary set. The ex-Beatles themselves, however, quickly knocked the idea on the head.
No such obstacle existed all the way down here in Australia — particularly when the plan was simply to repackage an existing pair of locally conceived albums.
In February 1973, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Beatles record released in Australia—'Please Please Me'/'Ask Me Why'—EMI (Australia) repackaged the two previously issued Greatest Hits volumes as a "limited edition" double LP set. The album was housed in a newly designed gatefold sleeve and pressed with distinctive purple labels. Mouse over the sleeve image above to view the inner gatefold.
The LP was promoted nationally by member stations of the Major Radio Network of Australia, with the front cover featuring a gold-foil sticker in the top left corner displaying the call sign of the promoting station. Participating stations were 2KO, 2UE, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD, 6PR, 7EX and 7HT. Please visit the "Promotion" page for more detail.
EMI (Australia) also chose to overlook the orange Parlophone label then associated with contemporary Beatles releases, opting instead for the more subdued lilac/purple label used on its TV-promoted double albums. It may not be the most earth-shattering variation, but it undeniably adds to the unique character of Australian Beatles labelography.
Retailing for $9.00, the set lived up to its "limited edition" status. Only a few months after its release, EMI UK announced the forthcoming The Beatles 1962–1966 and The Beatles 1967–1970 compilations, effectively ending the commemorative Australian set. It was quietly deleted in mid-1973.
Evidence suggests that EMI (Australia) may have had plans to issue a Volume 3—indeed, a tracklisting was submitted to EMI UK for consideration—but the release never eventuated.
In all, the album spent 18 weeks on the charts, reaching #9.
Inner gatefold liner notes:
21st February, 1973 is the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Beatles' record in Australia. That single "PLEASE PLEASE ME" released on the Parlophone label gave no indication of what was to come. Now ten years later they have released in Australia 30 singles as a group and 19 singles as individuals. They have also released 18 extended plays, including the two record set "MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR". Album wise they have released 16 albums collectively and individually Ringo Starr has had 2, Paul McCartney 3 (Wings), John Lennon (with Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band) 4 and George Harrison 1 — (a mammoth three record set).
Late last year E.M.I. Records in the United Kingdom compiled complete worldwide sales details to the end of June 1972 of all recordings made by the group collectively and individually. The combined total sales of the singles, extended plays and albums amounted to 545,000,000 units. This is made up of 85,000,000 albums (with albums counting as 5 units) and 120,000,000 singles (with extended plays counting as two units).
Their top selling album has been "ABBEY ROAD", which has grossed 7,600,000 copies world wide, whilst "SGT. PEPPERS' LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND" grossed 6,300,000 copies.
Their best selling single was "HEY JUDE" which totalled 7,500,000 copies.
Uniformity has been kept throughout the world with all the Beatles' product, although some countries were allowed to compile special albums.
Not only have the Beatles' albums met with incredible success, but their song compositions have also been well accepted by other recording artists. The John Lennon/Paul McCartney song "YESTERDAY" has been recorded by over one thousand different artists throughout the world, ranging from popular performers to the world's leading orchestras. Another popular song was "MICHELLE". Over five hundred versions of this have been released throughout the world. Three further Lennon/McCartney songs that have been recorded by hundreds of artists are — "THE FOOL ON THE HILL", "AND I LOVE HER" and "ELEANOR RIGBY".
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were not the only two successful song writers in the group. George Harrison has also been active in the composing field. His composition "SOMETHING" has been recorded by many artists including Shirley Bassey.
The recordings in the special anniversary two record set are representative of the early part of the Beatles' career and the songs contained are representative of their Australian hits during 1963/1966 period.
No such obstacle existed all the way down here in Australia — particularly when the plan was simply to repackage an existing pair of locally conceived albums.
In February 1973, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Beatles record released in Australia—'Please Please Me'/'Ask Me Why'—EMI (Australia) repackaged the two previously issued Greatest Hits volumes as a "limited edition" double LP set. The album was housed in a newly designed gatefold sleeve and pressed with distinctive purple labels. Mouse over the sleeve image above to view the inner gatefold.
The LP was promoted nationally by member stations of the Major Radio Network of Australia, with the front cover featuring a gold-foil sticker in the top left corner displaying the call sign of the promoting station. Participating stations were 2KO, 2UE, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD, 6PR, 7EX and 7HT. Please visit the "Promotion" page for more detail.
EMI (Australia) also chose to overlook the orange Parlophone label then associated with contemporary Beatles releases, opting instead for the more subdued lilac/purple label used on its TV-promoted double albums. It may not be the most earth-shattering variation, but it undeniably adds to the unique character of Australian Beatles labelography.
Retailing for $9.00, the set lived up to its "limited edition" status. Only a few months after its release, EMI UK announced the forthcoming The Beatles 1962–1966 and The Beatles 1967–1970 compilations, effectively ending the commemorative Australian set. It was quietly deleted in mid-1973.
Evidence suggests that EMI (Australia) may have had plans to issue a Volume 3—indeed, a tracklisting was submitted to EMI UK for consideration—but the release never eventuated.
In all, the album spent 18 weeks on the charts, reaching #9.
Inner gatefold liner notes:
21st February, 1973 is the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Beatles' record in Australia. That single "PLEASE PLEASE ME" released on the Parlophone label gave no indication of what was to come. Now ten years later they have released in Australia 30 singles as a group and 19 singles as individuals. They have also released 18 extended plays, including the two record set "MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR". Album wise they have released 16 albums collectively and individually Ringo Starr has had 2, Paul McCartney 3 (Wings), John Lennon (with Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band) 4 and George Harrison 1 — (a mammoth three record set).
Late last year E.M.I. Records in the United Kingdom compiled complete worldwide sales details to the end of June 1972 of all recordings made by the group collectively and individually. The combined total sales of the singles, extended plays and albums amounted to 545,000,000 units. This is made up of 85,000,000 albums (with albums counting as 5 units) and 120,000,000 singles (with extended plays counting as two units).
Their top selling album has been "ABBEY ROAD", which has grossed 7,600,000 copies world wide, whilst "SGT. PEPPERS' LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND" grossed 6,300,000 copies.
Their best selling single was "HEY JUDE" which totalled 7,500,000 copies.
Uniformity has been kept throughout the world with all the Beatles' product, although some countries were allowed to compile special albums.
Not only have the Beatles' albums met with incredible success, but their song compositions have also been well accepted by other recording artists. The John Lennon/Paul McCartney song "YESTERDAY" has been recorded by over one thousand different artists throughout the world, ranging from popular performers to the world's leading orchestras. Another popular song was "MICHELLE". Over five hundred versions of this have been released throughout the world. Three further Lennon/McCartney songs that have been recorded by hundreds of artists are — "THE FOOL ON THE HILL", "AND I LOVE HER" and "ELEANOR RIGBY".
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were not the only two successful song writers in the group. George Harrison has also been active in the composing field. His composition "SOMETHING" has been recorded by many artists including Shirley Bassey.
The recordings in the special anniversary two record set are representative of the early part of the Beatles' career and the songs contained are representative of their Australian hits during 1963/1966 period.
MATRIX INFORMATION
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
| RELEASE DATE | DISC 1 / VOL 1 SIDE 1 MATRIX |
DISC 1 / VOL 1 SIDE 2 MATRIX |
DISC 2 / VOL 2 SIDE 1 MATRIX |
DISC 2 / VOL 2 SIDE 2 MATRIX |
PARTS |
| Feb 1973 | YAPAX 1015 | YAPAX 1016 | YAPAX 1009 | YAPAX 1010 | AU |
SLEEVE INFORMATION
| ORIGIN | CODE | CIRCULATED | SLEEVE DETAILS |
| AUST | A1 | Feb 1973 | Gatefold sleeve; gold sticker with name of distributing radio station |
PURPLE 1-BOX
AU7533S6/AU7534S6
Feb 1973
AU7533S6/AU7534S6
Feb 1973
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 1 JULY 2026
