THE BEATLES BOX
WRC R91103/10 / Reader's Digest RD4-330-1/8
WRC R91103/10 / Reader's Digest RD4-330-1/8
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 11 AUGUST 2026
ORANGE 1-BOX
AU91103S1
Mar 1981
AU91103S1
Mar 1981
BLACK 1-BOX A
AU91103S2A
Apr 1982
AU91103S2A
Apr 1982
READER'S DIGEST
AU43301RD
Nov 1982
AU43301RD
Nov 1982
BLACK 1-BOX B
AU91103S2B
Jul 1987
AU91103S2B
Jul 1987
| RELEASE DATE | DISC | SIDE 1 MATRIX | SIDE 2 MATRIX | PARTS |
| Mar 1981 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
SW 10373 DB SW 10375 DB SW 10377 DB SW 10379 OR SW 10381 OR SW 10383 OR SW 10385 OR SW 10387 OR |
SW 10374 DB SW 10376 DB SW 10378 OR SW 10380 OR SW 10382 OR SW 10384 OR SW 10386 OR SW 10388 OR |
AU |
| 1981/2 | 6 8 |
SW 10383-2 AP SW 10387 OR |
SW 10384 OR SW 10388-3 AP |
AU |
| 1983/4 | 6 7 |
RD4 330-6A-3 OR RD4 330-7A-2 OR |
SW 10384 OR SW 10386 OR |
AU |
MATRIX INFORMATION
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Specially compiled by EMI UK for the World Record Club, The Beatles Box was released in Australia through the local World Record Club in March 1981. The artwork and content of the Australian edition closely mirrored the original UK release, retaining the composer errors for 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', 'Piggies' and 'Don't Pass Me By' on the disc 7 sleeve, although the reversed photograph used on the UK disc 2 sleeve had been corrected. Unlike the UK release, however, Australian boxes also included a "free" US-printed, 1976-era 23" (583mm) x 35" (885mm) wall poster — see image at bottom right.
Due to the increased demand for all things Beatles following the death of John Lennon in December 1980, EMI (Australia) decided to import box sets from Toshiba-EMI in Japan for retail sale. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error by an EMI (Australia) employee, an order was placed for a significantly greater number of box sets than intended. As the order was placed on a Friday and the error was not discovered until the following week, it was too late to correct. As a result, Japanese sets could be readily found in Australian music stores for years afterwards.
In 1982, the World Record Club re-promoted the box set, this time with a stronger TV-based advertising campaign. By then, the orange Parlophone labels had been replaced by black Parlophone labels. The box set remained available in this configuration for the remainder of the World Record Club's existence in Australia.
Concurrently, in late 1982, Reader's Digest began offering its own edition of the box set to Australian subscribers, under an arrangement with EMI. Reader's Digest editions of the World Records compilation had already appeared overseas, while the Australian records were manufactured locally by EMI (Australia) especially for Reader's Digest.
Reader's Digest announced its availability through one of its regular mail-outs. Along with the usual "All Cash Giveaway" hype, the mail-out included a relatively lavish promotion for the set, including a double-sided 20" (515mm) x 17" (430mm) promotional brochure, the promise of a free gift (naturally!) and a one-sided flexi-disc promoting the collection. Please visit the "Promotion" page for more information on this package or to hear the flexi-disc.
Reader's Digest replaced the rather basic flip-top cardboard box with the sturdier packaging used for its other record sets. Each record was still housed in a unique inner sleeve, but all eight records were now stored in a solid cardboard pouch that slid into a sturdy outer cardboard slipcase. The set did not, however, include the poster. The inner sleeves were essentially the same design as those used by the World Record Club, notwithstanding the addition of the Reader's Digest logo. This time, however, the aforementioned composer errors had been corrected. The records were pressed by EMI (Australia) with black labels carrying Reader's Digest branding.
By the end of the 1980s, unsold copies had flooded wholesale, discount and remainder stores, with complete sets selling for less than $10, or individual discs for as little as $1 each.
The Australian records were mastered at Studios 301 by Don Bartley and Otto Ruiter, with subsequent recuts by Allan Parsons, and again by Otto Ruiter, from tapes numbered PARLO 557 to 572.
Due to the increased demand for all things Beatles following the death of John Lennon in December 1980, EMI (Australia) decided to import box sets from Toshiba-EMI in Japan for retail sale. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error by an EMI (Australia) employee, an order was placed for a significantly greater number of box sets than intended. As the order was placed on a Friday and the error was not discovered until the following week, it was too late to correct. As a result, Japanese sets could be readily found in Australian music stores for years afterwards.
In 1982, the World Record Club re-promoted the box set, this time with a stronger TV-based advertising campaign. By then, the orange Parlophone labels had been replaced by black Parlophone labels. The box set remained available in this configuration for the remainder of the World Record Club's existence in Australia.
Concurrently, in late 1982, Reader's Digest began offering its own edition of the box set to Australian subscribers, under an arrangement with EMI. Reader's Digest editions of the World Records compilation had already appeared overseas, while the Australian records were manufactured locally by EMI (Australia) especially for Reader's Digest.
Reader's Digest announced its availability through one of its regular mail-outs. Along with the usual "All Cash Giveaway" hype, the mail-out included a relatively lavish promotion for the set, including a double-sided 20" (515mm) x 17" (430mm) promotional brochure, the promise of a free gift (naturally!) and a one-sided flexi-disc promoting the collection. Please visit the "Promotion" page for more information on this package or to hear the flexi-disc.
Reader's Digest replaced the rather basic flip-top cardboard box with the sturdier packaging used for its other record sets. Each record was still housed in a unique inner sleeve, but all eight records were now stored in a solid cardboard pouch that slid into a sturdy outer cardboard slipcase. The set did not, however, include the poster. The inner sleeves were essentially the same design as those used by the World Record Club, notwithstanding the addition of the Reader's Digest logo. This time, however, the aforementioned composer errors had been corrected. The records were pressed by EMI (Australia) with black labels carrying Reader's Digest branding.
By the end of the 1980s, unsold copies had flooded wholesale, discount and remainder stores, with complete sets selling for less than $10, or individual discs for as little as $1 each.
The Australian records were mastered at Studios 301 by Don Bartley and Otto Ruiter, with subsequent recuts by Allan Parsons, and again by Otto Ruiter, from tapes numbered PARLO 557 to 572.
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
