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: 13 NOVEMBER 2022
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 10383-2 AP 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 10388-3 AP |
AU |
| ? 1983/4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
SW 10373 DB SW 10375 DB SW 10377 DB SW 10379 OR SW 10381 OR RD4 330-6A-3 OR RD4 330-7A-2 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 10388-3 AP |
AU |
MATRIX INFORMATION
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Machine Stamped - Hand Written
Specially compiled by EMI UK for the World Record Club, the release of The Beatles Box would follow in Australia through the local World Record Club in March 1981. The artwork and content of the Australian release closely mirrored that of the UK release, including the composer errors for 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', 'Piggies' and 'Don't Pass Me By' on the disc 7 sleeve. However, unlike the UK release, here boxes included a US-printed 1976-era 23" (585mm) x 35" (890mm) poster – see image at bottom right.
Due to the increased demand for all things Beatles after the passing of John Lennon, EMI (Australia) made the decision to import box sets from Toshiba-EMI Japan for retail sale. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error by an EMI (Australia) employee, the order was placed for a significantly higher number of box sets than intended. As the order was made on a Friday, and wasn't picked up until the following week, it was too late to correct. Accordingly, people could easily find Japanese sets for sale at their local music stores for years!
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 By then the orange Parlophone labels had been replaced by black Parlophone labels.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 obtained permission to release the box set to its subscribers. Reader's Digest announced the set's availability through one of its regular mail outs. Along with the usual "All Cash Giveaway" hype, the mail out included a relatively lavish promotion of 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 set. 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 sturdier cardboard packaging, like they used on their other sets. Each record was still housed in a unique inner sleeve but here all records were stored in a solid cardboard pouch that slid into a solid outer cardboard slipcase. However, the set did not include the poster. 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. 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 full sets selling for less than $10, or $1 per individual disc.
Mastered at Studios 301 by Don Bartley and Otto Ruiter, with recuts by Allan Parsons, from tapes numbered PARLO 557 to 572.
Due to the increased demand for all things Beatles after the passing of John Lennon, EMI (Australia) made the decision to import box sets from Toshiba-EMI Japan for retail sale. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error by an EMI (Australia) employee, the order was placed for a significantly higher number of box sets than intended. As the order was made on a Friday, and wasn't picked up until the following week, it was too late to correct. Accordingly, people could easily find Japanese sets for sale at their local music stores for years!
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 obtained permission to release the box set to its subscribers. Reader's Digest announced the set's availability through one of its regular mail outs. Along with the usual "All Cash Giveaway" hype, the mail out included a relatively lavish promotion of 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 set. 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 sturdier cardboard packaging, like they used on their other sets. Each record was still housed in a unique inner sleeve but here all records were stored in a solid cardboard pouch that slid into a solid outer cardboard slipcase. However, the set did not include the poster. 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. 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 full sets selling for less than $10, or $1 per individual disc.
Mastered at Studios 301 by Don Bartley and Otto Ruiter, with recuts by Allan Parsons, from tapes numbered PARLO 557 to 572.
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
