THE BEATLES COLLECTION
Parlophone BC 13 / PSLP 261
Parlophone BC 13 / PSLP 261
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 28 FEBRUARY 2023
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
The Beatles Collection box set brought together all twelve of the original UK stereo studio LPs plus a bonus Rarities LP containing tracks not included on any of the original albums.
Intended originally as an international limited edition, the set was released in Australia on 29 November 1978 at the price of $89.00. The LPs were standard Australian stock of the day (the new Rarities LP was pressed with the generic cream-coloured EMI label), but were housed in flip-top boxes imported from the UK. Only 2,000 sets were released in this configuration.
Proving very popular, EMI (Australia) placed the set on full release in April 1979. The set adopted the Rarities LP catalogue number, PSLP 261, and was housed in an Australian-made textured dark blue box with a lift-off lid. Printed in gold on the lid was "The Beatles collection" plus the fab four signatures. Once existing stock of the Rarities LP was exhausted, new pressings appeared with the orange Parlophone label. Again, LPs were standard production stock, with variations in the sleeves, labels and matrices determined by when the boxes were assembled. From mid-1980, the album titles were printed in gold centrally on the base of the (now) non-textured box and from mid-1981, the sets came sealed by EMI (Australia). By this stage the recommended retail price had risen to $109.00, although World Record Club members could get it for a steal at only $91.50 (please visit the "Promotion" page for more information).
Unlike in the UK, the Rarities LP was never released separately in Australia. However, it was common for retailers to break up box sets and sell the contents individually, allowing those who already had the core LPs to obtain Rarities without spending a premium for the complete box set.
By mid-1980 more than 25,000 sets had sold, representing 325,000 actual albums. To commemorate this six-platinum achievement, The Beatles' Australian publisher ATV Northern Songs presented EMI (Australia) with a "gold box". Four years later, EMI (Australia) would itself commemorate the achievement by releasing the set in a textured, gold coloured box. Each box contained a uniquely-numbered yellow certificate stating "LIMITED EDITION GOLD BOX SET No 000# OF 4000", however, evidence suggests that more than 4,000 gold box sets were sold, as—contrary to the popular legend that the box was withdrawn—the set remained a steady seller well into the second half of 1987.
Like the Australian-made blue box, the gold box was prone to corner splits on the lift-off lid. In addition, the gold box suffered terribly from the gold cover peeling, meaning that boxes in near mint condition are very rare.
Intended originally as an international limited edition, the set was released in Australia on 29 November 1978 at the price of $89.00. The LPs were standard Australian stock of the day (the new Rarities LP was pressed with the generic cream-coloured EMI label), but were housed in flip-top boxes imported from the UK. Only 2,000 sets were released in this configuration.
Proving very popular, EMI (Australia) placed the set on full release in April 1979. The set adopted the Rarities LP catalogue number, PSLP 261, and was housed in an Australian-made textured dark blue box with a lift-off lid. Printed in gold on the lid was "The Beatles collection" plus the fab four signatures. Once existing stock of the Rarities LP was exhausted, new pressings appeared with the orange Parlophone label. Again, LPs were standard production stock, with variations in the sleeves, labels and matrices determined by when the boxes were assembled. From mid-1980, the album titles were printed in gold centrally on the base of the (now) non-textured box and from mid-1981, the sets came sealed by EMI (Australia). By this stage the recommended retail price had risen to $109.00, although World Record Club members could get it for a steal at only $91.50 (please visit the "Promotion" page for more information).
Unlike in the UK, the Rarities LP was never released separately in Australia. However, it was common for retailers to break up box sets and sell the contents individually, allowing those who already had the core LPs to obtain Rarities without spending a premium for the complete box set.
By mid-1980 more than 25,000 sets had sold, representing 325,000 actual albums. To commemorate this six-platinum achievement, The Beatles' Australian publisher ATV Northern Songs presented EMI (Australia) with a "gold box". Four years later, EMI (Australia) would itself commemorate the achievement by releasing the set in a textured, gold coloured box. Each box contained a uniquely-numbered yellow certificate stating "LIMITED EDITION GOLD BOX SET No 000# OF 4000", however, evidence suggests that more than 4,000 gold box sets were sold, as—contrary to the popular legend that the box was withdrawn—the set remained a steady seller well into the second half of 1987.
Like the Australian-made blue box, the gold box was prone to corner splits on the lift-off lid. In addition, the gold box suffered terribly from the gold cover peeling, meaning that boxes in near mint condition are very rare.
In parallel one could still purchase the 'standard' blue box, which remained the main set until December 1988, when EMI (Australia) issued the digitally remastered vinyl catalogue in a UK-made wooden roll top box. Now included was Magical Mystery Tour and the two-disc Past Masters, as well as a glossy 59-page book.
For a short crossover period one could still buy a blue box set, although now the albums were the digital remasters, except, of course, the Rarities LP.
Between 1978 and 1988 some 80,000 sets had been sold. The collection entered the album charts a year after release, in December 1979, where it reached #33 across 11 weeks. It re-entered the charts again the following December, this time reaching #38 across 8 weeks.
Please visit each individual album page for more information.
For a short crossover period one could still buy a blue box set, although now the albums were the digital remasters, except, of course, the Rarities LP.
Between 1978 and 1988 some 80,000 sets had been sold. The collection entered the album charts a year after release, in December 1979, where it reached #33 across 11 weeks. It re-entered the charts again the following December, this time reaching #38 across 8 weeks.
Please visit each individual album page for more information.
