PAST MASTERS VOLUMES ONE & TWO
Parlophone PCSO 791135
Released 14 March 1988 (CD only), 19 December 1988 (as part of The Beatles Box), and 13 February 1989 (separately on LP and cassette)
Original recommended retail price: $19.99
Issued as part of EMI (Australia)’s standardised, digitally remastered Beatles catalogue, Past Masters gathered the singles, B-sides and other tracks omitted from the core albums, with the local LP masters cut from CD sources using Direct Metal Mastering.
Labels & Related Material
AULP791135SBB
December 1988
Tracks
Same tracks as UK release
Pressing & Mastering

First Issued

Side 1

Side 2

Side 3

Side 4

Parts

19-Dec-88

✎PCSO 791136 A

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791136 B

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791137 A

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791137 B

PB EMIDISC DMM

AU
Sleeve Information

Code

Circulated

Comments

AU1

Dec-88

Uncoated gatefold sleeve. "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" footer on rear cover. The white half is susceptible to discolouration, particularly on the inner cover that's pressed against the black inner cover.

Overview
Standardising The Beatles’ catalogue left one essential task: gathering the recordings that did not appear on the original studio albums. Past Masters supplied that missing part of the story, bringing the remaining material into a two-volume companion to the newly established international catalogue.

The project followed EMI UK’s digital remastering work begun in 1986. The standard album sequence comprised the twelve original British studio LPs plus the American album version of Magical Mystery Tour, with Past Masters collecting the material outside that programme.

Like EMI UK, EMI (Australia) first issued the compilation on CD, using imported discs, in March 1988. Both volumes spent five weeks on the Australian charts, reaching positions in the low seventies.

The local vinyl edition followed as part of the new catalogue box set. EMI (Australia) used CD copies from its own library as mastering sources, and Paul Bryant cut Past Masters at the Homebush factory over the weekend of 12–13 November 1988. The work used a Neumann VMS-82 lathe and Direct Metal Mastering technology.

The Australian sleeve closely followed the British design, with local manufacturing details on the rear and the additional wording “DIGITALLY REMASTERED” at the lower left. Click the sleeve image above to view the inner gatefold.

After its inclusion in the December 1988 box set, Past Masters became available separately on LP and cassette on 13 February 1989, completing the transition from imported CDs to a locally manufactured release in the established formats.