From time-to-time and for various reasons EMI (Australia) imported titles from overseas.
Often, titles were imported when EMI (Australia) was unsure of how many copies they would sell, or they anticipated that they would not sell many copies at all. EMI (Australia) would also import, either in full or in part (ie just sleeves), when it was considered too cost prohibitive to manufacture locally.
In the late 1960s, EMI (Australia) added EMI UK and Capitol US reel-to-reel tape and cassette titles to the local catalogue. This was because EMI (Australia) did not have the facilities to manufacture locally. One could walk into a music store that sold reel-to-reel tapes or cassettes and quite likely see copies of the US-only Yesterday And Today sitting alongside UK copies of Revolver!
The first Beatles album to receive a full 'official import' was the Magical Mystery Tour LP. With the popularity of the World Record Club release, and solid orders of the US release through EMI's international ordering system, EMI (Australia) decided to add the title to its catalogue in September 1974. Imports continued until EMI (Australia) released the LP domestically in July 1979, not surprisingly with an inferior gatefold sleeve and without the 24-page book (although some copies did come with a loose stapled booklet).
Between April and July 1975, EMI (Australia) imported three further titles: The Beatles Story (USA), Something New and Beatles Beat (Germany). Each title was available only for a short period of between a few weeks and a few months (the import codes for these titles can be found on the 'Album Discography' page - link in the top menu).
In February 1979, following the success in the USA of the Sgt Pepper's picture disc, EMI (Australia) imported US copies of the Abbey Road picture disc. The title was not a success here, and combined with poor pressing quality, sank with nary a trace.
Around June 1979, EMI (New Zealand) issued a series of singles that had been hits in Britain. Included were two Beatles singles: 'Can't Buy Me Love'/'You Can't Do That' (BRIT 6) and 'Help!'/'I'm Down' (BRIT 45). Both these singles were imported by EMI (Australia). EMI (New Zealand) also released a set of Australian hit singles (AUS series), which included 'Roll Over Beethoven'/'Hold Me Tight' (AUS 32), but these were for domestic release, not export to Australia.
In July 1981, EMI (Australia) imported UK copies of the complete mono Beatles LP catalogue - the first vinyl pressing of the original mono mixes since 1969. More information on this range can be found by clicking the UK Parlophone label image above.
Other titles officially imported by EMI (Australia) include (but not limited to):
Official EMI (Australia) imports generally had a blue sticker with "EMI IMPORT" written in white affixed to the front cover - see image at top of page.