Single Sleeve Gallery

A chronological guide to the company sleeves used for Australian Beatles singles
This gallery traces the evolution of the Parlophone, EMI, Apple and Polydor company sleeves associated with Australian Beatles singles. It identifies the earliest known sleeve used for each release, while recognising that later pressings—and differences in when new designs reached each state—mean surviving copies may sometimes be found in replacement or updated sleeves.
The Evolution of Australian Single Sleeves
The gallery below shows the first known sleeve style used for each Beatles single release. As with many Australian Beatles pressings, sleeve variations can occur due to later represses, resulting in copies appearing in updated or replacement company sleeves rather than the sleeve originally used at the time of first issue.

For consistency, this section focuses on the earliest identified sleeve associated with each single, while acknowledging that later copies may differ. Minor variations caused through different print runs are not included; please visit each individual single page for specific examples.
Parlophone

1960-Oct 1963
(A8080-A8093)
Parlophone

Oct 1963-Jul 1965
(A8103-A8153)

Rear similar to the below from 1965
Parlophone

Jul 1965-1969
(A8163-A-8493)

This style and the previous style were used concurrently for a period
Apple

Nov 1968-1970
(A-8693-A-9163)
Apple

1970-1973
Apple

1974-1976
EMI

1969
EMI

Dec 1969-Mar 1973
EMI

Mar 1973-1979
(A-11115-A-12000)

Text layout similar to the below from 1979
EMI

1979-1982
(BRIT 6-BRIT 45)

A variation to the front dating to 1980/81 exists with no cutout and a larger EMI logo in the centre
EMI

1982-1984
(A-689)

A variation to the front dating to 1980/81 exists with no cutout and a larger EMI logo in the centre
EMI

1984-1986
EMI

1986-1990

In various shades of red, blue, green, purple and yellow
Polydor

1964-1969


1964: PHILIPS ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES PTY. LIMITED

1965: PHILIPS ELECTRICAL PTY. LIMITED

1 JULY 1967: PHONOGRAM RECORDINGS PTY. LIMITED
Polydor

1985-1986