STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER / PENNY LANE
Parlophone A8243
Released 16 March 1967
Original recommended retail price: $1.00
The first Australian Beatles single to be issued in its own dedicated picture sleeve.
Matrix Information
Side 1: (mono) 7XCE18415 7XAPA1274
Side 2: (mono) 7XCE18416 7XAPA1275

1967
Side 1: (mono) 7XCE18415 7XAPA1274.2
Side 2: (mono) 7XCE18416 7XAPA1275.2

Overview
The single was released here in a paper picture sleeve similar to the UK release. While EMI (Australia) was now in close lockstep with EMI UK insofar as release dates, they delayed the release of this single so as not to clash with the February release of the Greatest Hits Volume 2 LP. Indeed, the Australasian Performing Rights Association, on behalf of publisher Leeds Music, had placed a performance restriction on the two tracks until the release date.

At some point soon after release, EMI (Australia) recut both sides independently, with pressings from that point adding '.2' to the end.

The single remained available until the late 1980s.
Chart Performance

Brisbane

(QLD)

Sydney

(NSW)

Melbourne

(VIC)

Hobart

(TAS)

Adelaide

(SA)

Perth

(WA)

GO-SET

(AUS)

Chart Entry

11-Mar-67

24-Mar-67

25-Mar-67

22-Mar-67

18-Mar-67

17-Mar-67

29-Mar-67*

Highest Position

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Weeks In

16

15

17

12

14

15

14
Listed as "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" except * "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever"
Silver/Black Style 'A'
AUSP8243SBA.a

Italicised royalty-stamp, matrix, and composer text (both labels)
AUSP8243SBA.b

Non-italicised royalty-stamp, matrix, and composer text (both labels)
Track-duration printed beneath matrix details (both labels)
Minor spacing variations in 'composer' and 'performer' text (both labels)
Silver/Black Style 'B'
AUSP8243SBB.a
Orange
AUSP8243O.a
Silver/Black Style 'C'
AUSP8243SBC.a

First appeared in October 1982 with the release of The Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection

Visit AB34 for more information or to see an image of the picture sleeve