The Best of George Harrison

Pressing & Mastering

First Issued	Side 1	Side 2	Parts
29-Nov-76	✎YEX 961	✎YEX 962	AU

Sleeve Information

Code	Circulated	Comments
AU1	Nov-76	Parlophone Capitol details still partially visible on rear footer
AU2	82	As above, although Capitol details no longer visible
AU3	Nov-82	Reissued on EMI budget label, Axis AX-1143; Axis logo and catalogue number on top right of front cover, PAS catalogue number replaced with AX catalogue number on rear, different EMI/Parlophone footer. Capitol details visible again

Overview
EMI (Australia) released The Best of George Harrison on 29 November 1976 as Parlophone PAS 10011, just two days before George’s new studio album, Thirty Three & 1/3, appeared locally on Dark Horse. The two releases marked different stages of his career: EMI was drawing on its existing catalogue while George began his next chapter with a new distributor.

The compilation divided his career neatly between its two sides. Side one contained seven George Harrison compositions recorded by The Beatles, including 'Something', 'Here Comes the Sun', 'Taxman' and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. Side two collected six solo singles: 'My Sweet Lord', 'Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)', 'You', 'Bangla Desh', 'Dark Horse' and 'What Is Life'. There were no previously unreleased recordings.

The inclusion of Beatles recordings made the album an unusual retrospective. More than half its tracks came from George’s former group, leaving only six selections to represent his solo career. The approach attracted criticism for understating his achievements since the split, particularly given the success of All Things Must Pass.

The artwork and master tapes for the Australian release were supplied by Capitol Records, reflecting EMI (Australia)’s increasing use of US rather than UK tape sources. The tapes were assigned local library numbers PARLO 427–428. Astute observers will notice remnants of the original US Capitol credits at the bottom of the back cover, which were not completely obscured when the local footer was applied. Australian pressings, however, used standard orange Parlophone labels rather than the custom labels of the US edition.

Despite the familiar material, the album achieved only modest Australian chart success, peaking at number 59 during a ten-week run. Thirty Three & 1/3 performed better, reaching number 27 and remaining on the chart for 23 weeks.

On 1 November 1982, EMI (Australia) reissued the compilation on its budget-priced Axis Records label as AX-1143. Retaining the original thirteen-track selection, the reissue brought the collection into EMI’s lower-priced catalogue, alongside other Beatles and solo titles appearing on Axis during the early 1980s. No separate Australian chart placing is recorded for the Axis edition.