Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2 (Australia, 1973)

Labeled as “limited edition” “souvenir presentation”, this release celebrates ten years of the Beatles in Australia and collects the two Australian Greatest hits LPs in one double disc edition.

From An Overview of Australian Beatles Records by Jaeson Jones: “In February 1973, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first Beatles record released in Australia (Please Please Me / Ask Me Why), EMI (Australia) repackaged the two previously issued Greatest Hits compilations into a double LP set with a new gatefold sleeve and distinctive purple labels. The LP was promoted nationally by member stations of the major radio network of Australia, with the front cover featuring a gold sticker on the top left displaying the call sign of the promoting station. The participating radio stations were 2KO, 2UE, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD, 6PR, 7EX and 7HT.

“While there was no new content, or new mixes of old content, the labels eschewed the orange hue that characterised contemporary Beatles releases in favour of a more subdued lilac/purple colour; not a particularly earth-shattering variation perhaps, but one that undeniably adds to the unique character of the Australian Beatles labelography.

“The set was to be short-lived, however, for a few months later EMI UK announced the impending release of The Beatles 1962-1966 (Red) and The Beatles 1967-1970 (Blue) double LPs, effectively scuttling sales of this commemorative set, which was quietly deleted before mid-1973.”

Track list

Disc 1, Side A

1. Please Please Me
2. From Me To You
3. She Loves You
4. I’ll Get You
5. I Want To Hold Your Hand
6. Love Me Do
7. I Saw Her Standing There

Disc 1, Side B

1. Twist And Shout
2. Roll Over Beethoven
3. All My Loving
4. Hold Me Tight
5. Can’t Buy Me Love
6. You Can’t Do That
7. Long Tall Sally

Disc 2, Side A

1. A Hard Day’s Night
2. Boys
3. I Should Have Known Better
4. I Feel Fine
5. She’s A Woman
6. Till There Was You
7. Rock And Roll Music

Disc 2, Side B

1. Anna (Go To Him)
2. Ticket To Ride
3. Eight Days A Week
4. Help!
5. Yesterday
6. We Can Work It Out
7. Day Tripper

Release history

• EMI/Parlophone PCSS7533/4, released 1973

See also

• Greatest Hits Volume 1 (Australia, 1966)
• Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Australia, 1967)

Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2 (Australia, 1973), back cover