Foundations of the archive
Drummond Grieve
This website and archive would not exist without Drummond. He conceived, designed, developed and launched I Am The Platypus in 2011, creating the foundation upon which the archive continues to grow. In May 2021, Drummond entrusted the site to Jaesen Jones to preserve, expand and carry forward.
Bruce Hamlin
Bruce’s pioneering book, The Beatles Records in Australia, provided much of the information that formed the textual foundation of the original website. His research remains an important reference for collectors of Australian Beatles records.
Jaesen Jones
Jaesen assumed responsibility for I Am The Platypus in May 2021 and has since extensively researched, rewritten and expanded the archive. Drawing upon original EMI (Australia) documentation, contemporary publications and the first-hand recollections of former industry employees, he endeavours to ensure that the information presented throughout the site is as complete and accurate as available evidence permits.
Collectors and researchers
The 57th Beatle
An essentially anonymous contributor from The Beatles Collecting forums who generously provided label scans and information during the archive’s formative years.
Stuart Allen
A keen-eyed collector who has contributed a substantial number of label images and has a particular talent for identifying previously undocumented variations.
Gary O’Donnell
Gary has supplied hundreds of label images from his personal collection, including examples of the elusive EMI New Zealand “contract” pressings manufactured in New Zealand exclusively for distribution in Australia.
Richard Green
Richard has contributed images of numerous uncommon releases—some sufficiently rare that entirely new pages were required to accommodate them. He also compiled the Australian Beatles Records Rarity Guide available on this site.
Russell Hopkinson
Russell’s meticulous research has uncovered more than 75 previously undocumented label pairs across Australian Beatles singles and EPs.
Michael Quailey and Dave Edwards
Michael and Dave have both contributed—and continue to contribute—a significant number of label variations to the archive.
Ross Myers
An extensive collector who has contributed many unique and rare label variations, together with a wealth of associated ephemera, including World Record Club release sheets.
Specialist contributions
Gavin Ryan and Jeffrey Black
Chart positions appearing throughout the site have been compiled by Gavin Ryan, author of the Capital City Chart Books covering Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. Jeffrey Black provided additional cross-referencing and chart background. Go-Set chart positions were compiled by Jaesen Jones.
Erling Mehl
Generic company singles-sleeve images appear courtesy of Erling and his extensive international sleeve archive at 45-sleeves.com.
Glenn Reimer
Glenn has resolved the release dates of numerous solo Beatles records through his extensive collection of Platterlog publications and Australian music magazines.
Dom Romeo
Dom has generously assisted the archive with graphic design, helping to improve the visual presentation of material appearing throughout the site.
Industry contributors
The first-hand memories of former EMI (Australia) and Studios 301 employees, together with those of other Australian music-industry figures, have added an invaluable human dimension to this archive. Their stories, recollections, technical knowledge and advice have helped illuminate the people, decisions and production processes behind the records documented throughout the site.
EMI and record-industry figures
Chris Gilbey OAM
An Australian music-industry executive, producer and publisher whose career included Albert Productions and ATV Northern Songs, together with a close working relationship with EMI (Australia).
Brian Harris
Former EMI (Australia) General Manager who left the company in 1984 to join the newly formed International Direct Marketing operation combining the World Record Club and Australian Record Club, before returning to EMI (Australia) in 1986. Brian’s recollections have provided valuable insight into EMI’s operations and the transformation of Australia’s mail-order record industry during the 1980s.
Aub Hogno
Joined EMI (Australia) in 1973 and rose to become National Shipping Manager before leaving in 1984 to lead the World Record Club, overseeing its revival, expansion into compact discs and acquisition of the New Zealand World Record Club.
Phil Israel
Former EMI (Australia) A&R Manager and Parlophone Label Manager, compiler of several Beatles projects, including The Number Ones and The Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection.
Peter Jamieson
Managing Director of EMI (Australia) from 1979 to 1982, following an earlier period as Managing Director of EMI (New Zealand). Peter’s recollections have provided an executive perspective on EMI (Australia) during an important period of change within the company and the wider record industry.
Les Smith
Former EMI (Australia) National Advertising Manager who joined the company in 1971 after a career in the printing industry, later moving into senior roles in EMI’s video and screen entertainment operations. Les’s recollections have provided valuable insight into EMI’s advertising, record-sleeve production and relationships with Australian printing companies.
Rob Walker
An EMI (Australia) promotions executive and company spokesman who provided connections to other EMI (Australia) executives.
Geoff Weule
A long-serving EMI (Australia) executive and former Head of A&R whose career with the company spanned approximately 18 years. Geoff was also the originator of the Axis Records concept, conceiving the successful budget label that became an important part of EMI (Australia)’s domestic catalogue.
Mastering and Engineering
Warren Barnett
A mastering engineer at EMI (Australia) and later Festival Records whose work included the Australian red-vinyl twentieth-anniversary edition of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Don Bartley
A mastering engineer at Studios 301 responsible for numerous highly regarded Australian Beatles recuts, including the acclaimed 1983 audiophile edition of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Paul Bryant
An EMI (Australia) mastering engineer whose work included part of the digitally remastered Beatles catalogue issued in 1988.
Mike Papas
A mastering engineer whose technical knowledge and industry recollections have assisted the archive’s research into Australian record production.
Allan Parsons
An EMI (Australia) mastering engineer responsible for numerous Beatles recuts during the 1980s. His work included releases prepared for The Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection, the locally produced digital masters used for the 1987 coloured-vinyl editions of The Beatles and Yellow Submarine, and part of the digitally remastered Beatles catalogue cut in 1988.
Otto Ruiter
A mastering engineer at Studios 301 whose Maxicut and other recuts appear across numerous Australian Beatles releases of the early 1980s.
John Schell
EMI (Australia)’s Chief Engineer and the creator of the Maxicut mastering process.
Their willingness to share first-hand knowledge has preserved details that could never have been recovered from surviving records and company documentation alone.
With sincere thanks
Many other collectors and readers have supplied information, images, corrections and encouragement over the years. Every contribution—whether an undocumented label variation, a release date, a piece of company documentation or a personal recollection—has helped make the archive more complete.
Outstanding collaborators, all.
