LP and EP Sleeve Footers

Identifying Australian Beatles pressings through changes in rear-cover manufacturing and copyright information
The small logos and lines of text printed along the bottom of Australian Beatles record sleeves provide valuable clues to when a cover was designed or revised. Although these footers changed several times between the early 1960s and the end of the vinyl era, most LP and EP covers retained the style in use when they were first produced. The exceptions—and the subtle variations introduced over time—can help collectors identify later reprints and distinguish otherwise similar sleeves.
LP Sleeve Footers
With a few exceptions, the footer originally used on the rear cover of an Australian Beatles LP remained unchanged throughout the life of that sleeve. Consequently, a later pressing could still be housed in a cover carrying a much earlier footer style. The principal styles and known exceptions are outlined below.

A. Early 1960s: Circular Parlophone Logo
The earliest Australian Beatles LP sleeves carried a circular Parlophone logo accompanied by three lines of manufacturing and distribution text.
B. July 1965: Square Parlophone/EMI Logo
In July 1965, the circular Parlophone logo was replaced by the square Parlophone/EMI “world” logo. This change did not apply universally to every sleeve introduced thereafter. Rubber Soul and A Collection of Beatles Oldies, for example, continued to use the earlier circular-logo style.

C. Late 1968: Stereo and Mono Playback Information

The LP footer was revised again in late 1968, coinciding with the deletion of mono editions where stereo alternatives were available. Sleeves for new stereo releases carried instructions explaining how the record could be played on a mono reproducer. Mono-only titles featured a similar block of text promoting the benefits of playing the record through stereo equipment. Both versions recommended “THE NEW EMI ANTISTATIC RECORD CLEANING CLOTH.” Most established Beatles sleeves retained their original footers, but two existing covers were revised to incorporate the new stereo wording: Please Please Me and Greatest Hits Volume 1. The stereo footer was also used on two newly prepared sleeve designs:

  • the Australian single-sleeve version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, adopted in December 1969; and
  • the 1973 repackaging of Greatest Hits Volume 1 and Greatest Hits Volume 2.

D. 1978: Simplified EMI (Australia) Footer

A much more discreet footer appeared in 1978. Its precise arrangement varied according to the design of the rear cover, but the principal wording identified the record as “Manufactured and Distributed by EMI (Australia) Limited”. Depending upon the sleeve, the footer might also include the year in which the recording was first published.

E. 1981: EMI Music Group of Companies

In 1981, references to EMI (Australia) were replaced by the broader corporate identification: “EMI MUSIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA AND LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND”. The general appearance remained similar to the footer introduced in 1978.

F. December 1988: Digitally Remastered Identifier

The digitally remastered Beatles catalogue was released on vinyl in Australia in December 1988. The revised LP covers carried the words “DIGITALLY REMASTERED” inside a small box, usually positioned near the lower-left corner of the rear cover. A barcode was also added to the upper-right corner. Although the first four Beatles albums were now presented in mono, their Australian sleeves—and record labels—retained the former stereo catalogue numbers. This understandably caused considerable confusion among buyers and collectors.

G. December 1988: EMI Music Group Australasia

At the same time, some covers received a further simplified footer consisting of the EMI logo and the wording: “℗ EMI Records Ltd. Manufactured and distributed by the EMI Music Group Australasia”. The year in which the recording was first published was included on some sleeves but omitted from others.

EP Sleeve Footers
Australian Beatles EP sleeves followed a particularly conservative pattern. Until September 1979, the footer originally assigned to an EP generally remained on its cover throughout the title’s life, despite later changes to EMI’s standard footer design.

This means that the footer on an EP sleeve usually reflects when that particular sleeve was first prepared—not necessarily when the individual copy was pressed or sold.

A. Early 1960s: Circular Parlophone Logo
The earliest EP sleeves carried a circular Parlophone logo accompanied by four lines of text. This included a recommendation to use a Fredorec Cleaning Sponge and Clendisc to help preserve the record.
B. November 1964: Cleaning-Care Line Removed
A revised footer appeared in November 1964. It was similar to the original design, but the following line had been removed: “Use a Fredorec Cleaning Sponge and Clendisc to help preserve this record”
C. September 1965: Square Parlophone/EMI Logo
In September 1965, the circular Parlophone logo was replaced by the square Parlophone/EMI “world” logo. The typeface used for the “MADE AND DISTRIBUTED…” line was made narrower so that the wording could be accommodated within the revised design.
D. September 1979: The Reissued 70000 Series
Although the EP had fallen out of favour in much of the world by 1968, the format survived in Australia throughout the 1970s. EMI (Australia) deleted all Beatles EPs in December 1978, but the 70000 catalogue series was made available again in late September 1979. The reissued sleeves carried a markedly simplified design: a Parlophone logo positioned centrally at the bottom of the rear cover, accompanied by copyright wording similar to that found on the corresponding 1979 LP sleeves.