Parlophone Sleeve Logos

The changing trademarks and corporate devices appearing on Beatles record sleeves
The Parlophone and EMI logos printed on Australian Beatles record sleeves changed considerably between the early 1960s and the end of the vinyl era. Although EMI (Australia) had previously been slow to adopt new British corporate designs, from 1964 its sleeve branding increasingly followed developments in the United Kingdom. Locally designed sleeves provide the clearest record of this evolution, progressing from the circular Parlophone trademark to the EMI World device and, finally, the familiar stacked EMI/Parlophone logo.
The early circular Parlophone logo
Until the early 1960s, EMI (Australia) generally lagged behind EMI UK in adopting new Parlophone logo styles. This difference was not always apparent on Australian releases whose sleeves were printed from negatives supplied by EMI UK, as the original British logo was usually retained.

The delay is therefore most noticeable on EP and LP sleeves designed locally in Australia.
The earliest design found on locally produced Australian Beatles sleeves had originally been introduced in 1959. It combined the circular Parlophone trademark with wording enclosed within a rectangular box. Two versions were used, depending on the record format.

Although this design was relatively short-lived on Australian Beatles LP sleeves, it continued to appear on newly released Beatles EPs until February 1965.
The Parlophone/EMI World logo
In July 1964, EMI (Australia) fell into line with EMI UK by adopting the new Parlophone/EMI World logo. Initially used only sporadically, the logo was not applied consistently until early 1965.

This design combined the Parlophone name and circular trademark with EMI’s globe device. Beneath it appeared the corporate wording:

TRADE MARK OF
THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD.
ONE OF THE E M I GROUP OF COMPANIES
An Australian version
Around July 1965, the Parlophone/EMI World logo was modified for Australian use. The original final line was removed and replaced by:

REGISTERED USER
E.M.I. (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

The entire block of corporate wording was newly typeset rather than simply altered. The overall height of the logo was also increased slightly to accommodate the additional line.
The stacked EMI/Parlophone logo
A new stacked EMI/Parlophone logo was introduced during the middle of 1968. This arrangement placed the rectangular EMI logo directly above the Parlophone name and circular trademark, bringing the two corporate identities together in a single compact device.

Where the sleeve design permitted, the earlier Parlophone/EMI World logo was moved to the rear of the EP or LP sleeve.
The EMI and Parlophone logos separate
Around 1978, the stacked arrangement was discontinued. EMI and Parlophone were thereafter presented as two separate logos, generally positioned together near the bottom of the rear cover.

A final alteration occurred in 1988, when the black background and border were removed from the Parlophone logo. This simplified version marked the last significant change to Parlophone sleeve branding during the period represented by the Australian Beatles catalogue.