OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA / WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
Apple A-8693
Released 20 February 1969
Original recommended retail price: $1.00
A locally initiated release that allowed The Beatles’ original recording to take over from the competing cover versions already charting in Australia.
Matrix Information
Side 1: (mono) 7XAPA1637 A
Side 2: (mono) 7XAPA1638 A

1969
Side 1: (mono) 7XAPA1637 B
Side 2: (mono) 7XAPA1638 B

Overview
Australia was one of the very few countries that released this coupling with the true mono mixes. However, as the single was cut "on the fly" from the mono The Beatles LP, the fade out on 'While My Guitar Gentry Weeps' was cut by a few seconds. This was also a common tactic used to 'hide' vinyl floor noise; if one listens closely (with headphones!) to many Australian Beatles singles they'll hear the slightly trimmed endings.

After their contracts with Northern Songs expired in March 1968, new George Harrison and Richard Starkey-penned titles were published in Australia by Apple Corps Pty Ltd, on behalf of their respective UK publishing companies Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd. Commencing November 1968, Apple Corps was administered here by Essex Music of Australia.

The single remained available until the late 1980s.
Chart Performance

Brisbane

(QLD)

Sydney

(NSW)

Melbourne

(VIC)

Hobart

(TAS)

Adelaide

(SA)

Perth

(WA)

GO-SET

(AUS)

Chart Entry

01-Mar-69

07-Feb-69**

01-Mar-69*

22-Jan-69*†

18-Jan-69**

21-Feb-69*

05-Mar-69

Highest Position

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

Weeks In

11

24

20

20

19

12

19
Listed as "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps" except * "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
** Bracketed with The Marmalade
† Bracketed with The Marmalade/Arthur Conley/The Bedrocks/Chris Shakespeare [Globe Show]
With The Beatles and EMI UK choosing not to issue a single from The Beatles LP, other artists stepped in for their own hopes of a hit. In the UK, The Marmalade, The Bedrocks and The Chris Shakespeare Globe Show released recordings of 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' in late 1968, while in the US, Arthur Conley did the same.

These singles were also released in Australia, with each having variable levels of success, perhaps prompting EMI (Australia) to unilaterally release the original Beatles' version. Once released, The Beatles' version either 'replaced' the cover versions in the charts, or were 'bracketed' with those other artists. In essence, this makes the chart entry dates rather meaningless in this instance, as most refer to one or more of the earlier singles before The Beatles 'took over'.
Apple
AUSP8693A.a

Music publ. royalty stamps
AUSP8693A.b

Different font/style for non-templated elements
AUSP8693A.c

Different font/style for non-templated elements
Side 2 title over two lines
AUSP8693A.d

Different font/style for non-templated elements (same typeface for some elements but with different weight)
'S T E R E O' at left of spindle hole
Production credit on side 2 label not split across apple core

Copies with this label variation also exist with a smaller pressing ring; the result of EMI (Australia) installing new Toshiba-EMI automatic presses in 1980 and changing the 7" mould
Silver/Black Style 'C'
AUSP8693SBC.a

First appeared in October 1982 with the release of The Australian 20th Anniversary Singles Collection

Visit AB34 for more information or to see an image of the picture sleeve