The Beatles Greatest Hits Volume 3
AUS Parlophone Stereo LP, PCSO 7563
Planned release February 1971
01 - Nowhere Man
02 - Paperback Writer
03 - Yellow Submarine
04 - Penny Lane *
05 - All You Need Is Love
06 - Hello, Goodbye
07 - Magical Mystery Tour
08 - Lady Madonna
09 - Hey Jude
10 - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
11 - Get Back
12 - The Ballad Of John & Yoko
13 - Something
14 - Let It Be
* = Mix not available on official CD
==About the album==
Based on the success of the earlier two "Greatest Hits" volumes, EMI Australia commenced planning a third volume in late 1970.
A number of running orders were proposed before the final order was settled in December:
1. Nowhere Man (#1)
2. Paperback Writer (#5)
3. Yellow Submarine (#1)
4. Penny Lane (#1)
5. All You Need Is Love (#1)
6. Hello, Goodbye (#1)
7. Magical Mystery Tour (#2)
8. Lady Madonna (#1)
TOTAL TIME: 22:36
1. Hey Jude (#1)
2. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (#1)
3. Get Back (#1)
4. The Ballad Of John & Yoko (#1)
5. Something (#1)
6. Let It Be (#1) - single version
TOTAL TIME: 23:11
(The number beside each track is the highest position the track reached on the Sydney top 40)
Cutting notes dated 6 January 1971 exist. The cuts were numbered 2PX 751/2 with matrices YAPAX 1051/2. Ten test pressings were made.
Sleeve artwork had already been designed, and, in similar fashion to the previous two volumes, borrowed heavily from overseas, this time the German "World’s Best" compilation. A full batch of sleeves (300) had been printed in anticipation of final acceptance.
Unfortunately, Apple Corps was not happy with the proposed release and vetoed it before full pressing began. Fortunately, however, an industrious EMI employee sneaked a test pressing and one of the sleeves home before they were all destroyed.
The concept would again be revisited in late 1971. This time there was less resistance from Apple and the result was "The Essential Beatles", released in Australia and New Zealand in February 1972. By this time, EMI Australia had requested and received a new stereo mix of "Penny Lane", although why they used the mono mix of "Baby, You’re A Rich Man" is anyone’s guess!
==About this transfer==
Yeah, another fantasy item. But who knows, maybe EMI Australia did consider a Volume 3 back in late 1970? If they had, then these tracks would certainly be contenders. The astute will observe that, if you take out the non-number one charting "Paperback Writer" and "Magical Mystery Tour", you have the second half of the 1983 "The Number Ones" compilation.
Like the backstory above, I did toy with numerous track listings, with earlier lists including "I Am The Walrus" and "Baby, You're A Rich Man", but given the time limitation of vinyl, I decided to settle on the more obvious tracks, short of creating a Volume 4 as well! As it is, the number three charting "The Long And Winding Road" misses out, as too do numerous double A side number ones. But I think it's a nice catch-all collection that would have been a good addition to EMI's summer 1971 catalogue.
For this compilation I've primarily used Dr Ebbetts' transfer of my copy of the Aussie "The Number Ones" LP (with some minor remastering). For the remaining three tracks not on that album ("Paperback Writer", "Magical Mystery Tour" and the duophonic "Penny Lane") I've used the latest Dr Ebbetts "Archive Series" transfers. I've used the duophonic mix of "Penny Lane" because, at the time the album would have been compiled, there was no true stereo mix in existence. Given EMI Australia substituted in the duophonic mix of "She Loves You" on the stereo version of "Greatest Hits Volume 1", it's feasible that they would do something similar here. It's mainly for this reason that I haven't used the official 2009 remastered CDs. Plus, I preferred to keep the "vinyl" feeling and consistency with the earlier two Volumes.
I should stress that even though I have used renown Dr Ebbetts sources, this release is not meant for audiophiles. I created this simply as a fantasy item. If you like, you may wish to recreate using official 2009 remasters (CD or vinyl).
==Vinyl transfers by Dr Ebbetts==
Artwork included