Thanks Bodston and PhilMH. You must have good eyes Phil as can't read any of the fine print you refer to and was going to actually find the record to check it over. Now I don't have to, yehoo! The other thing here, and what initially raised my suspicions, is that there are no matrix numbers on the label which is customary on Australian LP releases.
The Australian and NZ issues have identical track lists but the Japanese and Canadian issues are different. I linked the the Japanese issue below although it has one track that is different "Discovering Japan" replaces "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" The Canadian Issue on Mercury is wildly different and has six tracks that are different and came out the following year in 1980. So, I think we should leave the Canadian issue as a stand alone release when or if it arrives on the site.
Hi Lee, definitely a New Zealand issue, PolyGram's Wellington address appears on the bottom right of the back cover. The label layout and fonts are typical of NZ PolyGram pressings, as is the ring around the outer edge of the label. If you look in the deadwax you will probably find the number 700 stamped or etched, that's the plant ID for PRS Ltd. (PolyGram Record Services) in the Wellington suburb of Miramar.
Discogs has a couple of Aussie pressings: this one (which I think might be an EMI pressing), and this one, which has CBS matrixes; PolyGram didn't have a factory in Australia, mostly relying on EMI and CBS for its Aussie pressings, and 1979 is around the time that more NZ pressings started appearing in Australian stores. This pressing could have been sold in Australia as well, but I think this entry should be made New Zealand as the primary country of release.
The copyright credit for PolyGram Records Pty. Ltd. suggests that this compilation originated in Australia - the NZ company name didn't have "Pty." in it, as you can see on your back cover, a couple of lines beneath the PolyGram logo.
This could be a New Zealand pressing but a lot albums that were manufactured in New Zealand during the consolidation of manufacturing processes (closing down of record plants) that occurred across both Australia and New Zealand at this time. The label here looks decidedly Kiwi to me. What do others think?
This one was only released in Australia, New Zealand, Canada (on Mercury) and Japan and is a great selection from Parker's first four albums. I only found out because I was surprised that this was still the only version on the site and thought that by now surely someone would have posted the UK version. Now I know there is no UK version which surprised me a little as this sold well on release in Australia and also contains the non album single B side "I Want You Back".
Liner notes by Anthony O'Grady from RAM (Rock Australia Magazine) indicate that the impetus behind this compilation may well have come from Australia.