K-tel Australia Index – 11

Notes

This page covers the final tranche of the NA series from NA675 to NA703, that were either single artist or various artist compilations. Most were advertised on television and radio in some form. The NA series was the main consolidated series of serial numbers and seems to have covered anything that didn’t fit the TA (Teenager) and WA (Western and Country) music genres, although they increasingly slipped into the later NA series.

NA703 is currently the highest serial number we have come across. It initially seemed to be only a cassette, but I have since spotted a reference to the LP. It is likely to be a set of rerecording’s by the original artists. It is copyrighted 1986, and this is about the time that the K-tel International parent company in the United States went into bankruptcy. By this stage the majors had formed a series of rolling alliances and were controlling the compilation market themselves leaving K-tel and others with little in the way of contemporary popular music.

From about 1980 K-tel products (including the records and tapes) were only available in the McEwans Hardware stores.

From 1987 K-tel sold imported Compact Discs of their own material. However, they do not seem to have marketed them very well.

Numbering

The order of the early releases is based on the Australian Matrix system that many record companies adhered to. This is often referred to as the MX number. The MX number is not on many later issues and some international re-issues. Furthermore, many of the issues that K-Tel Australia simply acted as a distributer for, or where they did budget reissues for other labels also don’t have MX numbers. Publishing year is given on the rare occasions when printed on the cover or label, or if there is clear evidence that it was issued in a particular year.

(Please note: Inside flip back and double record images will come as I get time to photograph them, and some the front covers will be redone. Enjoy.)

More images to come…