Rare tape of The Beatles to be auctioned

Still friends at time of tape
Still friends at time of tape

A new tape recording of The Beatles' John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr chatting and breaking into giggles during an early recording session has been discovered and will be auctioned off next week.

On one part of the half-hour Beatles tape, John Lennon and Paul McCartney repeatedly collapse in laughter as they try to complete the song I'll Follow The Sun. The tape also features versions of I Feel Fine and an unreleased track called Don't Put Me Down Like This.

Cameo Auctioneers says the reel-to-reel tape was recorded in 1964 and was recently found by a man clearing out his father's attic.

Tape indicates Beatles having song problems

"When you listen to the recording it makes your skin tingle because it's from a period of time when The Beatles were still friends, it's early Beatles," said auctioneer Jon King. "You can hear John, Paul and Ringo having a joke and a laugh together. They are laughing because they can't get a song right."

The tape is expected to sell for $16,000 to $24,000US at an auction in Midgham, about 45 miles west of London, on Tuesday.

What with another rare Beatles tape recently found in a garage, MusicRadar is currently going through our basements, closets and garages. We just might dig up our lawns too.

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.