Newly-discovered Beatles tape sells for £9,800

A newly-discovered tape of The Beatles laughing and chatting during an early recording session sold at auction yesterday for £9,800 ($23,000).

Cameo Auctioneers, in Midgham, Berkshire, said the 30-minute reel-to-reel tape was recorded in 1964, and featured The Beatles recording ‘I’ll Follow The Sun’ and a number of other songs.

The item was unearthed in the attic of a man who had previously worked in the music industry. The auction house said the son wished to remain anonymous and would only say that the tape was found in the north of England.

Cameo says the tape sold to an internet bidder, who has requested anonymity. It had previously been estimated to sell for between £8,000 and £12,000.

The tape features John Lennon and Paul McCartney collapsing into laughter as they try to complete I’ll Follow the Sun. It also contains versions of songs including ‘I Feel Fine’, ‘I’m A Loser’ and ‘She’s A Woman’.

[audio:ill_follow_the_sun_chat.mp3]

The tape is double-sided, and running at 7.5 inches per second lasts for approximately 30 minutes. It was sold without copyright, broadcast rights, performers consent or any other reproductive rights. The tracklisting is as follows:

Side one
Don’t Put Me Down Like This
I Feel Fine
She’s A Woman
Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby
Honey Don’t
I’ll Follow The Sun

Side two
I’ll Follow The Sun
I’m A Loser
I’ll Follow The Sun
Too Much Monkey Business
Nitty Gritty
Somethings Gotta Hold Of Me
I Shall Not Be Moved