Last week, Rob Frith, owner of Vancouver’s Neptoon Records, stumbled upon a hidden treasure while wrapping up a late-night session at a friend’s studio. A reel-to-reel tape labeled “Beatles 60s demos” had been sitting in his shop, unplayed for years—until that night. Expecting a bootleg, Frith was stunned when the tape played with pristine clarity, making it sound as if the legendary band was in the room.
The recording, believed to be a rare, high-quality copy of The Beatles’ 1962 Decca audition tape, has caused a stir among music historians and Beatles enthusiasts alike. Unlike common bootlegs of the session, this tape features leader tape separating each song, a telltale sign of an original production copy rather than a fast duplication.
The tape’s origins trace back to Jack Herschorn, a former Vancouver record executive who brought it from London in the early 1970s. Offered the chance to release it in North America, Herschorn ultimately decided against it, believing the band deserved proper royalties. He eventually lost track of the tape, which somehow ended up in Frith’s collection.
Now, speculation swirls over what will happen next. Frith isn’t keen to sell, but he’s open to sharing the tape under the right circumstances—perhaps even with Paul McCartney himself. Until then, fans can only dream of hearing this long-lost gem in its full glory.
Source: Swifteradio.com.
