The Beatles original audition tape - is it a fake?
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The Beatles original audition tape - is it a fake?
The tape that got The Beatles rejected by Decca Records in 1962 has unexpectedly been rediscovered. But is it just a (money-making) fake?
By David Mellor, Course Director of Audio Masterclass
According to an article in the Daily Mail and elsewhere, The Beatles’ original audition tape for Decca Records, made in 1962, has been rediscovered after having lain dormant among a collection of memorabilia.
Clearly this recording of ten songs will be of significant interest to Beatles fans, and to whoever is willing to pay possibly £30,000 or more at auction.
But I have to ask the question whether this tape is genuine. It may be a complete fake, or it may be a copy of the original tape.
The reason I wonder is that the spool and box pictured are most definitely not of 1962 vintage. I am absolutely certain that this style of spool was not introduced by Ampex until at least the mid 1970s. A more dedicated enthusiast of recording history may be able to date it more precisely. I further wonder whether Decca would have used a US brand of tape when UK-manufactured tape was available and import duties were high.
I even question the writing in what seems to be felt-tip pen, the modern version of which was only introduced in 1962 and was not in common use until later in the 1960s.
Then there is the discrepancy between the outside of the box that states ‘stereo 1/2 tk’ and the label inside that states ‘2 track mono’. Decca engineers would not have allowed any confusion to arise over whether the recording was mono or stereo. If the recording was made in stereo (which it could have been in 1962) then it would indeed be stereo half-track. ‘2 track mono’ could make sense as it might refer to a mono recording made on a stereo machine with identical signals going to both tracks. Playback would be a little less noisy on a similar machine rather than on a full-track mono machine that would also pick up noise from the guard band between the tracks.
Of course, it may be that the tape itself is the original, wound onto a different spool and placed in a different box. And even if it is a copy of decent quality then it will certainly make interesting listening.
P.S. One more point - The Dolby noise reduction system was not available until 1965, and the Dolby tone (as mentioned on the inside label) introduced even later!
Note on copyright: As a news item specifically about the appearance of this item, fair use is claimed in respect of the photographs.
Publication date: Sunday November 25, 2012
Author: David Mellor, Course Director of Audio Masterclass
Discussion on this topic…
Arthur, Baltimore, USA
What a joke?? The real story behind the Original Decca tape, is that Joe Pope, who had a Beatles Fan Club..”Strawberry Fields Forever”,bought the original from Allen Carr.Joe Pope issued Boot colored vinyl 45’s,two tracks at a time,for his club members.All were on 45’s except “Take Good Care Of My Baby”,which was put on the Boot LP’The Decca Tapes” if you have that one, it’s good, being that the tape used for that, is one away from Joe Pope’s master.Don’t know where this fake tape their pushing, comes from.But it IS a fake..
Monday November 26, 2012
Ron Macpherson, Boston, Ma
It’s a fake! The bootleggers record number is on the tape box BSR-1111. The “BSR” is for Backstage Records which put out an abridged bootleg sometime in 1982 or 1983, long after the songs were first distributed in the late 70’s. This tape is at best 4th generation removed from the Decca original. The original Decca master is either lost, destroyed or missing in their vaults. Brian’s Epstein’s tape copy was the source of the boots in the 70’s. Apple/EMI used THAT source on Anthology 1. REM
Saturday November 24, 2012
Larry, Fort Collins, Co, USA
Terribly unprofessional for someone to have written “Sivler Beatles” on the box …
Friday November 23, 2012
Norwood, Ny, USA
Guy’s that’s the tape for the ‘Dawn of the Silver Beatles’ album that came out in 1980.
Friday November 23, 2012
Robert Golden, Bakersfield CA, USA
It doesn’t seem right to me. I wouldn’t want to be the person that buys it.
Friday November 23, 2012
Phil Norris, Stroud, England
I agree, the ‘Copy’ is probably a fake, that it should surface over 50 years after it was recorded in what looks like a very new condition is very suspect. Also on my cd of the ‘Decca Tapes’ there are 15 tracks, only 10 seem to be listed here? I would’nt pay more than 30p for this tape, let alone
£30, 000!!
Beatles Fan - Phil Norris
Friday November 23, 2012
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