The english rock band the beatles auditioned for decca records at decca studios in west hampstead, north london on 1 january 1962. Were guitar groups really on the way out as decca producer and executive dick rowe supposedly told brian epstein. The official reason given, meanwhile, was that guitar groups are on the way out, mr epstein. The beatles audition tape for decca records to hit the. With that airy dismissal of the beatles, supposedly directed 50 years ago this month at the groups.
Epstein, keeping his optimism, secured a contract for the group with parlophone records. Decca s illfated decision appeared in the form of a direct quotation. Decca studios, west hampstead, 1 january 1962 the beatles famous audition for decca records took place in london on new years day in 1962. These words would become infamous, and dick rowe later became. In the 1980s, mark lewisohn published the book recording sessions and, following the authors invitation from emi to. The failed 1962 audition for decca records on new years day, 1962, the beatles drove ten hours to london in a fierce snowstorm to audition for decca records and were rejected in what has gone down in history as one of the greatest mistakes in. In reply to your decca guitar posting on september 10, 2009, the guitar was owned by jim madsen and all the signatures were cast members of the play, foxfire performed in the sioux city community theater, sioux city, ia. The beatles recorded a version of the sheik of araby, a vaudeville song from 1922, during their unsuccessful audition for decca records on 1 january 1962 the band based their arrangement on a rock n roll version released by joe brown and.
On january 1st 1962, the beatles recorded 15 tracks at the decca studios for their first english record company audition. The beatles the decca audition 2009, vinyl replica, cd. Somewhere around 1965, decca started a division known as decca home entertainment products, which for several years imported japanese acoustic and solidbody electric guitars aimed primarily at the beginner market. The numerous tracks the beatles recorded on january 1, 1962 at their unsuccessful audition for decca records, with pete best on drums january 1, 1962 studio outtakes audition for decca records decca studios, london love of the loved like dreamers do hello little girl three. Deccas dick rowe, left, turned down the beatles getty images. The beatles decca audition, january 1 1962 youtube. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Crossfaded at the start with unrelated spoken word, and in that portion a tape loop of the instrumental introduction has been edited in. Above you can see the sleeves of all seven of them, making 14 tracks from the sessions. Issued as a picture disc first, then a standard black vinyl pressing 1 month later, here. The executives felt that guitar groups are on the way out and the beatles have no future in show business. I have a60s decca 12 string acoustic guitar made in japan shows some signs of wear from normal use a few dings pictures are of actual item up for auction please refer to pictures for accurate description check out my other ebay items. It is designed to provide an accurate look into the lead and rhythm guitar styles of george harrison and john lennon. The other was an obscure group from liverpool called the beatles.
Record label rejected the beatles off these 1962 songsnow tape. According to the beatles chronicles by mark lewisohn, during brian epstein 1st meeting with george martin, while listening to the decca audition tapes transferred into disc, george martin was impressed with george harrisons guitar playing on till there was you. Much has been written about their performance on the day. Now, sothebys london will auction the tape of the decca audition. The beatles performance that night hadnt been strong enough to secure them a record deal, but the label was willing to offer them a session in their.
Then smith insisted that the beatles use deccas ampli. Click here to start a new topic please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes new to wikipedia. The rest have been widely available on bootleg since 1977. Gabriel heaton, sothebys books and manuscripts specialist. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Classic rock for classical guitar hal leonard corp. The beatles for classical guitar songbook the beatles. The beatles returned to liverpool in 1961 and hired brian epstein as their manager.
The other 5 are on the first anthology series recordings of the beatles recordings which i would recommend also. Although recordings from the decca session surfaced in the mid1970s, beatles historian mark lewisohn noted that this audition tape is unique. Top 5 weird ww2 german prototypes that actually flew duration. Deccas illfated decision appeared in the form of a direct quotation. Some of the songs recorded for the audition had been available as bootleg recordings but some songs were officially released on the beatles rarities compilation anthology 1 in 1995. Im looking for a book or two that is agreed by many to be an accurate transcription of what they actually committed to tape. Sothebys to auction the beatles 1962 audition tape for decca records. Before they became international sensations, the beatles auditioned for decca records in london. Decca records famously rejected the beatles, saying. The beatles, who at that time included pete best on drums, recorded 15 songs on new years day at the decca studios in london and selected 10 for their demo tape. Of the decca recordings, five songs searchin, three cool cats, the sheik of araby, like dreamers do and hello little girl appeared on the anthology 1 collection in 1995. The real story is that this is the ultimate story of the one that got away. The beatles the decca tapes one of the few releases to include all 15 tracks they recorded that day. Curiously enough, decca records was a subsidiary of mca.
George harrisons guitar lines sometimes fumbled, as is most embarrassingly. This is not a forum for general discussion of the articles subject put new text under old text. The beatles were driven down to london by neil aspinall on new years eve in 1961, for a decca audition, but aspinall lost his way, and the trip took ten hours. This unique publication contains 52 favorite beatles songs arranged exclusively for the guitar. Circuit records 3 lk44381,circuit records 3 ecc f139533 format. In early 1966, decca records jumped into the electric guitar frenzy. The decca tapes by the beatles bootleg, merseybeat. Although nerves meant the beatles didnt perform at their best. Sothebys says the label told epstein that guitar bands are out, citing epsteins book.
A guitar that belonged to george harrison is also on offer. This is a good quality reproduction of the decca session by the beatles in 1961. Instead of providing transcriptions of the guitars off the record, these arrangements use the musical elements of the. The beatles decca audition tape, brian epsteins copy, 1962. They were rejected by the label, who instead selected brian poole and the tremeloes. By the late 1980s, legal action by the beatles had halted commercial availability of the albums.
The beatles audition for decca records the beatles bible. They played 15 songs, including three lennonmccartney original tunes. In 1962, their first attempt to sign onto a record label failed when decca records turned them down. The complete, 15song tape of the session including a dozen covers and three lennonmccartney originals has been much bootlegged since the 1970s, and has periodically appeared on piecemeal semilegal releases always. Prime members enjoy free twoday delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows. Monday, january 1, 1962 was bonechilling cold across england. Available here in far better quality than any previous bootleg version of this studio recording, this album includes previously unreleased songs, including love of the loved, take good care of my baby, and september in the rain.
Some of the songs recorded for the audition had been available as bootleg recordings but some songs were officially released on the beatles rarities. The english rock band the beatles auditioned for decca records at decca studios in west. Some companies bought american guitar makers, while others started selling japanese imports. This was around the same time when cbs has bought fender and only a few years away from mca buying danelectro. Sothebys to auction the beatles 1962 audition tape for decca. Beatles beatles the lost decca sessions and other gems. On january 1, 1962, nearly a full year before the release of their debut single, the beatles unsuccessfully auditioned for decca records. Brian was annoyed, it was approaching 11am, the time of the audition, and no one from decca had yet arrived. The beatles story beatles for sale beatles 65 the early beatles beatles vi help. Decca navigator system, a defunct marine and aeronautical navigation system. The beatles decca audition january 1, 1962 youtube. The letters of jessica mitford, a 2006 book by jessica mitford. An aspiring musical group, the beatles, crowded into a small car, wended their way through snowstorms from liverpool to london.
In 1976 a series of unofficial singles came out on wonderful coloured vinyl with some very nice picture sleeves. Many advanced guitar books try to make the guitar sound like the beatles playnever works, because the beatles is a band. In 1979 stephen pile published the book of heroic failures which presented a collection of unwise actions and opinions. The decca tapes, a bootleg of songs by the beatles.
In what would go down as one of the biggest mistakes in music history, decca rejected them, instead choosing to sign brian poole and the tremeloes. The beatles at the cavern pete, george, john and paul. An excellent album, which contains all 15 original songs played by the beatles at their 1962 decca audition. I really enjoy learning and playing beatles music, but for most of their songs, there are many variations in the tab to be found online. This decca guitar was sold through decca record stores. One of the earlier releases of the beatles decca auditions 1st of january 1962. Decca recording company when turning down the beatles in 1962.
The beatles famous audition for decca records took place in london on new years day in 1962. Sothebys to auction rejected beatles audition tape. This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the the beatles decca audition article. Many books with basic chords just dont sound like the beatles. Please note that we have been made aware of individuals who give the false impression they are affiliated with decca records and ask for money from artists to submit music on their behalf or for other label services including marketing and publishing. The deccas, a guitarbased band from medway, england. The tracks on this cd are more than just of historical interest in the way that some early beatles material is. London decca, a maker of turntable tonearms and cartridges. Peppers lonely hearts club band magical mystery tour the beatles yellow submarine abbey road hey jude let it be the beatles christmas records 19621966 19671970 rock n roll music the beatles at the hollywood bowl.