Expert: Pattie - 3/30/2009

Question
MOST OF THESE REELS WERE ASSEMBLED FOR THE LAUNCH OF A NEW RADIO STATION CALLED RADIO GLASGOW LIMITED. ON THE 28th OF FEBUARY 1973 RADIO GLASGOW LIMITED APPLIED FOR A LOCAL RADIO CONTRACT BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE CONTRACT WENT TO RADIO CLYDE. MOST OF THE COLLECTION CAME FROM A DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY WHO ALSO GAVE THE BEATLES THEIR FIRST TV APPEARANCE IN 1963 ON A SHOW CALLED “ROUND UP”. THE BEATLES WENT ON TO STAR ON THE SHOW 3 TIMES. THESE REELS GO FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE BEATLES CAREER UNTIL THE END. THE REELS CAME WITH A PHOTO OF THE DIRECTORS WHEN THEY WERE APPLYING FOR THE RADIO CONTRACT PLUS THE DIRECTOR WHO OWNED THESE REELS  WITH JOHN LENNON AND PAUL McCARTNEY.

REEL 1   BASS
SONGS

REEL 2   RACAL – ZONAL
BEATLES MESSING AROUND.  JOHN LENNON ON PIANO BEING SILLY.  SOUNDS LIKE YOKO TALKING WHILE BEATLES ARE PLAYING MUSIC.  

REEL 3   AMPEX
JOHN ON PIANO GEORGE ON GUITAR.  SINGING & LOTS OF TALKING GOING ON.  

REEL 4   AGFA
LENNON ON GUITAR AND ON PIANO FOR 1 HOUR

REEL 5    EMI
PAUL TRYING TO MASTER BLACKBIRD.  HE HAS APPROX 50 ATTEMPTS AT THIS, HE IS GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED, JOHN GIVING SUPPORT AND GEORGE MARTIN.  JOHN SAYS TO PAUL, I THINK ITS ONLY A QUESTION OF GETTING IT, I DON’T SEE WHY NOT.  JOHN HAS A GO AT BLACKBIRD HIMSELF.

REEL 6    PHILLIPS
BEATLES PLAYING AROUND TAPPING AND DOG BARKING, DIFFERENT VERSION OF BLACKBIRD BY THE BEATLES GROUP.

REEL 7   RACAL – SONAL
SONGS.

REEL 8   AMPEX
SONG, OPEN YOUR BOX.  OTHER SONGS, BIRDS SINGING, WHISTLING, TALKING GOING ON.

REEL 9   EMI
JOHN STRONG GUITAR PLAYING AND PIANO, SINGING AND WHISTLING.

REEL 10   EMI   
JOHN SINGING, MY MOTHER TOLD ME I WAS GAY.  AND OTHER SONGS.

REEL 11   AMPEX
SONGS.


QUESTION
CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON THESE  STUDIO TAPES?

THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL THE EXPERTS


Answer
Hi Terry...

I'm not sure of what it is you're requesting. Do you want the origin of the tapes or how much they're worth? Are you saying that you actually own these specific reel tapes? Well, in order to answer your question, I guess I need to know first of all how you came to own them. If they are indeed genuine original reel tapes, the value would be immeasurable. The Beatles are the most bootlegged band in history and there are literally countless hours of (mostly) unheard stuff floating around the world. Some are real, some are not. Some of what you're describing sounds like stuff from the 1969 "Get Back" sessions, some sounds like things I've heard during the recording of "The Beatles", aka the White Album. Truly though, without actually seeing and/or hearing these tapes, I don't think there's anyone who can actually tell you that much about them. I'm certainly intrigued though. If you can provide me with more information, I'll see what I can find out for hou. In the meantime, thanks for the question.

Peace,
Pattie
8^)