Rare 1962 Beatles Audition Tape Discovered in Vancouver

A rare Beatles audition tape from 1962 has been discovered in Vancouver's Neptoon Records by owner Rob Frith, who initially assumed it was a bootleg. Upon listening, he realized the tape was a direct copy of an early audition session recorded at Decca Studios, showcasing the band with Pete Best on drums. The tape, labeled 'Beatles 60s Demos,' includes 15 tracks, and after posting a clip online, Frith garnered excitement from Beatles fans, prompting discussions about digitalizing the recording. The tape was brought to Canada by Jack Herschorn, a former owner of Mushroom Records, who received it from a producer in London during the 1970s but chose not to release it at the time due to ethical concerns. Ultimately, Decca Records passed on signing The Beatles, leading to their eventual success with EMI's Parlophone label. The quality of the recording has been described as 'unreal,' making it a significant find in music history.