An acetate record cut by the Beatles before the Liverpool band hit stardom is going on auction.
The 1962 record made at the HMV record store on Oxford Street in London is believed to be the only one made. It was given by the band's manager, Brian Epstein, to producer George Martin, who later signed the group.
On one side of the disc, Epstein wrote the names of the songs on the label, misspelling them each time. He attributed: "Hullo Little Girl'' (Hello Little Girl) by John Lennon & The Beatles, while on the flip side, he wrote: "Til There Was You,'' (Till There was You) by Paul McCartney & The Beatles.
The recording had been in the loft of Les Maguire, a member of another Liverpool band, Gerry and the Pacemakers. Epstein gave Maguire the record so that his band would listen to it.
The 10-inch (25 centimeter) demo record is expected to fetch at least 10,000 pounds ($14,000) when it goes on auction March 22 at Omega Auctions in Warrington.
Ian Shirley, the editor of Record Collector "Rare Record Price Guide,'' described the record as a "Holy Grail'' item that helped Epstein "to start the ball rolling to musical world domination.''
Original Recording by the Beatles Goes up for Auction
LONDON —
