Sale
16151 - Entertainment Memorabilia, 21 Dec 2008
7601 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
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Lot No: 1168
A John Lennon cassette recording being one of an unknown quantity that is believed to exist, 1973
One standard orange-colored cassette tape with audio of Lennon in fall of 1973 singing the Lloyd Price song 'Just Because;' running approximately six minutes; label on tape has a handwritten annotation in black ballpoint ink reading "From me / to you / Ed;" Ed being Jesse "Ed" Davis who gave this cassette to Lennon for his own use; Lennon then gifted it to the current owner over thirty years ago.
Cassette: 2 3/4 x 4in
Estimate: $30,000 - 40,000
Footnote:
This outtake recording exposes a drunk Lennon who starts his song with some debauched lyrics, heard in part "...I wanna take all them new singers, Carol and the other one with the nipples, I wanna take 'em and hold 'em tight, all them people that James Taylor had...I wanna suck your nipples, baby!" and then continues on with Lennon's slurred warbling. He seems to improvise the lyrics as he goes along, such as "...just a little cocaine will set me right" and "...yes sir, that's my baby, no sir, I don't mean maybe;" among other ditties. The background band speeds up or slows down, trying to keep up with him until a male voice finally calls an end to the session after a little over six minutes. Although Lennon is intoxicated, because it’s John Lennon singing, it still sounds decent, and though his impromptu lyrics are witty, there is underlying sadness to the song. This is probably because the recording took place during what Lennon referred to as his "Lost Weekend" -- the fall of 1973 when he and Yoko Ono separated. Lennon took off for Los Angeles where he teamed up with his old buddy, Phil Spector, to work on his "Rock 'n' Roll" album, but he spent most of his days in an alcoholic stupor instead. The studio sessions with Spector quickly fell apart because of the ex-Beatle's drinking and drug problems -- this recording clearly showing John's precarious state. Lennon eventually cleaned-up and did record "Just Because" for his album, which was released two years later in February 1975, but minus the drunken intro and improv.
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that if you are the successful bidder for this recording, you will not acquire any copyright, intellectual property, publicity, or similar rights related to this property. Additionally, you may not publish, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works of this property without prior consent of the holders of such rights.
Contact the Specialist to discuss this lot or selling in a future sale
Email: Amy Green
Tel: +1 323 436 5487
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