Birth Of A Legend - The Beatles
Compilation
Previously only ever available as "bootlegs', these tracks comprise The Beatles' now-famous audition for Decca Records.
Recorded on 9th January 1962 under producer Mike Smith, The Beatles, at Brian Epstein's insistence, performed "standards" obviously a major error considering the scores of Lennon-McCartney songs available even then.
Inevitably the audition was unsuccessful. Dick Rowe, as head of A & R for Decca, considered The Beatles sounded "too much like The Shadows?, and opted instead for Brian Poole & The Tremeloes!
Almost eight months later to the day, The Beatles (with Ringo Starr now permanently substituting Pete Best) undertook their first recording session for Parlophone Records - the start of a long and phenomenally successful association with producer George Martin.
HOGHTON HUGHES, AUGUST 1983
(on the back cover)