Quarter-inch tape sells via RR Auction
The original demo tape that landed Prince his first record contract sold for an astounding $67,259, according to Boston-based RR Auction.
This remarkable artifact, acquired from the estate of the late Warner Bros. Records executive Russ Thyret, stands as a testament to the visionary talent of the enigmatic musician and marks the inception of one of the most legendary careers in popular music.
The demo tape, meticulously recorded on a quarter-inch reel-to-reel tape in 1976, contains unreleased versions of three Prince originals: “Just As Long as We’re Together,” “My Love is Forever,” and the never-released gem, “Jelly Jam.” At the tender age of 18, Prince single-handedly wrote, arranged, sang, and played all the instruments for these tracks at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis.
Enclosed in its original custom-made box, the demo tape comes with a remarkable plexiglass display case, a business card belonging to Russ Thyret, and a CD transfer of the tape’s audio. Additionally, it is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Jeff Gold of Recordmecca, a former Warner Bros. executive who worked closely with both Prince and Thyret, solidifying its authenticity and significance. Gold, an archivist, discovered the tape in the attic of Thyret after his passing in 2021.
“We are honored to have facilitated the auction of Prince’s demo tape, a significant artifact that represents the moment when a young prodigy captivated the music industry with his exceptional talent. It’s a true testament to Prince’s artistic genius and his enduring impact on the world of music,” states Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.
Among the other notable items sold at the auction were a Rolling Stones signed photograph archive of 48 candid images, which fetched $64,346; Billy Joel’s stage-used Bechstein Grand Piano, sold for $50,000; Johnny Ramone’s signed and rehearsal-used Blue Mosrite Electric Guitar, sold for $28,875; the Beatles extremely rare ‘first state’ stereo version of the infamous butcher cover, sold for $23,584; Joey Ramone’s stage-worn leather jacket, sold for $18,750; and the Ramones Arturo Vega hand-painted stage backdrop from the final Adios Amigos tour, sold for $12,805.
