What Goes On


	What Goes On
	Cutting Date:	1963?
	Format:	7" Single Sided
	Acetate:
	Blank No.	2 ? 6
	Inscribed Text:	Typed
	Cut By:	-
	Version:	John And Paul Demo
	Duration:	1:54
	Source:	Bonhams Auction House
	Disc I.D.	ACT-D025
	Value:	£6,250 (2012)

Recording History

NOTES

The first report I can find for this disc is the 2012 auction, and with an unreported guitar and vocal demo . Unfortunately the auction listing is very lacking and leads to so many questions 1963 or 1965 demo , solo or group demo. After further query Bonham's have confirmed that the audio content "was a rather tinny sounding home demo, with John on lead vocal with Paul adding harmonies" .

With an unreleased demo and such good provenance I found the estimated value of £6-800 to be totally unrealistic, especially when you consider a previous demo was sold on a double sided EMIDISC in 1995 for £2,200.

In September 2017 advance notice of the upcoming eBay auction , started to circulate I assume hoping for an early bid, with the German seller using the respected Austrian eBay seller Parlogram as an agent. A short 30second sample was uploaded to YouTube.

Chronology

Date	Value	Condition	Description	Comments

1 Oct 2017			see Below	eBay De - Lot No. 292253925731 Seller's Agent :Parlogram
2012-2017

12 Dec 2012	£6,250	VG	* few details	Bonhams Sale 19801 Lot 301
196x-2012				Harrison family
196x		New Cut

‡ Reserve NOT met *see FULL auction descriptions

2017 - Auction Info

The acetate on offer here however contains the original home demo version recorded by John & Paul in early 1963. It features a lead vocal by John on guitar with Paul on harmony. Some piano notes can also be heard in the background towards the end of the track. The 1:54 minute track has the familiar ‘What goes on…’ chorus similar to the released track, but the two verses reveal John's original lyrics which are completely different those on the released version.

The recording of 'What Goes On’ on this acetate is one of the rare tracks/performances by The Beatles which has never been released either officially or unofficially. The original tape of this demo recording is not known to exist and is presumed lost.

This disc itself is a 1-sided 7" lacquer-coated metal disc (acetate) bearing a red and white typewritten 'Dick James Music Limited - Demo Disc' label on one side.

2012 - Auction Info

Provenance: The Harrison Family Collection.

This track was due to be recorded on 5th March 1963 but the group ran out of time. They revisited the track during a recording session on 4th November, when they were just a month away from the release of the next album, 'Rubber Soul', and had only completed half of the tracks for it. The acetate offered here is a demo with vocals and guitars only.

"The condition of the label is shown in the catalogue illustration. The vinyl carries scratches to all parts but overall is still bright. There is a tiny nick to the vinyl at rim at 10 o'clock but that is probably from the point of pressing. The reverse carries light scratching and dirt. Grading would probably be in the VG category, or G if it was being judged very harshly."