Tell Me Why


	Tell Me Why
	Cutting Date:	1964?
	Format:	7" Single Sided
	Acetate:
	Blank No.
	Inscribed Text:	Blue Ink - Faded
	Cut By:	Geoff Emerick
	Version:
	Duration:	2:09
	Source:
	Disc I.D.	ACT-E031
	Value:	£TBC (2026)

Recording History

NOTES

Chronology

Date	Value	Condition	Description	Source

2026+	Please Provide Details
1 Oct 2026	£ TBC		see both Sept 2026 descriptions	Propshop Auction Lot :26

24 Nov 2025	£896			Bonhams UK Auction: 30952 Lot: 44
1998-2025	Please Provide Details
25 Nov 1998	£TBC			Bonhams UK Auction : Lot: 1394
18 Feb 1998			See Below	Bonhams UK Auction : Lot: 789
22 Mar 1997	£1,325		See Below	Bonhams + Tokyo Auctions: Lot : 47
2 Nov 1996			COA	Rockaway Records Store

1978-1995	Owner: Gareth Pawlowski *
1967-1978	Owner: Clive Epstein*
1964-1967	Owner: Brian Epstein*
1964?	New Cut

* Assumed based upon reported information

Auction Description 29 Sept 2026

A 7-inch Emidisc acetate of The Beatles' "Tell Me Why", originally from the personal collection of Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, "Ask Me Why" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios on 27 February 1964 during the sessions for A Hard Day's Night. This is a one-sided acetate, running to two minutes nine seconds.

Letters of provenance state that the disc was one of 59 acetates and test pressings acquired by Beatles biographer Gareth Pawlowski from Brian's brother, Clive Epstein, in 1978. Clive's accompanying letter confirms that the records originated from Brian Epstein's personal collection.

The acetate was later sold from the collection of singer Marianne Faithfull. Dimensions: 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm (7" x 7")

Additional Provenance: Lot 44, Bonhams Sound & Cinema with Property from the Marianne Faithfull Estate, 24 November 2025; Lot 1394, Bonhams Modern British & Continental Pictures, 25 November 1998.

[Listing updated confirming that the disc is Tell Me Why after a query made but no provenance was offered to support the Marianne Failthfull ownership. The Bonhams Auction in November 2025, on-line pages do not seem to show the acetate as being from the estate of Marianne Faithfull]

Auction Description 19 Sept 2026

A 7-inch Emidisc acetate of The Beatles' "Ask Me Why", originally from the personal collection of Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, "Ask Me Why" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios on 26 November 1962 during the sessions for Please Please Me. This is a one-sided acetate, running to two minutes nine seconds.

The acetate was later sold from the collection of singer Marianne Faithfull. Dimensions: 17.5 cm x 17.5 cm (7" x 7")

Additional Provenance: Lot 44, Bonhams Sound & Cinema with Property from the Marianne Faithfull Estate, 24 November 2025; Lot 1394, Bonhams Modern British & Continental Pictures, 25 November 1998.

[The disc images and provenances refer to this cut of Tell Me Why and not Ask Me Why. Additionally the Bonhams Auction in November 2025 does not seem to show the acetate as being from the estate of Marianne Faithfull]

Auction Description Nov. 2025

The Beatles: An Acetate Recording Of Tell Me Why ,1964,

the single-sided, 45rpm 7in disc with Emidisc label, very faint handwritten recording details, together with a Letter of Authenticity from Rockaway Records, dated 2/11/1996, stating this acetate to be one of 59 acetates and test pressings obtained by Gareth Pawlowski from Clive Epstein in 1978, with copies of a letter from Epstein to Pawlowski, 23rd June, 1978, the collection originally being from Brian Epstein