Penny Lane

Auction Description 2015

Beatles Rare Early Version "Penny Lane" Acetate Without Trumpet (EMI 1966-67). This is a very rare, unreleased version of the single "Penny Lane", which does not include the distinctive piccolo trumpet solo and fadeout parts heard on the final, officially-released version. It is well known that the song went through several iterations while being recorded, and this acetate would have likely been a listening copy for a version which was rejected.

"Penny Lane" was the last song to be worked on in the studio by the Beatles in 1966, with recording begun on December 29 at Abbey Road and completed nearly three weeks later after the song had undergone numerous finishing touches - most famously the addition of the piccolo trumpet after Paul saw musician David Mason playing one on a BBC television program in early January 1967. Not content to just get the sound of the instrument, Paul was able to get Mason himself to perform on the Beatles track a few days later. Beneath the deceptively simple melody of "Penny Lane" is a very dense recording, which was the direction the Beatles were now moving into as they abandoned touring in order to focus on developing a richer sonic palette in the studio. Listening to the acetate of this groundbreaking song must have been an amazing experience at the time.

This marvelous single-sided 7" acetate features the white EMI label of the period, on which is handwritten by engineer Geoff Emerick: "'PENNY LANE' / THE BEATLES / 45 / G.E." (his initials). The acetate is housed in what appears to be the original white EMI paper sleeve, which has significant wear and a 1" tear emanating from the center hole on one side. Disc: VG-EX6

b/w Strawberry Fields Forever

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