July 31, 2008

By By Associated Press

A tape recording of The Beatles chatting and breaking into giggles during an early recording session is to be sold next week in England.

Cameo Auctioneers said Thursday that the reel-to-reel tape was recorded in 1964 and was recently found by a man in northern England while he was clearing out his father's attic.

On one part of the half-hour tape, John Lennon and Paul McCartney repeatedly collapse in laughter as they try to complete the ballad "I'll Follow the Sun."

"There are lots of false starts where the band can't get it together," said Alan Pritchard, head of the auction house's entertainment department.

The tape also features versions of songs including "I Feel Fine," "I'm a Loser" and "Don't Put Me Down Like This."

The tape is expected to sell for 8,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds (US$16,000 to US$24,000) at an auction in Midgham, about 45 miles (75 kilometers) west of London, on Tuesday.

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