A unique Beatles concert recording from 1965 has recently come to light, offering fans a rare glimpse into the Fab Four’s live performance at the peak of their fame. This exceptional recording, captured from the soundboard during their August 17, 1965, show at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, has only been heard by a handful of people since its recording nearly 60 years ago. Now, Piers Hemmingsen, a well-known Beatles historian based in Toronto, is preparing to sell this one-of-a-kind audio treasure.
The recording features not only The Beatles’ entire afternoon set, which includes 12 of their iconic songs, but also includes the opening acts and additional content such as venue announcements and a press conference with the band’s key figures. Hemmingsen, who has kept this recording private up until now, describes it as the finest live recording of The Beatles in Canada, rivaling even the most professionally captured material from their tours. This reel-to-reel tape captures a historic moment with unparalleled sound quality, distinguishing it from the often poor-quality bootlegs circulating among fans.
With Hemmingsen having only shared this recording with a select few, including former Canadian concert promoter John Brower and respected sound engineer Doug McClement, the opportunity to own this tape is both rare and significant. Apple Corps, the company managing The Beatles’ legacy, has been made aware of the recording, but no purchase offer has been made. Hemmingsen hopes that Apple Corps will eventually acquire the tapes and make the recording available to the public, fulfilling his desire to share this extraordinary find with Beatles fans worldwide.
Valuation of the recording has been a topic of speculation, with experts estimating its worth between $60,000 and $80,000, and potentially even higher at auction. The recording’s authenticity and historical value contribute to its high estimated price, though the potential for commercial use is limited by copyright restrictions. Hemmingsen, who discovered the tapes while researching his book on The Beatles in Canada, acknowledges the recording’s exceptional quality and hopes it will be appreciated by the right collector or institution.
As Hemmingsen prepares to sell the tapes, he remains hopeful that they will be preserved in a way that benefits the public and fans of The Beatles. The 1965 concert recording stands as a significant piece of music history, and its potential sale represents a rare chance for collectors to own a piece of The Beatles’ legacy.
Bennex Bennex 
geraldine ikyelleve