Rod Stewart’s first taped studio recording to be sold at auction

Virgin Radio

14 Feb 2023, 17:36

Credit: Getty

Rod Stewart fans can bid for a piece of history, as the tape recording from his first studio session is up for auction.

The rocker has been making music for decades now, and fans will be clamouring to get their hands on this piece of memorabilia.

The tape helped Rod to secure his first ever record deal, so this is a major piece of his history.

According to Jonathan Rowlands, the 15IPS analogue tape was sent to Decca Records as an audition recording in 1964.

It is being sold as a collector's item only with an estimate of £500 to £1,000.

Photocopies of Mr Rowlands’s 1964 appointment book are also being auctioned, and they detail his meetings meetings with the star.

The demo tape was recorded in a basement studio by engineer Pepe Rush on June 18 1964.

The tracklisting includes: Just Like I Treat You, Moppers Blues, Bright Lights Big City, Keep Your Hands Off Her, Don’t Tell Nobody, Ain’t That Loving You Baby, and Worksong.

Mr Rowlands says it will "make someone very happy”.

“The tape was used as audition material for a future recording contract for Rod with Decca Records,” he said.

“We had got lucky finding out about Pepe Rush’s studio that was hidden in the basement of a shop in Berwick Street, Soho.

“At the time it was incredibly difficult to get into major studios, as they were all owned and controlled by the likes of Decca, CBS, Polydor and Phillips Records.

“Rod had asked a certain Reg Dwight to come and play piano; unfortunately he had a cold that day and couldn’t make it.

“However, we were lucky for the musicians we used were from Long John Baldry’s Hoochie Coochie Band, led by pianist Ian Armit who Rod normally sang with.

“With my then partner, Geoff Wright, we then sent the tape to Decca Records as an audition recording in June 1964 and the result was we obtained Rod’s first recording contract.

“The first single released then by Decca was Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.”

Sir Rod was 18 at the time: “In those days, you couldn’t sign a management contract until you were 21, so I had visited his parents in Highgate (north London) to ask them to sign on his behalf.”

“We knew Rod was something special from the word go.

“He had that absolute star quality which he shares with the likes of Tom Jones and Elton John, which has allowed them to stay relevant in the music industry even after all of these years.”

Martin Millard, a director at Cheffins auction house, said: “There are armies of Rod Stewart fans across the world, and this tape is an opportunity for someone to own the seminal recording which would go on to propel his career skywards.

“He is one of the most loved artists of the past century, and this is a chance for someone to buy a part of musical history.”

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