Beatles Make Rare Singles List
Britain’s Sunday Mirror ran a story yesterday on the resurgance of interest and collectibility of the 7″ Vinyl Single. As part of the article it listed what it considers to be Britain’s 10 Most Valuable Singles with The Beatles making two appearences on the list.
1. THE QUARRYMEN: That’ll Be The Day/ In Spite Of All The Danger (1958): £100,000
THERE is only one known surviving vinyl recording of the band formed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison before they became The Silver Beatles and then just The Beatles. It’s owned by Sir Paul who, even after his divorce, is unlikely to be so strapped for cash he needs to sell it. Named after John’s old school, Quarry Bank High, the fledgling band paid to record this disc of a Buddy Holly hit backed by a McCartney- Harrison original (10″ version). [You can read more about the story behind this recording in my book Before They Were Beatles]
and
8.  JOHN LENNON WITH THE PLASTIC ONO BAND: You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) (1969) Value: £3,000
This bizarre comedy number featuring a sax solo from Rolling Stone Brian Jones, backing vocals from Mick Jagger and sung by Lennon in a cheesey “club-singer” style, became a major release as the B-side of The Beatles’ Let It Be single. But even though Paul McCartney was also heavily involved, it almost came out earlier as a solo Lennon project. Anyone with a test pressing of that disc could pocket £3,000.
