Singer Prince: The singer’s first demo tape goes under the hammer

Auction in the US
Legendary music history: Prince’s first-ever demo tape is up for auction

Singer Prince died in 2016 at the age of 57. By then he had recorded countless songs, some of which became world famous. His very first demo tape that launched his career is now up for auction.

For years it sat in the attic of Warner Bros. Records VP Russ Thyret: pop star Prince’s very first demo. The then unknown 18-year-old Prince Roger Nelson from Minneapolis sang three songs on it. Now the demo tape will be auctioned off.

According to Boston auction house RR Auction, the demo includes unreleased versions of the songs “Just As Long As We’re Together” and “My Love Is Forever,” both of which Prince re-recorded for his debut album, as well as the never-released song “Jelly Jam.” . The young Prince wrote, arranged and sang all the songs himself, playing all the instruments. Recorded in 1976 and still in the original packaging, the demo is part of the “Marvels of Modern Music” auction, which ends on Thursday.

Prince’s “Hour of Birth”: The singer’s first demo tape is auctioned off

“It’s the original tape, so the birth of whoever became known as Prince,” Bobby Livingston, RR Auction’s executive vice president of public relations, told CNN. “Incredible because they come from the archivist they were sent to, so they have an unbroken chain of custody,” says Livingston.

The particular artifact was discovered by Jeff Gold, a former Warner Bros. Records executive who was a friend of Russ Thyret. Thyret, who later became CEO and chairman of the record company, signed Prince to Warner Bros. on June 25, 1977, just after his 19th birthday. As reported by news channel CNN, Gold received a call from Thyret’s widow, who lives in Los Angeles. Thyret died in 2021. “She said, ‘Russ kept a lot of stuff and it’s all in the attic of our house – would you come and take a look and help me figure out what to do with it and buy everything, what interests you?'” Gold is quoted as saying.

He then found some boxes with tapes in the attic. “When I saw the demo tape, I knew exactly what it was,” says Gold. “I was very excited when I saw it but also cautious because you never know if the tape will be playable or if the tape is the wrong one in the box – but luckily this one was the right one.”

According to RR Auction, the demo tape to be auctioned will be delivered with a Plexiglas display case, a Thyrett business card, a CD transfer of the sound and a certificate of origin of gold. In addition to the demo tape, other items belonging to the pop star will also be auctioned, including a lace glove he wore on stage during the Purple Rain tour.

Watch the video: While investigating a teachers’ strike in the 1970s, a Minnesota TV crew makes an incredible discovery. A boy appears in the video – it’s the pop star Prince when he was a kid.

Sources: PR Auction, CNN