Giggling Beatles tape auctioned

The reel-to-reel tape was found in an attic

A tape of a Beatles recording session in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney are heard cracking jokes and breaking into giggles, has sold for �9,800.

The 30-minute tape, thought to have been made in 1964, was auctioned at Cameo Auctioneers in Midgham, Berks.

The reel-to-reel recording was found in an attic clearance by the son of a man who had worked in the music industry.

The banter takes place as Lennon and McCartney try to finish the ballad I'll Follow the Sun.

The auction house said the seller wished to remain anonymous and would only say the tape was found in the north of England.

It was sold to an online bidder.

'Funnier and funnier'

The recording contains songs composed by Lennon and McCartney as well as covers of other artists' tracks such as Chuck Berry.

During the recording of I'll Follow The Sun - which appeared on the Beatles For Sale LP - Lennon says: "I'm not looking at you," to which McCartney replies: "You were".

Lennon then says: "It's just going to get funnier and funnier as the evening goes on."

McCartney adds: "Let's just try this once more and if it's the last one that's hard lines."

The band managed to complete a recording of the song without interruption later in the tape.

I'll Follow The Sun comes at the end of the first side of the tape after Don't Put Me Down Like This, I Feel Fine, She's A Woman, Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby and Honey Don't.

The Beatles continuing playing I'll Follow The Sun on side two. The other tracks are: I'm A Loser, Too Much Monkey Business, Nitty Gritty, Something's Gotta Hold Of Me and I Shall Not Be Moved.

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