The forthlin road tapes
In 1960, the Beatles convened twice at McCartney’s Forthlin Road home, and recorded themselves rehearsing on a Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder. From what is known, it seems that two separate sessions took place, one in April, and another in June, around the time of McCartney’s 18th birthday. Some sources state that the recordings were made in McCartney’s bathroom, although this would seem unlikely, not least because there were up to five people present.
When they had done, the Beatles copied the recordings onto three fresh reels, and as a result, the exact contents and ordering of the original tapes is not known. The three compiled reels eventually went separate ways, given to friends in Germany in 1961. Hans-Walther Braun ended up with one of them, Astrid Kirchherr another – and it is these two which were somehow obtained by bootleggers and released in full on The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes. The third reel is believed to be owned by Paul McCartney and is safely under lock and key.
The Hans-Walther Braun Tape
Hans-Walther Braun was given the longest of the three reels, containing mainly vocal tracks. This tape consists of a roughly 50-50 split between original songs and covers. It is interesting to note that most of the original compositions are grouped together towards the end, perhaps illustrating the group’s early doubts over the viability of their own songwriting. The contents of the reel are as follows, with the group's own compositions in bold. (Note: we follow the song titling convention on The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes.)
The Astrid Kirchherr Tape
The second compiled reel consisted of mostly instrumental tracks, all of which were Beatles originals. It was passed to Astrid Kirchherr in 1961 but was returned to the possession of George Harrison in 1994. The contents are as follows.
The Charlie Hodgson Tape
This third reel is largely unknown to the public, but is alleged to contain versions of “When I’m Sixty-Four”, “Winston’s Walk” and “Ask Me Why”.
Each of these is fascinating in its own right: “When I’m Sixty-Four” would presumably have been in its early instrumental state when recorded in 1960; “Winston’s Walk” is otherwise unknown, and this would be the only surviving take; “Ask Me Why” is otherwise unknown until 1962, and is all but certain to have been written then – suggesting this is either an extremely early sketch, or that the rumoured contents of this reel are inaccurate.
The Charlie Hodgson Tape is believed to have been purchased by Paul McCartney at auction in 1995.
Three of the Forthlin Road recordings were eventually released officially, by way of inclusion on Anthology 1, including two of the original compositions: “You’ll Be Mine” and “Cayenne”. For the whole of what’s been leaked to the public, the bootleg The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes is comprehensive.
When they had done, the Beatles copied the recordings onto three fresh reels, and as a result, the exact contents and ordering of the original tapes is not known. The three compiled reels eventually went separate ways, given to friends in Germany in 1961. Hans-Walther Braun ended up with one of them, Astrid Kirchherr another – and it is these two which were somehow obtained by bootleggers and released in full on The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes. The third reel is believed to be owned by Paul McCartney and is safely under lock and key.
The Hans-Walther Braun Tape
Hans-Walther Braun was given the longest of the three reels, containing mainly vocal tracks. This tape consists of a roughly 50-50 split between original songs and covers. It is interesting to note that most of the original compositions are grouped together towards the end, perhaps illustrating the group’s early doubts over the viability of their own songwriting. The contents of the reel are as follows, with the group's own compositions in bold. (Note: we follow the song titling convention on The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes.)
- Hallelujah, I Love Her So (version 1)
- Hallelujah, I Love Her So (version 2)
- One After 909 (version 1)
- Movin’ ’N’ Groovin’
- Ramrod
- Instrumental #1
- You’ll Be Mine
- Matchbox
- I’ll Always Be In Love With You
- The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise
- That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
- Instrumental #2
- Wild Cat (version 1)
- One After 909 (version 2)
- Some Days
- You Must Write Every Day
- I’ll Follow The Sun
- Hello Little Girl
- Wild Cat (version 2)
The Astrid Kirchherr Tape
The second compiled reel consisted of mostly instrumental tracks, all of which were Beatles originals. It was passed to Astrid Kirchherr in 1961 but was returned to the possession of George Harrison in 1994. The contents are as follows.
- Instrumental #3
- Instrumental #4
- Instrumental #5
- Cayenne
- Instrumental #6
- Instrumental #7
- Well, Darling
- I Don’t Know
- Instrumental #8
The Charlie Hodgson Tape
This third reel is largely unknown to the public, but is alleged to contain versions of “When I’m Sixty-Four”, “Winston’s Walk” and “Ask Me Why”.
Each of these is fascinating in its own right: “When I’m Sixty-Four” would presumably have been in its early instrumental state when recorded in 1960; “Winston’s Walk” is otherwise unknown, and this would be the only surviving take; “Ask Me Why” is otherwise unknown until 1962, and is all but certain to have been written then – suggesting this is either an extremely early sketch, or that the rumoured contents of this reel are inaccurate.
The Charlie Hodgson Tape is believed to have been purchased by Paul McCartney at auction in 1995.
Three of the Forthlin Road recordings were eventually released officially, by way of inclusion on Anthology 1, including two of the original compositions: “You’ll Be Mine” and “Cayenne”. For the whole of what’s been leaked to the public, the bootleg The Braun-Kirchherr Tapes is comprehensive.