The family of late sound engineer Geoff Emerick and the mammoth Universal Music Group are fighting in court over newly-found recording of the Fab Four's jam session.
- Jun 15, 2020
AceShowbiz - A recording of a jam session by The Beatles is to be at the centre of a court battle allegedly set to begin on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 after it was discovered in late sound engineer Geoff Emerick's home.
The demo is said to be worth $6.3 million with a video of the session, taken before Ringo Starr joined the group as a drummer, reportedly seeing The Beatles perform at Abbey Road for the first time.
According to Britain's The Sun newspaper, the recording was deemed to not be of good enough quality for the group so Emerick was told by EMI he should destroy it. However, he is said to have instead kept it in a safe in his Los Angeles home, in its original box.
When Emerick died in October 2018, however, the recording was found and the publication claimed that Universal Music Group, who took over EMI in 2012, are now in a legal battle with the late sound engineer's family over who the tape belongs to.
According to editors at The Sun, Emerick's estate is arguing they are entitled to the recording under Finders Law. Universal bosses, meanwhile, allegedly claim the law does not count in this case as Emerick was told he should destroy the recording by EMI.
Songs recorded on the demo are believed to include "Love Me Do", which featured on the group's debut album "Please Please Me" in 1963.
"It's an amazing find. It's been estimated at £5 million but could be worth much more," a source told the publication. "Despite wanting it destroyed, Universal all these years later want it back. They know how huge this find is."
Ringo joined The Beatles in August 1962 after he was asked by John Lennon to replace then current member Pete Best as the band's drummer.
