The Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction September 2013

Lot #83:

John Lennon 1972 Original Unreleased "One-to-One" Rehearsal Recording

An original 60 minute Sentry cassette tape featuring an unreleased recording of a rehearsal for Lennon’s ‘One to One’ benefit concert at Madison Square Garden on August 30, 1972. A ballpoint notation to the tape’s label reads, “Lennon ’72.” Some wear to the label, otherwise fine condition. Audio is in stereo, approximately 30 minutes long, and includes three distinguishable songs, a saxophone solo, various instruments warming up, Yoko singing, and various ‘stage chatter,’ including Lennon giving instructions to his band. The highlight is undoubtedly an 8-minute rendition of ‘Come Together’—it is a relatively polished session, but Lennon pauses a few times to make tweaks and adjustments. The other two songs are sung by Ono, one of which is ‘We’re All Water.’ Accompanied by a letter of provenance that states the tape was a gift from Gary Van Scyoc, a bass player in Lennon’s backing band, Elephant’s Memory, and is an original tape from 1972 of which no copies have been made. The ‘One to One’ concerts were Lennon’s only rehearsed and full-length live performances in his solo career, and the last time he performed live with Ono. Comes with a Gotta Have Rock & Roll™ Certificate of Authenticity.