Unveiled at Last: The Beatles’ Lost 1965 Studio Tapes Discovered in a London Attic, Revealing Unheard Songs and Secret Conversations
June 29, 2025
LONDON — In what many are calling the most significant Beatles discovery in decades, a forgotten box of reel-to-reel tapes from 1965—long thought lost to time—has surfaced in the attic of a retired EMI engineer’s London home. The tapes, covered in dust and labeled simply “Abbey Road Session Reels – ‘65,” contain over two hours of never-before-heard material, including raw song demos, spontaneous studio chatter, alternate takes of familiar tracks, and a chillingly beautiful ballad that may be one of John Lennon’s most haunting creations.
The discovery has sent shockwaves through the music world.
A Glimpse Into the Creative Core
According to music archivist and Beatles historian Clara Donnelly, who was granted early access to the material, the tapes provide “an unfiltered look into the band’s peak creative period, between Beatles for Sale and Rubber Soul—when their sound was transforming and maturing at lightning speed.”
Among the most startling revelations is a completely unknown song, tentatively titled “Now and Then She’s Gone”, believed to be penned by Lennon. Stripped down to just vocals and a harmonium, the track’s sparse arrangement and melancholic lyrics echo the introspective spirit that would later characterize Rubber Soul and Revolver. Experts are already hailing it as a “lost masterpiece,” with some suggesting it could merit a formal release.
Studio Banter and Unvarnished Truths
The tapes also capture off-the-cuff conversations between John, Paul, George, and Ringo—revealing both their camaraderie and creative friction. In one fascinating exchange, McCartney can be heard workshopping an early version of “You Won’t See Me”, while Harrison experiments with sitar phrasing months before “Norwegian Wood” was formally recorded.
One clip, in particular, has fans and scholars buzzing: a brief, candid conversation between Lennon and McCartney discussing whether the band should “start making more personal records,” predating their eventual shift toward more introspective songwriting.
The Man Behind the Discovery
The tapes were found by 83-year-old George Martin Jr., son of the famed Beatles producer, while cleaning out the belongings of a former EMI assistant engineer, Thomas Bryson, who had stored the reels since the mid-60s and forgotten about them. According to Martin Jr., the tapes were likely backups or test reels meant for studio reference.
“It was like finding the Rosetta Stone in a shoebox,” Martin Jr. told reporters. “We knew there were myths about unreleased tracks from that era, but no one ever thought they’d actually surface.”
Restoration and Release?
Apple Corps Ltd. has already confirmed that it is working with Abbey Road Studios to digitally restore and remaster the tapes. While there is no official word yet on a release date, insiders suggest a deluxe anniversary box set featuring these lost recordings could be announced by the end of the year.
Paul McCartney, in a brief statement released this morning, said: “It’s always amazing when something from the past comes back to surprise you. Listening to these tapes, it’s like stepping into the room with the lads again. Magical stuff.”
Legacy Rewritten?
For Beatles fans, the implications are vast. These tapes not only shed light on the group’s sonic evolution but also humanize their creative process in a way that no polished album ever could. They show the Fab Four as young men chasing inspiration, trying ideas, laughing, arguing, and unknowingly crafting music that would change the world.
In an era overflowing with manufactured nostalgia, this discovery offers something much rarer: authenticity. A real, raw, and revelatory window into the heart of The Beatles.
And if early reactions are any indication, the world is more than ready to listen.
Related Articles:
- The Hidden Years: Beatles Bootlegs and the Search for Lost Tracks
- Ranking the Beatles’ Most Underrated Songs—Will the New Tape Change Everything?
- Inside Abbey Road: How the Studio Became a Mythical Space for Musical Alchemy
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