John, Paul, George & Pete? The Beatles First Recording Contract Sells For $93K+

The first record contract signed by The Beatles in 1961 has been sold at auction in New York to an unnamed buyer for 75K + a 25% buyers premium. It bears the signatures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best who was later replaced by Ringo Starr. The signing resulted in a rock ‘n’ roll version of the traditional Scottish folk song, ‘My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.’ The band had been backing British singer, Tony Sheridan, at Hamburg's Top Ten Club and the single was released under the name Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers when it caught the attention of Brian Epstein. “Had they not spent this time in Hamburg, they may have not become the musical force that they did” said Dean Harmeyer, consignment director at Heritage Auctions. “Had they not recorded ‘My Bonnie’ they may have never come to the attention of Brian Epstein.”