The demo tape which launched the career of rock legend Sir Rod Stewart's fetched £3,400 at auction today - triple its estimate.
The reel-to-reel tape was recorded in a basement studio in London in 1964 when Sir Rod Stewart was just 18. The tape was used to audition the singer-songwriter before he was signed by Decca Records.
It was sold by Jonathan Rowlands who was Sir Stewart CBE's manager at the time.
Mr Rowlands said about the 78-year-old rockstar: "We knew Rod was something special from the word go."
The 15-inch-per-second tape was recorded on June 18 at the basement studio of sound engineer Pepe Rush on Berwick Street.
Some of the tracks on the tape include Bright Lights Big City, Don't Tell Nobody, Ain't That Loving You Baby, and Worksong.
Sold by Cheffins in Cambridge, Cambs, the tape was estimated to have a value of £500- £1,000, featuring original writing on the back of the tape.
Director at Cheffin's, Martin Millard, said: "With over 120 million records sold worldwide, Sir Rod Stewart is undoubtedly one of the most famous British rock legends of all time.
"There are armies of Rod Stewart fans across the world, and this tape is an opportunity for someone to own the seminal recording which would go on to propel his career skywards.
"He is one of the most loved artists of the past century, and this is a chance for someone to buy a part of musical history."
Mr Rowlands, who worked with Rod for nine years, said: "I had been dealing with Rod for a few months at that point, he was around 18 years old.
"In those days, you couldn't sign a management contract until you were 21, so I had visited his parents in Highgate, London, to ask them to sign on his behalf.
"Rod had that absolute star quality which he shares with the likes of Tom Jones and Elton John, which has allowed them to stay relevant in the music industry even after all of these years."
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