The demo tape that launched Prince’s legendary career is now up for auction

For years, the demo tape that launched Prince’s storied career was tucked away in an attic of the home of the music executive who first signed him.

According to the Boston-based auction house RR Auction.

The demo, recorded in 1976 and still in its original custom packaging, is part of the Marvels of Modern Music auction that ends Thursday.

It contains unreleased versions of the songs “Just As Long as We’re Together” and “My Love is Forever”, as well as the never-released “Jelly Jam”.

Prince was only 18 years old when he recorded the tracks – all written, sung, arranged and performed by himself – at Sound 80 Studios in Minneapolis, RR Auction said in a press release.

“It’s the original tape, so this is the birth of who came to be known as Prince,” Bobby Livingston, RR Auction’s executive vice president of public relations, told CNN.

“It’s incredible because it comes from the records manager it was sent to, so it has this unbroken chain of custody,” Livingston said.

The special artifact was discovered by Jeff Gold, a former executive vice president and general manager of Warner Bros. Records who was friends with music industry executive Russ Thyret.

Thyret, who later served as the record company’s CEO and chairman, signed Prince to Warner Bros. on June 25, 1977, shortly after his 19th birthday.

Gold, who now runs an online business that sells high-value collectibles and helps artists value their archives, said he received a call from Thyret’s widow, who lives in Los Angeles. Thyret died in 2021.

“(She said), ‘Russ has kept a lot of stuff and it’s all in the attic of our house – would you come over and help me figure out what to do with it, and buy anything you’re interested in? ’” Gold told CNN.

He said he came across some boxes of tapes in the attic.

“When I saw (the demo tape) I knew exactly what it was,” said Gold. “I was very excited when I saw it, but careful because you never know if the tape will be playable or if the tape has the wrong thing in the box – but luckily this one had the right thing.”

The demo tape being auctioned comes with a Plexiglas display case, a business card from Thyrett, a CD transfer of the tape’s audio and a letter of provenance from Gold, according to RR Auction.

Several other Prince items are up for auction, including the lace gauntlet he wore onstage during the Purple Rain tour and a sealed first pressing of “The Black Album,” the auction house said.

Previously auctioned Prince items have sold for hefty price tags. The original lyrics to his song, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” sold for $150,000, according to Livingston.