Never before heard Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr song up for auction

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Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are coming together to help fight against the coronavirus pandemic — with a newly unearthed demo co-written by the two Beatles. It is considered to be the only songwriting collaboration between the former bandmates, 23 years after the group split. The tune, dubbed “Angel in Disguise,” was composed for Starr’s …

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are coming together to help fight against the coronavirus pandemic — with a newly unearthed demo co-written by the two Beatles.

It is considered to be the only songwriting collaboration between the former bandmates, 23 years after the group split.

The tune, dubbed “Angel in Disguise,” was composed for Starr’s 1992 solo album “Time Takes Time,” although it never made it to press. Now, it’s been listed for a May 19 auction in the UK, before ever being heard by the public.

The value is listed at more than $25,000. A quarter of the profits will be devoted to NHS Charities Together COVID-19, BBC reports.

The recording, made on cassette tape, had been in the possession of Radio Luxembourg DJ Tony Prince, who at the time had been asked to find alternative artists to record the rejected track.

Omega Auctions director Paul Fairweather said in a statement, “It’s fantastic to be able to bring to the market a previously unheard and unreleased track.”

“We think the track certainly had enough about it to be included in the album, and I am sure if Paul was to release this himself it would certainly prove a hit with fans.”

However, other music historians aren’t romanticizing the rare track.

“Any newly discovered Beatles-related songs are always exciting for fans, and the Starr/McCartney credit makes this all the more alluring,” said Chris Shaw, host of The Beatles podcast “I Am the EggPod.”

However, he told BBC, “the fact that ‘Angel in Disguise’ was rejected suggests that it may not be the best song in the world. Sometimes these things are better left as tantalizing mysteries.”

There are two versions of the song on the tape — a barebones number with McCartney on vocals, and a more polished mix with guitar, harmonica, backup singers and Starr leading.

Bidders will also receive printed lyrics and notation for “Angel in Disguise,” which is credited to McCartney, but written about Starr, AKA Richard Starkey — indicated by the lines, “My name is Ritchie / Let me look into your eyes / Don’t be afraid I’m just an angel in disguise.”

The recording also contains an outtake of Starr’s “Everyone Wins,” written and shelved in 1992 — until it was re-recorded for 2010’s “Y Not.” The drummer wrote just two songs for the Beatles, “Octopus’s Garden” and “Don’t Pass Me By,” but co-wrote several others with McCartney as well as Lennon.

The song’s $25,000 listing is peanuts compared to some of the other Beatles paraphernalia actioned off recently. The handwritten lyrics to “Hey Jude” ended up selling for $910,000 last month. And the scribbles that came to be “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” start at $195,000.