'Drunk' Lennon tape sells in LA

The song was recorded during Lennon's "lost weekend" period

A cassette tape of a "drunk" John Lennon recording a cover version of a rock 'n' roll song has sold at auction in Los Angeles for $30,000 (£20,200).

The six-minute recording, made in autumn 1973, is of Lennon performing Lloyd Price's Just Because.

"Debauched lyrics" improvised by "a drunk Lennon" include "just a little cocaine will set me right", auction house Bonhams and Butterfields said.

The tape was given to the unnamed seller 30 years ago, it added.

The successful bidder at Sunday's auction was also not named.

Lennon's "slurred warbling" included, "I wanna take all them new singers, Carol and the other one with the nipples, I wanna take 'em and hold 'em tight," Bonhams and Butterfields said.

The tape has not been heard in public. Courtesy Bonhams and Butterfields

"The background band speeds up or slows down, trying to keep up with him until a male voice finally calls an end to the session after a little over six minutes," the auction house's listing added.

The tape has never been heard in public.

The song was recorded during the 18-month period Lennon later called his "lost weekend", when he left his wife Yoko Ono and moved from New York to Los Angeles.

A more coherent version of the song eventually appeared on Lennon's covers album, Rock 'n' Roll - produced by Phil Spector - in 1975.