The rare tape appears to be from a 1964 recording session where the young rockers repeatedly dissolved into laughter and were forced to begin anew. (Associated Press)

An audio tape that features the Beatles as young men chatting and breaking down in fits of laughter as they attempt to plow through an early recording session has been discovered in Liverpool.

Cameo Auctioneers announced on Thursday plans to sell the approximately 30 minute-long reel-to-reel tape on Tuesday at a sale in Midgham, about 75 kilometres west of London. The auction house expects the tape to sell for between $16,000 and $24,000.

The recording, believed to date from 1964, was recently discovered by a man cleaning out his late father's attic, officials said.

"There are lots of false starts where the band can't get it together," said Alan Pritchard, head of the auctioneer's entertainment department.

For instance, the audio includes John Lennon and Paul McCartney repeatedly dissolving into giggles as they try again and again to complete the tune I'll Follow the Sun.

I Feel Fine and Don't Put Me Down Like This are among the original and cover songs the band performs on the recording.

Some have speculated online that McCartney, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono or the band's company Apple Corps. could attempt to buy the tape.

Memorabilia belonging to the four members of the Beatles remains among the most coveted items at auctions today. Recently, the original, handwritten lyrics to one of Lennon's Give Peace a Chance sold for $841,000 in London.