A rare early Mariah Carey demo tape recorded before her rise to global fame is hitting the auction block next month through Wax Poetics. Bidding opens December 2 and runs until December 11.

The cassette comes from producer Arthur Baker, who received it at a late nineteen-eighties holiday party where Carey was performing as a backup singer for Brenda K. Starr. The tape is one of the few known surviving demos Carey used to shop for a record deal, and another copy from that same party famously reached Sony executive Tommy Mottola, who signed her shortly afterward.

Containing seven tracks, the demo includes early and unreleased versions of songs that later formed the core of Carey’s nineteen ninety debut album, which launched four number-one singles. The cassette case still features handwritten contact details for Carey, Starr, and collaborator Ben Margulies.
Wax Poetics calls the tape “one of the most sought-after items” in its archive, citing its significance as a snapshot of Carey’s pre-fame artistry. The auction package includes authentication documents and historical notes from Baker’s collection.

Baker, who has kept the tape for more than three decades, says Carey’s talent was unmistakable from the first listen. The auction will take place at WaxPoetics.com.