Paperback Writer/ Rain is one of the Beatles best songs ever released as a single. It was the turning point in their career. It still sounds just as fresh as it did 57 years ago.
Yep plus the single Penny Lane backed with Strawberry Fields..I mean wtf....some bands are around forever & can't even come close to one song no less 4 songs.
Definitely! I'm becoming quite the Beatles music collector... after watching this new video, I'm grabbing Rubber Soul which has a few lesser known jewels... such as "The Word" & "You won't see me" which have been covered by tons of artists, early crossover, I'd say
The Rubber Soul-Revolver albums were significant, not only for the creative engineering and phenomenal musical development but for what we (as teenagers at the time) were looking for in radio/pop tunes. We didn't even realize it at the time but we were hearing something that was hard to even imagine. All these years later, it's joyous to rediscover these innovations and nuances from 1965-6
I remember first hearing this coming out of the car radio speaker while my dad was driving. I was a super Beatles freak 10 year old and those unmistakable vocals pouring out alone at the very beginning acapella just shot right through me. Was popular at the time for DJs to talk through instrumental intros to songs but they couldn’t do it here. Mind blowing to a young man
I remember hearing the flip side "Rain" for the first time at age 14 and thinking, "What is going on with that BASS part?!" It was the coolest bass line I'd ever heard!
Paul McCartney, genius pop/rock bass player. IMO, his bass parts "made" so many of the Beatles song. In many cases, unlike with many other groups, it was his bass doing the nice "fills" in-between the vocal lines, and not the lead guitar or a keyboard. Many examples, but think of "A day in the life". Take away all the simple but beautiful bass fills in the song and it becomes much less impressive. Or "With a little help from my friends". But really, in every song, always adding a lot of value with his parts.
I've had this 45-single in my collection since I was a 15 year-old in 1966, and this video further bolsters my belief that the reason music was so good in the '70s was because The Beatles had set the artistic bar so high in the '60s.
I agree andyinoregon... There is a thread that runs through the 50's, 60's and 70's music. However, the Beatles were a SeaChange in music beginning with Rubber Soul and continuing into the 70's. I love the Beatles and recognize that the 70's were a direct result of the Beatles influence. However, there is no finer decade in Music than what was produced in the 70's. I don't think it will ever be duplicated... though I hope I am wrong.
@@bobbyh.3911 A very different style of music, but I've commented so many times on TH-cam that Steely Dan was for me in the '70s what The Beatles had been for me in the '60s.
A friend of my sister came to us with the new Beatles single. As the first sounds of Paperback writer came out of the speakers, it totally blew my mind. This was so different than anything I had ever heard before and it was absolutely briliant. When we played the B-side Rain, I was blown away again. Wow, what a single. I went out and bought it the very next day. And I think that George Martin went on record to describe the “contrapuntal statements from the backing voices - no one had really done that before” pretty much sums up the creativity of the Beatles. There pretty much they did that "no one had really done that before”
"nobody" _in Europe_ had approached pop vocals that way before. The Beach Boys recorded "I Get Around" in April 1964, 2 years earlier. _Paul wasn't chasing Brian for nothing ;O)_
I will never get tired of this song, along with the B side, Rain. The fact that they were able to reproduce Paperback Writer live is insane. Those overlapping harmonies, and Paul's great bass lines.
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney Interesting, to be sure; however, Paul Part 2 wrote some great tunes and played an amazing bass! Perhaps Macca had a twin brother!?
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney tell me you're an idiot without telling me you're an idiot XD How dumb do you have to be to believe that Paul died and was secretly replaced by someone who looked just like him, could play all the same instruments that he could, had the same voice as him, and could write songs just like him (or even better songs considering their best songs were in the latter half of their recording career)?
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney - Give it up already... Besides, it was supposedly that motorbike accident that gave him the lip scar that "killed" Paul.
Crazy how the brain works...just reading the latest comment has my brain playing Paperback Writer. I didn't even catch it right away. I was like why all of a sudden am I singing PW? Then I remembered I just read the comment a minute ago. Now back to the singing!
Beatles song writing quite often told a story in 2 and a half to 3 and a half minutes. The lyrics engage our imagination because of the story structure. Give the songs another listen with this in mind. Your appreciation will grow. ❤
And here we are discussing another fantastic Beatles song almost 60 years later. They are the giants' shoulders all modern rock music is standing on. In 60 years on, they will still be relevant.
They are up there with the rolling stones but not as revolutionary, the stones made the Beatles even where there own clothes 😂 they were still in uniform before the stones come and changed the world and the Beatles wrote nice little songs but were never important politically like jagger and dylan
I was 12 years old when I heard this for the first time on my transistor radio. Even at that age I knew I was listening to something innovative and unprecedented, and it blew me away. I am so happy I grew up with the Beatles… such an amazing journey.
The reason people are still analyzing The Beatles’ music is because it’s still hard to believe that these four young people could’ve accomplished everything that they did. People STILL want to know how the hell they did it. And with all due respect to this video, which was very interesting, I don’t think we’ll ever get an adequate explanation. We can discuss recording techniques, and the Beatles’ influences, and all the little mistakes that were left in. But in the end, The Beatles created a magic that just can’t be explained, really.
@@Dana-ie2bhExactly what I came to post 😊 The existence of R&B, the times and moment they showed up, AND their natural talent AND the serious skills they developed as a hard-working bar band for years
Rick Rubin said that the Beatles proved the existence of God. I don't necessarily agree with that, but the Beatles are the most inventive and influential band in popular music of the last 100 years.
The Beatles provided more happiness to humanity than anything that came before. That phenomenon may never be topped. I will die a happy person because I was nine years old when they first appeared on Sullivan. The constant joy their music produced is indescribable.
Saw The Beatles on their first Ed Sullivan appearance, also at 9 years old. I was forever changed. Still have all their vinyl records, including the 45’s.
At this point in the band's career, the Beatles enjoyed fame, attention and money on a scale that is unimaginable today. It was possible to perceive this wealth, just as we notice someone who is very well dressed or the owner of a very exclusive car. In fact, they had already reached this level two years earlier, in the American explosion and, consequently, worldwide, in 1964. What could have happened is very difficult: they could have suffered a negative impact of artistic accommodation, resulting from the benefits of glory and fame. Or what is almost the norm could have happened: they could have become perfect self-righteous idiots, enraptured with themselves and sunk into a vertiginous downward spiral of hedonism and decadence. But they were too distracted, WORKING. They took even serious knocks from fame, but they kept WORKING. We saw that on Get Back. We saw it on every album up to Let It Be. As it turned out, we're lucky: for as long as they existed as a band, they were the protagonists of a cultural and social portent whose impact shows no signs of being less than eternal, since it is deeply rooted in the genetics of feelings, behaviors and expressions. We are free to see them as just a band, after all. It's even a way of paying tribute to the way they've always seen themselves, and not without reason. It's what they have become of what we can now, without fear, call Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Think that's too much? Try playing "Yesterday" in a village in Cambodia, or showing the cover of Abbey Road to a family of Eskimos. Here, there and everywere.
At this point in the band's career, the Beatles enjoyed fame, attention and money on a scale that is unimaginable today. It was possible to perceive this wealth, just as we notice someone who is very well dressed or the owner of a very exclusive car. In fact, they had already reached this level two years earlier, in the American explosion and, consequently, worldwide, in 1964. What could have happened is very difficult: they could have suffered a negative impact of artistic accommodation, resulting from the benefits of glory and fame. Or what is almost the norm could have happened: they could have become perfect self-righteous idiots, enraptured with themselves and sunk into a vertiginous downward spiral of hedonism and decadence. But they were too distracted, WORKING. They took even serious knocks from fame, but they kept WORKING. We saw that on Get Back. We saw it on every album up to Let It Be. As it turned out, we're lucky: for as long as they existed as a band, they were the protagonists of a cultural and social portent whose impact shows no signs of being less than eternal, since it is deeply rooted in the genetics of feelings, behaviors and expressions. We are free to see them as just a band, after all. It's even a way of paying tribute to the way they've always seen themselves, and not without reason. It's what they have become of what we can now, without fear, call Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Think that's too much? Try playing "Yesterday" in a village in Cambodia, or showing the cover of Abbey Road to a family of Eskimos. Here, there and everywere.
I don't want to "unhear" anything that is present in a Beatles recording. Nothing you can eke out of the depths of a genius-driven recording of their's does anything but make me scurry and fire up my turntable!
When you hear "Paperback Writer" for the first time, it's a catchy, memorable song. And then on closer inspection you discover it's even more complicated and deeper than that first impression. In popular music, the mid-1960s was a renaissance. We're still assimilating it decades later.
Paperback Writer was the first Beatles song my dad liked very much. Maybe he liked other before, but this was the first one he told me so. He asked me who was singing and was surprised to know it was The Beatles. He thought it sounded like our Marujada, a folk group from Brazil. " Really Beautiful", he said. Next the radio played "Rain" and he said. " Don't tell it is the Beatles again". Well, I said it was indeed The Beatles. He was fasicinated too. And said it was like Folia de Reis, a kind of folk songs we have in my city. Then he said he has discovered he should listen more to The Beatles. But the Beatles song that touched him even more...Strawberry Fields Forever.
Paperback Writer and Rain is IMO the greatest single released by The Beatles. It sounded so different to anything they had done before that time and really showcases their incredible talents as musicians. After all, Rain was the first recording by anyone to include a backwards tape section near the fade out at the end. It was very innovative for the time and i would go as far as to say had Paperback Writer and Rain been included on the Revolver album it would have made what was a great album even more greater.
I think the sonic explorations of Rain are stunning. Yes, John often voiced his enthusiasm about tacking a reversed vocal at the end, but the real magic was in pairing a speeded up main vocal to the slowed down tape of the rhythm track. This gave the song a subtle surreal ambiance, and the technique would be used again in Strawberry Fields Forever.
It’s one of my all time favorite classic rock songs period, by anyone. It’s addictive. You can listen to it a hundred times in a row and never get bored of hearing it. It sounds like it was just made yesterday. All quite amazing feats for a 57 year old recording now. If I could have been a fly on the wall at EMI during these recording sessions.
I would be wondering what George thought about being relegated to tambourine. Same thing happened on their Magnum Opus "A Day In The Life" when he was relegated to maracas. I think Paul played lead on Georges's own song "Taxman" too. No wonder he ended up being "brassed off". Geoff Emerick recorded his impressions as a "fly on the wall". Interesting reading.
That song has the hook of that guitar part, but then like a train the vocals come rushing in relentlessly, and the harmonies are the only stop and building tension for the hook again. It's genius songwriting and recording
Thanks!! I'm a major music geek, and the Beatles are my favorite artist. I'm delighted by the details of production, and the song's context. Live long and prosper.
Fascinating info about this great song. I’ve always loved the bass runs Paul plays on the recording, but had no idea he also played the fantastic guitar riff too - he is one super talented musician!
Thanks for this. This is probably my all time favorite Beatles song and everytime I need a quick Beatles fix this is always my go to song. I never in all of my 61 years knew about the Fre're Jacques Harmony 😳 I never realized that's what was being said how very cool to learn that. God I love this song and this video made me love it even more!
I haven't watched an upload from you in a while and I have to say, your writing skills and video flow has gotten SERIOUSLY better. Dude, these videos are wonderful. Thank you, seriously.
It's an amazing song! I love that bass line. Those stacked vocals and that reverberated delay effect is so cool. I was wondering if someone came in late on the backing vocals, but it always sounded cool to me. Great video as always... ✌️✌️✌️
Such a great Beatles song. The quirks just make it more delightful to listen to, again and again and again. Paperback Writer also features my all time favourite bass line.
If you look at their performance on the Japanese tour, you can’t help but be impressed by the way they perform this song. How many bands could have handled a song as complicated as this so well, with four musicians?
Well the thing that’s very impressive is the fact that John and George don’t have their hands on the strings of the guitar but the riffs are playing either pre-recorded or a band behind the stage Bernard Purdie one of the best drummers and most recorded drummers said he played on 21 of the beetle tracks he said they were four drummers on Beatle songs and Ringo wasn’t one of them we’re supposed to believe they went into the studio in the beginning of November and I believe that December 4 it was in the stores with no material no songs and did the entire 16 tracks rubber soul in a matter of 3 1/2 weeks that would be an album cover and photo shoots pressing the record rehearsing the songs. And when you look at the history of the recording of that album most of the songs were done and either one or two takes absolutely impossible to write all that music rehearse all that music and literally put it down in one and two tracks when John and Paul in interviews said they couldn’t read music and that they weren’t really that good on their instruments it’s the old Cinderella story rags to riches they were put together by Tavistock and social engineering Group associated with MI6 British intelligence the Beatles were put together to debase society . They picked out each member sent them over to Germany to learn the 4 chord Chuck Berry songs which their first tour in 1964 all the songs from then they were still playing in 1966 nothing off of rubber soul or revolver still doing roll over Beethoven and I’m down and she loves you. it was a British invasion on the family unit long hair on boys creating the whole trans gender dystopia of today illicit drug use sex with whoever feels good with birth control pill abortions the breaking up of the family unit. I don’t think people realize how much work goes into just doing one song the songs were already recorded and they just did the vocals Davy Jones from The Monkees said two weeks before he mysteriously died the monkeys weren’t the first pre-fabricated band the Beatles were
PaperbackWriter had all, terrific lyrics, catchiest bass and guitar imaginable, great harmonies...just perfect. And Rain was so out there, it really prepared us for Revolver. An absolutely magnificent single, still sounds fresh.
Paul's brilliance on full show. Love the lyrical trip we take. So clever, not to mention the recording experimentation used and those great harmonies. Was great to see them move away from the romantic rabbit-hole.
I remember rushing home to play this 45 record. After a few spins I flipped the record over and played Rain. My young brain was totally blown. Years later I brought Rain to the band I was in. Love that bass!
It’s my favorite Beatles single. I love the guitar riff and the harmonies. And this song only has 2 chords, G and C. “Clarksville” is similar, primarily playing G chord. In both songs the verses stay almost entirely on G, causing a somewhat monotone verse melody. As a guitarist, I enjoy playing both songs.
The "Paperbak writer" vocal only "chorus" is actually built on 4 chords (C-G-Amin-D : you can hear them on the instrumental take or on the Budokan live performance. I remember being quite surprized, but it makes sense. The fact that it's only vocal harmonies kind of erases the impression of multiple chords... ;-)
I bought the single when it came out (I was 10) and both sides signalled a new Beatles sound. Much later I came to realise that as well as the actual writing it was the Rickenbacker and the fact that McCartney was spending more time composing bass lines as overdubs that made a difference to their sound. There are plenty of moments in the subsequent years where his bass work is outstanding - incredibly (counter) melodic and utterly original.
I have always put "Paperback Writer" among the top 5 greatest Beatle songs. The opening with the gorgeous harmonies, the amazing riff, Ringo's start-stop entrance, and the unimpeachable bass just makes this song pure rocking joy.
They're singing Frère Jacques??? I always thought they sang Paperback writer 😂😂😂 I really need to test my hearing 😅 Great episode as always I love those videos you learn so many new things about the songs you love ❤
Really interesting vid, man! I love your stuff, you always make me go back and listen for the weird stuff, then just end up sat on the ground in front of my record player, surrounded with vinyls, sad because John and George again and we'll never get another Beatles song.
Well, they are the #1 musicians in my book and the best music act ever. I hate it when people say they are the best band ever, key word "band" meaning that duos and singers that are not in bands are better than the Beatles. The Beatles according to you and others like you are just the best band and that's it.
@@auletjohnast03638I always think that a real band, like the Beatles, are so much more than the sum of their parts. Best band is the ultimate accolade in popular music as far as I'm concerned.
@@auletjohnast03638That's such a minor nitpick. The best band can also be the best act in general. To complain about people calling the beatles the best band because you consider them the best musicians overall is quite a pedantic complaint, since not only is it up for debate whether that's true or not; but the best band term is not mutually exclusive with the best musicians or the best artists.
It was “Rain” ( the B side of the “Paperback Writer” single) that fascinated me in 1967 (or so) and still does. The unusual way McCartney’s bass and Ringo’s drums have the lead is one thing, and how the lyrics can be interpreted several ways, to me about depression. “I can show you / that when it starts to rain, everything’s the same” and “can you hear me, that when it rains or shines / it’s just a state of mind…” Lennon didn’t mean it that way, I don’t think, but good poetry leaves itself open to interpretation. It’s on TH-cam, go listen.
Paperback and Rain are utter icons and milestones, separating early Beatles from later. Rubber Soul and Revolver permanently changed rock music. I also arrived in this world in 1966. Thank you for this.
Back then songs were put on 45 rpm records to appeal to the growing teenage allowance-driven market. To me this was the best 45 rpm record ever made. Then again, Yesterday and Today is among the very best albums ever made. Thanks for your assessment. Enjoyed it.
There's an old paperback (heh) book called _The Beatles: An Illustrated History_ that says that Paul said he wrote the song partially in fun for John's recent foray into literature, _In His Own Write_ and _A Spaniard in the Works._
@@martifingers That's what the book says. (I still have my copy some 45ish years later.) Could easily be a combination of reasons. "You should write about something other than love & stuff." "Good idea, lemme think… Got it! John just wrote these books, so…"
Read somewhere it was the result of a bet from Paul's Auntie, that he couldn't write anything but love songs etc. Could well have been Asher household member.
Amazing song, i went from "I don´t lisen to The Beatles ,just Paperback Writer I like it a lot" to me loving them and being one of my favorite bands. Rubber Soul helped a lot too :) Also fun fact Paperback Writter was one of the few Beatles songs Frank Zappa liked, allong with Strawberry Fields Forever and I Am The Walrus.
@@marcocardia3960 I dunno, and unfortunately we can't ask him. But I do think you're onto something regarding a kind of deep-seated animus toward "pop", whatever that means. In Zappa's frame of reference, I've always took it to mean "anything that was commercially successful". His disdain for the record industry's fixation on "commercial potential" was no secret. Actually, my comment was more an observation that Zappa's attitude was inconsistent. I mean, what is there about _Paperback Writer_ that differentiates it so greatly from any number of other Beatles songs that are just as rockin', just as sonically innovative, just as harmonious, or just as brilliantly performed and produced. As much as I love it, it's certainly not among their most musically creative songs. I can only assume that it just appealed to Zappa's subjective concept of "good", an opinion to which he's perfectly entitled. But considering Zappa's own penchant for innovation and musical complexity, _Paperback Writer_ seems a surprising member of his remarkably short list of Beatles favorites. Another point that was behind my comment (which doesn't have anything to do with music) is Zappa's bizarre socio-political perspective...er, not that politics makes any sense in the first place. Anyhow, he was a staunch advocate of individual liberty; yet, he was amazingly inconsistent in his identification of what he considered "good guys" and "bad guys" in the political domain. Hey...no one's perfect. Frank certainly wasn't omniscient or infallible. I agree with a lot of the ideas he expressed, but not everything. Ultimately, I value him for the music he created.
@@Vito_Tuxedo well Republicans are the bad guys so I agree with him on that, Frank just didn't lisen to pop music everytime they ask them what he lisens to, he answered that he had Bulgarian Folk music tapes on his car and classical music, like lou Reed their music reflects the people they are are, their music was radically different from popular music so they were anti the popular thing, although frank could do great pop songs and melodies as showed in Freak out and We're only in it for the money, a thing he said about the beatles wich was very stupid, but Frank was a cynic.
This may have been the very first Beatles "thing" I ever experienced as a young child. My parents had the very 45 single with Paperback Writer and Rain on the B side. I was probably 4 or 5 when I found them and played them, and I loved both songs immediately. This would have been '76 or '77, years after the band broke up, but this may have been my informal introduction to them. Neat deep dive into it, too!
Really enjoy your posts.I was Born in Seaford UK 1951. I was 12-13 years old so we grew up with The Beatles through our teens. They were simply sensational. Uk we’re going crazy about them. Great to here these stories on recordings. They were the best band.👍👍
As a novelist whose first venture into writing was delivered through songwriting and record/album generation, this is one Beatles song that still garners my attention. Thanks for the musical/video documentary here. Fascinating! to catch a glimpse behind the scenes, after all these years.
To me, a message song like this with a zippy catchy melody, great harmony, layered ‘busy’ backing track , and excellent studio wizardry is a monument to greatness.
I love everything about this song. The cadence of the lyrics are so perfectly on the beats, it is reflective of Chuck Berry. "Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book it took me years to write it will you take a look" is not a mic drop, it is a throw away the thing completely. You will never top the rhythmic perfection of the lyrics in Paperback Writer, and yet they sound so effortless.
I remember the day when Paperback Writer was released to radio stations. They would play it twice with a DJ announcement ‘Instant Replay’ in between. I couldn’t get enough of hearing that song.
This analysis is absolutely first rate! I loved the juxtaposition of the Beach Boys with the Fab 4. They were fierce competitors, and we are all the richer for it. First time watching this channel = instant subscribe. Good on you all, keep it up!
Paperback Writer is an amazing recording. You can hear the excitement of the band in the track. Clearly they were still excited to be The Beatles at that point. Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sergeant Pepper's are their greatest LPs!!
Nice job! Gotta go with Rain as the Frere Jacque part always bugged me. If you watch the Paperback Writer video, Paul has a chipped tooth from a moped mishap. You Can't Unsee That!
This was a great video. I am now 72 years of age and I was daydreaming about when I was sitting behind the Ludwigs at the age of 13 or so, in my bedroom, trying to work out the drum parts to "Rain" and "Paperback Writer". I never realized the intricacies of "Paperback Writer". Thanks for sharing!
I was 17 when paperback writer was realeased....just like every record previous...it was another fantastic song by The one and only BEATLES!...I still listen to the Fab Four almost every day....how would the World evolved, or even revolved without them?...
This single, along with the B-side of Rain and later on the single of Strawberry Fields/ Penny Lane are perfect example of what makes the Beatles so great. Whether it’s collectively as a band, or the yin and yang songwriting talents of John and Paul.
I always thought that was the sound of a typewriter when I was a kid. That's John that you're hearing coming in a little too late with the background vocal. It's also him that you hear doing a brief rehearsal for a couple seconds. Great upload!
That _is_ a typewriter! I've been down that rabbit hole and concluded that there's nothing else it can be - just the struggle to get the rhythm with it is apparent. Believe, lol.
A two minute song with a couple of chords from 1966 that influences everything - that’s the genius of it. Thank you so much for sharing and reminding 🙏🏼
Great video! Heard some things I’d never noticed before. One song that I’d like to see on this channel is Don’t Let Me Down. John says something at the end of one of the verses and I’ve yet to make out what he says, even on isolated vocal tracks. Thanks!
"Paperback Writer" has always been one of my favorite Beatles tunes. Thanks for helping me hear new sounds in this song, and giving me a new appreciation of an old favorite. Keep up the great work.
I vividly remember being fascinated by 60’s rock even at eight years old when my sister went to college in 1972 and left me her awesome collection of 45s (she instead took her albums including every Beatles album through 1970). Among the many outstanding singles she’d collected was a lone Beatles 45 - Paperback Writer b/w Rain - my first exposure to the Beatles and to this day my favorite track. The production the vocals the lyrics - all of it mesmerizing and yet easily understood in context. That sort of brilliance was both groundbreaking and eternal.
The Beatles didn't usually put their singles on the British versions of the albums. So you got more songs from them that way. More bang for your buck! John said it was like ripping your fans off if you put a single on the album like Capitol but thats American greed for you. The record company should of been called Capitalism instead!
I was surprised that you didn't mention when discussing how innovative and difficult the vocal echos were on the mono mix that they're barely present on the stereo mix. Thanks for pointing out all the background anomalies.... yes, I now can't unhear them. ;-) I love this stuff. So much more organic than the sanitized autotuned drum machine stuff we get now.
Paperback Writer is one of their finest songs indeed. The writing of a story certainly contributes to the exciting composition. It was a unique concept and it still is today.
The bass line in Paperback is just incredible. Just imagine. These two songs released on same 45. And then think about what’s being released as “music” today.
When this single dropped, it became clear that the Beatles were going to a new level in unpredictable songwriting, lyrics, sounds and arrangements. They seemed tapped into an infinite supply of novelty.
@jonathanbirch2022 The 3 singles prior to this were Yesterday/Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out. All were about girls. In fact all their singles prior to this, with the exception of Help, were love songs or about a girl. Do your Beatle research before making silly statements.
@jonathanbirch2022 I'm talking about the only chart that counts. The UK chart. So that excludes Nowhere Man. First verse last line in We Can Work It Out... *There's a risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone* Pretty sure that wasn't about a boy! So, as I said that just leaves Help as a non love/girl song.
@jonathanbirch2022 And why can't a girl be referred to as a friend? The middle eight was John's anyway so maybe he wasn't thinking about a girl but the rest of the song definitely is. Ok, Yesterday is excluded as it wasn't a UK single.
@jonathanbirch2022 Here you go, proof of what I've been telling you. "What is the meaning behind the song We Can Work It Out? We Can Work It Out is a song written about Paul McCartney's relationship with his then-girlfriend Jane Asher. At that time, Paul felt unhappy with his relationship with Jane Asher because she was constantly on tour for her career. " I found that online, but I also have the story in a book called A Hard Day's Write, It has quotes from The Beatles which explain how and why all their songs were written.
I love this song and I actually got to hear The Beatles play it live at Dodger's Stadium on 8/28/66, when I was 12. As an adult, I've come to really appreciate the Beatles far more than I ever did as a child. Now I can say that though the narrator of this video briefly alludes to the idea, the significance of the change in the Beatles LYRICAL style heralded by "Paperback Writer/Rain" can't be over-estimated. With the exception of "Nowhere Man" on their previous album, "Rubber Soul", up to this point, every one of the Beatles compositions had been about love or something having to do with romance. Then, just a few months after "Rubber Soul", they released THIS single; the A side about writing novels and the B side about rain, but neither song about romance or love. And if you examine the lyrical content of the songs on their following album, "Revolver", suddenly, half the songs on it (and including both sides of the single from it) are about anything but love: "Taxman", "Yellow Submarine", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Eleanor Rigby", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Dr. Robert", and "And Your Bird Can Sing". They are also still writing love songs like "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Got to Get You Into My Life", but what was now possible in their lyrical subject matter had suddenly and profoundly changed so song lyrics could be about pretty much ANYTHING and would continue to be that way for the rest of some of their best and most memorable writing. Later Beatles songs like, "A Day in the Life", "I Am the Walrus", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", "Revolution", "Lady Madonna", "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Penny Lane", "Come Together", "Baby, You're a Rich Man", "Hey Jude", "Get Back" and "Let it Be" are also not about romantic love. This change in lyrical style is true for pretty much all the other pop music of the era, but I believe it was the Beatles who started and popularized it. I'm not gonna credit Dylan or Zappa because I don't consider them in the "pop" music category. Sure, "Paperback Writer/Rain" and "Revolver" also marked the beginning a profound change in the MUSICAL style of the Beatles. Since they stopped touring, they were writing music that could only be recreated in the studio with lots more overdubbing and electronic effects, but I think this sudden and profound change in their LYRICAL style and that it influenced other writers is frequently overlooked and under-emphasized when people analyze the music of the Beatles.
Paperback Writer is an exciting shot of adrenaline. The rhythm is so crisp and driven. I love the circular form of the words so cleverly circular. This song makes me want to be a paperback writer too,
@YouCan'tUnhearThis Great video as always! My daughter and I watched it together, and we were both impressed with all the anomalies you talked about. I had a feeling the guitar solo to Got to Get You Into My life was similar to PW but hearing it with Last Train to Clarksville caused my daughter to nearly spit out her milk in surprise! It was never the same when The Beatles played PW live because it was so complex sound-wise that they sounded slightly off-key in their singing. One point you may not have known (although there's only so much you could say on video) was the fact that PW's bass sound caused a concern for the EMI brass back then. Mark Lewisohn mentions in Recording Sessions that EMI was worried that fans would get upset playing the 45 and the deep bass would cause sound problems on record players. A revolutionary machine was invented at EMI called ATOC (automatic transient overload control) which would suppress the bass sound enough to prevent skipping on record players. Lewisohn quotes one of the engineers who said they cut two versions, one with ATOC and one without, and the choice was the ATOC one. Again, though, great video!!!
Using a typewriter in the fade out is a very Beatle-y thing to do, and very appropriate for the lyrical content. I'm going with "yes, it's a typewriter".
It's possible I bought this song when it came out. Mind blown. I never heard the Frère Jacques reference till now. I consider the production style of Rubber Soul through Revolver timeless. It perfectly lets the music stand on its own. When I hear Sgt. Pepper I thin 1967.
Yeah, I always wondered what that part of the song was. I noticed it, but couldn't make out that it was those words. And I went to French immersion school, so I damn well knew those words!
I grew up with the music of the Beatles and this is one of the songs that stopped me in my tracks one day as I started to listen past the surface and hear all the content in the background. I started piano at an early age and as I got better and understood theory more I picked up on all that stuff in what dad was listening to. This song, the backing harmonies in the verse of 'Help' and nearly all of 'Hello Goodbye' all just blew me away and taught me a lot about how to properly listen to music. Great vid. I also think that in this song Paul may have been trying to deliver a rather John-esqe vocal performance. Not totally sure, but he has a sharpness to his voice that he rarely employed.
Loved this one. Paperback Writer has always been among my favorite Beatles songs and the combo with Rain makes it one of their best singles, too. And now I can listen out for the cough, the false harmonic start and the (simulated?) typewriting
I have always loved that song. I heard it on my parents’ Beatles album and have loved it ever since! Love the story, the harmonies, and now this video with more background info.
I remember when it first came out how new and fresh it sounded. I was just starting to tire of the Beatles with so much other good music coming up then but this blew me away especially the bass sound and I got right back into them. Now I know why that bass part hit me the way it did. Thanks for this.
What I think is that Music has a way of transporting us back in time that NOTHING else can do. Over half a CENTURY has passed and yet, when I hear that, I'm back in my room at 16 years old. I can see the room, the record player, my guitar and the whole scene is right there! The feeling is right there, also.
I CAN unpost this! Great video📺! I learned the guitar licks on “Paperback Writer” a week after it was released, so as you can imagine, I’ve heard it only a few thousand times since 1966. I’ve even played it on Radio stations. Yet it wasn’t until THIS video that I ever knew those harmony backup vocals sing “Frere Jacques”.
I was 11 at the time and I played 'Paperback Writer' frequently on the jukebox where the BPM (Beaumont, Texas 'Business and Professional Men's Club') had an awesome swimming pool. I got such a charge out of this song in my 11 year old body. And I first heard 'Rain' coming home from a Cub Scout trip and was immediately mesmerized by this song! These two songs, even all these years later, remain among my favorites of the Beatles.
The poetry - song lyrics are superb. Their description of a paperback writer is so tongue in cheek. They distilled it into the song lyrics with incredible poetic skill. The lyrics make me chuckle! They captured it all. The guitar riff rivalled any heavy rock band riff of that era. The vocal harmonies are reminiscent of the Beach Boys. Superb. I still love this song to this day.
I still think it's one of the greatest guitar riffs ever recorded. And the bass part is just stellar. All-in-all, it's a tour-de-force for Paul.
Wasn't that exactly after his car accident? Kiddin'...............
@@marcjacobscontinued9411 I get you're kidding but I'm so sick of seeing that PID rubbish. Anyone who believes it needs some psychiatric help.
@@ladraper7134you're off your meds mate
@@ladraper7134Please go away.
It really is a killer riff
My other favorite is hey bulldog
Paperback Writer/ Rain is one of the Beatles best songs ever released as a single. It was the turning point in their career. It still sounds just as fresh as it did 57 years ago.
Yep plus the single Penny Lane backed with Strawberry Fields..I mean wtf....some bands are around forever & can't even come close to one song no less 4 songs.
I still have the 45 after all these years.
Who gets it next?@@timb0man
Greatest "double A sided" single this side of Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields.
@@johndalton3180 Exactly. It's sad that when you do something that is the pinnacle of your talents you can never top it.
Seeing this channel pop up with a new upload is always a pleasant surprise. Such soothing and interesting videos on the best band there ever was.
Agree 100%
Totally! I couldn't have put it better myself
L
Definitely! I'm becoming quite the Beatles music collector... after watching this new video, I'm grabbing Rubber Soul which has a few lesser known jewels... such as "The Word" & "You won't see me" which have been covered by tons of artists, early crossover, I'd say
The Rubber Soul-Revolver albums were significant, not only for the creative engineering and phenomenal musical development but for what we (as teenagers at the time) were looking for in radio/pop tunes. We didn't even realize it at the time but we were hearing something that was hard to even imagine. All these years later, it's joyous to rediscover these innovations and nuances from 1965-6
I remember first hearing this coming out of the car radio speaker while my dad was driving. I was a super Beatles freak 10 year old and those unmistakable vocals pouring out alone at the very beginning acapella just shot right through me. Was popular at the time for DJs to talk through instrumental intros to songs but they couldn’t do it here. Mind blowing to a young man
I remember hearing the flip side "Rain" for the first time at age 14 and thinking, "What is going on with that BASS part?!" It was the coolest bass line I'd ever heard!
Ringo cited Rain as drumming he is most proud of.
I was 11, lol, howdy old friend, still love RAIN.
Paul McCartney, genius pop/rock bass player. IMO, his bass parts "made" so many of the Beatles song. In many cases, unlike with many other groups, it was his bass doing the nice "fills" in-between the vocal lines, and not the lead guitar or a keyboard. Many examples, but think of "A day in the life". Take away all the simple but beautiful bass fills in the song and it becomes much less impressive. Or "With a little help from my friends".
But really, in every song, always adding a lot of value with his parts.
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
I love it. The bass is like the lead instrument on Rain.
I've had this 45-single in my collection since I was a 15 year-old in 1966, and this video further bolsters my belief that the reason music was so good in the '70s was because The Beatles had set the artistic bar so high in the '60s.
I still have it too, it was my mother's
You're 1 year my junior. Good times..16 in '66? Better believe it!
I agree andyinoregon... There is a thread that runs through the 50's, 60's and 70's music. However, the Beatles were a SeaChange in music beginning with Rubber Soul and continuing into the 70's.
I love the Beatles and recognize that the 70's were a direct result of the Beatles influence.
However, there is no finer decade in Music than what was produced in the 70's. I don't think it will ever be duplicated... though I hope I am wrong.
@@bobbyh.3911 A very different style of music, but I've commented so many times on TH-cam that Steely Dan was for me in the '70s what The Beatles had been for me in the '60s.
Music was good in the 70s???
A friend of my sister came to us with the new Beatles single. As the first sounds of Paperback writer came out of the speakers, it totally blew my mind. This was so different than anything I had ever heard before and it was absolutely briliant.
When we played the B-side Rain, I was blown away again. Wow, what a single. I went out and bought it the very next day.
And I think that George Martin went on record to describe the “contrapuntal statements from the backing voices - no one had really done that before” pretty much sums up the creativity of the Beatles. There pretty much they did that "no one had really done that before”
They boldly went...
"nobody" _in Europe_ had approached pop vocals that way before.
The Beach Boys recorded "I Get Around" in April 1964, 2 years earlier. _Paul wasn't chasing Brian for nothing ;O)_
I will never get tired of this song, along with the B side, Rain. The fact that they were able to reproduce Paperback Writer live is insane. Those overlapping harmonies, and Paul's great bass lines.
Live was lesser, but they worked hard to make it memorable nonetheless.
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney Interesting, to be sure; however, Paul Part 2 wrote some great tunes and played an amazing bass! Perhaps Macca had a twin brother!?
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney tell me you're an idiot without telling me you're an idiot XD
How dumb do you have to be to believe that Paul died and was secretly replaced by someone who looked just like him, could play all the same instruments that he could, had the same voice as him, and could write songs just like him (or even better songs considering their best songs were in the latter half of their recording career)?
Bought the 45 in summer '66. Great music.
@@justiceforjamespaulmccartney - Give it up already... Besides, it was supposedly that motorbike accident that gave him the lip scar that "killed" Paul.
I think Paperback Writer is one of their best songs It is one song I can listen to over and over again. And never grow tired of hearing it.
it sounds super fresh too and 21st century, idk how they did that!
I'm with you! If it's on the radio, the radio is getting cranked, every time!
The lyrics are fantastic. Not a wasted word.
Crazy how the brain works...just reading the latest comment has my brain playing Paperback Writer. I didn't even catch it right away. I was like why all of a sudden am I singing PW? Then I remembered I just read the comment a minute ago. Now back to the singing!
Beatles song writing quite often told a story in 2 and a half to 3 and a half minutes. The lyrics engage our imagination because of the story structure.
Give the songs another listen with this in mind. Your appreciation will grow. ❤
And here we are discussing another fantastic Beatles song almost 60 years later. They are the giants' shoulders all modern rock music is standing on. In 60 years on, they will still be relevant.
They are up there with the rolling stones but not as revolutionary, the stones made the Beatles even where there own clothes 😂 they were still in uniform before the stones come and changed the world and the Beatles wrote nice little songs but were never important politically like jagger and dylan
@@MrThedonhead : Yeah, OK Don……….🤦🏻♂️🤡
They far surpass the stones and were far more revolutionary. No band has been more inspirational for musicians.
In 1000 years, they will still be relevant.
@@MrThedonhead Jagger important politically. Ha ha. Jagger is a perfect example of a sell out to the system.
I was 12 years old when I heard this for the first time on my transistor radio. Even at that age I knew I was listening to something innovative and unprecedented, and it blew me away. I am so happy I grew up with the Beatles… such an amazing journey.
Same here.
LOL; transistor radio. Me too!!
I was 13 when it came out. This was, without a doubt, the greatest time to be young.
The reason people are still analyzing The Beatles’ music is because it’s still hard to believe that these four young people could’ve accomplished everything that they did. People STILL want to know how the hell they did it. And with all due respect to this video, which was very interesting, I don’t think we’ll ever get an adequate explanation. We can discuss recording techniques, and the Beatles’ influences, and all the little mistakes that were left in. But in the end, The Beatles created a magic that just can’t be explained, really.
AMEN!
They got their start, just like the Rolling stones, copying black musicians.
@@Dana-ie2bhExactly what I came to post 😊 The existence of R&B, the times and moment they showed up, AND their natural talent AND the serious skills they developed as a hard-working bar band for years
Rick Rubin said that the Beatles proved the existence of God. I don't necessarily agree with that, but the Beatles are the most inventive and influential band in popular music of the last 100 years.
Illuminati
The whole sound of that intro riff is just *so* _JUICY_ !
Yah! It really catches the rattle of the soul. That's basically what the Beatles and rock in general is meant to do, capture the soul.
The Beatles provided more happiness to humanity than anything that came before. That phenomenon may never be topped. I will die a happy person because I was nine years old when they first appeared on Sullivan. The constant joy their music produced is indescribable.
Yep. Came before, or after..
Saw The Beatles on their first Ed Sullivan appearance, also at 9 years old. I was forever changed. Still have all their vinyl records, including the 45’s.
At this point in the band's career, the Beatles enjoyed fame, attention and money on a scale that is unimaginable today. It was possible to perceive this wealth, just as we notice someone who is very well dressed or the owner of a very exclusive car. In fact, they had already reached this level two years earlier, in the American explosion and, consequently, worldwide, in 1964. What could have happened is very difficult: they could have suffered a negative impact of artistic accommodation, resulting from the benefits of glory and fame. Or what is almost the norm could have happened: they could have become perfect self-righteous idiots, enraptured with themselves and sunk into a vertiginous downward spiral of hedonism and decadence. But they were too distracted, WORKING. They took even serious knocks from fame, but they kept WORKING. We saw that on Get Back. We saw it on every album up to Let It Be. As it turned out, we're lucky: for as long as they existed as a band, they were the protagonists of a cultural and social portent whose impact shows no signs of being less than eternal, since it is deeply rooted in the genetics of feelings, behaviors and expressions. We are free to see them as just a band, after all. It's even a way of paying tribute to the way they've always seen themselves, and not without reason. It's what they have become of what we can now, without fear, call Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Think that's too much? Try playing "Yesterday" in a village in Cambodia, or showing the cover of Abbey Road to a family of Eskimos. Here, there and everywere.
At this point in the band's career, the Beatles enjoyed fame, attention and money on a scale that is unimaginable today. It was possible to perceive this wealth, just as we notice someone who is very well dressed or the owner of a very exclusive car. In fact, they had already reached this level two years earlier, in the American explosion and, consequently, worldwide, in 1964. What could have happened is very difficult: they could have suffered a negative impact of artistic accommodation, resulting from the benefits of glory and fame. Or what is almost the norm could have happened: they could have become perfect self-righteous idiots, enraptured with themselves and sunk into a vertiginous downward spiral of hedonism and decadence. But they were too distracted, WORKING. They took even serious knocks from fame, but they kept WORKING. We saw that on Get Back. We saw it on every album up to Let It Be. As it turned out, we're lucky: for as long as they existed as a band, they were the protagonists of a cultural and social portent whose impact shows no signs of being less than eternal, since it is deeply rooted in the genetics of feelings, behaviors and expressions. We are free to see them as just a band, after all. It's even a way of paying tribute to the way they've always seen themselves, and not without reason. It's what they have become of what we can now, without fear, call Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Think that's too much? Try playing "Yesterday" in a village in Cambodia, or showing the cover of Abbey Road to a family of Eskimos. Here, there and everywere.
With respect, that's a ludicrous viewpoint.
I don't want to "unhear" anything that is present in a Beatles recording. Nothing you can eke out of the depths of a genius-driven recording of their's does anything but make me scurry and fire up my turntable!
When you hear "Paperback Writer" for the first time, it's a catchy, memorable song. And then on closer inspection you discover it's even more complicated and deeper than that first impression.
In popular music, the mid-1960s was a renaissance. We're still assimilating it decades later.
@@Struwwel2 Having said that, it's based on the two "beginner's chords" of C and G7. Lesson 1: It's not the chords, it's what you do with them.
Paperback Writer was the first Beatles song my dad liked very much. Maybe he liked other before, but this was the first one he told me so. He asked me who was singing and was surprised to know it was The Beatles. He thought it sounded like our Marujada, a folk group from Brazil. " Really Beautiful", he said. Next the radio played "Rain" and he said. " Don't tell it is the Beatles again". Well, I said it was indeed The Beatles. He was fasicinated too. And said it was like Folia de Reis, a kind of folk songs we have in my city. Then he said he has discovered he should listen more to The Beatles. But the Beatles song that touched him even more...Strawberry Fields Forever.
Cool story, thanks!
A taste for "Strawberry Fields" is a sign of a truly sophisticated sensibility.
Your dad had great taste!
In MY father's case, it Was Eleanor Rigby that did it😊
My Dad liked Nowhere Man.
I love Paperback Writer!
I remember hearing it the first time on the radio sitting in the back of my parents station wagon in 1966...great memories!
Paperback Writer and Rain is IMO the greatest single released by The Beatles. It sounded so different to anything they had done before that time and really showcases their incredible talents as musicians. After all, Rain was the first recording by anyone to include a backwards tape section near the fade out at the end. It was very innovative for the time and i would go as far as to say had Paperback Writer and Rain been included on the Revolver album it would have made what was a great album even more greater.
I think the sonic explorations of Rain are stunning. Yes, John often voiced his enthusiasm about tacking a reversed vocal at the end, but the real magic was in pairing a speeded up main vocal to the slowed down tape of the rhythm track. This gave the song a subtle surreal ambiance, and the technique would be used again in Strawberry Fields Forever.
It’s one of my all time favorite classic rock songs period, by anyone. It’s addictive. You can listen to it a hundred times in a row and never get bored of hearing it. It sounds like it was just made yesterday. All quite amazing feats for a 57 year old recording now.
If I could have been a fly on the wall at EMI during these recording sessions.
"If I could have been a fly on the wall...". Then the video would have featured the sound of a fly's swatter in the mix as you were crushed. 😁
And they were recording on a four track recorder!
I would be wondering what George thought about being relegated to tambourine. Same thing happened on their Magnum Opus "A Day In The Life" when he was relegated to maracas. I think Paul played lead on Georges's own song "Taxman" too. No wonder he ended up being "brassed off". Geoff Emerick recorded his impressions as a "fly on the wall". Interesting reading.
Enjoy the new episode! 👉 Which side of the *Paperback Writer* / *Rain* single is your favorite? Let me know below👇
That's a TYPEWRITER dude!! That is NO high-hat or Tambourine!! As soon as I heard those clicks, I knew it was a typewriter...
I love Paperback Writer, but I think Rain is even better. More innovative, more groundbreaking at the time. Been enjoying these for over 50 years!
Rain
Never heard Rain. Going to listen now.
I like both, but love the bass lines in Rain.
That song has the hook of that guitar part, but then like a train the vocals come rushing in relentlessly, and the harmonies are the only stop and building tension for the hook again. It's genius songwriting and recording
Paperback writer and Rain, two oof my favorite Beatles songs
Thanks!! I'm a major music geek, and the Beatles are my favorite artist. I'm delighted by the details of production, and the song's context. Live long and prosper.
Fascinating info about this great song. I’ve always loved the bass runs Paul plays on the recording, but had no idea he also played the fantastic guitar riff too - he is one super talented musician!
Thanks for this. This is probably my all time favorite Beatles song and everytime I need a quick Beatles fix this is always my go to song. I never in all of my 61 years knew about the Fre're Jacques Harmony 😳 I never realized that's what was being said how very cool to learn that. God I love this song and this video made me love it even more!
"Every time" is two separate words. And "go-to" should be hyphenated. I hope this helps. : )
Also, my favorite Beatles song. I love the harmonies and it showcases all four Beatles working together at the height of their creative powers.
@@stafford777 Are you the grammar police?
@@stafford777 - You can thank Britney Spears and her fabulous song, "Everytime", for corrupting the minds of youth with these types of errors.
You never heard the Fre"re Jacques harmony because of the crappy AM radios and cheap record players we all had back then. LoL!!!
I haven't watched an upload from you in a while and I have to say, your writing skills and video flow has gotten SERIOUSLY better. Dude, these videos are wonderful. Thank you, seriously.
Unbelievable song. Perfect in its narrative, rhythm, melody, and harmonies. It all fits in a 2 minute + killer of a song.
Incredible insights into the creative process behind this song.
It's an amazing song! I love that bass line. Those stacked vocals and that reverberated delay effect is so cool.
I was wondering if someone came in late on the backing vocals, but it always sounded cool to me.
Great video as always... ✌️✌️✌️
Such a great Beatles song. The quirks just make it more delightful to listen to, again and again and again. Paperback Writer also features my all time favourite bass line.
I shouldn't be surprised if the band (Beatles plus Messrs Martin and Emerick) were fully aware of the quirks and left them in for extra flavour.
If you look at their performance on the Japanese tour, you can’t help but be impressed by the way they perform this song. How many bands could have handled a song as complicated as this so well, with four musicians?
going now to take a look-see,
Sorry, but they did not play this one very well.
However, in 1993, McCartney and his band played it quite well.
And a shitty sound system with NO MONITORS, and thousands of hysterical girls screaming in the background. Talk about mission impossible.
Well the thing that’s very impressive is the fact that John and George don’t have their hands on the strings of the guitar but the riffs are playing either pre-recorded or a band behind the stage Bernard Purdie one of the best drummers and most recorded drummers said he played on 21 of the beetle tracks he said they were four drummers on Beatle songs and Ringo wasn’t one of them we’re supposed to believe they went into the studio in the beginning of November and I believe that December 4 it was in the stores with no material no songs and did the entire 16 tracks rubber soul in a matter of 3 1/2 weeks that would be an album cover and photo shoots pressing the record rehearsing the songs. And when you look at the history of the recording of that album most of the songs were done and either one or two takes absolutely impossible to write all that music rehearse all that music and literally put it down in one and two tracks when John and Paul in interviews said they couldn’t read music and that they weren’t really that good on their instruments it’s the old Cinderella story rags to riches they were put together by Tavistock and social engineering Group associated with MI6 British intelligence the Beatles were put together to debase society . They picked out each member sent them over to Germany to learn the 4 chord Chuck Berry songs which their first tour in 1964 all the songs from then they were still playing in 1966 nothing off of rubber soul or revolver still doing roll over Beethoven and I’m down and she loves you. it was a British invasion on the family unit long hair on boys creating the whole trans gender dystopia of today illicit drug use sex with whoever feels good with birth control pill abortions the breaking up of the family unit. I don’t think people realize how much work goes into just doing one song the songs were already recorded and they just did the vocals Davy Jones from The Monkees said two weeks before he mysteriously died the monkeys weren’t the first pre-fabricated band the Beatles were
One of many great songs by the best band ever, love to crank up the volume on this one!
PaperbackWriter had all, terrific lyrics, catchiest bass and guitar imaginable, great harmonies...just perfect. And Rain was so out there, it really prepared us for Revolver. An absolutely magnificent single, still sounds fresh.
Paul's brilliance on full show. Love the lyrical trip we take. So clever, not to mention the recording experimentation used and those great harmonies. Was great to see them move away from the romantic rabbit-hole.
Here we go again! You are the best Beatles related channel on the internet!
Agree, everyone knows something else, ugh.
I remember rushing home to play this 45 record. After a few spins I flipped the record over and played Rain. My young brain was totally blown. Years later I brought Rain to the band I was in. Love that bass!
It’s my favorite Beatles single. I love the guitar riff and the harmonies. And this song only has 2 chords, G and C. “Clarksville” is similar, primarily playing G chord. In both songs the verses stay almost entirely on G, causing a somewhat monotone verse melody. As a guitarist, I enjoy playing both songs.
The "Paperbak writer" vocal only "chorus" is actually built on 4 chords (C-G-Amin-D : you can hear them on the instrumental take or on the Budokan live performance. I remember being quite surprized, but it makes sense. The fact that it's only vocal harmonies kind of erases the impression of multiple chords... ;-)
@@pif-film that’s interesting. Thanks for sharing.
I bought the single when it came out (I was 10) and both sides signalled a new Beatles sound. Much later I came to realise that as well as the actual writing it was the Rickenbacker and the fact that McCartney was spending more time composing bass lines as overdubs that made a difference to their sound. There are plenty of moments in the subsequent years where his bass work is outstanding - incredibly (counter) melodic and utterly original.
I have always put "Paperback Writer" among the top 5 greatest Beatle songs. The opening with the gorgeous harmonies, the amazing riff, Ringo's start-stop entrance, and the unimpeachable bass just makes this song pure rocking joy.
To me my favorite thing is the Pyschedelic echo effect at the end of each verse
They're singing Frère Jacques??? I always thought they sang Paperback writer 😂😂😂 I really need to test my hearing 😅 Great episode as always I love those videos you learn so many new things about the songs you love ❤
On some verses they're singing paperback writer & on some verses they're singing frere jacques
Only in the last verse
@@lynnturman8157 that's why I thought every verse is Paperback writer 😂
It is PW during the chorus (unless anyone wants to correct me) but it's FJ during the verses.
I never heard it either!
Really interesting vid, man! I love your stuff, you always make me go back and listen for the weird stuff, then just end up sat on the ground in front of my record player, surrounded with vinyls, sad because John and George again and we'll never get another Beatles song.
Astonishing! The band (and their producers) that never stop giving us new tricks to contemplate
Brilliant analysis of a pop classic by the fab four. Such insights reveal a work of art rather than simply a song.
The fact that these "Musical Shakespeare's" actually found each other is amazing. They are the #1 Band in my book!👍
In mine as well.....
Well, they are the #1 musicians in my book and the best music act ever. I hate it when people say they are the best band ever, key word "band" meaning that duos and singers that are not in bands are better than the Beatles. The Beatles according to you and others like you are just the best band and that's it.
@@auletjohnast03638I always think that a real band, like the Beatles, are so much more than the sum of their parts. Best band is the ultimate accolade in popular music as far as I'm concerned.
@@auletjohnast03638That's such a minor nitpick. The best band can also be the best act in general. To complain about people calling the beatles the best band because you consider them the best musicians overall is quite a pedantic complaint, since not only is it up for debate whether that's true or not; but the best band term is not mutually exclusive with the best musicians or the best artists.
It was “Rain” ( the B side of the “Paperback Writer” single) that fascinated me in 1967 (or so) and still does. The unusual way McCartney’s bass and Ringo’s drums have the lead is one thing, and how the lyrics can be interpreted several ways, to me about depression. “I can show you / that when it starts to rain, everything’s the same” and “can you hear me, that when it rains or shines / it’s just a state of mind…” Lennon didn’t mean it that way, I don’t think, but good poetry leaves itself open to interpretation. It’s on TH-cam, go listen.
It's probably my favourite Beatles song. The guitar bass and rhythm are so perfect, lyrics are amazing. It sounds so stoned too, which I love
There is no such song by the Beatles, how weird is that.
completely agree
Paperback and Rain are utter icons and milestones, separating early Beatles from later. Rubber Soul and Revolver permanently changed rock music. I also arrived in this world in 1966.
Thank you for this.
That's the debut of Paul's Rickenbacker bass. He became a completely different bass player after that.
Same here. Alot of awesome things happened in 66 me being 1 of them
Back then songs were put on 45 rpm records to appeal to the growing teenage allowance-driven market. To me this was the best 45 rpm record ever made. Then again, Yesterday and Today is among the very best albums ever made. Thanks for your assessment. Enjoyed it.
That's exactly what I spent mine on. 45s.
Revolver is my favorite Beatles album. Eleanor Rigby will always be my ultimate Beatles song, though every one on the album is a creative treasure.
This was my sister Sue's favorite album of The Beatles also. RIP Susan, and I hope to see your soul somewhere later in this experiment.
There's an old paperback (heh) book called _The Beatles: An Illustrated History_ that says that Paul said he wrote the song partially in fun for John's recent foray into literature, _In His Own Write_ and _A Spaniard in the Works._
Maybe but I seem to recall Paul saying it as result of someone in the Asher household asking him why he only wrote about love and relationships.
@@martifingers That's what the book says. (I still have my copy some 45ish years later.) Could easily be a combination of reasons.
"You should write about something other than love & stuff."
"Good idea, lemme think… Got it! John just wrote these books, so…"
Read somewhere it was the result of a bet from Paul's Auntie, that he couldn't write anything but love songs etc. Could well have been Asher household member.
@@dougaldhendrick3497 You are more likely to have a better memory than mine. Dougald. I was there in the 60's!
Amazing song, i went from "I don´t lisen to The Beatles ,just Paperback Writer I like it a lot" to me loving them and being one of my favorite bands.
Rubber Soul helped a lot too :) Also fun fact Paperback Writter was one of the few Beatles songs Frank Zappa liked, allong with Strawberry Fields Forever and I Am The Walrus.
Zappa was a massively creative genius, but he wasn't immune to the human tendency to jam his head up between his nether cheeks every once in a while.
@@Vito_Tuxedo or maybe he just didn't liked pop rock/the beatles and preferred blues rock/Rolling Stone and doo woop.
@@marcocardia3960 I dunno, and unfortunately we can't ask him. But I do think you're onto something regarding a kind of deep-seated animus toward "pop", whatever that means. In Zappa's frame of reference, I've always took it to mean "anything that was commercially successful". His disdain for the record industry's fixation on "commercial potential" was no secret.
Actually, my comment was more an observation that Zappa's attitude was inconsistent. I mean, what is there about _Paperback Writer_ that differentiates it so greatly from any number of other Beatles songs that are just as rockin', just as sonically innovative, just as harmonious, or just as brilliantly performed and produced. As much as I love it, it's certainly not among their most musically creative songs.
I can only assume that it just appealed to Zappa's subjective concept of "good", an opinion to which he's perfectly entitled. But considering Zappa's own penchant for innovation and musical complexity, _Paperback Writer_ seems a surprising member of his remarkably short list of Beatles favorites.
Another point that was behind my comment (which doesn't have anything to do with music) is Zappa's bizarre socio-political perspective...er, not that politics makes any sense in the first place. Anyhow, he was a staunch advocate of individual liberty; yet, he was amazingly inconsistent in his identification of what he considered "good guys" and "bad guys" in the political domain.
Hey...no one's perfect. Frank certainly wasn't omniscient or infallible. I agree with a lot of the ideas he expressed, but not everything. Ultimately, I value him for the music he created.
@@Vito_Tuxedo well Republicans are the bad guys so I agree with him on that, Frank just didn't lisen to pop music everytime they ask them what he lisens to, he answered that he had Bulgarian Folk music tapes on his car and classical music, like lou Reed their music reflects the people they are are, their music was radically different from popular music so they were anti the popular thing, although frank could do great pop songs and melodies as showed in Freak out and We're only in it for the money, a thing he said about the beatles wich was very stupid, but Frank was a cynic.
This may have been the very first Beatles "thing" I ever experienced as a young child. My parents had the very 45 single with Paperback Writer and Rain on the B side. I was probably 4 or 5 when I found them and played them, and I loved both songs immediately. This would have been '76 or '77, years after the band broke up, but this may have been my informal introduction to them.
Neat deep dive into it, too!
I still have that 45 I also have Revolution & Lady Madonna
What an amazing introduction to the Beatles for a young child.
Really enjoy your posts.I was Born in Seaford UK 1951. I was 12-13 years old so we grew up with The Beatles through our teens. They were simply sensational. Uk we’re going crazy about them. Great to here these stories on recordings. They were the best band.👍👍
As a novelist whose first venture into writing was delivered through songwriting and record/album generation, this is one Beatles song that still garners my attention. Thanks for the musical/video documentary here. Fascinating! to catch a glimpse behind the scenes, after all these years.
My grandfather's two favorite songs were "Paperback Writer" and "Taxman." He taught me well.
Not really.
Did you know that Paul also played the guitar solo in "Taxman"?
@@saveourrivers yes I learned that recently! I always had incorrectly assumed the guitar solo was courtesy of George.
@@happy_fecker ooh, not liking The Beatles. So edgy and impressive. (yawn)
To me, a message song like this with a zippy catchy melody, great harmony, layered ‘busy’ backing track , and excellent studio wizardry is a monument to greatness.
Well done! Recorded well too. Smooth transitions. Excellent!
Not sure why it would surprise anyone that The Beatles used a typewriter clacking away at the end of a song about a man who wants to be a writer.
I love everything about this song. The cadence of the lyrics are so perfectly on the beats, it is reflective of Chuck Berry. "Dear Sir or Madam will you read my book it took me years to write it will you take a look" is not a mic drop, it is a throw away the thing completely. You will never top the rhythmic perfection of the lyrics in Paperback Writer, and yet they sound so effortless.
At the very least it's a fantastic opening couplet
Nice to have you back, it's always a pleasure when you upload
I remember the day when Paperback Writer was released to radio stations. They would play it twice with a DJ announcement ‘Instant Replay’ in between. I couldn’t get enough of hearing that song.
Rubber soul and revolver are my two favorite albums by the Beatles. I was in the seventh grade when they came to America.
Great analysis! Paperback writer - what a stellar riff - and Rain - Ringo's drums - have always been 2 of my favourite Songs of all time since 1966❤
This analysis is absolutely first rate! I loved the juxtaposition of the Beach Boys with the Fab 4. They were fierce competitors, and we are all the richer for it. First time watching this channel = instant subscribe. Good on you all, keep it up!
Paperback Writer is an amazing recording. You can hear the excitement of the band in the track. Clearly they were still excited to be The Beatles at that point. Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sergeant Pepper's are their greatest LPs!!
Nice job! Gotta go with Rain as the Frere Jacque part always bugged me. If you watch the Paperback Writer video, Paul has a chipped tooth from a moped mishap. You Can't Unsee That!
💥🎯💥
&
Scar on top lip 🧐
That disappeared 🤨
@@amarshmuseconcepta6197 It didn't disappear. It's why he grew the moustache, and clearly visible on White Album era photos.
This was a great video. I am now 72 years of age and I was daydreaming about when I was sitting behind the Ludwigs at the age of 13 or so, in my bedroom, trying to work out the drum parts to "Rain" and "Paperback Writer". I never realized the intricacies of "Paperback Writer". Thanks for sharing!
I spent a lot of time on my Ludwig Standard kit playing this song too. 61 now and I still love this song. Rock & Roll at it’s best ❤
I was 17 when paperback writer was realeased....just like every record previous...it was another fantastic song by The one and only BEATLES!...I still listen to the Fab Four almost every day....how would the World evolved, or even revolved without them?...
This single, along with the B-side of Rain and later on the single of Strawberry Fields/ Penny Lane are perfect example of what makes the Beatles so great. Whether it’s collectively as a band, or the yin and yang songwriting talents of John and Paul.
I always thought that was the sound of a typewriter when I was a kid. That's John that you're hearing coming in a little too late with the background vocal. It's also him that you hear doing a brief rehearsal for a couple seconds. Great upload!
That _is_ a typewriter! I've been down that rabbit hole and concluded that there's nothing else it can be - just the struggle to get the rhythm with it is apparent. Believe, lol.
A two minute song with a couple of chords from 1966 that influences everything - that’s the genius of it. Thank you so much for sharing and reminding 🙏🏼
Great video! Heard some things I’d never noticed before.
One song that I’d like to see on this channel is Don’t Let Me Down. John says something at the end of one of the verses and I’ve yet to make out what he says, even on isolated vocal tracks.
Thanks!
He says, "cushioned biscuits".
Try 'Hey Jude' at 2min-58 sec lol.
@@earlgrey691 he has a video on that actually😂
@@zooterjrThanks I will dive into that one.Newly subscribed.
"Paperback Writer" has always been one of my favorite Beatles tunes. Thanks for helping me hear new sounds in this song, and giving me a new appreciation of an old favorite. Keep up the great work.
I vividly remember being fascinated by 60’s rock even at eight years old when my sister went to college in 1972 and left me her awesome collection of 45s (she instead took her albums including every Beatles album through 1970). Among the many outstanding singles she’d collected was a lone Beatles 45 - Paperback Writer b/w Rain - my first exposure to the Beatles and to this day my favorite track. The production the vocals the lyrics - all of it mesmerizing and yet easily understood in context. That sort of brilliance was both groundbreaking and eternal.
It's You Can't Unhear This upload celebration time 🥳🤵🎉
Amazing guitar work on the track, should have been on Revolver with Rain
The Beatles didn't usually put their singles on the British versions of the albums. So you got more songs from them that way. More bang for your buck! John said it was like ripping your fans off if you put a single on the album like Capitol but thats American greed for you. The record company should of been called Capitalism instead!
I was surprised that you didn't mention when discussing how innovative and difficult the vocal echos were on the mono mix that they're barely present on the stereo mix.
Thanks for pointing out all the background anomalies.... yes, I now can't unhear them. ;-) I love this stuff. So much more organic than the sanitized autotuned drum machine stuff we get now.
Exactly that’s my favorite part of the song 🤩
Paperback Writer is one of their finest songs indeed. The writing of a story certainly contributes to the exciting composition. It was a unique concept and it still is today.
The bass line in Paperback is just incredible. Just imagine. These two songs released on same 45. And then think about what’s being released as “music” today.
Certainly one of my top ten favourite Beatles songs. Still to this day my most liked bass track. Paul is a superb bass player.
When this single dropped, it became clear that the Beatles were going to a new level in unpredictable songwriting, lyrics, sounds and arrangements. They seemed tapped into an infinite supply of novelty.
Brian Epstein didn't want it released as a single as it wasn't a love song or about a girl.
@jonathanbirch2022 The 3 singles prior to this were Yesterday/Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out. All were about girls. In fact all their singles prior to this, with the exception of Help, were love songs or about a girl. Do your Beatle research before making silly statements.
@jonathanbirch2022 I'm talking about the only chart that counts. The UK chart.
So that excludes Nowhere Man. First verse last line in We Can Work It Out... *There's a risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone* Pretty sure that wasn't about a boy!
So, as I said that just leaves Help as a non love/girl song.
@jonathanbirch2022 And why can't a girl be referred to as a friend? The middle eight was John's anyway so maybe he wasn't thinking about a girl but the rest of the song definitely is. Ok, Yesterday is excluded as it wasn't a UK single.
@jonathanbirch2022 Here you go, proof of what I've been telling you.
"What is the meaning behind the song We Can Work It Out?
We Can Work It Out is a song written about Paul McCartney's relationship with his then-girlfriend Jane Asher. At that time, Paul felt unhappy with his relationship with Jane Asher because she was constantly on tour for her career. " I found that online, but I also have the story in a book called A Hard Day's Write, It has quotes from The Beatles which explain how and why all their songs were written.
I love this song and I actually got to hear The Beatles play it live at Dodger's Stadium on 8/28/66, when I was 12. As an adult, I've come to really appreciate the Beatles far more than I ever did as a child. Now I can say that though the narrator of this video briefly alludes to the idea, the significance of the change in the Beatles LYRICAL style heralded by "Paperback Writer/Rain" can't be over-estimated. With the exception of "Nowhere Man" on their previous album, "Rubber Soul", up to this point, every one of the Beatles compositions had been about love or something having to do with romance. Then, just a few months after "Rubber Soul", they released THIS single; the A side about writing novels and the B side about rain, but neither song about romance or love. And if you examine the lyrical content of the songs on their following album, "Revolver", suddenly, half the songs on it (and including both sides of the single from it) are about anything but love: "Taxman", "Yellow Submarine", "I'm Only Sleeping", "Eleanor Rigby", "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Dr. Robert", and "And Your Bird Can Sing". They are also still writing love songs like "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Got to Get You Into My Life", but what was now possible in their lyrical subject matter had suddenly and profoundly changed so song lyrics could be about pretty much ANYTHING and would continue to be that way for the rest of some of their best and most memorable writing. Later Beatles songs like, "A Day in the Life", "I Am the Walrus", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", "Revolution", "Lady Madonna", "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Penny Lane", "Come Together", "Baby, You're a Rich Man", "Hey Jude", "Get Back" and "Let it Be" are also not about romantic love. This change in lyrical style is true for pretty much all the other pop music of the era, but I believe it was the Beatles who started and popularized it. I'm not gonna credit Dylan or Zappa because I don't consider them in the "pop" music category. Sure, "Paperback Writer/Rain" and "Revolver" also marked the beginning a profound change in the MUSICAL style of the Beatles. Since they stopped touring, they were writing music that could only be recreated in the studio with lots more overdubbing and electronic effects, but I think this sudden and profound change in their LYRICAL style and that it influenced other writers is frequently overlooked and under-emphasized when people analyze the music of the Beatles.
Never heard the typewriter sound before.. what a clever addition.
Paperback Writer and Rain are two of the best Beatles songs ever recorded.
Rain is my fav Ringo drumming and wish Paul had kept that rick bass
One of my favourite beatles songs ..greatest backing track..and inspired vocals
Paperback Writer is an exciting shot of adrenaline. The rhythm is so crisp and driven. I love the circular form of the words so cleverly circular. This song makes me want to be a paperback writer too,
@YouCan'tUnhearThis Great video as always! My daughter and I watched it together, and we were both impressed with all the anomalies you talked about. I had a feeling the guitar solo to Got to Get You Into My life was similar to PW but hearing it with Last Train to Clarksville caused my daughter to nearly spit out her milk in surprise! It was never the same when The Beatles played PW live because it was so complex sound-wise that they sounded slightly off-key in their singing.
One point you may not have known (although there's only so much you could say on video) was the fact that PW's bass sound caused a concern for the EMI brass back then. Mark Lewisohn mentions in Recording Sessions that EMI was worried that fans would get upset playing the 45 and the deep bass would cause sound problems on record players. A revolutionary machine was invented at EMI called ATOC (automatic transient overload control) which would suppress the bass sound enough to prevent skipping on record players. Lewisohn quotes one of the engineers who said they cut two versions, one with ATOC and one without, and the choice was the ATOC one.
Again, though, great video!!!
On any given day this could be my favourite Beatles single. The pairing of this with Rain on the flip is almost unbeatable
Using a typewriter in the fade out is a very Beatle-y thing to do, and very appropriate for the lyrical content. I'm going with "yes, it's a typewriter".
🎉Love it.
One my Beatles favorites.
It's possible I bought this song when it came out. Mind blown. I never heard the Frère Jacques reference till now. I consider the production style of Rubber Soul through Revolver timeless. It perfectly lets the music stand on its own. When I hear Sgt. Pepper I thin 1967.
Yeah, I always wondered what that part of the song was. I noticed it, but couldn't make out that it was those words. And I went to French immersion school, so I damn well knew those words!
I grew up with the music of the Beatles and this is one of the songs that stopped me in my tracks one day as I started to listen past the surface and hear all the content in the background. I started piano at an early age and as I got better and understood theory more I picked up on all that stuff in what dad was listening to. This song, the backing harmonies in the verse of 'Help' and nearly all of 'Hello Goodbye' all just blew me away and taught me a lot about how to properly listen to music. Great vid. I also think that in this song Paul may have been trying to deliver a rather John-esqe vocal performance. Not totally sure, but he has a sharpness to his voice that he rarely employed.
Loved this one. Paperback Writer has always been among my favorite Beatles songs and the combo with Rain makes it one of their best singles, too. And now I can listen out for the cough, the false harmonic start and the (simulated?) typewriting
Typewriting and music will always remind me of "Black Tambourine" by Beck.
It was a typewriter, duh, paperback writer
I have always loved that song. I heard it on my parents’ Beatles album and have loved it ever since! Love the story, the harmonies, and now this video with more background info.
I remember when it first came out how new and fresh it sounded. I was just starting to tire of the Beatles with so much other good music coming up then but this blew me away especially the bass sound and I got right back into them. Now I know why that bass part hit me the way it did. Thanks for this.
What I think is that Music has a way of transporting us back in time that NOTHING else can do. Over half a CENTURY has passed and yet, when I hear that, I'm back in my room at 16 years old. I can see the room, the record player, my guitar and the whole scene is right there! The feeling is right there, also.
They can never take that away from us, either, brother!
@@shuroom57 You got that right!
I CAN unpost this! Great video📺! I learned the guitar licks on “Paperback Writer” a week after it was released, so as you can imagine, I’ve heard it only a few thousand times since 1966. I’ve even played it on Radio stations. Yet it wasn’t until THIS video that I ever knew those harmony backup vocals sing “Frere Jacques”.
I am pleasantly addicted to this song and recording. And it's monaural!
I was 11 at the time and I played 'Paperback Writer' frequently on the jukebox where the BPM (Beaumont, Texas 'Business and Professional Men's Club') had an awesome swimming pool. I got such a charge out of this song in my 11 year old body. And I first heard 'Rain' coming home from a Cub Scout trip and was immediately mesmerized by this song! These two songs, even all these years later, remain among my favorites of the Beatles.
Well said! Living through the Beatles emergence was something that not everyone got to experience but those who did, are still living it today.
The poetry - song lyrics are superb. Their description of a paperback writer is so tongue in cheek. They distilled it into the song lyrics with incredible poetic skill. The lyrics make me chuckle! They captured it all. The guitar riff rivalled any heavy rock band riff of that era. The vocal harmonies are reminiscent of the Beach Boys. Superb. I still love this song to this day.