Paperback Writer

History: Beatles Book Monthly July 1966

As this issue of the Beatles' official fan magazine went to press, the band was finally out of the studio having completed the Revolver LP, had finished a short German tour, and were on the way to more dates in Japan. 

As a tie-in to the group's recent trip to Germany, this issue has a look back at at the group's early days in Hamburg, featuring an interview with Rosa (no last name provided), the cleaning woman at the Indra Musikclub, who befriended the band when they first arrived in the city.

Another flashback article, meanwhile, focuses on July 1964, when the Beatles attracted huge crowds of admirers during their visits to Australia and New Zealand ... 

and were pelted with rotten eggs by people who didn't like them:

There's also an article by pop writer Sue Mautner who had visited with the Beatles as they shot promo films for "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" at Chiswick House near London back in May. Numerous photos from the film shoot are also featured, including a pic of the band having a late lunch in the back of their Austin Princess.

Meanwhile, Neil Aspinall, in his column, details the the production of a separate set of promo films for "Paperback Writer" and "Rain," shot indoors at Abbey Road:

In the "Letters from Beatle People" section, Paul answers a query about that "boss" new tune, "Rain":

The "Song of the Month," meanwhile is "Paperback Writer," illustrated with Paul's handwritten lyrics and notes for the tune:

And, finally, some pics of Ringo playing around with the fold-up travel bike:

History: Beatles make "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" promo films - May 19-20, 1966

On May 19 and 20, the Beatles and TV director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, later to helm their "Let it Be" film, made a series of promo videos to plug their upcoming single "Paperback Writer" backed with "Rain."

They made a few videos for each song, taped in black and white at Abbey Road Studios, on May 19. These were later broadcast on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and the British programs "Goodbye Lucky Stars" and "Ready, Steady, Go!"

But the most memorable visual versions of the songs were filmed the following day at Chiswick House and Gardens, a 65-acre heritage site in West London. Aired only once each, in black and white, on "Top of the Pops" they capture the band on a beautiful, sunny spring day at their mid-60s prime. They look glorious on the recently released Beatles 1+ video collection.

If you look closely, you can see Paul's chipped front tooth, the result of falling off a moped in Liverpool the previous December and the reason he eventually grew his Sgt. Pepper mustache, with all the rest of the band following suit.

Paul was hanging out with Guinness Beer heir Tara Browne at the time of the accident. Browne, himself, later died in a car accident, which was referenced in "A Day in the Life," and the conflation of Paul's accident and Browne's ultimately became fodder for the "Paul is Dead" rumors of 1969.

Chiswick House, naturally, is celebrating the Beatles' visit there this month with a talk and numerous articles.

Here's the story of a gardener present at the time, while this article features interviews with a number of visitors who witnessed the video filming. And here's one about a schoolgirl who had a chance to meet the group at the time.

Artifact: "Paperback Writer" sheet music

Video: Pan's People dance to "Paperback Writer"