The Beatles — UK Canon
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Paperback Writer

Single by The Beatles • 10 June 1966 • Parlophone R 5452

Revolver (1966) — Studio awakening — backwards everything, tape loops.

About this release

Paperback Writer is a UK single on Parlophone (catalogue R 5452), released 10 June 1966. Recorded with new bass amp/speaker for unprecedented low-end on a UK pop single.

The recording context is the band's Revolver (1966) period, produced by George Martin with Geoff Emerick engineering. The track(s) were committed at EMI Studios, Abbey Road on Studer J37 four-track (with vari-speed, ADT) via the REDD.51.

Contents Preface 4 The Paul McCartney Interview 6 1962 Recording sessions for: `Love Me Do', `Please Please Me' 19631967 16 Recording sessions for: `Penny Lane', 92 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Yellow Submarine, `All You Need Is Love', Magical Mystery Tour, `Hello, Goodbye' Recording sessions for: Please…— Mark Lewisohn, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, p.3

What's distinctive

2 tracks; average length 2:40. Lennon dominates the lead vocals (1/2). Lead writing credit: McCartney (1 of 2).

Tracklist

Side A

Side B

Pattern analysis

Lead vocalists across Paperback Writer
2
Lennon 1
McCartney 1
Songwriters credited on Paperback Writer
McCartney1Lennon1
Track lengths (seconds)
Rain182Paperback Writer138

Era technical context

MicrophonesNeumann U47/U48, AKG C12, STC 4038, close-miking pioneered (Emerick) on Ringo's bass drum
OutboardEMI RS124, EMT 140 plate, Fairchild 660 limiter, EMI Artificial Double Tracking (ADT), Leslie cabinet (vocals)
GuitarsEpiphone Casino, Gibson SG (Harrison), Rickenbacker 4001S bass (McCartney introduced)
AmplifiersVox AC100, Vox 7120, Fender Showman, Fender Bassman

References & external databases

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