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Revision as of 00:43, 26 June 2005 by 65.190.2.200 (talk) (see "help: vandalism"; this is edit need not be changed to a less accurate and sloppier one)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| "Paperback Writer" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Beatles | ||
| Not featured on an original album | ||
| UK Release | 10 June, 1966 | |
| US Release | 30 May, 1966 | |
| Single Format | vinyl record (7") | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road Studios, 13 March 1966 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Song Length | 2:11 | |
| Record label | EMI, Swan | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| Chart positions | 1 (UK) 1 (USA) | |
| The Beatles single chronology | ||
| "Nowhere Man" (USA only) 1966 |
"Paperback Writer" / "Rain" 1966 |
"Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine" 1966 |
Paperback Writer is the name of a song written by Paul McCartney (although credited to Lennon-McCartney) and released by The Beatles on the A side of their eleventh single. It went to the number one spot in Britain, the United States, West Germany and Australia. This was the first Beatles single not to be a love song (however "Nowhere Man" was the first song released with that distinction).
The track was recorded between March 13 and 14 1966, and is marked by the boosted bass guitar sound throughout. McCartney was now playing a Rickenbacker and, with some studio tweaking, the bass is the most prominent instrument in the mix. American musicians like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett had used heavy bass sound before and now The Beatles were catching on, with tracks like this and Drive My Car.
One of Paul's aunts reportedly requested that he write a song with some other theme than boy-girl relationships. British disk jockey Jimmy Savile claimed that McCartney's inspiration came from seeing drummer Ringo Starr reading a book. "He took one look and announced that he would write a song about a book," he said. The song's lyric is in the form of a letter from an aspiring author addressed to a publisher. Said author badly needs a job and has written a paperback version of a book by a "man named Lear." This is a reference to the Victorian painter Edward Lear, who wrote nonsense poems and songs of which John Lennon was very fond (though Lear never wrote novels). The Daily Mail was Lennon's regular newspaper and was often in the studio when the Beatles were writing songs.
Aside from deviating from the subject of love, Paul had it in mind to write a song with a melody backed by "one note." He claimed to have barely failed to achieve this, as the verse remains on G until the end, at which point it pauses on C. The backing vocals during this section are from the French children's song "Frere Jacques."
Other noteworthy aspects of the song include its distinctive a capella intro, which reappears after each verse, and the distorted guitar riff that explodes from it leading into the next verse. A similar melody can be heard in another McCartney number, "Got To Get You Into My Life."
In Britain, the single was released with the infamous "butcher" cover art, depicting The Beatles with raw meat and decapitated baby dolls tossed about. The imagery was deemed too explicit for an American audience and was released there with photos of The Beatles playing live, but with John Lennon and George Harrison's images reflected so that it appears they are playing left handed.
"Paperback Writer" was not included on an original Beatles album. However, it can be found on several compilations:
- A Collection of Beatles' Oldies... but Goldies
- The Beatles Again (aka Hey Jude)
- The Beatles 1962-1966 (Red Album)
- Past Masters, Volume Two
- The Beatles 1
References
- Turner, Steve. A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles' Song, Harper, New York: 1994, ISBN 006095065X
