Promotional films
The Beatles were mostly unwilling to appear on television to promote the ‘Paperback Writer’/’Rain’ single, so took part in a two-day shoot which resulted in a total of seven promotional films for the songs.The idea was that we’d use them in America as well as the UK, because we thought, ‘We can’t go everywhere. We’re stopping touring and we’ll send these films out to promote the record.’ It was too much trouble to go and fight our way through all the screaming hordes of people to mime the latest single on Ready Steady Go!. Also, in America, they never saw the footage anyway.Once we actually went on an Ed Sullivan show with just a clip. I think Ed Sullivan came on and said, ‘The Beatles were here, as you know, and they were wonderful boys, but they can’t be here now so they’ve sent us this clip.’ It was great, because really we conned the Sullivan show into promoting our new single by sending in the film clip. These days obviously everybody does that – it’s part of the promotion for a single – so I suppose in a way we invented MTV.
The first day’s filming took place on 19 May 1966 in Abbey Road’s Studio One.
The crew was supplied by InterTel (VTR Services), and the director was Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The producer was Tony Bramwell. Video tape was used on this first day, while the following day’s footage was shot on film.
At 10am a camera rehearsal took place. The first colour performance of ‘Rain’ was filmed, after which The Beatles watched a playback to see the results. From 1.10-2pm they filmed a colour performance of ‘Paperback Writer’.
Both these colour clips were for the US market, and had their première on The Ed Sullivan Show on 5 June 1966, along with a greeting filmed by The Beatles on this day between 6.15pm and 6.30pm.
After lunch The Beatles recorded black-and-white footage for UK viewers, two for ‘Paperback Writer’ and one for ‘Rain’, between 3.30pm and 6.15pm.
The first black-and-white clip of ‘Paperback Writer’ had its television début on Saturday 25 June in Goodbye Lucky Stars, the final edition of the long-running music show Thank Your Lucky Stars.
The second black-and-white performance of ‘Paperback Writer’, along with the one of ‘Rain’, were first shown on Ready, Steady, Go! on Friday 3 June, which was the first time the programme had broadcast footage not from its own studio.
The second day of promotional filming took place on 20 May 1966 at Chiswick House, an 18th century house and gardens in west London.
For the ‘Rain’ clip, The Beatles were filmed outside the gates and around a cedar tree, with the group performing while children played among the branches.
For ‘Paperback Writer’ the group were filmed inside the conservatory, and miming to the song in the statue garden. Some of the conservatory footage was also used in the ‘Rain’ clip, and extra shots of The Beatles walking in the grounds were later edited into both films.
The colour clips were first shown in black-and-white on BBC 1’s Top Of The Pops. ‘Paperback Writer’ had its first screening on 2 June 1966, while ‘Rain’ had its début on the show on 9 June.
Top Of The Pops appearance
Although by June 1966 it had been running for over two years, The Beatles had never before appeared live on the BBC music show Top Of The Pops. They had pre-recorded exclusive performances in BBC studios, or sent promotional clips to be played on the show.
That changed on this day, with a studio performance of new single ‘Paperback Writer’. The Beatles had agreed two days previously, when manager Brian Epstein passed on a request from Top Of The Pops producer Johnnie Stewart. Unusually, on this occasion The Beatles agreed.
The group arrived at BBC Television Centre at 2.30pm for a rehearsal for the camera, and to pose for publicity photographs and conduct press interviews. More rehearsals followed between 4.15pm and 5.30, and from 6.30pm to 7pm.
The live broadcast took place between 7.30pm and 8pm on BBC One. The Beatles were the final act to appear, and mimed to both ‘Paperback Writer’ and its b-side, ‘Rain’. They were introduced by host Pete Murray.
The Beatles’ only appearance on Top Of The Pops was, with the exception of the worldwide satellite transmission of ‘All You Need Is Love’ on 25 June 1967, their final live television appearance as a group.
The most underrated Beatles song. Should have been another double a-side.
Now I know where Oasis got the template
Absolutely (well, this and Slade). Not that Oasis were ever half as good as this. Lennon’s vocal on this is surely the model for Liam G’s singing.
For sure.
Paperback Writer is a pretty awesome song. Rain is a song with an interesting sound but it’s not a great melodically flowing pop song. Rain is a Bside.
I agree. Outside of Beatle fanatics (like us) it’s not a well known song at all – even to those who were around at the time. To me, it’s a much more interesting RECORDING / PERFORMANCE than it is an interesting song (as are quite a few Lennon compositions).
The song has very melodic line.
Rain is a heavily stoned sixe.
Rain should have been on a Rubber Soul/Revolver double album. One of my favorite songs, ever.
Rain is definitely a great song, and especially the vocals sound beautiful, either played backwards or reversed to play forwards.
John seemed to be a creative genius, but then we hear that others did significant amounts of the work. So I don’t know what to believe. I know that Paul was a workaholic, so he would regularly visit John’s place to write. Maybe a lot of those shared songs would have been John-only songs if Paul had not dropped by so often.
Only they knew.
Can you solve a mystery? Over the years I’ve read how great the Drumming by Ringo Starr and the Bass playing by Paul McCartney are. I’d like to know who’s playing the Guitars on Rain? Is it John and George, George and Paul or John and Paul? Those Guitars have a sound of a Tamboura and are very Psychedelic! I’ve always thought it was mainly George Harrison since he was immersing himself in Indian Classical Music.
The unusual tamboura sound of the guitar is by the effect of slowing down the tape, as explained in the article. There is some version of Rain in YouTube with the original higher speed and it sounds like normal guitars.
Love Ringos drumming oh gosh wish i could play/ also Pauls Rick bass
They both are playing and I read somewhere they were using an alternate tuning (open G) which together with the slowed down tape contributes to the unique sound.
The guitars are clearly played by John and George – John wrote the song, so of course, he was going to play the rhythm guitar and George was playing the lead guitar; besides, Paul was occupied with playing the bass and he is playing his Rickenbacker bass, so he did not play guitar on this song.
The bass is an overdub, so Paul could have played guitar – as he did with Paperback Writer.
Hey, you’re right – I was listening to the isolated guitar parts on YouTube as well as Take 5 and I could detect a third guitar part in the mix, so this implies that John, George and Paul were all on guitars with Ringo on drums for the basic track.
Late ’65 early ’66 is the period of monotonic songs for John Lennon. The word, Tomorrow never knows, Rain, even I’m only sleeping, all sounds with few chords, linear melodies, less musical material but big lyrics. Maybe drugs effect, maybe Indian influence, maybe both.
I have a feeling that John’s voice is a bit dull in the 2009 stereo mix? I don’t mean ‘controlled’ I mean almost in the background!
I think Paul was also into the same few-chords thing at about that time–Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You Into My Life, Paperback Writer. Interesting how often the two of them moved in step with each other.
Late ’65 early ’66 is the period of monotonic songs for John Lennon. The word, Tomorrow never knows, Rain, even I’m only sleeping, Dr Robert, she said she said, all songs with few chords, linear melodies, less notes but big lyrics. Maybe drugs effect, maybe Indian influence, maybe both.
I have a feeling that John’s voice is a bit dull in the 2009 stereo mix of Rain? I don’t mean ‘controlled’ I mean almost in the background!
Rain is truly fantastic!! Ringo Starr’s drumming is perfect. Nobody could play Ludwig’s like him. Buddy Rich and Charlie Watts were probably shocked.
George playing lead guitar – 1964 Gibson SG
John playing rhythm guitar – 1965 Gretsch Nashville
Paul – 1964 Rickenbacker 4001S Bass Guitar
Ringo – Ludwig Drums
Just a minor addition: Ringo is also playing the tambourine in addition to drums.
For interest:
On Japanese version of Hey Jude (1970), there has appeared “lyrics” of John’s coda as follows:
Stare it down and nourish, what comes near you, ra…in.
I love this transliteration of the backwards vocal! It’s kind of poetic.
I think all 3 are playing guitars on this.
Wrong – John and George are on guitars while Paul is on bass and Ringo is on drums.
The bass And drums carry the song. Typical Lennon composition.
The official sheet music has Paul playing guitar with John, and George playing the bass part. For any guitarists out there, they played out of 1st position A. Not sure whether the tape slowing dropped the key to G, or they dropped the instruments down a whole step .., but the licks and chords are from playing around that A chord.
That info is incorrect – the recording has John and George on guitars and Paul on bass as well as Ringo on drums.
This webpage (http://www.beatlesebooks.com/rain) will further verify that it was the four of them on their usual instruments.
Here’s some trivia: a band from Manchester called themselves Rain after this song, but after Chris Hutton was sacked and replaced by Liam Gallagher, they were renamed Oasis, and the line-up was completed by Noel Gallagher, Liam’s brother.
In the US, this was released as a double A-side along with “Paperback Writer”.
I have not seen any comments except Bill’s about the circumstances surrounding the release of “Rain”. In the USA I seem to remember that it was released on a “single” vinyl record. Small size. Big hole for the record player. “Paperback Writer on side number one. “Rain” was not released on a LP until later.
Many people missed out on a great song at that time. You would hear it on AM car radios for awhile. Great song for the northwest which is where I am from. Those northern harmonies they are singing always remind me of bagpipes. Fantastic!
An interesting take here says there is just one guitar played by George. This is based on the new releases and especially the Coda.
What do you guys think?
Are there other Rain outtakes?
Is the final version based on take 5?
This is the line-up according to the recent deluxe Revolver release:
John: lead vocal, harmony vocal, guitar
Paul: harmony vocal, guitar, bass
George: harmony vocal
Ringo: drums, tambourine
The information is wrong – if you listen to Take 5 at the actual speed, there are two guitars, bass and drums, so logically, John and George would’ve been on guitars while Paul and Ringo were on bass and drums respectively, and Paul couldn’t do both guitar and bass simultaneously on the basic track.
Unfortunately, the SDE line-ups are not always 100% correct or accurate, due to errors or omissions.
Mr. Harvey,
Paul McCartney began overdubbing his Bass Guitar at a later date beginning in 1966.
I am sure you’ve noticed that there are outtakes, post 1966, missing Paul’s Bass.
As it is stated in the new two CD Revolver reissue, it is in fact John and Paul on Guitars and Ringo Starr on Drums on the “Take 5” Rhythm Track played at a “slightly” faster pace.
After the track was slowed down a bit, Paul overdubbed his Bass and Ringo a Tambourine.
I own a 4CD set called – THE BEATLES REVOLVER SESSIONS ” and “Take 5 ” is at the correct speed clocking in at 2:50.
Giles Martin’s mix erroneously called “Take 5/Actual Speed” is an abomination!
It is ridiculously too fast clocking in at 2:39 and it’s longer in length!
It sounds like the soundtrack to a scene in a cartoon!
Giles also tampered with history in overdubbing Paul’s Bass Track to his “Take 5/Actual Speed”!
Giles’ version should be withdrawn immediately! and replaced with the original John, Paul and Ringo “Take 5/Rhythm Track” which clocks in at 2:50!
This is a disservice to The Beatles legacy!
I’m disappointed that it wasn’t George Harrison on Guitar playing that “Tamboura” sounding Lead Guitar since he was studying the Sitar!
“Rain” was the Holy Grail for me as George Harrison’s finest Guitar performance!
It sure seems now that it was actually Paul McCartney on Lead Guitar and John Lennon on Rhythm Guitar.
I wish Geoff Emerick would have been more specific in his book as to who’s playing Lead Guitar!
George Harrison’s Achilles Heel is that he couldn’t cut it as a Lead Guitarist!
John, Paul and at one time Eric Clapton filled in for George Harrison as Lead Guitarist on Beatles recording sessions!
I don’t know what you have against George.
He was a very good lead guitarist, something that both John and Paul acknowledged, and what Geoff Emerick wrote in his book about George was disrespectful and uncalled for.
Like I said, the lead guitar credits for “Rain” in the SDE book for “Revolver” are wrong – George played the lead guitar, not Paul, and John was on rhythm guitar; besides, George could play Indian stuff on the guitar.
Hello David,
In a nutshell, Paul McCartney began overdubbing his Bass at a later date beginning in 1966.
Have you noticed that a lot of outtakes, post 1966, have no Bass.
Also, I own a 4CD set called – “THE BEATLES REVOLVER SESSIONS” and “Take 5 Rhythm Track” featuring John and Paul on Guitars and Ringo on Drums which is at the correct speed clocking in at 2:50.
Giles Martin’s mix called “Rain/Actual Speed” is an abomination clocking in at an incredibly fast 2:39!, longer in length and he overdubbed Paul’s Bass!
Giles’ version should be withdrawn immediately and replaced with the 2:50 version which features only John and Paul on Guitars and Ringo on Drums.
This is a disservice to The Beatles legacy!
So which was it? Did George Martin come up with the backmasking at the end or did John? It matters IMO
Another great song.