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UK Release date : Jun 09, 1986

Paperback Writer / Rain (UK - Picture disc - 1986)

By The Beatles7" Single • Part of the collection “The Beatles • Singles • 20th Anniversary Picture Discs

Last updated on October 27, 2022

Track list

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Side 1

  1. Paperback Writer

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:28 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Lead vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Backing vocals, Tambourine George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

    SessionRecording : Apr 13, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    SessionOverdubs : Apr 14, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    SessionMixing : Apr 14, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Side 2

  1. Rain

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    3:01 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass Ringo Starr : Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Lead vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Electric guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer

    SessionRecording : Apr 14, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    SessionOverdubs : Apr 16, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    SessionMixing : Apr 16, 1966Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


In 1982, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of “Love Me Do” — The Beatles’ first UK single — EMI reissued the track in a special picture sleeve. A picture disc version was also released.

This reissue marked the beginning of an eight-year campaign: on the 20th anniversary of each of The Beatles’ official UK singles, EMI released a corresponding commemorative edition. Each reissue came in a new picture sleeve and was made available both as a standard black vinyl single and as a picture disc.

For collectors, completing the full set of 22 singles required patience — it wasn’t until 1990 that the final release appeared. Below is the full release schedule for the series:


From The Beatles 20th Anniversary Picture Discs Complete – Catawiki – 22 Limited Edition Picture Discs from the ‘It Was 20 Years Ago Today’ project. A RARE full set of all 22 EMI UK issued picture disc singles – released between October 4, 1982 and March 5, 1990 – as part of the lengthy 20th anniversary re-release project. The 20th anniversary set were issued independently as limited editions. They were re-released approximately 20 years after the original 1960’s releases. The artwork on these picture disc singles mirrors the artwork in the Blue Box Singles set on all but 2 singles. For whatever reason, All you need is love and Hey Jude were redesigned before becoming picture discs.

Paul McCartney writing

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