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Tara Browne dies

Dec 18, 1966



What happened for Paul in 1966

After a busy end to 1965, which saw the completion of their album “Rubber Soul” and a UK tour, the Beatles were supposed to start filming their third film at the beginning of 1966, which was based on the script “A Talent For Loving“. However, in mid-December, the project was cancelled. As a result, The Beatles had a break of about three months in early 1966.

Paul McCartney continued his exploration of the London arts scene, looking for inspiration for his music and enjoying being around other creative people. He helped to launch the underground Indica bookstore, connected with art dealer Robert Fraser (who would become a friend), acquired his first painting by Magritte, attended a lecture by Luciano Berio, a pioneer in electronic music, created some experimental films

By early April, the Beatles reconvened in the recording studio to begin work on their seventh album, “Revolver. The recording process spanned over three months, the longest they had dedicated to any album thus far. Released in August 1966, “Revolver” was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time. It featured sophisticated songwriting, pioneering studio techniques, and an eclectic blend of musical genres, from classical orchestrations to psychedelia. Abandoning the customary group photograph, its cover – designed by Klaus Voormann, a long-time friend since their Hamburg days – was a monochrome collage intertwined with line-drawing caricatures of the group. The album was preceded in June 1966 by the single “Paperback Writer”, backed by “Rain”. Both tracks were promoted with short films.

That same month, Capitol Records in the US released an LP called “Yesterday and Today“, comprising songs from “Rubber Soul” and from the upcoming “Revolver” album. The cover, which portrayed the grinning Beatles dressed in butcher’s overalls, accompanied by raw meat and mutilated plastic baby dolls, caused an uproar. Consequently, thousands of copies of the LP were reissued with a revised cover. This was the first of several controversies that would touch the Beatles that year.

Also in June 1966, Paul acquired a secluded farm in Scotland, which later served as a refuge during his tenure with Wings alongside his first wife, Linda. He also moved into his new house in Cavendish Avenue, London, which would remain his London pied-à-terre for the rest of his life.

In the latter half of June, the Beatles embarked on their last world tour, with stops in Germany, Japan, the Philippines, and the US. The tour was riddled with controversies. In Japan, the bookings at the Budokan, a venue reserved for martial arts, offended many traditionalists, resulting in death threats to the Beatles. In the Philippines, the Beatles were accused of snubbing the nation’s first lady, Imelda Marcos. The band also faced a backlash from US religious and social conservatives over a comment John Lennon had made in a March interview with British reporter Maureen Cleave, which resurfaced in a US publication in July. “Christianity will go. It will vanish and sink. I needn’t argue about that. I’m right and will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first – rock’n’roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.

Their performance at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966, marked their final commercial concert, culminating years of relentless touring encompassing over 1,400 international shows.

In September and October, Paul took time off for personal pursuits. By late October, he began crafting music for the soundtrack of the film The Family Way. In late November 1966, the Beatles regrouped at Abbey Road to produce “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane,” poised to be their inaugural 1967 single.


In the mid-’60s, John was living out in the suburbs, leading a sort of pipe-and-slippers existence, getting very bored with married life. I was the one who was living in London, going to theatres and art galleries checking out amazing stuff like John Cage and Stockhausen, reading loads of far-out books, hanging out with Harold Pinter and Bertrand Russell, making my own experimental movies, forming my own ideas, which started filtering into the Beatles records.

Paul McCartney – From interview with UNCUT, July 2004

Last updated on November 18, 2023

Films released in 1966


Paperback Writer (Version 1 - Colour)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Paperback Writer (Version 2 - Black & White)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Paperback Writer (Version 3 - Black & White)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Paperback Writer (Version 4 - Colour)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Rain (Version 1 - Colour)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Rain (Version 2 - Black & White)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


Rain (Version 3 - Colour)

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg


The Beatles At Shea Stadium

1966 • For The Beatles • Directed by Robert Precht


The Defeat Of The Dog

1966 • Directed by Paul McCartney


The Next Spring Then

1966 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Paul McCartney

Concerts, TV & radio shows


NME Annual Poll-Winners' All-Star Concert

May 01, 1966 • United Kingdom • London • Empire Pool


Top Of The Pops

Jun 16, 1966 • UK • London • BBC Television Centre • TV show


1966 Germany Tour

Shows: 6 • Countries: 1


1966 Japan and Philippines Tour

Shows: 7 • Countries: 2


Summer 1966 US tour

Shows: 19 • Countries: 2

Recording sessions in 1966



Recording "Tomorrow Never Knows"

Apr 06, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Revolver"

April 6 - June 22, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Got To Get You Into My Life"

Apr 07, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Got To Get You Into My Life"

Apr 08, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Got To Get You Into My Life", "Love You To"

Apr 11, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Love You To", "Paperback Writer"

Apr 13, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Paperback Writer", "Rain"

Apr 14, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Paperback Writer / Rain (UK)


Recording "Rain"

Apr 16, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Paperback Writer / Rain (UK)


Recording "Doctor Robert"

Apr 17, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Doctor Robert"

Apr 19, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Taxman"

Apr 20, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Taxman"

Apr 21, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Taxman", "Tomorrow Never Knows"

Apr 22, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Mixing "Got to Get You Into My Life"

Apr 25, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "And Your Bird Can Sing"

Apr 26, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "I'm Only Sleeping" and mixing "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Taxman"...

Apr 27, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Eleanor Rigby"

Apr 28, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Eleanor Rigby", "I'm Only Sleeping"

Apr 29, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "I'm Only Sleeping"

May 05, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "I'm Only Sleeping"

May 06, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "For No One"

May 09, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Mixing "Doctor Robert", "I'm Only Sleeping", "And Your Bird Can Sing"

May 12, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yesterday and Today (Mono)


Recording and mixing "Taxman", recording "For No One", mixing "Love You To"

May 16, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "Got to Get You Into My Life"

May 18, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "For No One"

May 19, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)



Recording "Yellow Submarine"

May 26, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Yellow Submarine"

Jun 01, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "I Want To Tell You", mixing "Yellow Submarine"

Jun 02, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "I Want To Tell You", mixing "Yellow Submarine"

Jun 03, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)



Recording "Good Day Sunshine", editing "And Your Bird Can Sing"

Jun 08, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "Good Day Sunshine"

Jun 09, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Here, There And Everywhere"

Jun 14, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Here, There And Everywhere"

Jun 16, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)



Mixing "Got To Get You Into My Life"

Jun 20, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "She Said She Said", mixing session for "Revolver"

Jun 21, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Mixing session for "Revolver"

Jun 22, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Revolver (UK Mono)


Recording "Got To Get You Into My Life"

July 14-15, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Got To Get You Into My Life / Baby Each Day


Recording "Mellow Yellow"

Early October 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Mellow Yellow / Sunny South Kensington


Recording "From Head To Toe"

Late October 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on From Head To Toe / Night Time


Mixing "Paperback Writer"

Oct 31, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on A Collection of Beatles Oldies (Stereo)


"The Family Way" sessions

Early December 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (2011)


Remixing "I Want To Hold Your Hand"

Nov 07, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on A Collection of Beatles Oldies (Mono)


Remixing "She Loves You"

Nov 08, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on A Collection of Beatles Oldies (Mono)


Mixing "This Boy", "Day Tripper", "We Can Work It Out"

Nov 10, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on A Collection of Beatles Oldies (Mono)


Recording "Strawberry Fields Forever" #1

Nov 24, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Nov 24, 1966 - Apr 20, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording the Beatles' 4th Christmas record

Nov 25, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Pantomime: Everywhere It's Christmas


Recording "Strawberry Fields Forever" #2

Nov 28, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Strawberry Fields Forever" #3

Nov 29, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Mixing the Beatles' 4th Christmas record

Dec 02, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Pantomime: Everywhere It's Christmas




Recording "Strawberry Fields Forever" #5

Dec 09, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Strawberry Fields Forever" #6

Dec 15, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane



Recording "When I'm Sixty Four"

Dec 20, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)



Mixing "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Dec 22, 1966 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane



1966 interviews


Pop think-in - Paul McCartney

Jan 01, 1966 • From Melody Maker


Paul Peeps Into 1966!

Jan 01, 1966 • From Disc And Music Echo


Beatles Talk - February 1966

February 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Blind Date - Paul McCartney

Feb 19, 1966 • From Melody Maker


Paul McCartney on the importance of being a Beatle

Mar 15, 1966 • From Record Beat


Beatles Paul and John, the bards of pop

Mar 21, 1966 • From Newsweek


Paul all alone: running hard to catch up with the music

Mar 25, 1966 • From Evening Standard


Interview with Radio Caroline

Mar 25, 1966 • From Radio Caroline


Beatles Talk - April 1966

April 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Inner Beatle Secrets: From Paul

April 1966 • From Rave Magazine


John Lennon and Paul McCartney speak up!

May 1966 • From Flip Teen Magazine


Interview for BBC Radio's Pop Profile

May 02, 1966 • From BBC Transcription Services


Beatles Talk - June 1966

June 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Interview for Saturday Club

Jun 04, 1966 • From BBC Light Programme


PAUL in his own write — exclusive interview

Jun 11, 1966 • From Disc And Music Echo


Ringo played cards as others sang "Paperback"

Jun 17, 1966 • From New Musical Express


Paul lashes at 'sniping' Beatle-fans

Jun 18, 1966 • From Disc And Music Echo


Paul - on the new Beatles LP

Jun 18, 1966 • From Melody Maker




My Broken Tooth - by Paul McCartney

Jun 24, 1966 • From New Musical Express


Radio interview for WDR

Jun 25, 1966 • From WDR Radio





Interview at the Hilton Hotel, Tokyo

Jun 29, 1966 • From NTV Channel 4


Interview for Flip Teen Magazine

July 1966 • From Flip Teen Magazine



Interview for the Manila Times

Jul 05, 1966 • From The Manila Times


Interview with ITN

Jul 08, 1966 • From ITN



Interview for Reuters

Jul 08, 1966 • From Reuters


Paul McCartney's shocking dreams!

Jul 29, 1966 • From New Musical Express


Beatles Talk - August 1966

August 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Interview for Music Life

August 1966 • From Music Life


Interview with David Frost

Aug 06, 1966 • From BBC Light Programme


Interview with ITN

Aug 10, 1966 • From ITN



Interview with BBC

Aug 11, 1966 • From BBC


Radio interview for WCFL

Aug 12, 1966 • From WCFL




Four Smiling, Tired Guys Talk About Their Music

Aug 13, 1966 • From Detroit Free Press


Interview with radio station WKNR

Aug 13, 1966 • From WKNR


Radio interview for KYM

Aug 14, 1966 • From KYM






Radio interview for WCFL

Aug 17, 1966 • From WCFL


Radio interview in Boston

Aug 18, 1966 • From WCFL



Interview with The Plain Dealer

Aug 19, 1966 • From The Plain Dealer




Radio interview

Aug 21, 1966 • From KIMN Denver



Radio interview for WABC

Aug 22, 1966 • From WABC




Interview for ITN

Aug 25, 1966 • From ITN




Could This Be the End of the Beatles Saga?

Aug 27, 1966 • From London Express


"The Lennon And McCartney Songbook" radio show

Aug 29, 1966 • From BBC Light Programme


Red nosed folk of Showbiz

Sep 03, 1966 • From Melody Maker


Paul: we could have been shot!

Sep 10, 1966 • From Disc And Music Echo


All Paul

Sep 18, 1966 • From The Sunday Times


Beatles Talk - October 1966

October 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


"We can't please everyone" says Paul

November 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Beatles Talk - November 1966

November 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


The Pop Guru

Nov 23, 1966 • From Punch Magazine


Beatles Talk - December 1966

December 1966 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Paul's Music Box

December 1966 • From Beat Instrumental


Shhh! Composers at work

Dec 22, 1966 • From Daily Mirror


Paul's film music causes a panic

Dec 24, 1966 • From New Musical Express


Interview for Reporting '66

Dec 29, 1966 • From ITN


Beatles future by Paul and Ringo

Dec 31, 1966 • From New Musical Express

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