7 facts you should know about....the Beatles' "Rain"

1.Ringo has said this is his best drumming on a Beatles song.
2.This was the first song to use a tape played backwards, which created the strange audio effect. John Lennon discovered the technique when he put the tape for "Tomorrow Never Knows" on the wrong way. He was stoned at the time, and producer George Martin had to convince him that using a backward recording for the entire song was a bad idea. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
3.Lennon wrote most of this. It was his first song to get really deep, exploring themes of reality and illusion.
4.The backwards vocal at the end fade out is actually the songs first line: "When the rain comes they run and hide their heads". (thanks, chet - saratoga springs, NY)
5.This was one of the first Beatles records to feature loud, booming bass. McCartney's bassline is extremely recognizable, in contrast to The Beatles' older records. (thanks, Chris LaBenne - Niles, OH)
6.This was released as the B-side of "Paperback Writer." It was recorded during the Revolver sessions. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
7.The rhythm track was played fast and slowed down on tape.

Beatles: Paul McCartney In Tokyo 1966

PAUL IN JAPAN 1966
Originally uploaded by Sir George Martinn

A short interview in Tokyo 6/29/66

Q: "My name is Eric. Good to meet you."

PAUL: "Hello Eric."

BEATLES: "Hello."

Q: "Welcome to Japan. Well, I'll be the M.C. for your show. And well, I have a few questions here. Did you have a good sleep?"

PAUL: "Yes."

RINGO: "Yes, fine."

Q: "Did you have any knowledge about Japan before coming here?"

JOHN: "A little."

PAUL: "Yes a little bit, you know. Not much though."

GEORGE: "About as much as we know about most places we go to."

Q: "I see. Well, how are the Japanese fans?"

PAUL: "Great. Seem very great, yeah. We get lots of letters from Japan."

Q: "You didn't meet them at the airport?"

RINGO: "No. We came..."

JOHN: (jokingly) "We couldn't see a thing through the television lights."

RINGO: "It's AMAZING security, you know. I've never seen so many people guarding us."

Q: "We don't want you to be hurt or anything."

RINGO: "No."

Q: "So we're trying our best."

RINGO: "But we don't want the security to hurt the fans, you know. Don't get too rough with them."

Q: "Mmmm. I understand you've met your Queen."

RINGO: "Yeah."

Q: "What was the impression?"

RINGO: "Uhh, she's okay. Very good."

PAUL: (jokingly) "Yes, yes, one of the best."

Q: "How did you feel when you received the (MBE) medal?"

RINGO: "It was nice."

JOHN: "Nervous."

GEORGE: "Tired. It was early in the morning, about ten o'clock."

RINGO: "We don't like to get up too early, 'cuz we don't go to bed 'til late."

Q: "What musician and composer do you respect most?"

PAUL: "No I don't know, really. (pause) John Lennon!"

JOHN: (comically, shyly) "...Paul McCartney."

PAUL: (jokingly, exaggerated) "Ha, Ha, Ha!!"

Q: "And uhh, Paul's marriage..."

PAUL: "Yes, it's not true. It's wrong. It's George's marriage."

Q: "George is married."

PAUL: (gesturing to the others) "These three are married."

Q: "How many times do you wash your hair in a week?"

RINGO: "About once. It depends, you know."

JOHN: "Depends how hot it is... how dirty it gets, you know."

RINGO: "Depends what you're doing."

Q: "Do you cut it often?"

RINGO: "That's the same, you know. Whenever you feel like. You don't do it every week or you don't do it every month, you know. It just happens."

JOHN: (sings as they depart) "Now we say goodbye!! Da-dah, da-da-dah!!"

Read more Beatles interview at Beatles Ultimate Experience

John Lennon and his drummer-in-the-box toy

John Lennon and his drummer-in-the-box toy
Originally uploaded by Sir George Martinn

25 May 1966. Interpret the scene the way you want!
But this is what the photographer said...."I wanted to illustrate that, in a way, there was nothing more amazing about Ringo than anyone else on this earth. In this life he was just one of two million members of the human race. The idolization of fans reminded me of the story of the worship of the golden calf."

Paul McCartney and his Hofner 1966

Paul McCartney 1966
Originally uploaded by Sir George Martinn

Nice shot from a Revolver session. You must think he's very happy then. Here, there and everywhere, Good Day Sunshine..Got To Get You Into My Life... but then there's For No One which is argubly the saddest fab song ever.

In his hand is a Hofner 500/1 'Violin-Bass' which he made famous. After 1966 he used it less, rotate between this and Rickenbacker 4001S. But it still an Beatles instrument fans mostly remember, apart from Ringo's Ludwig.McCartney still has a 1963 model with him until now.(The 1961 one was stolen.)

He only used Hofner once in Revolver. A Lennon's trippy 'I'm Only Sleeping' . Interestingly, it was used in another song, 'She Said She Said' but played by George Harrison! (A rare case where Paul did not played on a Beatles song.)

I just listened to this album ( a needle-drop CD which is much better than 1987 CD) again this evening. It's still fantastic. So many styles you can't believe played by the same band. My favorites are 'And Your Bird Can Sing' which has an excellent guitars duet and some nice brief harmonies. 'Tomorrow Never Knows' still sounds strange after all these years. They made the crazy, chaos noises from very limited technologies.'Eleanor Rigby' is like a soundtrack in one song, Classical and Classic...and...I confess I love almost every tracks in it.

In case you want to feel like Macca.....
Icon Series Vintage Violin Bass (Transparent Green Flame Top)
Buy Revolver Vinyl LP now

Ringo, May 1966

Ringo, May 1966
Originally uploaded by Sir George Martinn

Revolver session. Do you like his drummin' ? Or his hairstyle and shade? Seriously, his drummin' in She Said She Said is a killer.

Don't Leave Me Alone

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Brian Epstein and the Beates (far away) USA,1966.

Brian Samuel Epstein (IPA: /ˈbraɪən ˈepstaɪn/) (19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967) was a British music entrepeneur, and the manager of The Beatles. Through his family's company, NEMS (North End Music Stores) he also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black and The Remo Four.

The Beatles recorded a demo in Decca's studios—paid for by Epstein—which he later persuaded George Martin to listen to, as Decca were not interested in signing The Beatles. Epstein was then offered a contract (after Martin had auditioned the group) by EMI's small Parlophone label, even though they had previously been rejected by almost every other British record company.

Epstein died of an accidental drug overdose at his home in London in August 1967. The Beatles' early success has been attributed to Epstein's management and sense of style.

Paul McCartney said of Epstein: "If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian."

Beatles photo # 5:Rockin' the USA for the Last Time

1966