Paperback Writer

This article is about the Beatles song. For the profession, see Novelist.

"Paperback Writer"
US picture sleeve
Single by the Beatles
B-side	"Rain"
Released	30 May 1966 (1966-05-30)
Recorded	13–14 April 1966
Studio	EMI, London
Genre	Hard rock [1] power pop [2] psychedelic rock [3]
Length	2:16 (stereo) 2:23 (mono)
Label	Capitol (US) Parlophone (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Lennon–McCartney
Producer(s)	George Martin
The Beatles UKsingles chronology
"We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper" (1965) "Paperback Writer" (1966) "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" (1966)
The Beatles USsingles chronology
"Nowhere Man" (1966) "Paperback Writer" (1966) "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" (1966)

Weekly charts Chart (1966) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [88] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [89] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [90] 7 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [91] 1 Denmark (Salgshitlisterne Top 20) [92] 15 Ireland (IRMA) [93] 1 Italy ( Musica e Dischi ) [94] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [95] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [96] 4 Norway (VG-lista) [97] 1 South Africa (Springbok) [98] 9 Sweden (Kvällstoppen) [99] 1 Sweden ( Tio i Topp ) [100] 4 UK Singles (OCC) [101] 1 US Billboard Hot 100 [102] 1 US Cash Box Top 100 [103] 1 West German Media Control Singles Chart [104] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1966) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 [105] 28 US Cash Box Top 100 [106] 43 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA) [107] Gold 1,000,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

1. According to the Beatles' friend and aide Tony Bramwell, McCartney based much of the lyric on a letter he had received from a would-be novelist. ^[5]
2. Starr then explained their absence, ^[28] saying that they were too "busy ... with the washing and the cooking" to appear on the show in person. ^[30]
3. Harrison described the Chiswick House promos for "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" as "the forerunner of [music] videos", adding, "I suppose in a way we invented MTV." ^[35]
4. Patrick Doncaster, the Daily Mirror 's show business reporter, commented that neither side of the single "had any romance about them. Gone, gone, gone are the days of luv, luv, luv." He quoted McCartney as saying: "It's not our best single by any means, but we're very satisfied with it. We are experimenting all the time with our songs ... Our new LP is going to shock a lot of people." ^[40]
5. Harrison recalled that they took to waving at the audience – which he likened to the band's "Elvis legs" moment – eliciting screams that covered the poor performance. ^[35]

References

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3. DeRogatis 2003, p. 48.
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External links

• Full lyrics for the song at the Beatles' official website
• The Beatles "Paperback Writer" on YouTube