Single:
Paperback Writer entered the Australian singles chart* on 18 June 1966 and peaked at #1. It was #35 on the Top 100 of 1966.
Album:
Paperback Writer was initially a non-album single but then appeared on A Collection of Beatles Oldies which entered the Australian albums chart* on 8 June 1968 and peaked at #7.
Songwriter:
Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon–McCartney
Producer:
George Martin
Record label of Australian release:
Parlophone
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts:
Paul McCartney wrote this after helping some friends, including John Dunbar, set up the Indica Bookshop (in the basement was the Indica Gallery, where John Lennon eventually met Yoko Ono), in January of 1966. Paul was the first customer of the shop.
This song was a sort of an homage to lots of authors, including John Lennon, who had already written two books: In His Own Write and A Spaniard In The Works. He also was thinking of the author Martin Amis, whom he had just developed a passion for.
John Lennon and George Harrison sang the French nursery rhyme Frére Jacques in the background. The Frére Jacques part has nothing to do with John Lennon – Paul just thought it was clever – but it does translate to “Brother John.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beatles/paperback-writer
Personnel:
According to Robert Rodriguez, the line-up is as follows:
Paul McCartney – lead vocal, lead guitar (riff), bass
John Lennon – backing vocal, tambourine
George Harrison – backing vocal, rhythm guitar, lead guitar (fills)
Ringo Starr – drums
Lyrics:
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job
So I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
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