Recording, Mixing: Rain
Saturday 16 April 1966 | Studio
Location: Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
The Beatles completed recording 'Rain', the B-side to their forthcoming single 'Paperback Writer', during an intensive 11-hour session on 16 April 1966.
Work began at 2.30pm and continued through to 1.30am the following morning. The core rhythm track, bass guitar, and lead vocals had already been recorded on 14 April.
Two reduction mixes were made to free up space on the four-track tape. The second, take 8, combined guitars, drums, and bass onto one track, while a new experimental vocal by John Lennon was added elsewhere.
However, reduction mix take 7 was selected as the master. This configuration placed guitars and drums on track one, Paul McCartney's bass on track two, and Lennon's earlier vocal on track three—leaving track four free for overdubs.
Lennon, McCartney, and George Harrison added backing vocals, while Ringo Starr contributed tambourine.
The session's most innovative feature was the addition of backwards vocals during the song's coda—one of the first uses of reverse tape effects in popular music.
“I got home from the studio and I was stoned out of my mind on marijuana… Somehow I got it on backwards… I ran in the next day and said, 'I know what to do with it.'”
— John Lennon, 1980
Producer George Martin later recalled that he had independently experimented with reversing Lennon's vocal tape, contributing to the final effect that became a defining moment in The Beatles' studio evolution.
Following recording, four mono mixes were created, with the third selected for release. Lennon's vocals were enhanced using artificial double tracking (ADT), a technique that became a hallmark of mid-period Beatles recordings.
'Rain' was initially released only in mono. A stereo version did not appear until 1970 on the US compilation album Hey Jude.
Recording Location
FAQ
When was 'Rain' recorded?
The Beatles completed 'Rain' on 16 April 1966, with earlier recording sessions on 14 April.
Why is 'Rain' significant?
It features one of the first uses of backwards vocals in popular music, showcasing The Beatles' studio experimentation.
Who produced 'Rain'?
The track was produced by George Martin and engineered by Geoff Emerick.
Was 'Rain' released in stereo?
No, it was originally released in mono. A stereo mix appeared later in 1970.
Also on This Day – 16 April in Beatles History
- The Beatles at Top Ten Club, Hamburg (1961)
- The Beatles at Star-Club, Hamburg (1962)
- The Beatles on Scene At 6.30 (1963)
- The Beatles record 'A Hard Day's Night' at Abbey Road (1964)
- Filming A Hard Day's Night: Chase scenes in London (1964)
- The Beatles on Ready Steady Go! (1965)
- The Beatles record 'Old Brown Shoe' and begin 'Something' (1969)
- Mixing Ram – Paul McCartney (1971)
- Wings Over Europe Tour Mixing Sessions (1973)
- John Lennon & Yoko Ono Interview with Elliot Mintz (1973)
- Paul McCartney Earth Day Concert – Hollywood Bowl (1993)
- Paul McCartney live at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia (2002)
- McCartney III Imagined release (2021)
- Restored Let It Be Film – Disney+ Announcement (2024)
📅 See everything that happened on 16 April in Beatles History
Explore more: The Beatles Knowledge Hub | Beatles Middle Era (1964–1966) | On This Day in Beatles History
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