Today, UMG and Apple Corps Ltd. release ‘Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)’ from the forthcoming expanded Special Edition of The Beatles’ landmark 1965 album Rubber Soul. Recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions, ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ were intended for release as a standalone double A-side single and were kept separate from the album.
The ‘Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)’ offers a rare glimpse into the earliest stages of the song, capturing John Lennon and Paul McCartney working together at John’s home, Kenwood, in Weybridge, Surrey. At this stage, the iconic riff that would come to define ‘Day Tripper’ had yet to be written.
Initially based on an old folk song John had written the previous month, the recording captures the pair developing the song together, highlighting the fun they had when writing as a duo. John and Paul can be heard laughing as they work through the song, with John later making reference to the high level of sound being captured on tape.
The final version of ‘Day Tripper’ was completed during an eight-hour studio session, making this songwriting work tape a fascinating insight into both the creative process behind one of The Beatles’ most enduring songs and the enjoyment John and Paul found in working together.
‘Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)’ is included in the forthcoming Rubber Soul Special Edition, newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell. The expanded collection opens the studio doors on the making of Rubber Soul, bringing together 24 early session recordings, including 20 previously unreleased takes and three previously unreleased home demos, alongside the album’s new stereo mix, original mono mix, original Capitol US album version and the contemporary ‘Day Tripper’ / ‘We Can Work It Out’ single.
Following the release of ‘Michelle (Take 1)’ at the time of the Special Edition announcement, ‘Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)’ is the latest recording to be made available ahead of the release on 2nd October.
First released on 3rd December 1965, Rubber Soul marked a pivotal moment in The Beatles’ evolution. Arriving at the end of a remarkable year that saw John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr reach artistic and commercial heights, the album revealed a band pushing beyond the conventions of pop music and embracing a more adventurous approach to songwriting and recording.
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