The Last Touring Year – Revolver (1966)

“We suddenly thought hey, what does a record do, it revolves, great you know and so it was a Revolver.”  -Paul McCartney

1966 ended with the end of the touring of the Beatles. With increasing complexity in the reproduction of their music on stage and also getting tired of touring since they can only hear the fans screaming and not the music. Furthermore, complications during this year lead to much discontent.

Starting off the year with a bang, March of 1966, a photo shoot for their American Yesterday and Today album caused much uproar from the public due to its disturbing cover and had to be replaced. Lennon also made a controversial comment on how the Beatles are more popular than Jesus. Although this did not cause the much trouble at first, the event will backlash later in the year.

The Beatles started their world tour June 23rd starting in Germany, the tour went smoothly until arriving in Manila, Philippines. Due to a refusal of invitation to breakfast from Imelda Marcos, first lady of Philippines, by Epstein, the Beatles and associates were pushed and beaten on their way to the plane upon leaving. Soon after they left the Philippines, the early comment made by Lennon caused huge discontent inside the United States in which Lennon had to apologise for what he said. The world tour ended on August 29th in San Francisco. This is the last concert that the Beatles performed.

However, the year went by bearing fruit. The album Revolver was released just before the end of their tour world wide hitting top of the charts. The album featured original sounds combined with sophisticated lyrics making it one of their best albums. Songs such as Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine are still famous today. Also, with new experimental music, the Beatles found themselves drifting towards the genre of psychedelic rock leading to the album soon to come – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Here’s Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles, one of the greatest songs ever written!