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SIDE ONE 1. "Drive My Car" – 2:30 2. "I'm Only Sleeping" – 3:01 3. "Nowhere Man" – 2:45 4. "Doctor Robert" – 2:15 5. "Yesterday" – 2:08 6. "Act Naturally" (Morrison-Russell) – 2:33
SIDE TWO 1. "And Your Bird Can Sing" – 2:01 2. "If I Needed Someone" (Harrison) – 2:24 3. "We Can Work It Out" – 2:15 4. "What Goes On" (Lennon-McCartney-Starkey) – 2:51 5. "Day Tripper" – 2:50
The Beatles continued to tour and record new singles that were not meant for albums, which upset Capitol because they wanted a new album then and now. "Paperback Writer"/"Rain" was released as a single in late May/early June, which moved Capitol to put together an all "new" album. The end result was YESTERDAY...AND TODAY, which of course packaged the two songs from the "Yesterday" single (because Capitol believed all singles should be on albums), material from the UK RUBBER SOUL that wasn't used, and three brand new songs. American fans weren't aware that these "new" songs were really part of the forthcoming all-new Beatles album, although those songs were cut off from the U.S. pressing. Thus, the album did truly represent what came before (YESTERDAY) and what was happening "now" (...AND TODAY).
The album, however, became known not for being an album that had "Yesterday" (because back then it mattered), but because of the original cover art. The Beatles were in the mood for being arty, and worked with photographer Robert Whitaker for a piece he called "A Somnambulant Adventure". It was a bit of high-culture and pop parody at the same time, and was merely meant as a photo session. While the real reason has never been revealed, when The Beatles were made aware that Capitol were going to put together an album taken from various other records, someone simply said "here, give them these photos". The photo that would be used for the cover had been used in a promotional manner in England and that was it. According to one source, Lennon, perhaps being a bit of a smart ass, told his people to send that picture to be used for the cover. It was sent, and used.
Allegedly 750,000 copies were pressed, with a small portion of them going to press and radio. Many stores were disgusted by what they saw, which lead to a frenzy of phone calls to Capitol HQ. Capitol immediately sent out a letter demanding a recall, and that all copies should be destroyed. It's hard to imagine that a record label would dump hundreds of copies of records to burn and destroy, but back then it was part of the norm, and the pressing plants promptly granted the request. That didn't stop people from holding on to their copies. Some say that the album never hit stores, while witnesses say that the record with the original cover was indeed available to the public. When Capitol didn't want to destroy the cover, they simply printing up new cover stocks and glued them onto the old covers. The original cover became an instant collectible, and those who knew they had a "rare" cover would try to steam their covers in the hopes of having a successful peel, often with bad results. In time, Capitol pressed up a different cover with a completely different photo, and this would be done about three times before a proper cover was settled on. Regardless of the "damage", YESTERDAY...AND TODAY went to #1 for five weeks, not bad for an album with a photo that was considered a disgrace.
Unfortunately, it was the start of what would end up being a rough year for the group, with Lennon making a Jesus reference that would end up being taken out of context, a political snafu when the group visited the Philippines, and winding down their time as a live band. Before they played their last show, the group would record an all new album that was even more of a departure from REVOLVER. No one knew what was about to come.
JOHN BOOK'S MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/crutmusic
THE RUN-OFF GROOVE http://www.musicforamerica.org/node/114473
BOOK'S MUSIC Podcast http://booksmusic.podomatic.com/
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?vst=45730
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