Beatles Release Rare Day Tripper Songwriting Work Tape

The Beatles have released a rare, previously unheard home recording of John Lennon and Paul McCartney developing their classic single "Day Tripper" before the song's iconic guitar riff had been written. The recording, titled "Day Tripper Songwriting Work Tape," was issued on August 26, 2026, by UMG and Apple Corps Ltd. It captures the two songwriters working on an early version of the track at Lennon's home in Weybridge, Surrey, during the sessions for their 1965 album Rubber Soul. The tape offers a candid glimpse into the pair's collaborative process. In the recording, Lennon and McCartney are heard working through early ideas, with the song's famous riff absent.