LOSE YOURSELF IN 1966

REVOLVER BLAST

More evidence of the Beatles’ headlong rush away from their lovable mop-top boy-band image was provided by the release of the Revolver album in August 1966. The Fab Four’s move into more adult and complex music had really begun with 1965’s Help! LP, further advanced by Rubber Soul later that year. However, an extended break from touring and other band duties at the beginning of 1966 allowed the group to go into the studios and properly experiment with songs and sounds, assisted by producer George Martin’s famously innovative touches.

The result was a Beatles record unlike any before. The band dabbled with complex studio techniques impossible to recreate at a live gig, and songs like Tomorrow Never Knows,

Eleanor Rigby and Taxman showed growing maturity, awareness and progression. The album is now regarded as one of the group’s best. Tellingly,

Sgt Pepper was less than a year away from release.

ELECTRIC WEST

The West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow had been electrified in phases following British Railways’ 1955 modernisation plan, and 1966 saw electric services introduced, reaching speeds of 100mph, between Euston, Manchester and Liverpool. To publicise these improvements, BR also launched the InterCity brand, with the new kids on the block reducing journey times from London to Manchester and Liverpool to a scarcely believable (at the time) two and a half hours.