Brian Epstein , the Beatles ' manager , had intended that 1966 would follow the format of the previous two years , in which the Beatles had made a feature film with an accompanying soundtrack album , toured in North America and select countries during the summer months , and then recorded a second album for a pre-Christmas release . Following the group 's UK tour in December 1965 , however , the band members decided to reject the planned film project , an adaptation of Richard Condon 's novel '' A Talent for Loving '' , for which Epstein had purchased the film rights . The band therefore had an unprecedented three months free of professional engagements . The group resumed work in early April , when they began recording '' Revolver '' , an album that reflected a more experimental approach as well as the increasing division between the music they made as live performers and their studio work . The band briefly interrupted the sessions to perform at the '' NME '' Poll-Winners Concert on 1 May
UK tour in December 1965
The Beatles' 1965 UK tour
The Beatles' 1966 tour of Germany, Japan and the Philippines