# Paul McCartney on Rubber Soul Cover Accident

> Paul McCartney explains how a slip during the 'Rubber Soul' album cover shoot created the iconic elongated image.
- Title: Paul McCartney on Rubber Soul Cover Accident · NME | Shortify
- Summary: Paul McCartney explains how a slip during the 'Rubber Soul' album cover shoot created the iconic elongated image. Paul McCartney revealed that a cardboard…
- Keywords: paul mccartney, rubber soul, the beatles, album cover, robert freeman, iconic cover, music, culture, Paul, McCartney, Rubber, Soul
- Source: NME — https://nme.com/news/music/the-beatles-rubber-soul-album-cover-shot-robert-freeman-story-paul-mccartney-3972602
- Published: 2026-10-08T10:41:46+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: paul mccartney, rubber soul, the beatles, album cover, robert freeman, iconic cover, music, culture
## Rubber Soul Cover Shoot
Paul McCartney explains how the Beatles shot the iconic album cover for their 1965 release.
## Cover Creation Process
Photographer Robert Freeman projected images onto cardboard to create the album cover shape.
## Cardboard Slip
The cardboard slipped backwards during the session, giving the image an elongated shape.
## Accidental Perfect Fit
McCartney and the band embraced the slip, saying it echoed the album's title 'Rubber Soul'.

> ‘That’s perfect. If you print it with this stretched shape it will echo the title of ‘Rubber Soul’
## Cover Release Details
The expanded edition of the 1965 album is now available with new stereo mixes and a hardbound book.
## Key takeaway

Paul McCartney revealed that a cardboard slip during the 'Rubber Soul' album cover shoot created the elongated shape that became the album's iconic cover.