Way I saw it was Rubber Soul was the beginnin’ of the transition. Then there was Sgt. Pepper. No one had successfully run one song into ‘nother on the flip side until they did it.
The drug part tho, always keep in mind George Martin produced the thing. It was his idea ta cut up circus music tapes, throw ‘em in the air, pick ‘em up ‘n splice ‘em to create the background in ‘Bein’ for the Benefit of Mr. Kite’. Martin never claimed to do dope. No credible evidence there to suggest he did.
Think John Lennon let a lot of the Beatles marketin’ strategy slip when asked what the Paul is dead messages said. He replied ‘it sez buy more Beatles records’.
N’er did think they were as screwed up as they let on.