17: RUBBER SOUL | THE BEATLES
Either U.S. or U.K. Version
I’ve always thought "I've Just Seen A Face" was a much better opener than "Drive My Car" on the U.K. version. It is more fitting to the sound of this great record. The U.S. version would be an easy choice if it was not for "If I Needed Someone" on the U.K. version, Harrison's 2nd track. So I remain split but leaning a smidge to the U.S. side on this one.
Which version would you pick?
US Version track listing:
Side 1: I've Just Seen a Face, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), You Won't See Me, Think for Yourself, The Word, Michelle
Side two: It's Only Love, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, Wait, Run for Your Life
UK Version track listing:
Side 1: Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), You Won't See Me, Nowhere Man, Think for Yourself, The Word, Michelle
Side two: What Goes On, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, Wait, If I Needed Someone, Run for Your Life
One thing that is the same between both versions, and the main reason I don’t have Rubber up higher like where Rolling Stone has it, is I have never found ‘Run for You Life’ a particularly good album finisher. Especially when compared to Revolver’s monumental first psychedelic ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’.
Rubber Soul is the sixth studio album by the Beatles, released on 3 December 1965. It is widely regarded as one of the Beatles’ best albums, and as a turning point in their musical evolution. The album features a more mature and sophisticated sound, influenced by folk rock, soul, and world music. The album also reflects the Beatles’ personal and artistic growth, as they experimented with new instruments, techniques, and lyrical themes.
The album was recorded in a span of four weeks at Abbey Road Studios in London, with producer George Martin and engineer Norman Smith. The Beatles used a variety of instruments on the album, such as acoustic guitars, electric pianos, sitars, harmoniums, and organs. They also employed studio effects such as tape loops, varispeed, and automatic double tracking. The album was the first to feature all original compositions by the Beatles, with most of the songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Some of the songs were also co-written or influenced by Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and Ravi Shankar.
Rubber Soul received critical acclaim upon its release, and has been praised by many music critics and fans as one of the Beatles’ finest albums. It reached number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200, where it stayed for eight weeks and six weeks respectively. It sold over six million copies worldwide and was certified six times platinum by the RIAA. It also received several awards and honors from various publications and organizations. For example, Rolling Stone ranked it number five on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2020.
Rubber Soul is an album that showcases the Beatles’ musical genius and diversity. It also marks a transition in their career from being pop stars to being artists. It is an album that deserves to be listened to by anyone who loves music.
Word from Rob Sheffield at Rolling Stone: Happy 50th birthday to Rubber Soul, the album where the Beatles became the Beatles. It was the most out-there music they’d ever made, but also their warmest, friendliest and most emotionally direct. As soon as it dropped in December 1965, Rubber Soul cut the story of pop music in half — we’re all living in the future this album invented. Now as then, every pop artist wants to make a Rubber Soul of their own. “Finally we took over the studio,” John Lennon told Rolling Stone‘s Jann S. Wenner in 1970. “In the early days, we had to take what we were given, we didn’t know how you could get more bass. We were learning the technique on Rubber Soul. We were more precise about making the album, that’s all, and we took over the cover and everything.”
Rubber Soul was the album where the moptops grew up. It was also where they were smoking loads of weed, so all through these songs, wild humor and deep emotion go hand in hand, like George Harrison and cowboy hats. (No rock star has ever looked less stupid in a cowboy hat than George on the back cover.) In addition to everything else it is, Rubber Soul is their best sung album. You can have a great time just focusing on the background vocals: Paul McCartney’s harmonies on “Norwegian Wood” are as rugged as John ever sounded, while John’s backup vocals to “Drive My Car” and “You Won’t See Me” prove he could come on as cute as Paul. It will always be my favorite Beatle record — even if Revolver is actually a little better. (I’ve made my peace with that contradiction.)
The Rubber Soul woman stays up late drinking wine on her rug after midnight, until it’s time for bed. She speaks languages he can’t translate. (“I love you” in French is just “je t’aime.” It’s not that hard.) She’s not impressed by the Beatle charm — when you say she’s looking good, she acts as if it’s understood. She’s cool. She makes the Rubber Soul man feel like a real nowhere boy. Yet even the sad songs here are funny. (Including the self-parodic machismo of “Run for Your Life,” a song Nancy Sinatra turned into a gangsta classic.) I love the moment in “Wait” when Paul’s girl asks point blank if he’s been faithful on the road. “I’ve been good/As good as I can be” — riiiiiight. “Wait” is the song that totally explains why Paul was Bill Clinton’s favorite Beatle…..