Beatles album of the week: Rubber Soul

[AKA]

On December 3, 1965, the Beatles released their sixth album. Christened Rubber Soul, the record was unlike anything they'd ever recorded before.

True to form, though, the album contained fourteen tracks:

Side One:
Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney)
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Lennon/McCartney)
You Won't See Me (Lennon/McCartney)
Nowhere Man (Lennon/McCartney)
Think For Yourself (Harrison)
The Word (Lennon/McCartney)
Michelle (Lennon/McCartney)

Side Two:
What Goes On (Lennon/McCartney/Starkey)
Girl (Lennon/McCartney)
I'm Looking Through You (Lennon/McCartney)
In My Life (Lennon/McCartney)
Wait (Lennon/McCartney)
If I Needed Someone (Harrison)
Run For Your Life (Lennon/McCartney)

If there was anyone not convinced by Help! that the band was evolving into more prolific songwriters and musicians, Rubber Soul melted any doubt away.

John was becoming more personal ("In My Life"), while Paul was perfecting his skills at writing "silly love songs" ("Michelle").

Meanwhile, George's songwriting prowess had sharpened quite a bit since his creative debut on With The Beatles. He pens two songs that wind up on the album ("Think For Yourself," "If I Needed Someone").

Rubber Soul marks the songwriting debut of Ringo, who co-wrote the country-laced "What Goes On" with John and Paul.

One last thing - whilst listening to the album, listen for the boys teasing the censors on "Girl" with the "tit-tit-tit-tit" harmonies.

This week's All Music Guide review comes from Richie Unterberger.

While the Beatles still largely stuck to love songs on Rubber Soul, the lyrics represented a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and complex ambiguities. Musically, too, it was a substantial leap forward, with intricate folk-rock arrangements that reflected the increasing influence of Dylan and the Byrds. The group and George Martin were also beginning to expand the conventional instrumental parameters of the rock group, using a sitar on "Norwegian Wood," and Greek-like guitar lines on "Michelle" and "Girl," fuzz bass on "Think for Yourself," and a piano made to sound like a harpsichord on the instrumental break of "In My Life." While John and Paul were beginning to carve separate songwriting identities at this point, the album is full of great tunes, from "Norwegian Wood" and "Michelle" to "Girl," "I'm Looking Through You," "You Won't See Me," "Drive My Car," and "Nowhere Man" (the last of which was the first Beatle song to move beyond romantic themes entirely). George Harrison was also developing into a fine songwriter with his two contributions, "Think for Yourself" and the Byrdsish "If I Needed Someone."

Previous albums:
Please Please Me (1963)
With The Beatles (1963)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Beatles For Sale (1964)
Help! (1965)
Past Masters Volume One (1988)

See also:
Revolver (1966)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Yellow Submarine (1969)
The Beatles (1968)
Let It Be (1970)
Past Masters Volume Two (1988)

Beatle Facts

[diezman]

Great album from a band that never did a bad album!

Great review also AKA

I work at an oldies radio station and I like to throw in "You Won't See Me" once in a while. My favorite song off Rubber Soul

[AKA]

Thanks, Diezman! I've been doing this for seven weeks now, and I enjoy it a bit too much.

Even though I hate the American (bastardized) Beatles albums with a passion, I bought an original Capitol Rubber Soul just so I could have the "false-start" version of "I'm Looking Through You." It's my favorite Beatles rarity. I hope they add it to a reissue of Past Masters Volume Two.

[Lady T]

It is a tie between Michelle and In My Life; I love those two songs to death, especially Michelle, a name I plan to use for a middle name if I ever have a daughter....

[Penny Lane]

My favorites are;

In My Life

Norwegian Wood

Michelle

If I Needed Someone

[AKA]

More facts:

-Rubber Soul is the first Beatles album that spawned no singles. However, an EP was released on July 8, 1966 containing "Nowhere Man," "Drive My Car," "Michelle," and "You Won't See Me."

-The idea for the "stretched-out" cover picture was Paul's. The photograph was taken by Robert Freeman, who also snapped the covers for With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, and Help!

-"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" marks the first time George Harrison played the citar on a Beatles recording.

[Kristina]

nowhere man

[jamier42]

I have this cd of the Beatles. My favorite songs on it are In My Life, Michelle, Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Girl.

[phoebe7165]

I have to admit, I like alot of the Beatles slower songs, although they have alot of cool faster songs, too.

So I'm picking "In My Life".

[Jrnygrl]

It was a tough choice between Michelle, Norweign Wood, In My Life, but I choose If I Needed Someone.

[Nighthawk76]

"In My Life", was one of the greatest songs that John Lennon ever wrote.

[Penny Lane]

The Beatles are the coolest, greatest band ever! Or ever will be!

So I am opinionated! SO WHAT?

Sigh Sigh.............. Pant Pant...............

[Steve M.]

"Nowhere Man." John Lennon wrote it when he was trying to think of an idea for a song and getting nowhere, then he thought of himself as a nowhere man. Geez, Lennon was even inspired by writer's block itself!

[Jrnygrl]

Originally posted by Penny Lane
The Beatles are the coolest, greatest band ever! Or ever will be!

So I am opinionated! SO WHAT?

Sigh Sigh.............. Pant Pant...............

[AKA]

Think For Yoursekf
(Harrison)

I've got a word or two
To say about the things that you do
You're telling all those lies
About the good things that we can have
If we close our eyes

Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you

I left you far behind
The ruins of the life that you had in mind
And though you still can't see
I know your mind's made up
You're gonna cause more misery

Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you

Although your mind's opaque
Try thinking more if just for your own sake
The future still looks good
And you've got time to rectify
All the things that you should

Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you

Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you

Michelle
(Lennon/McCartney)

Michelle, ma belle.
These are words that go together well,
My Michelle.

Michelle, ma belle.
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble,
Tres bien ensemble.

I love you, I love you, I love you.
That's all I want to say.
Until I find a way
I will say the only words I know that
You'll understand.

I need you, I need you, I need you.
I need to make you see,
Oh, what you mean to me.
Until I do I'm hoping you will
Know what I mean.

I love you.

I want you, I want you, I want you.
I think you know by now
I'll get to you somehow.
Until I do I'm telling you so
You'll understand.

I will say the only words I know that
You'll understand, my Michelle.

In My Life
(Lennon/McCartney)

There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more