The beginning of everything? The Story of Rubber Soul by The Beatles | Classic Albums Review

In 1965 the beatles had achieved everything a pop star could dream of, she loves you became the best selling single in the history of British records, they opened the way in the United States for the British invasion, they were breaking records everywhere, the rating levels in the Ed Sullivan show were unprecedented, every single they released was number one, tours in the most important countries for the industry, two successful movies, members of the British empire, what else could they do? They had broken all the standards, and avoiding a comfort zone the beatles decided to evolve and mature to change the history of music and the whole world. Rubber soul was the beginning of everything.

[@KidFresh71]

Rubber Soul - Revolver - Sgt. Pepper are the best trio of albums released by any band, ever. Each one groundbreaking, diverse in musicality, and perfect.

[@manny4552]

Yes

A well known Liverpool photographer shares his memories of Liverpool today through pictures and video. And current Liverpool! ...kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6u5f2SnpbKDotk

[@TheCliffandPhilShow]

Correct!:)

[@brianrocks2087]

And the best because they were the first to do it and everything has already been invented in rock and pop music

[@sleeping.helper]

Led zeppelin 2 / 3 / 4 / houses of the holy / physical graffiti. Game, set, match.

[@taffyjones281]

Growing up in the 60's, I'd wait in great anticipation for each Beatles album to appear and was never ever disappointed. Bearing in mind these were appearing roughly every 6 months, this was remarkable. For anyone listening back now, you can hear the invention of modern pop music and in that context, there's absolutely no one who got close to them.

[@whyyeseyec]

The cool thing was we got a new album every 3 to 4 months!!

[@darylnoble5711]

It was like Christmas Day when each album became available

[@jamesdrynan]

Right on, Taffy! One of my best memories of the Beatles? Six months after their Ed Sullivan first appearance, my Dad took me to see " A Hard Day's Night " on my 14th birthday. He liked it as much as I did! The writing was funny and the music was terrific!

[@fredherfst8148]

Rubber Soul blew my little brain. I can vividly remember listening intently to the whole thing and going ok…now this is something special. Little did I know what was to come.

[@toddpacker4683]

That’s insane they were putting out multiple albums a year

[@philokevetch8691]

I got this album for Christmas of ‘66. My sister got a turntable. I put it on the turntable, layed on the floor, and totally blissed out. It was indeed a turning point. I’ll never forget it.

[@anzacman5]

That happened to many of us. For me it was the double white '68.

[@Philtration]

It is such a great album. "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" should have been included on the LP.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

But it would be hard to choose which two songs would be cut in their favor.

[@carlweaver3243]

Drive My Car Norwegian Wood You Won't See Me Nowhere Man Think For Yourself The Word Michelle We Can Work It Out Girl I'm Looking Through You In My Life Wait If I Needed Someone Day Tripper

[@GVernon]

Yep, it's a shame that so much emphasis was placed on singles - would have made an already fantastic album, even better. Same thing with Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane - should have been on Sgt. Pepper.

[@rubbersoul2841]

@@carlweaver3243 i like the sequence, i would put Day Tripper between In My Life and Wait

[@carlweaver3243]

@@rubbersoul2841 Back in those days, the thinking was that you start off an album with a Rocker and finish it off with a Rocker. That's what I was thinking of with Day Tripper ending the album. And it had a nice fade out, too.

[@sushibar777]

Lennon once said that 'Revolver' was really 'Rubber Soul: Part II'. Just as they launched the British Invasion, by making 'Rubber Soul' they opened a musical door that others could walk through.

[@robinvernon8945]

That was harrison

[@force263]

Dylan deserves a lot of the credit you are giving 100% of to the Beatles. The quote at the beginning of the viddy even says so. Dylan’s influence on them from Rubber Soul on is obvious, but you can see it even earlier in a couple of the songs from ‘Help!’ (the title track and you’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away most notably). On Rubber Soul, though, you can see Dylan’s writing reaching not only John (Norwegian Wood) but Paul (I’m Looking Through You) and George (If I Needed Someone) as well, although George is the one who actually wound up working with Dylan and had significant success covering him (If Not For You). In hindsight, although it seems that Dylan and the Beatles were far and away the acts that influenced the evolution of the 60s, as well as much of what came after, there was so much going on that to narrow it down to just two is way-oversimplifying, but they were both pretty damned significant.

[@stephenmartinez9355]

@@force263 Dylan is a genius, no doubt, but probably his biggest contribution to the Beatles was introducing them to marijuana. Dylan himself was influenced by Woodie Guthrie and the Folk Movement of the 30's, 40's, and 50's. As far as Dylan influencing the Beatles, especially Lennon, that's true but like the geniuses they were, the Beatles took their influences to a higher level.

[@TimLondonGuitarist]

@@stephenmartinez9355 The word genius is banded around too often. Fact is they were intelligent, creative, focused, hardworking individuals who were lucky enough to be set up so they could develop their stuff without anyone bossing them around.

[@graemeking7336]

Yep. It was George

[@JB19504]

I remember when Rubber Soul came out my friends and I kept saying "How much better can they get?" It turns out better, came to mean "more complex". While the other albums that followed were all fantastic, none of them were any better than Rubber Soul, just different.

[@ari1234a]

In Rubber Soul Paul McCartney`s efforts are lacklustre. Comparing either to "Help" or "Revolver""You wont see me"and"I`m Looking through You" are mediocre.

[@manny4552]

@@ari1234a I'm looking through you is great but your right Lennon was the big star on this lp

[@gforce7four]

@@ari1234a Pretty sure the opening track is one of Paul's best, not to mention the brilliant Michelle. Sure Paul's later songs were better but these pieces were in line with the caliber of anything else he had written up to that point. John had the best writing up to this album but was about to hit his peak. McCartney was just getting warmed up.

Jeff...A well known Liverpool photographer shares his memories of Liverpool today through pictures and video. And current Liverpool! ...kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6u5f2SnpbKDotk

[@TheAerovons]

@@ari1234a Some albums are more Paul some more John. Lennon is nearly invisible on Abbey Road save for a couple of tracks.

[@garyallsebrook3493]

My favorite album of all time. Changed my music career forever.A masterpiece.

[@drferry]

This was the first album I bought. I was 15 at the time. I remember standing on the shore of a little lake in Loveland Colorado and I said to many friend, I wonder if the Beatles will be able to keep up with this new trend in rock music with politically aware songs? Then came Nowhere Man.

[@King3star]

I was a 14 yr old Army brat living near Mannheim, Germany. I mowed some lawns, washed some cars and road the Strausenbahn into downtown just to buy the album. Yes, the Euro version was a bit different. What a great time for music. Hearing any of the tracks I transport back to experiences in a foreign land. It was the best life with the best music.

[@walt1999walt]

I think they were especially apolitical....surprisingly so. Same with the Stones...both had only one overtly political song: "Revolution" for The Beatles and "Street Fighting Man" for The Rolling Stones. Did this make them better? Maybe.

[@drferry]

@@walt1999walt Maybe “socially aware” would be a better term. The shift was away from simple love songs to a more socially conscious perspective.

[@stevescontriano860]

I was playing in a band called the committee in 2001. I brought in a bunch of Beatles songs. I was the rhythm guitar player and the lead singer. All they had was come together. after a while the drummer screamed at me and said “DUDE !!! YOU’RE STUCK IN THE 60’s. I said “DAM STRAIGHT”

[@jensenbell]

My dad loved Rubber Soul so much. He was a big Dylan fan; loved folk and folk rock with smart poetic lyrics. When Rubber Soul came out, he read a review in the L.A. Times I think, and decided it was "The Beatles' Folk Album" (US/CAPITOL version) and so it played in our house and importantly, it was there in his collection for me to re-discover when I got old enough to play records. I heard the "real" version on CD in the late 80s and was shocked. I didn't even know the song "drive my car" existed! A lot of Americans had that experience.

[@KeithSpinneyMusic]

Personally I think "Help" was the beginning of everything. Some of the most personal songs John has ever written. Help, Ticket To Ride, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away and Paul's classic "Yesterday". I think it get's overlooked because it's considered a soundtrack album. The British version was a full blown studio album. Leave it to Capital records to muck it up.

[@jhfit]

I didn't think of this; you're right

[@toddpacker4683]

Help! and hard days night were really good albums, it’s just rubber soul and everything after took it to a whole new level. They weren’t writing songs like Michelle and Happiness is a Warm Gun yet on their earlier albums

[@abc456f]

@@toddpacker4683 Love HDN. Every song is a keeper. But then, weren't most of their albums? Never will see or hear the likes of them again.

[@kristoamadeus4441]

Rubber soul is just in another level

[@ytusersumone]

@@kristoamadeus4441 Yes, that is trur though, but Help! is in my Beatle top 6

[@bobhillstrom4915]

I was fortunate to see the Beatles three times as a teenager in Chicago. As many of the other people have stated Rubber Soul blew my mind and changed my life. Like Brian Wilson I played this over and over again when I bought this "masterpiece". It was the beginning of their best work.Great review of the album.

[@bobhillstrom4915]

thanks

[@JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

I agree... RS was a turning point in their career. I remember when it came out. It was so different from anything they'd done before but yet you knew it was the Beatles. Every song on the album was great.

[@jlouis4407]

Revolver is their best but Rubber Soul comes close and the best thing is the beautiful background harmonies.

[@The_Walrus_Was_Paul_1984]

An absolute masterpiece, never get bored of listening to it.

[@sylviaelizabethclarecholic2073]

And, John Lennon's tender smile on the cover IS priceless

[@ultrakool]

the others looking off and him looking dead into the camera as if to say, "yes, I am the leader of the beatles"

[@Valientlink]

This was the period where Geroge felt was the best, and considered Revolver as "Rubber Soul part 2." Despite Lennon being depressed at times, he kind of was all through their career due to the trauma of his mother's death. Love or hate Yoko, she was pivotal to him truly finding himself.

[@jackcade68]

This was the album that made the world realise that they were not a flash in the pan. They were just getting started!

[@andrewashdown3541]

Arguably Lennon's high point (4 extraordinary songs) - marking the end of his leadership of the group which from Revolver on passes to McCartney

[@GordonWilkinson-t8b]

50:50 still on both revolver and white album

[@wyrickmusic]

I’m glad there’s this video. Because it seems like when people make list of the greatest Beatles songs, they’ll put hard days night and help in the list. And really the Beatles greatest songs were everything starting with rubber soul. And especially on revolver which has some of the greatest songs ever written. This album was recorded with painstaking effort. The songs were all good. The album still holds up 60 years later.

[@donpodlas5546]

This is the album that really set the hook in me. I was 16 at the time. Nine months later found me dropping out of high school and enlisting in the Marines. I carried this album with me everywhere in the forms that were available at the time, usually little portable reel to reel players. Each and every song on this album was hypnotic in its own way. Still, I get very moved every time I hear their songs.

[@geldofpunk32]

They had actually already begun to change their style the year before on Beatles For Sale, look at a song like I'm A Loser. Help was a huge turning point too. It didn't just start at Rubber Soul.

[@TheAerovons]

Correct. The sound of a string section on Yesterday was stunning at the time....The Beatles...with STRINGS? ;) Always pushing forward.

[@vicbertfartingclack4559]

True! Ticket to Ride, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, being two songs that made a big leap forward; in addition to the song Help! As you mentioned.

[@tlatosmd]

While their first psychedelic phase that consisted of "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" still owed a lot to the sound of their Jangle Pop phase (which in turn influenced The Byrds, which later was often misunderstood as the begnning of psychedelia) begun especially with AHDN (and maybe some early germs of it can already be found on "With the Beatles"), "Rubber Soul" *DOES* kick off their psychedelic phase and the studio years. This was the exact album when the sound became so overwhelming and technically intricate that overnight, the music started to become a lot harder and eventually impossible to reproduce on stage.

[@TheAerovons]

​@@tlatosmd ....Well, there is nothing remotely psychedelic on Rubber Soul. If you want to listen to psychedelic you listen to "7+7 "is by Love, or "White Rabbit" by Airplane or "Purple Haze." And nothing technically challenging on RS, just great songs and all the right playing and parts as always with them. It's biggest change was being so heavily acoustic throughout, so that it almost appeared as a folk/pop album at many times. "Rain" would be more appropriate as to be considered their first foray into the psychedelic genre.

[@tlatosmd]

@@TheAerovons a.) You're obviously talking about the US version which is a lot more folksy than the UK version. b.) It's early psychedelia, not related to acid but to pot, and, as said, it was still to a large degree endebted to their earlier Jangle Pop and *SOME* folk, while being far from as folksy as a lot of US psychedelia. Nobody will disagree with you that their Psychedelia II phase ("Sgt. Pepper", MMT, a lot of the first side of "Yellow Submarine") is a lot more mature and more complex psychedelia, but you won't find many people who will disagree that "Rubber Soul" is the start of their studio years which by "Rubber Soul" by far eclipsed their technical simplicity up to then already.

[@anonymusum]

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears described the situation as follows: Rubber Soul changed was like a revolution in the music world. It was like an awakening as ambitious classical and jazz musicians were inspired by them and formed bands to search for their own contribution. Pop became an art form in these days and it were the Beatles who initiated that movement - no other band had that impact on other serious musicians. I know what I´m talking about as I was one of them although my musical life changing moment happened with Penny Lane.

[@prajnachan333]

In 1970 a bought a portable record player. My records: Born on the Bayou, Creedence Clearwater Santana, first album Rubbersoul, the Beatles !!! 🕉 Not a bad beginning! Rubbersoul was captivating at 13 years old. I couldn't get enough. I was in love for life.

[@PeaceCommando]

This was an insightful commentary on the Beatles' transition from a concert band to a more explorative group. The album introduced psychedelic flavor, which would later be enhanced in Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Magical Mystery Tour. I truly enjoyed this entire post, and now have a newfound classification for the three stages of their legendary, stellar career that left their indelible mark in rock music.

[@duffbaker9554]

Revolver is a real hodge-podge of an album- a lot of diverse styles on that one. The White Album, had it been a single album, would have had a similar vibe to Revolver.

[@therighthandmann]

In an era where the Stones were the "bad boys" and their music reflected that, I was able to convince my parents that Rubber Soul would be full of beautiful melodies that were suitable for early teens to listen to without the risk of emotional harm. They gave me the money to buy it, my first album acquisition, and even let me play it on their stereo. I think they actually enjoyed listening to it, and it gave me an appreciation for the intricacies of well-composed pop music. In my opinion, some of the best music ever written by anyone.

[@martingifford5415]

This album is so eclectic. Think of some of the elements: Indian sitar in Norwegian Wood, French lyrics in Michelle, Greek sounds in Girl, and Ye Olde English harpsichord solo in In My Life.

[@iceicekodi6402]

Greek sounds? Where?

[@martingifford5415]

@@iceicekodi6402 Girl. From about about the 1m 30s mark, there are high guitar parts that sound like a bouzouki.

[@iceicekodi6402]

@@martingifford5415 cool. I'll check it out.

[@pmbrig]

The keyboard break in "In My Life" was a piano part played by George Martin at half tempo then speeded up x2 to sound like a harpsichord. But your point is still valid - eclectic sounds that went way beyond the standard pop vocabulary.

[@joelsdiy9469]

Rubber Soul is my favorite and I think this was their peak as songwriters. No gimmicks, no psychedelia. Just purely crafted songs.

[@tubewacha]

To me She loves you, Hold your Hands, Hard Days night was the beginning of everything. 1964 they were huge in US a whole year before Rubber soul.

[@michaelcraig9449]

This album, they changed a lot. They looked different, and played different. I bet this album shocked the clean cut kids, and real young girls a lot. The Beatles were really taking a chance, to change so much like that. Yet, they still stayed just as popular.

[@robrussell5329]

Rubber Soul is where the Lennon-McCartney songwriting differences start to emerge. McCartney's melodies and Lennon's lyrics (although "Norwegian Wood" is stunning, and "Nowhere Man" is Beatles pop at its best. )

[@Wyrmwould]

This is probably my favorite Beatles album, either Rubber Soul or Revolver. I like to think of them as a double album that never was.

[@michaelcraig9449]

It is odd that they were the biggest teen idol band ever.. They were from 21-23 when they got famous, kind of old for teen idols. Before they wore suits and played for teen and younger girls, they were playing all kinds of bars, some rough weird places with a rough sketchy late night crowd, like in Hamburg, and wearing leather jackets, etc. They were not teenagers, like Donny Osmond, Fabian, etc, or a teen idol like that at all. Yet the Beatles and Elvis were the biggest selling teen idols. The Beatles were one of the very few to break out of that and be taken seriously as a real actual skilled band. They took risks, reached musically in many directions, and did things that no other extremely popular band had done before.

[@jmcccand7336]

I couldn't agree more with deeming Rubber Soul as a major turning point in their career and I recognized that fact the moment I first heard the recordings when I was just 14 yrs old! Needless to say Rubber Soul is my favorite album second to Abby Road, which represented another leap in their artistic ability. I know many others would put Sargent Peppers at the top or second, Revolver was great too but felt a bit more experimental and not quite as solid as Rubber Soul.

[@drtimoshea4087]

Rubber Soul was the pivot point -- the launching pad -- that indicated this was a band setting off from the rigid confines of pop music to utterly uncharted unbounded new territory. Like no other band before or since. All the ingredients were in alignment - for one brief moment in time. This can never never happen again in our new world of mandatory stultification.

[@robiandolo]

Rubber Soul is the one record I can't live without! Best Beatle record.

[@sannimariaeithnemcgourty1646]

my favourite album of all time

[@kimmergonzales9792]

This album was unique, that thier song 🎵writing ✍were now becoming personal stories of their lives. I can listen to songs 🎵from this album almost every day!

[@scarlettrhoades]

The Beatles blew the doors off music up to that point and changed everything...forever!

[@blairpenney3784]

Love this video and the review layout. Please please pleeeeease do some more of their LPs, particularly the later ones. Subbed

[@ericplaysbass]

All the planets and stars were in line. I doubt this will ever happen again. I’m glad I lived through it.

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

Rubber Soul and Revolver...their best work...by far!

[@clarkewi]

Phenomenal recording.

[@coverversionoftheday9941]

I believe the Help soundtrack, UK version, was the start of this new phase. I think it gets overlooked because of the film.

[@Lowtech14]

I think “Run For Your Life” is a terrific song

[@debbiesims138]

I love this album. My (future) BIL knew I wanted it and got it for me for Christmas. Still have it.

[@asacarrick1440]

One of my students, a lovely 17 Year old Spanish girl played Nowhere Man at an invitation to music lesson in 2001. I was amazed.

[@MrAschiff]

The line I'd Rather See You Dead than to Be with anohter Man was taken from Elvis Presley's song Baby Let's Play House

[@rob8872]

I have often said that music went from black and white to color with Rubber Soul.

[@Mike20216]

Wonderful Album, showcasing Their Genius, Songs as great as In My life, Norwegian wood, Girl, nowhere man, Drive my car and Michelle, As others have said, no band will ever touch their greatness

[@v-town1980]

The best! No wonder MJ wanted their catologue so badly.

[@goral705]

A big leap forward , my brother bought Rubber Soul when it first came out and for me it was a too big leap. I was 8 years at that time but now it`s the Beatles-album I Most often listen to.

[@adrianrosenlund-hudson8789]

My favourite album, by a hair's width. I think it's a coming of age album, leaving teeny pop firmly behind. Fantastic 😍

[@frankfrank7921]

You got the Michelle story almost right. According to Paul he used to go to parties at Lennon's art school when he was but 16 or 17. To attract girls he pretended to be French and would make up songs that sounded like French cabaret tunes. Years later Lennon told him he should record the one he used to do over and over at those old parties. That would turn out to be Michelle.

[@mariopi4038]

My favorite Beatles album.

[@frank1387]

Act Naturally is the last cover the Beatles did. Written by Johnny Russell, and recorded by Buck Owens before Rubber Soul

[@lookbovine]

09:19 (11:26) The US release was the inspiration for Brian Wilson’s Pet Sounds.

[@danaarden8373]

What gets me is the authorship question over "In My Life". This is one of the few songs that John and Paul always have disagreed over regarding authorship. Rolling Stone - leading the charge as usual - declared Lennon the author because, well because he said so. It didn't matter one iota to them that John was a notoriously bad historian when it came to authorship and Paul has always been exceptionally consistent - so hey, it's a great song so it must've been John's. (Actually the song that I personally think IS "the" great song really is one of John's - "Nowhere Man".

[@ronniechilds2002]

I didn't like it when it first came out, but it was because it was more than my 14-year-old brain could handle. Of course I grew to love it; to this day I'm awed by it. Four guys in their early 20's--how can that happen?

[@jayalan2223]

My three favorite Beatles albums are. Rubber Soul, Revolver and Abbey Road. I also like Let It Be Naked. Without all that Phil Spector stuff on it.

[@chrisgreene2623]

Even radio head bows down to this band just cause

[@hanscastorp7870]

Is it known whether Brian Wilson had access to the British version of Rubber Soul when it first blew him away?

[@marvinroos3520]

Every Beatles album has a huge fan base. Just listened to Beatles '65 in mono and we tend to forget that every song on the early albums was good. Great album. American buyers got a jump start on Rubber Soul with the release, in the States, of Yesterday and Today with Drive my Car, Nowhere Man, What Goes On, and If I Needed Someone from future Rubber Soul plus And Your Bird Can Sing, I'm only Sleeping, Doctor Robert's, Yesterday, Day Tripper, and Act Naturally to fill out Yesterday and Today. Quite the Beatles album that is on a par with both Revolver and Rubber Soul--the ultimate Beatles Capital Records Trio As an aside and all thi gs considered, shouldn't George Martin be shown as the 5th Beatle on their album covers. Big help designing their many sounds but likely prefers his anonymity.

[@carlmoore3215]

Yesterday and Today was AFTER Rubber Soul.

[@jamesschwartz3837]

George has said many times, post Beatles, that he felt Rubber Soul was their best album.

[@idfy2599]

The last shot of them waving from the plane is interesting. Paul has two wrist watches on . Or are they bracelets?

[@timino8142]

great video!!

[@skillet9141]

I’m no Beatles expert. I never cared for them although I respected their contributions in music history. Then I heard Rubber Soul and Revolver….. I still don’t consider myself a fan, but get it now. I feel like I should be smacked for my previous personal thoughts about them.

[@russellcline8713]

This album is when the genre went from Rock &Roll to Rock. Thus creating the Rock album.

[@strawwalker8177]

Rubber Soul is the best rock album ever

[@seektruth8662]

I think Bob Dylan may have done it first with Bringing it all Back Home released March 1965. It's influence and effect on the music world is probably similar to Rubber Soul. Though Rub Her Soul did far outsell Bob's album and had an infinitely better title and cover art.

[@Leo1903able]

Rubber Soul was the first album that I ever bought.

[@itzdm0r3]

You can learn a lot about songwriting from this album.

[@adamhowardschneider357]

Still my favorite Beatles album. \m/

[@deltonkillen8024]

Very true that this album is the start of something big. But, you have to include "Revolver" in tandem with it.

[@fclefjefff4041]

No, you don't. You can mentally lump them together if you want, but you don't "have to."

[@deltonkillen8024]

@@fclefjefff4041 I'm not getting into an argument about it. The UK and US releases of both albums were different as the US versions were limited on the number of songs on them. The two were released so close together because the Boys had so much material together but not all finished and the producers had to make a decision on what to put on which album. Not allowing "Revolver" with "Rubber Soul" in the conversation is like not including "Taxi" and "Sequel" in the same conversation. I am 70 yrs old and have been listening to the Boys for 60 of those yrs.

[@fclefjefff4041]

@@deltonkillen8024I'm not arguing, I'm just stating that no one is compelled, nor "not allowed" to consider the two albums as a unit.

[@jchow5966]

Rubber Soul is an amazing album. 💟💟💟

[@polkhigh2317]

rubber soul was my fav from the fabs

[@heyidiot]

Rub'er sole and she'll follow you anywhere...

[@urwholefamilydied]

8:35 I like "Run For Your Life"... is it mind blowing? No. But the sinister lyrics alone, for 1965 nonetheless is pretty amusing. The harmonies are good. The melody is good. It's better than "What Goes On" which is some throwback Chet Atkins shit George liked to do... I love Chet Atkins and 60's country, just always sounded weird when the Beatles did it.

[@yourguidetorights3909]

Got this album for Christmas. I had just turned 16. Will never forget. Outstanding album. The greatest group of all time.

[@gdholmfirth]

Same here!

[@iceicekodi6402]

I am younger. But I love the Beatles. They are by far the most creative band ever. And their influence is like no other band could ever dream

[@namcat53]

Most of us got it for Christmas as well as Magical Mystery Tour later. I still relate The Beatles to Christmas.

[@asacarrick1440]

@@namcat53 how'd you know that? You have a short space to say something worthwhile and that's it?

[@v-town1980]

@@asacarrick1440 Hypocrite.

[@westfield90]

Rubber Soul is my all time favorite album. From that beautiful cover to the sharp sounding acoustic tracks like Nowhere Man, Norwegian Wood, Michelle, Girl. Topping all these great compositions is the masterful In My Life. Truly an amazing album.

[@manny4552]

Well said

[@duffbaker9554]

It was George's personal favorite Beatles album as well. Good choice!

[@manny4552]

@@duffbaker9554 it's great lp every song is solid

[@duffbaker9554]

@@manny4552 Yes, you're exactly right. So true. :-)

[@randyjordan5521]

Those numbers would be a greatest hits album for most artists.

[@shackdaddy7106]

When the Beatles made Rubber Soul and Revolver they were at the absolute peak of their creative powers.

[@baselinesweb]

Then they outdid themselves and made Abbey Road :-)

[@shackdaddy7106]

@@baselinesweb The medley on side two of Abbey Road was the perfect way for the Beatles to wrap everything up. I mean with all four Beatles.

[@TednGilbertAZ]

I don’t think The Beatles EVER peaked.😮

[@sweptinblack]

@@TednGilbertAZ I dunno, to me Lennon/McCartney peaked with the let it be sessions. Then George was starting to peak on Abbey Road which carried that album, then he peaked solo with All Things Must Pass. The real question is, what Lennon/McCartney/Harrison would have been like. I don't feel like they ever truly collaborated with George like they did with each other.

[@btom22259]

Sometimes i think, both were there best albums.

[@wayinfront1]

I first heard it at a party in December '65, the day after its release. The album certainly had a deep effect on me. The songs were so innovative, creative, and sophisticated beyond anything the Beatles had produced before. The cumulative effect was too much to take in at one go. You had to listen to the album again and again. And it's still as fresh as ever now, but so poignant after all these years.

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

57 years later,we still talk about this album. Said enough

[@jamesdrynan]

This album began the expansion of their more mature and creative outlook on songwriting. As fresh today as it was in 1965, the growth of the group's output couldn't be stopped.

[@pretorious700]

Rubber Soul was the album that convinced me to pick up the guitar. I was a perfomer, engineer, producer, and published songwriter for over 45 years. And I was by far not the only one.

[@kevinzuffi]

I love the Russian folk dance feel on some the tracks where the mandolin is used , most noticeably in solo section of GIRL .

[@ArchieFatcackie]

Three albums Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt Peppers were really the invention of modern day pop music.

[@ytramzi]

I would rank Abbey Road up there as well.

[@manny4552]

Yes indeed

[@manny4552]

@@ytramzi yes indeed

[@paulseano5100]

Forget Albert Einstein. The Beatles are geniuses. They invented real pop music.

[@ArchieFatcackie]

@Let Your L⚡️GHT Forever Shine ❤️ When I say modern day music I mean from the sixties onwards.

[@davidbowman4259]

Saying it yet again: The greatest band ever -- musically, culturally, sociologically. Period, the end.

[@mikewheeler3994]

If you like studio bands.......

[@davidbowman4259]

@@mikewheeler3994 The greatest studio band of all. And they weren't too shabby live, either.

David...A well known Liverpool photographer shares his memories of Liverpool today through pictures and video. And current Liverpool! ...kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6u5f2SnpbKDotk

[@michaelpace1075]

They were super sonic jets. All other bands were the Wright brothers biplane.

[@davidbowman4259]

@@michaelpace1075 Nice way to put it!

[@jaxsutro4880]

My absolute favorite...I was 10 when it came out...and even to young ears, it was remarkable and unlike anything I’d ever heard...things were indeed , changing!...I watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan ( third grade..)...it was life changing ...I am now 67...Thank you , Beatles...for being such a powerful influence on this journey called, “ life ! “

[@GeneralOlde]

Rubber Soul is a masterpiece; no other pop music in 1965 sounded this good. Can you imagine a modern band with the Beatles' level of clout being able to release an album as fresh and interesting as this? It's just not what capitalism, obsessed with algorithms and metrics that supposedly determine what people want and what sells, wants to produce.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Last time that happened was the 1990s.

[@wcjohnny1]

A generic album of todays algorithms ( aka crap ) could be titled , Rubbish Soul .

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@wcjohnny1 *Rubbish Sold

[@mikelira6209]

What brought the Beatles great music to the world was Capitalism (E.m.i. contracts, Abbey road studios, sound engineers, consumers, and the Almighty dollar/Pound Sterling). You can also thank Bob Dylan and the Byrds for pushing the Beatles to expand their music.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@mikelira6209 That was an odd spectrum you presented there.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Nothing sounds more 1965 than "Norwegian Wood" and "If I Needed Someone". I wasn't even born yet but those two songs make me feel it's THAT year just outside the window.

[@v-town1980]

You can't put a year on those. They're still fresh sounding.

[@duffbaker9554]

@@v-town1980 As 1965 was the year of the folk-rock/protest movement (i.e. Dylan and the Byrds), I can relate Nature and Physic's post. But yeah, they still sound fresh.

[@mc76]

My parents bought me a drum kit for the Christmas of 1965, and this is the album to which I drummed along to teach myself to play-because every cut has a completely different drum pattern, none of them easy or conventional, but also none of them so technically intricate that I felt overwhelmed. I played these songs over and over for months. Only when I felt that I had mastered Ringo's riffs did I feel confident to move on to other artists' music.

[@GM-kz4qw]

‘In my life’ is as close to perfection as any tune can get, it contains within music, lyrics and arrangements all working for each other to produce a masterpiece.

[@beatlelennon9168]

Amazing album, 6 of its songs went to be released in their compilation album later. Enough proof how good this album was, is and still to this day. Best band ever.

[@gregorywhite9095]

Lately I've been learning to play Michelle on the piano but I've spent more time just listening to this song. The harmonies behind Paul are unearthly...so exquisite.

[@cjones3957]

I love the entire Beatles catalog. But I think their output in 1965-66. Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver which include non album singles Day Tripper, We Can Work It Out, Paperback Writer, Rain and others....might be their best era...and that's saying a lot.

[@sillysimion6079]

Rubber Soul and Revolver were just too incredible for words, can you imagine "run for life" or "the word" or "Think for yourself" playing on the radio? There was nothing like it on the radio, and don't get me started on "Tomorrow never knows!" Most people see the Beatles coming of age with Sgt. Peppers, but I always thought it was Rubber Soul. The lyrics and the music just came together so beautifully. They were leaving behind the boy band image and becoming artist. Yes, Hey Jude and Back in the USSR is for the ages, but no other album showcases their writing like Rubber Soul. Or their musicianship. Like the Beatles, I really have no favorite album, they are all my favorites for different reasons, and everything they touched turned to gold. Rather than see these as stunning individual albums you can see them segue into each album wonderfully. A learning curve that just keeps getting better. For example Help's "I need you" is a taste of what's to come in Rubber Soul, "The Word" or "Think for Yourself a segue into Revolver, and "Good Day Sunshine" into Sgt. Peppers. 😀

A well known Liverpool photographer shares his memories of Liverpool today through pictures and video. And current Liverpool! ...kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6u5f2SnpbKDotk

[@randyjordan5521]

Nancy Sinatra covered "Run For Your Life." My wife had the single as a teenager. She didn't know it was a Beatles number until we met in 1978.

[@markfleming4162]

Along with this being my favorite Beatle album, it was also my beloved father’s favorite too. I like both the US Capitol version & the British Parlophone version. While the tracks were a little bit different, they both have their merits. That’s why it’s great to have them both.

[@sillysimion6079]

@@randyjordan5521 isn't that interesting! I have heard Frank Sinatra's version of "Something" by the Beatles, and he did a wonderful job! One of the best cover songs I have heard. I'll have to look up and listen to Nancy's version! 😃

[@sillysimion6079]

@@markfleming4162 it's one of my favorites to. Like you, my father bought the album when it came out and of course we wore the grooves out of it throughout the 60's 70's 80's 90's and beyond! It was the American version.

[@vicbertfartingclack4559]

I think they started to emerge as grown up artists BEFORE Rubber Soul. Certainly it’s evident on Help! with the title track, also Ticket to Ride, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away and Yesterday. Their wanting to push the envelope only came more into focus on Rubber Soul. I would also contend that even in the early days they were pushing the bounds and never wanted to rest on their laurels - with each new single and each new album. I Want to Hold Your Hand for example is every bit as ground breaking as what came later.

[@tonkaGuy888]

The songs, the recording, the photography, the iconic cover: Rubber Soul is a literal work of art that anyone with about $4 (in 1965) could own.

[@jamesalexander5623]

I think I paid $3.98 plus tax, man!

[@arricammarques1955]

The photographic effect was based on a mistake, btw.

[@tonkaGuy888]

@@arricammarques1955 I’d call it a happy accident.

[@gregorywhite9095]

Lennon looks like a Buddha...

[@rundoetx]

Great breakdown on an incredible album. I can still remember the day it came out and I rushed out to buy it. That first listen absolutely blew my mind. I had never heard anything like it before in my life. It was like I had just seen in color for the first time. It was the beginning of an incredible journey that the Beatles took us on album after album, none sounding like the one before, yet all sounding like The Beatles. Thank you boys for the trip. It was wonderful and enlightening.

[@barrypeterson6725]

Excellent analysis! I loved this album as a young teenage boy growing up. I think George Martin took his game up a notch on this album as well. Many outstanding songs. It was very groovy.