The Beatles - Revolver

Revolver

Released in August 1966, the seventh album (UK) of the Beatles was often regarded as one of their greatest studio achievements. It contains 14 brilliant and unimpeachable tracks.

With its innovative new sounds on guitars and other instrument, sound effects, new production techniques, this album further cemented the Beatles' reputation as the greatest band of the world.

The album, with its many changes in moods, diversifies with songs like the child-like sing-along Yellow Submarine, a string-driven lament in Eleanor Rigby, a sarcasic social comment on Taxman, the brassy Got To Get You Into My life, etc.

The Beatles played their last full concert three weeks after the release of Revolver. But they did not perform any song from this album because many of the tracks here were too complex for live performance.

The phychedelic cover illustration, part line drawing and part collage, was created by Klaus Voormann, whom the Beatles knew from their Hamburg days.

The album topped the UK album chart for 7 weeks.

All songs composed by Lennon-McCartney, except where noted:

1. Taxman (Harrison): For the first time in a Beatles album, George is the lead vocalist for the starting song. John and Paul provide the backing and harmony vocals. George plays a stong attacking guitar riff, as if in taking a swipe at the taxman. John plays tamborine only on this track.

2. Eleanor Rigby: This McCartney composition (a double A-side single with Yellow Submarine) has become another of the Beatles' classic. Like Yesterday on the Help! album, the song features only Paul who double-track in part to produce his own harmonies. John, George and Ringo were not present. All the backing music is played by a string octet (four violins, two violas and two cellos).

3. I'm Only Sleeping: John plays acoustic guitar and sings lead vocal in this track, with Paul and George on backing vocals. The strange guitar sound is George's over-dubbed, backward lead guitar.

4. Love You To (Harrison): George sings and plays the sitar on his first Indian flavoured composition. he also enslised the help of Anil Bhagwat to play the tablas and session musicians to play other Indian instrument. None of the other Beatles were present.

5. Here, There and Everywhere: This gentle ballad features Paul on multi-tracked vocals. The wordless backing vocals are from John, Paul and George.

6. Yellow Submarine: This is one of the Beatles' most famous sing-along songs, with an catchy chorus. The lead vocal comes from Ringo, with John, Paul and George joining in on chorus. Both John and Paul play the acoustic guitars, while George handles only the tambourine. Some of the sound effects include blowing bubbles, a brass band, engine room noises and shouted orders. The final chorus makes use of all the people at the recording - the 4 Beatles, George Martin, Patti (Harrison's wife), roadies Mal Evans etc.

7. She Said, She Said: One of the Beatles' forgetable songs. John is on double-tracked solo vocal and plays acoustic guitar.

8. Good Day Sunshine: Paul is one lead vocal with harmonies from John. George Martin plays some honky-tonk New Orleans style piano break. The intersting recording features two separate drum beats (by Ringo), one on each channel of the stereo.

9. And Your Bird Can Sing: Lead vocal is from John, with Paul harmonising in parts. The track features a very promient lead guitar riff from George. Ringo also dubs in the tambourine.

10. For No One: A plesant track that feature a solo vocal from Paul, who also plays a bouncy piano. Ringo plays drum and tambourine. John and George were not present for the recording.

The horn is played by sessionist Alan Civil.

11. Dr. Robert: The lead vocals are from John with harmonies in part from Paul. John plays harmonium and maraccas.

12. I Want To Tell You (Harrison): Lead vocals are from George, with John and Paul harmonise here and there. John plays the tambourine and Paul dubs in the piano. It is definitely not one of George's better songs.

13. Got To Get You Into My Life: This track features a solo vocal from Paul with a good solid strong brass backing from a group of sessionists. John shakes the tambourine and George Martin plays the organ.

14. Tomorrow Never Knows: This is one of the first song in the emerging genre of psychedelic music. The drone-like repetitive drum beats with a collage of sound effects made up of reversed guitar, tape loops etc. have this weird hypnotic effect to the listener. John's vocal sounds like he is singing through a megaphone. George is on sitar and lead guitar. The weird song might be innovative but is not one of my favourite Beatles songs!