The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Rubber Soul

This is the sixth UK studio album by the Beatles who began to develop a new musical vision. They moved from the instant Merseybeat sound (as in their first five albums) towards the second stage of their recording career.

The album, often cited as one of the greatest albums in pop music history, contains some of their mid-60s classics like Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Michelle, etc.

It was after the release of this album (December 1965) that the Beatles decided to give up live performances and concentrate solely on making records.

On this commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, the Beatles tried out new instrument like the sitar in Norwegian Wood and fuzz bass guitar in Think For Yourself.

The album topped the UK chart for 8 weeks on release, replacing its previous album, Help, and remained in the British chart for a 42-week run.

All songs are composed by Lennon-McCartney, excepted where noted:

1. Drive My Car: The lead vocals are from Paul and John, with George doing the backing vocal here and there. George plays some nice guitar riffs on the intro and during the instrumental break. Paul also dubs in the piano while John handles only the tambourine.

2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown): George plays the sitar for the first time for this classic track. John, on acoustic guitar, sings lead with additional vocals in places from Paul.

Ringo has an easy task of just playing the tambourine at the last two verses of the song.

3. You Won't See Me: Paul is in lead vocals with John and George helping out in harmony for chorus and backing. Again, John plays only the tambourine on this track. The piano is played by Paul while sessionist Mal Evans is on Hammond organ.

4. Nowhere Man: John, Paul and George harmonise for the a capella intro. Paul and George add in backing harmonies when John sing is singing lead vocal. Lyrically, the song jettisons romance entirely, which is a rarity for the group until then.

5. Think For Yourself (Harrison): The first George Harrison's track on the album has him on lead vocal with John and Paul harmonising in places. Paul tries out the then newly invented fuzz bass guitar. John plays the electric piano and the tambourine while Ringo adds in the maraccas.

6. The Word: John, Paul and George harmonise on this track; but John takes on more lead vocals. George Martin plays harmonium and Paul joins in on the piano. Ringo also adds in the maraccas.

7. Michelle: This Beatles all-time standard and one of my favourite songs has Paul singing beautifully in lead vocal, with John and George backing in close harmony. Both John and George play the acoustic guitars. This is the first time that the Beatles adds in some French in their album.

8. What Goes On (Lennon-McCartney-Starkey): Ringo takes over the lead vocal in this rockabilly song co-written by John, Paul and Ringo. John and Paul harmonise for the chorus while George plays some country western style guitar.

9. Girl: John sings a pleading lead vocal while Paul and George provide the backing vocals. John is on acoustic guitar while George plays the sitar for the second time on this deceptively simple track.

10. I'm Looking Through You: Paul in on lead vocal with John in harmony. John is on acousic guitar while George adds in the tambourine.

11. In My Life: A beautifully nostalgical song by John who recalls people and places in his life. Paul harmonises in places while George Martin plays the piano in the instrumental break.

12. Wait: The weakest song in the album with John and Paul in lead vocal duet. John plays the a distinct tambourine while Ringo adds in the maraccas.

13. If I Needed Someone (Harrison): The second (and much better) Harrison song on the album with George on lead vocal, while John and Paul sing the backing vocals. John is on tambourine only while George Martin adds in the harmonium.

14. Run For Your Life: John sings lead vocal with backing vocals from Paul and George. John plays acoustic guitar while George Martin handles the tambourine (which appears on nine tracks(!) on this album).