The first album we will be talking about is Rubber Soul. This one of my personal favorites!
Despite the titular pun and the amusing tale-spinning on "Drive My Car" and "Norwegian Wood," Rubber Soul didn't turn out to be the Fab Four's comedy album, as they once hoped. And though "Drive My Car" and "The Word" parade a fat, Stax-like bottom end, it wasn't really a soul album either. It was, however, the opening volley of the album era, the first set of rock 'n' roll originals written, recorded and packaged as an album, and the foundation upon which the music industry would be based for the next 15 years.
And what of the songs? There's no cornerstone to Rubber Soul - no "A Day in the Life" or long medley - but as a collection of songs it's virtually faultless. McCartney's "You Won't See Me," "I'm Looking Through You" and "Michelle" are all delightful, immediate, and enduring, while Lennon's "Norwegian Wood," and "Girl" are two of the best ballads he ever wrote. The two collaborations, unsurprisingly, stand out - the punchy R&B of "Drive My Car" and the groundbreaking, misty-eyed reflections of "In My Life" are lasting classics of such different styles you can hardly believe one band recorded them. Only one band could have.
About the album:
Label: Parlophone
Catalogue Number: PCS 3075 (Stereo)
PMC 1267 (Mono)
CDP 746 440 2 (CD)
Release date: December 3rd, 1965
April 30th 1987 (CD)
Total time: 34:55
U.K. Album Chart Detail Entry Date: December 11th 1965
Highest Position: #1 for 9 weeks from December 25th 1965
Weeks in Chart: 42 + 4 from 9th May 1987 (CD release, reached no.60) + 1 week 25th April 1998 (No.62)
About the songs:
Drive My Car: Recorded 13th October 1965 in 4 takes. Final mix - take 4 Norwegian Wood - Recorded 12th October 1965 - 1 take. Remake recorded 21st October 1965 in 3 takes (Takes 2-4). Each take was different and complete. Final mix - take 4 You Won't See Me - Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes. Final mix - take 2 Nowhere Man - Recorded 21st October 1965 in 2 takes. Remake recorded 22nd October 1965 in 3 takes (take 3-5). Final mix - take 4 Think for Yourself - Recorded 8th November 1965 in just 1 take. Final mix - take 1 The Word - Recorded 10th November 1965 in 3 takes. Final mix - take 3 Michelle - Recorded 3rd November 1965 in 2 takes. Final mix - take 2 What Goes On --Starkey Recorded 4th November 1965 in 1 take. Final mix - take 1 Girl - Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes. Final mix - take 2 I'm Looking Through You - Recorded 24th October 1965 - 1 take. Re-make recorded 6th November 1965 in 2 takes (Takes 2-3). Re-remake recorded 10th November 1965 - 1 take (Take 4). Overdubs added 11th November 1965 onto take 4. Final mix - take 4 In My Life - Recorded 18th October 1965 in 3 takes. Recorded overdubs on 22nd October 1965 onto take 3. Final mix - take 3 Wait - Recorded 17th June 1965 (during the "Help" sessions!) in 4 takes then discarded for inclusion. Overdubs made 11th November 1965 five months later, when one more track was required to fill this album! Final mix - take 4 If I Needed Someone - Recorded 16th October 1965 - 1 take (Backing track only). Further recording 18th October 1965, overdub of vocal onto take 1. Final mix - take 1 Run for Your Life - Recorded 12th October 1965 in 5 takes. Final mix - take 5
Drive My Car(2:30)
Recorded: October 13, 1965 at Abbey Road, London, England
John Lennon - lead vocal, tambourine
Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar, piano
George Harrison - lead guitar, background vocal
Ringo Starr - drums
