Beatles - Rubber Soul CD

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 An objective look at this classic album.
It’s no secret that I’m a Beatles fanatic. I love “Rubber Soul.” It continues much along the same lines as “Help!” – brilliant songwriting, but it didn’t usher in as big a change as some like to think. I grew up with the American release, and I guess I should begin with the differences between the American and British versions. “I’ve Just Seen A Face” and “It’s Only Love” were on the American release. They were recorded (along with “Wait”) during the “Help!” sessions, and appeared on the UK “Help!” album. “Drive My Car,” “Nowhere Man,” “What Goes On” and “If I Needed Someone” graced the UK “Rubber Soul,” but not the US version. “Wait” was on both. It seems so many people love to purport that there was a huge change in style between “Help!” and this album – and that it changed rock forever. Nonsense! The Beatles influenced a lot of bands throughout their career, but rock that is truly artistic sure didn’t last for very long. Just listen to the banal rubbish that’s been heaped upon us since the mid 70s! (Changed rock forever, indeed.) And besides, if the “Rubber Soul” sessions were such a big change in style from the “Help!” sessions, then the songs “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” “It’s Only Love” and “Wait” would have stuck out like sore thumbs. But, they DID NOT! Furthermore, why doesn’t “What Goes On” stick out? Did you know that The Beatles originally tried to record that one on March 5, 1963? And is it that far removed from “Act Naturally” on “Help!”? There really was no major style change in the music. The lyrics are headier, but only in spots, and again, it’s nothing really major. A much bigger change would occur during the course of 1966 (the subject of another review). Like all the other Beatles albums, “Rubber Soul” has its share of masterworks. And, we cannot forget “We Can Work It Out” and “Day Tripper,” which were recorded during the same sessions. “Michelle” is simply gorgeous. (Sappy? Have you ever been in love?) The wistful melody, the motion in the harmonies, the atmospheric melancholy…I am tempted to call this song surreal. The guitar solo, of course, is brilliant. The chord changes help cast the spell. It’s a masterpiece, and one of my five favorite Beatles songs. “Norwegian Wood” is a wonderful tune. Adding a sitar has nothing to do with songwriting or musical composition. It has to do with instrumentation, and The Beatles were doing this sort of thing as far back as “Don’t Bother Me” (1963), with Ringo on Arabian bongo. “In My Life” is as heartfelt as any. John’s reflectiveness in his lyrics didn’t begin here. He is quoted as saying: “Most of my good songs are in the first person. ‘In My Life,’ ‘I’m A Loser,’ ‘Help!,’ ‘Strawberry Fields’ – they’re all personal records. I always wrote about me when I could.” The inventive solo is George Martin on piano. Very little is ever said about Ringo’s genius here. Surely, he was and is the most underrated drummer of all time. “Nowhere Man” is pure heaven! Most perfectly structured guitar solo you’ll ever hear. “Girl” is another great one by John, not so much mature as it is heady. (John was a very tortured fellow on the inside.) “Day Tripper” was written for release as a single, but it should have also gone on the album. Its 1-4-1 chord progression in the verses is not all that inventive, but how many songs do you know that go to the major 2 chord to START the chorus, and then STAY there for 4 measures!? (Please bear with me through this technical stuff.) This 2 chord actually now takes on the function of the 4 chord of a new key. Where they sing, “It took me s-o-o-o long,” it’s A to G# - which will resolve to C#, functioning like a 5-1 cadence. But is it? For as soon as we’re on this supposed 1 chord (C#), it drops a whole step to B. The flatted 7th? No, that B will now function as a 5 chord resolving to the original 1 chord, which is the key of E. That last part happens as they sing, “…to find out…I found out.” This flies over most people’s heads; but I’m not talking down to anyone here. I’m using this to make a point: Folks, for rock music, this is brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT stuff! You want to talk about progressive rock? Rock composition never got any more progressive than The Beatles! And it didn’t start here. (If you want to be blown away sometime, check out the chord progressions and chord voicing on their album “A Hard Day’s Night.” Many think that album is just inferior, old-style rock’n’roll. Not so! Ha! That’s even laughable!) “We Can Work It Out” – I’ll spare you another tirade of superlatives. Suffice it to say that this too is a masterpiece, and it is one of my five favorite Beatles songs. Compared to the songs above, the rest of the tunes from this session are also quite enjoyable, if not quite as brilliant. There are two exceptions. “Run For Your Life” is a sore spot. The lyrics are shallow and repetitive, the chords unimaginative. John later admitted he hated this song. I certainly don’t hate it, but its inferiority to the great stuff on the album is rather obvious. “The Word” is also inferior and the music lacks imagination. The harmonies save it from utter boredom. The vamp is pretty wimpy, but it’s genial in a sort of “groovy” way. Not the first song ever about spreading love. Sorry, no great revelation here. All things considered, “Rubber Soul” is a fantastic record that belongs in every collection. If “We Can Work It Out” and “Day Tripper” had replaced “The Word” and “Run For Your Life,” we’d have a perfect work of art. But…I’m a dreamer. Cheers…
Submitted by MurrayTheCat (Ustate, NY)
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 one of ozzys favorites
for those of us who werent old enough to catch the beatles in their hey day buy this cd. for those of us who love the beatles buy this cd.thisd is one of the best records ive heard in my life.i dont have a baby you can drive my car.i am still looking for norwegian wood.i am one of all the lonely people.this cd rocks!
Submitted by rusher55379 (minneapolis mn) 
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 Pop Music - definition
Timeless - shows the current stuff up for what it is - complete garbage.
Submitted by rastusguard-online (Adelaide SA, AUS) 
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 What happen?
What happen with I've just seen a face? Why don't you have the original tracks on vinyl when you make the albums on Cd?
Submitted by drunknmexican (Calexico, Ca, USA) 
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 Absolutely Classic Beatles
For anyone who lived in or around the Beatles era, this album is a must-have. Spanning moods and styles from the Eastern-ish and slightly obscene "Norwegian Wood" (where George's sitar comes center-stage) to the pop-love ballad "Michelle" to Lennon's deeply intimate and wooing "Girl," this album is - simply classic!
Submitted by yates (Fuquay-Varina, NC) 
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