Rubber Soul
	Produced by George Martin
	Released on December 1965
	UK CHART POSITION #1 (RE-CHART #60 in 1987) . . . US CHART POSITION #1 . . . GOLD RECORD (12/24/65), 6x PLATINUM (1/10/97)
	Find it at GEMM
ST-2442 cover [high resolution photo]

T he alternately light and dark elements of love explored on Help! had become assimilated by Rubber Soul. (The album likely takes its name from “plastic soul,” a disparaging term Paul used to describe the tune “I’m Down.”) The album is arguably the first of the mid-career-to-late masterpieces (Revolver etc.), simultaneously digesting new ideas at a rapid pace (Eastern sounds, distortion, surreal imagery) while honing their pop vision to perfection. The bulk of the songs are split between John and Paul (on the US release, Ringo doesn’t even get a cameo), and though the pair were presumably writing apart both make concessions to the other; Paul lightening John’s heavy load (“Wait,” “In My Life”), and John softening his sharp views with some wonderfully fluffy music (“Run For Your Life,” “The Word”). Also featured on the US release is the George Harrison track “Think For Yourself,” where George’s hazy, signature sound first blossoms. Despite some troubled subjects, Rubber Soul has an offhand, organic charm that suggests the influence of the country. Acoustic guitars and soft keyboards (piano, organ) play a prominent role, and the band was only beginning their experiment with alternative religions (“The Word”) and drugs (“Norwegian Wood”). In fact, Rubber Soul may mark the height of their romantic ballads; if they’ve written anything prettier than “Michelle,” “Girl,” “It’s Only Love” (one of two tracks left over from the UK version of Help!) and “I’ve Just Seen A Face” (the other), I haven’t heard it. But the album also looks forward to the experimental, psychedelic works that followed. “You Won’t See Me” has that Penny Lane polish to it, “Norwegian Wood” is blurred imagism as pop music, “Think For Yourself” crackles off the speakers like the acerbic “Savoy Truffle.” Balancing the heavier tracks are light arrangements that may represent the best part of the ride: “I’m Looking Through You,” “Run For Your Life.” Popular music thought enough of this period of The Beatles to preserve it with the likes of The Monkees, etc., though by then the Beats had moved on to greater things. Today, Rubber Soul can be seen as the culmination of one style (romantic pop) and the beginning of another (psychedelic pop/rock), the first work in which the sound of the “old” Beatles (“Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” “The Night Before”) is noticeably absent.

ST-2442 back cover

TRACK LISTING

US track listing

1. I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE    2:04
2. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)    2:00
3. YOU WON'T SEE ME    3:19
4. THINK FOR YOURSELF    (George Harrison)    2:16
5. THE WORD    2:42
6. MICHELLE    2:42
7. IT'S ONLY LOVE    1:53
8. GIRL    2:26
9. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU    2:20
10. IN MY LIFE    2:23
11. WAIT    2:13
12. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE    2:21
    
    All selections composed by John Lennon & Paul McCartney unless noted

CREDITS

GEORGE HARRISON -- guitar, backing vocals, vocals, sitar
JOHN LENNON -- guitar, vocals, backing vocals
PAUL McCARTNEY -- bass, vocals, backing vocals, piano, fuzz bass
RINGO STARR -- drums, Hammond organ
"Organ" Evans -- Hammond organ (us3)
George Martin -- harmonium, piano
Robert Freeman -- photography

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