I agree. Two of my favourite all John songs - Norwegian Wood and Girl - are in this album. Also one of his supposedly best ever, In my Life, though it doesn't do it quite as much for me. And don't forget the album's opener by his songwriting partner. WOW! And then the next album saw Eleanor Rigby, Tomorrow Never Knows, Got to Get You Into my Life and She Said, She Said. Yet another step up before the best album ever IMO. Cheers Sgt.
Just watched this reaction and your comment appeared and struk me because I used to play those by heart on guitar. Mind you, that was 30 years ago . These reactions and comments want me to try again. Thanks.
George didn't start out as a songwriter. He was brought into the band as a lead guitarist. It took a few years for him to catch up to John and Paul. But when the band broke up, he put out a triple album called All Things Must Pass that is pretty damned amazing. It is worth listening to.
Yes changed pop/rock going forward, but…don’t denigrate their original 62-64 breakout stuff. It too was groundbreaking-a complete breakout from the tired old 1959-62 corporate solo singers w backup bands. There’s a REASON WHY they took the world by storm in ‘63-64.
In My Life is one of the most popular Beatles songs. The keyboard part in the middle is not a harpsichord but a piano recorded at half speed and then played back at regular speed so as to match the rhythm of the rest of the instruments. It gives it a harpsichord sound.
The crazy thing is there is only FOUR YEARS between Rubber Soul and Abbey Road! The Beatles made 11 or 12 albums in the span of 8 years. And all of them are pretty damn good. Not many bands have that kind of output- back then or even now!
When u actually think about the fact that it was that short of time makes the Beatles even more legendary. It’s hard to make such great music to become with, let alone the fact it was all in such a short time.
Its a little harder to spot the growth in this album because you were exposed to their later stuff first. I wish i had seen you react from their first album onward to really track their evolution but still great to see you be introduced to their music nonetheless. 👍🏼
Good point. It's the path of logic to see progression. I LOVE their early songs, don't get me wrong, but when they decided with Rubber Soul to spend more time in the studio instead of grueling live concert tours, they went through a major evolution of creativity. I honestly didn't understand it all at the time (I was 9) and had gone through 3 years of listening to the incredibly catchy "Beatlemania" era songs as what I expected--and this was so different.
Yes, Rubber Soul is definitely not an experimental album compared to their later ones, but as an exercise in the craft of songwriting, it is unparalleled in its elegance and beauty.
About the "albums of the time," Rubber Soul was a huge breakthrough. Hear how many different directions they are exploring, how many incredibly innovative things are going on here.
Early Beatles were all about the joy. You picked the right word out of the atmosphere: 'joyful'. Rubber Soul was their first step into serious exploration, so you have the album here where they were just opening the door to their later development, but there is still that pop magic from the early years. After this album the sky was the limit. And Paul's voice and songwriting gets me right here too! In In My Life, the musical interlude was George Martin - the producer - playing a piano, and it was sped up.
Rubber Soul is my favorite album! I was a teenager when the Beatles hit the scene. So awesome to grow up during the 60’s and 70’s! Best music generation!! Thanks for your reaction ❤️☮️👵🏼
Yes, the instrument in Norwegian Wood is a sitar, and that song is the first time an Indian string instrument had ever been recorded in western music. Yet another innovation from the Beatles!
About the concept album thing, I'd call it a naturally occurring accidental concept album. Their songs before this point were mostly bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs somewhat pandering to the pre-teen girls who were obsessively in love with them, and this was the moment that they matured and more artistically broke away from conventions, expectations, and superficialities, so it's almost like them subconsciously going "Actually, no, here's the opposite side of all that BS, all the perspectives you don't want to think about-- relationships are often also dark, ugly, soul-crushing, self-interested, distant, manipulative, and even outright abusive."
"Their songs before this point were mostly bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs" You mean, of course, the songs you haven't heard and ignore because others mischaracterize them from an uninformed view of fake sophistication. IN FACT, "The Beatles" hit the US at #1, booked it, and everyone else chased them but never caught them. From the beginning their songs were SUPERIOR to all others. Clue: When "The Beatles" first walked into the studio they were just another unknown pop group. That view persisted through their first LP. It took time for them to sufficiently prove themselves -- their first LP was #1 in England for MONTHS -- to be replaced at #1 by their second LP. And sufficient time to learn the ropes and have sufficient power to begin to have their way. Meanwhile, their songwriting was SUPERIOR from the beginning. Between their first LP and "Revolver" were THREE YEARS. You won't have the least clue their astonishing evolution during those three years if you can't be bothered to begin at the beginning with their first LP and singles.
@@jnagarya519 Holy rabidly defensive Beatles fan. First, I said mostly. They certainly had flashes of these kinds of themes present in Rubber Soul before then, but it was usually the exception, not the rule. It was a gradual process, but Rubber Soul was certainly a liberating explosion of sorts. Second, you seem to be making an argument about how the stuff before Rubber Soul was good (not sure why you're using popularity as evidence, though-- obviously they were popular). Bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs can still be good, charming, and well written. But they were clearly playing to their audience and careful not to alienate them TOO much, as well.
@@richardkhchang I was 15 when "The Beatles" hit the US at #1. They booked it, everyone -- including "The Beach Boys," which until then had been the bee's knees -- chased them, but none ever caught them. And I'm not talking about "themes"; I'm talking about sheer quality of both lyric and music. Classical composer Elmer Berstein made a TV special defending them and praising their music. I believe it's available on youtube.
@@jnagarya519 If you're not talking about themes, then you're literally arguing with phantoms, because themes were the only subject that the comment you replied to was about (the "concept" of an arguable unintended concept album). I agree that musically, and in terms of technical writing ability, they were sound from the beginning.
I’ve listened to this album 1,000’s of times, but it was a real treat listening to your initial reaction. You are a very articulate and perceptive listener and music critic. Really enjoyed this video. Thanks.
This album is a stand out for great John Lennon songs: Girl, In My Life, Nowhere Man...but we start to see Paul coming into his own with songs like Michelle and I'm Looking Through You. In my opinion, when we get to Revolver, Paul has caught up to John and really shows his versatility in vocals and melody.
@@skiptrace1888 But they won the Grammy for their most experimental album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band! For me, this is their summit. However, Abbey Road is damned terrific, too!
Paul was on par with John from the beginning. Please Please Me - Many would say I Saw Her Standing There is the best original song on the album With the Beatles - All My Loving is the best and most would agree A Hard Day’s Night - John has more songs but Paul’s three songs are just as good as any John song on the album Help - Yesterday
@@rjisasavage damn that sucks. No wonder the views are so little compared to your other beatles reactions 😭. Just keep doing the videos no matter what pls
Paul McCartney has a really soulful voice he is also able to pull of a really cool rock voice like on Long Tall Sally, Got to Get You Into My Life and Oh! Darling
The way they split the instruments had to do with the limitations of the equipment. This is recorded on a four-track tape, which means that you're very limited in what you could do in the mixing. Stereo was also very new technology and they were still "inventing the vocabulary" of it, if you know what I mean. Besides hearing the Beatles innovate musically through their career, they were also pushing the limits of the technology as well.
@@rjisasavage if you really want to hear an album where they make masterful use if stereo technology, from only about 5-6 years after this, check out "Led Zeppelin II"
I would go home and listen to this album when I was in elementary school and my sister came home later so I've heard it like a thousand times. These songs really grow on you You think you like them now. Keep on going don't give up listen to them all. We're right there with you.
Just found you and subscribed. Love your personality, you see much more genuine in your reactions than many others. I grew up with the earliest Beatles and Rubber Soul is one of my favorites, I liked mostly the same songs you did, for their harmony and soulfulness!
"Drive My Car" is not on the North American version of this album. It's not my fave song either, and I grew up with a different track listing that I prefer. The American album opens with "I've Just Seen a Face" which I love 🙂
@@rjisasavage if you listen to the album before this, “HELP”, you can hear it there. It is originally on that album but US record companies were weird and always messed with how albums were initially.
Paul is def the most soulful ❤ You are also correct in that you should have listened to their albums in order to understand and appreciate the growth. This was experimental at the time. It will def grow on you as you listen, trust me :) I’ll find your other Beatles reactions but know that George ended up writing 3 of their best songs!
@@rjisasavage My favorite 5 songs (no way to pick a “best” Beatles song) are: #1 “Something” (George song) #2 “Here, There and Everywhere (Paul song) #3 “All My Loving (Paul song) #4 She Loves You (Lennon-McCartney song) #5 Hello, Goodbye (Paul song) “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (George song) is in my top 10. And “Here Comes the Sun” (George song) is the most streamed Beatles song on Spotify. I’m def a Paul gal but George really started giving Lennon-McCartney a run for their money. He became a fabulous writer.
Nah, "If I needed Someone" is fire. And you're right, "You Wont See Me" is such an underrated track. And "In My Life" is one of the Beatles great tracks of all time. On most fans top 10. Another great review. Watching your reviews brings me back to listening to this stuff when I was a kid. (I'm only 43, grew up listening to the beatles in the 90's). Nowhere Man is such a great track too.
I grew up hearing this album !! I love it, it might be my favorite !! I like them all but I have a special connection to this particular one for some reason !! Cheers
Enjoying your joy of discovering these sonic treasures. So much innovation combined with deep respect for the history of composition and the blending of cultures that became the many variations of 20 th century popular music. As others have suggested, A hard day's night and Help are early albums by them with many outstanding songs. Also, Jimi Hendrix and Rush would be good to discover and analyze. Lots more of the classic era that will blow your mind. Thanks for sharing.
Andre, don't sweat it. Your reactions are authentic and well thought out. BUT! Believe me, you will probably grow to love the songs you were initially ambivalent about because The Beatles are just great song-writers. Albums like Rubber Soul just grow on you and it starts to become like a "soundtrack for your life", so to speak. Keep going! Please listen to the album "Help!" It's really great!
I also suggest that you look at all the TV and film footage of these guys playing live so that you can watch them on stage performing this watch how they share the mics how crisp and perfect they are. You get a real sense of how professional they are.
Both Paul and John were very influenced by Black music, but their focus is definitely in slightly different places. Like you noted, Paul was the biggest soul guy, while John was heavily into blues. And obviously they all loved Chuck Berry and other early rock'n'rollers.
You are right that you have to listen to them in order. This album was absolutely ground breaking. And the earlier stuff, the way they came together as a band and put drive into music, and just exploded on the airwaves, is even harder to appreciate, if you don’t begin by listening to the drivel that was on the radio in the beginning of the sixties.
Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out was the corresponding single released on the same day Rubber Soul. Recorded at the same time. As with Paperback Writer/Rain and it's corresponding album Revolver.
The reason for the goofy mix on Rubber Soul, vocals all the way to the right on Girl for example, is because this album was only supposed to be heard in mono. They only had a 4 track tape deck so if they wanted to use 8, 10 or 32 tracks they had to use primitive sound-on-sound recording. Now that Revolver has had each of it's tracks separated by Peter Jackson and remixed for the 21st Century, Rubber Soul will most likely get the treatment next. It should be a revelation.
Hey Andre. This my second Beatles album reaction I’ve watched of yours and I joined your Patreon so I could see you react to the complete songs. I’ve really enjoyed your reactions especially how much you get into and appreciate the music. I grew up with the Beatles from a very young age of eight and would listen to my teenage sisters albums as soon as they came out. This by the way has turned out to my favourite Beatles album although Revolver is a close second. It seems like older Beatles fans like me seem to have a greater appreciation for their earlier albums 1964-66 than younger fans who seem to like the Sgt Peppers through Abbey Road period more. This album has the great song writing that you mentioned and is also so diverse in it’s song mix. The album was known for it’s marijuana influence and acoustic guitar sounds. It’s amazing to think how many musical genres they covered with these songs: Drive My Car - Rock and Roll, Norwegian Wood - Folk, You Won’t See Me - Motown/Soul, Nowhere Man - Folk Rock with Jangly Guitar, Think for Yourself - Folk Rock w/ Fuzz Base, The Word - Funk, Michelle - Pop Ballad, What Goes On - Country and Western, Girl - Folk with Klezmer/Arabian influence, I’m Looking Through You - Folk Rock, In My Life - Pop/R&B, Wait - Soul/R&B, If I needed Someone - Folk Rock, Run for Your Life - Country and Western. Rubber Soul is one of the first records to be have used the album as an art form rather than just a collection of songs. You have mentioned that is a bit unfair to have listened to their later albums first as they were using more sophisticated recording techniques, experimental sounds and imaginative lyrics in their music. It probably isn’t the best way to understand the musical progression in their music especially since their early music which does may not sound that sophisticated today was still a huge leap from the pop/rock and roll songs that proceeded it. My suggestion would be to go back earlier still to their first album of all original songs A Hard Days Night and go forward from their to better understand where they came from and where they were heading. Enjoying taking this journey with you.
Hello Arnie, sorry it’s taken me so long to get back. First, thank you for watching and joining me on Patreon. It means the world. I’m so excited to go back and listen to their older albums, as well as some other albums from the time period. Thank you for all of this info around the album. It makes it so much better. I really love living in the artists world and this helps me to get into that mind set. Thank you for getting into the music with me and I’m happy to share more moments and even later down the line, react with y’all, so thank you. The Beatles really are one of/if not THE BEST bands of all time.
The best way to go with Beatles is listen to their first album first, and then just go chronologically. That's what I did this spring. Listened to Please Please Me a couple of times, then moved to the next. Then the next. At the point I reached Abbey Road, it blew my mind. I discovered the Beatles THIS YEAR! - I'd heard a few songs here and there, but never fully. I thought they were overrated. How wrong I was.
What incredible is that most of the singles they released (most of which went to number one) are not in the albums. So as rubber soul was released that had hits with a songs like ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We can Work it Out’
Andre, it was John who had the true soulful voice in The Beatles. He brought the Motown covers into their set - Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Barrett Strong, Arthur Alexander, The Marvelettes, The Shirelles. Check out the early Please Please Me and With The Beatles albums from 1963. George Harrison sang covers of hits by The Donays and The Cookies on those albums as well.
Oh and another thing about the Beatles is this music back then they just sounded so much more mature and more real than other artists of the time There was something really different about them very personal lyrics and experiencing life and sharing it with us.
A couple years back I was driving back from a show we'd gone to see with a friend of mine who's also a musician. He's more into punkrock and casually aware of the Beatles but not a hardcore fan. Anyways, the album came up in the playlist and he quickly pointed out how fresh it sounded! Such a great album!! Also, about What Goes On... If you come across a drummer saying that Ringo sucks, get him to play that and if he gets through the piece without setting his forearms on fire from that shuffle ask him what he thinks of him then....
fun fact: run for life lyrics “id rather see you dead little girl than to be with another man" is inspired by a song called baby let's play house by elvis
epic songwriters, epic vocals, epic musicians, all wrapped in one album that was way ahead of its time. Superior even today against anything produced since it was made.
"Think For Yourself" is a great song - great melody, vocals, lyrics and instrumentals. I'm really surprised you don't like it. I think it's one of the best songs on Rubber Soul. It's just as good as "Norwegian Wood", "Michelle" and other well-known Lennon-McCartney songs from this album. The other George song, "If I Needed Someone", is excellent too in my opinion.
This is the album where the Beatles entered their own stratosphere and never looked back... first heard this in early 1966 when I was 11 years old, and it set the standard against which I have compared all music and other forms of art ever since
The harpsichord sound was created by producer George Martin playing the solo at a slowed pace, then speeding up the tape. There's a great podcast called Producing the Beatles that discusses how they, with Martin, created those new sounds.
Is really intersting how you ask if this was a conceptual album beacause it was not, but is probably the first rock/pop album that embrace that feeling back in the 60s, when this album came out one man gets that exact vibe from Rubber Soul and in his facination for repply and compite whit that idea creates the masterpiece album name Pet Sounds, his name is Brian Wilson song writer, composer and producer of The Beach Boys... for you to have an idea of the importance of this work in the Beatles career, thanks to interviews made to Lennon/McCartney and his producer George Martin is knowin that the Pet Sounds was the main musical inspiration for they to respond with singles like Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields Forever and the Sgt. Peppers Album. You should check on that:)
'Think for Yourself' is probably my favorite song on the album. It's a George Harrison song, and like Lennon, his songs were sometimes more mysterious and sinister than McCartney's. It will grow on you. That fuzz bass he used was an innovation, and quite a sound!
Rubber Soul was the first really mature album of TB both lyrics and musically after their albums for "good girls". However previous albums are masterpieces as well...
I like hearing an interpretation from another generation you are so right on thank you I was just a 10 year old when I first heard it and it is still just as fresh
And the joy of the Beatles is that even if you have a favorite, it doesn't mean the other songs don't work. Their worst songs are better than what so many have produced at the time and since.
Huge step in Beatles progression. John's songs Girl, Nowhere Man, In My Life and Norwegian Wood alone would amount to a Hall of Fame career if he never wrote another!! By the way, the instrumental in In My Life is Beatles genius producer George Martin on piano (recorded at half speed) then played back at double to sound like a harpsicord and match the tempo!!
"Oh, this is gonna get stuck in my head."
87% of my brain is taken up by Beatles songs. 😄
John was on fire on this album. Nowhere Man, Girl, in my life, Norwegian Wood. This album stands up.
Boom!
I agree. Two of my favourite all John songs - Norwegian Wood and Girl - are in this album. Also one of his supposedly best ever, In my Life, though it doesn't do it quite as much for me. And don't forget the album's opener by his songwriting partner. WOW!
And then the next album saw Eleanor Rigby, Tomorrow Never Knows, Got to Get You Into my Life and She Said, She Said. Yet another step up before the best album ever IMO. Cheers Sgt.
Just watched this reaction and your comment appeared and struk me because I used to play those by heart on guitar. Mind you, that was 30 years ago . These reactions and comments want me to try again. Thanks.
I know this is old, but it is interesting to note that the melody for "girl" was made by Paul. It is a true lennon/mccartney, and it is brilliant.
@@autistickakarot I’ve never ever heard that. May I ask your source?
George didn't start out as a songwriter. He was brought into the band as a lead guitarist. It took a few years for him to catch up to John and Paul. But when the band broke up, he put out a triple album called All Things Must Pass that is pretty damned amazing. It is worth listening to.
Agreed, the title track especially, but I always skip that series of long-winded, self-indulgent instrumentals he and his mates subject us to.
@@bodsnvimto That’s just a jam album. The meat is in the other two discs.
This is the album that changed EVERYTHING.
I can definitely see why
@@rjisasavage have you done Revolver yet Andre? The album after this and after abbey rd i think its their best album.
@@tonyhemphill5366 yes! One if my favorite albums
@@rjisasavage i was watching your Abbey rd reaction today and saw that you had done it ages ago
Yes changed pop/rock going forward, but…don’t denigrate their original 62-64 breakout stuff. It too was groundbreaking-a complete breakout from the tired old 1959-62 corporate solo singers w backup bands. There’s a REASON WHY they took the world by storm in ‘63-64.
In My Life is one of the most popular Beatles songs. The keyboard part in the middle is not a harpsichord but a piano recorded at half speed and then played back at regular speed so as to match the rhythm of the rest of the instruments. It gives it a harpsichord sound.
I absolutely love it
Wow..when John sings lead and Paul+George are on harmonies ..oh my word!!!!
You are aware that George sings lead on this, I assume?
"Oh, those harmonies!" How many times have I said that to myself when listening to the Beatles?
The crazy thing is there is only FOUR YEARS between Rubber Soul and Abbey Road! The Beatles made 11 or 12 albums in the span of 8 years. And all of them are pretty damn good. Not many bands have that kind of output- back then or even now!
Incredible. So many great sounds and voices in such a short span of time. Truly unique.
They'll always be the greatest
When u actually think about the fact that it was that short of time makes the Beatles even more legendary. It’s hard to make such great music to become with, let alone the fact it was all in such a short time.
Its a little harder to spot the growth in this album because you were exposed to their later stuff first. I wish i had seen you react from their first album onward to really track their evolution but still great to see you be introduced to their music nonetheless. 👍🏼
It’s definitely the best way to be introduced to The Beatles music.
George Harrison was lead guitar.
I think I’m the time since this album has grew on me more
Good point. It's the path of logic to see progression. I LOVE their early songs, don't get me wrong, but when they decided with Rubber Soul to spend more time in the studio instead of grueling live concert tours, they went through a major evolution of creativity. I honestly didn't understand it all at the time (I was 9) and had gone through 3 years of listening to the incredibly catchy "Beatlemania" era songs as what I expected--and this was so different.
Got this album for Xmas and drove my parents crazy, listening to it over and over and over again. Thanx Santa!
Yes, Rubber Soul is definitely not an experimental album compared to their later ones, but as an exercise in the craft of songwriting, it is unparalleled in its elegance and beauty.
It's their "pot" LP -- so certainly experimental.
my dear, there will come a time in your life when hearing IN MY LIFE will bring you to tears.
About the "albums of the time," Rubber Soul was a huge breakthrough. Hear how many different directions they are exploring, how many incredibly innovative things are going on here.
Ringo's timing on "Run For Your Life" is amazing". He's a machine.
George is awesome on guitar..
He's really underrated..
Early Beatles were all about the joy. You picked the right word out of the atmosphere: 'joyful'. Rubber Soul was their first step into serious exploration, so you have the album here where they were just opening the door to their later development, but there is still that pop magic from the early years. After this album the sky was the limit. And Paul's voice and songwriting gets me right here too! In In My Life, the musical interlude was George Martin - the producer - playing a piano, and it was sped up.
Just absolutely amazing music!!!
What a fun reaction to watch!!
I am a Beatlemaniac since I was 10 yo and it was such a pleasure watching you react to the Beatles’ magic!
+1 sub! :)
Thank you!
You gotta listen to the white album
And then the Grey Album, just for fun.
Next up!
Absolutely agree, the White Album is groundbreaking. It may be my favorite Beatles album.
@@deborahdean it’s a beast, but still editing it!
@@deborahdean same here
Rubber Soul is my favorite album! I was a teenager when the Beatles hit the scene. So awesome to grow up during the 60’s and 70’s! Best music generation!! Thanks for your reaction ❤️☮️👵🏼
Yes, the instrument in Norwegian Wood is a sitar, and that song is the first time an Indian string instrument had ever been recorded in western music. Yet another innovation from the Beatles!
The solo on In My life was producer George Martin playing piano, the tape sped up so it sounds like a harpsichord
That’s so freaking cool!
About the concept album thing, I'd call it a naturally occurring accidental concept album. Their songs before this point were mostly bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs somewhat pandering to the pre-teen girls who were obsessively in love with them, and this was the moment that they matured and more artistically broke away from conventions, expectations, and superficialities, so it's almost like them subconsciously going "Actually, no, here's the opposite side of all that BS, all the perspectives you don't want to think about-- relationships are often also dark, ugly, soul-crushing, self-interested, distant, manipulative, and even outright abusive."
This is amazing!
"Their songs before this point were mostly bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs"
You mean, of course, the songs you haven't heard and ignore because others mischaracterize them from an uninformed view of fake sophistication.
IN FACT, "The Beatles" hit the US at #1, booked it, and everyone else chased them but never caught them. From the beginning their songs were SUPERIOR to all others.
Clue: When "The Beatles" first walked into the studio they were just another unknown pop group. That view persisted through their first LP. It took time for them to sufficiently prove themselves -- their first LP was #1 in England for MONTHS -- to be replaced at #1 by their second LP. And sufficient time to learn the ropes and have sufficient power to begin to have their way.
Meanwhile, their songwriting was SUPERIOR from the beginning. Between their first LP and "Revolver" were THREE YEARS. You won't have the least clue their astonishing evolution during those three years if you can't be bothered to begin at the beginning with their first LP and singles.
@@jnagarya519 Holy rabidly defensive Beatles fan.
First, I said mostly. They certainly had flashes of these kinds of themes present in Rubber Soul before then, but it was usually the exception, not the rule. It was a gradual process, but Rubber Soul was certainly a liberating explosion of sorts.
Second, you seem to be making an argument about how the stuff before Rubber Soul was good (not sure why you're using popularity as evidence, though-- obviously they were popular). Bubble-gum sugar-coated love songs can still be good, charming, and well written. But they were clearly playing to their audience and careful not to alienate them TOO much, as well.
@@richardkhchang I was 15 when "The Beatles" hit the US at #1. They booked it, everyone -- including "The Beach Boys," which until then had been the bee's knees -- chased them, but none ever caught them.
And I'm not talking about "themes"; I'm talking about sheer quality of both lyric and music.
Classical composer Elmer Berstein made a TV special defending them and praising their music. I believe it's available on youtube.
@@jnagarya519 If you're not talking about themes, then you're literally arguing with phantoms, because themes were the only subject that the comment you replied to was about (the "concept" of an arguable unintended concept album).
I agree that musically, and in terms of technical writing ability, they were sound from the beginning.
I’ve listened to this album 1,000’s of times, but it was a real treat listening to your initial reaction. You are a very articulate and perceptive listener and music critic. Really enjoyed this video. Thanks.
This comment made my day! Thank you so much for watching! This is such a good album! I’m excited to get back into filming more
fully agree that Girl is a super sexy song, not enough people acknowledge that in my opinion lol
IMO their greatest album, my personal favorite.
This was the first album I ever bought. Still love it. I hope they remix it soon and give it the proper stereo treatment.
This album is a stand out for great John Lennon songs: Girl, In My Life, Nowhere Man...but we start to see Paul coming into his own with songs like Michelle and I'm Looking Through You. In my opinion, when we get to Revolver, Paul has caught up to John and really shows his versatility in vocals and melody.
I think the Beatles peaked musically with these 2 albums!
@@skiptrace1888 But they won the Grammy for their most experimental album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band! For me, this is their summit. However, Abbey Road is damned terrific, too!
Paul was on par with John from the beginning.
Please Please Me - Many would say I Saw Her Standing There is the best original song on the album
With the Beatles - All My Loving is the best and most would agree
A Hard Day’s Night - John has more songs but Paul’s three songs are just as good as any John song on the album
Help - Yesterday
There is not a bad song on Rubber Soul but I think "In my life" is a standout!
Your reaction to ‘In My Life‘ was beautiful, I wish I could see myself the first time I heard it, the most beautiful song my ears have heard.
Thank you for watching!
"If I Needed Someone" has always been my favourite track from Rubber Soul. "Norwegian Wood" comes a good second
How did I not see this until just now?
They blocked until today!
@@rjisasavage Ah
@@rjisasavage been waiting!
@@rjisasavage damn that sucks. No wonder the views are so little compared to your other beatles reactions 😭. Just keep doing the videos no matter what pls
@@lancelot771 thank you! New video this week! ❤️
You cried,..... because your know BEATLE LOVE we All cried ❤
Thank you!
Paul McCartney has a really soulful voice he is also able to pull of a really cool rock voice like on Long Tall Sally, Got to Get You Into My Life and Oh! Darling
In my life is such a Beautiful and Meaningful song that it can be played at a wedding or a funeral
The Nowhere Man is used in the Yellow Submarine Movie
In my life is a masterpiece. It’s so calming 😌
The way they split the instruments had to do with the limitations of the equipment. This is recorded on a four-track tape, which means that you're very limited in what you could do in the mixing. Stereo was also very new technology and they were still "inventing the vocabulary" of it, if you know what I mean. Besides hearing the Beatles innovate musically through their career, they were also pushing the limits of the technology as well.
Going down this journey continues to blow my mind
@@rjisasavage if you really want to hear an album where they make masterful use if stereo technology, from only about 5-6 years after this, check out "Led Zeppelin II"
If you haven’t already, Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour are another two amazing albums by them :)
Love Sgt Pepper
Magical mystery tour is up there with Sgt Pepper
I would go home and listen to this album when I was in elementary school and my sister came home later so I've heard it like a thousand times. These songs really grow on you You think you like them now. Keep on going don't give up listen to them all. We're right there with you.
Just found you and subscribed. Love your personality, you see much more genuine in your reactions than many others. I grew up with the earliest Beatles and Rubber Soul is one of my favorites, I liked mostly the same songs you did, for their harmony and soulfulness!
You're bloody fantastic. I think i only find 1-2 great channels per a 6 month period
I grew up to their music starting in 1964. I love to see the younger generation discover their greatness. Best that ever was or will be!
"Drive My Car" is not on the North American version of this album. It's not my fave song either, and I grew up with a different track listing that I prefer. The American album opens with "I've Just Seen a Face" which I love 🙂
I’ll do a quickie to that!
@@rjisasavage if you listen to the album before this, “HELP”, you can hear it there. It is originally on that album but US record companies were weird and always messed with how albums were initially.
Whenever I hear the UK version, I miss the false start on I'm Looking Through You.
Paul is def the most soulful ❤ You are also correct in that you should have listened to their albums in order to understand and appreciate the growth. This was experimental at the time. It will def grow on you as you listen, trust me :) I’ll find your other Beatles reactions but know that George ended up writing 3 of their best songs!
Which do you think are the best three?
@@rjisasavage
My favorite 5 songs (no way to pick a “best” Beatles song) are:
#1 “Something” (George song)
#2 “Here, There and Everywhere (Paul song)
#3 “All My Loving (Paul song)
#4 She Loves You (Lennon-McCartney song)
#5 Hello, Goodbye (Paul song)
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (George song) is in my top 10. And “Here Comes the Sun” (George song) is the most streamed Beatles song on Spotify. I’m def a Paul gal but George really started giving Lennon-McCartney a run for their money. He became a fabulous writer.
Nah, "If I needed Someone" is fire. And you're right, "You Wont See Me" is such an underrated track. And "In My Life" is one of the Beatles great tracks of all time. On most fans top 10. Another great review. Watching your reviews brings me back to listening to this stuff when I was a kid. (I'm only 43, grew up listening to the beatles in the 90's). Nowhere Man is such a great track too.
I grew up hearing this album !! I love it, it might be my favorite !! I like them all but I have a special connection to this particular one for some reason !! Cheers
timeless genius...and In My Life is just beautiful in every way.
21:58: *groovy ahh piano solo*
"Is that a xylophone?"
Enjoying your joy of discovering these sonic treasures. So much innovation combined with deep respect for the history of composition and the blending of cultures that became the many variations of 20 th century popular music. As others have suggested, A hard day's night and Help are early albums by them with many outstanding songs. Also, Jimi Hendrix and Rush would be good to discover and analyze. Lots more of the classic era that will blow your mind. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely agree with your ranking. I’ve been listening to the Beatles for 25+ years
Thank you!
One the best Beatles reaction I’ve seen bro.
By far my favorite album as a whole! I know we don't consume music in that format much anymore, but this one is the full package.
George Harrison really came into his own songwriting-wise around Abbey Road and Let It Be.
Gotta check out Let It Be!
@@rjisasavage He came into his own before that. He wrote “Taxman”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and other songs before either of those albums.
@@MsAppassionata Even his songs on Rubber Soul are amazing.
I can definitely relate to the feeling of listening to Abbey Road for the first time and having it quickly become a favorite! Great video!
Andre, don't sweat it. Your reactions are authentic and well thought out. BUT! Believe me, you will probably grow to love the songs you were initially ambivalent about because The Beatles are just great song-writers. Albums like Rubber Soul just grow on you and it starts to become like a "soundtrack for your life", so to speak. Keep going! Please listen to the album "Help!" It's really great!
I have definitely grown to love it! Thank you for your kind words!
The smile fading in the beginning of girl 😭😂
Right
I also suggest that you look at all the TV and film footage of these guys playing live so that you can watch them on stage performing this watch how they share the mics how crisp and perfect they are. You get a real sense of how professional they are.
Both Paul and John were very influenced by Black music, but their focus is definitely in slightly different places. Like you noted, Paul was the biggest soul guy, while John was heavily into blues. And obviously they all loved Chuck Berry and other early rock'n'rollers.
You are right that you have to listen to them in order. This album was absolutely ground breaking. And the earlier stuff, the way they came together as a band and put drive into music, and just exploded on the airwaves, is even harder to appreciate, if you don’t begin by listening to the drivel that was on the radio in the beginning of the sixties.
Dude, you need to hear the Beatles "Second Album". It will give you the excitement of early Beatlemania
IN MY LIFE, ONE OF 2 BEST BEATLES SONG IN MY HO
Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out was the corresponding single released on the same day Rubber Soul. Recorded at the same time. As with Paperback Writer/Rain and it's corresponding album Revolver.
The reason for the goofy mix on Rubber Soul, vocals all the way to the right on Girl for example, is because this album was only supposed to be heard in mono. They only had a 4 track tape deck so if they wanted to use 8, 10 or 32 tracks they had to use primitive sound-on-sound recording. Now that Revolver has had each of it's tracks separated by Peter Jackson and remixed for the 21st Century, Rubber Soul will most likely get the treatment next. It should be a revelation.
Hey Andre. This my second Beatles album reaction I’ve watched of yours and I joined your Patreon so I could see you react to the complete songs. I’ve really enjoyed your reactions especially how much you get into and appreciate the music. I grew up with the Beatles from a very young age of eight and would listen to my teenage sisters albums as soon as they came out. This by the way has turned out to my favourite Beatles album although Revolver is a close second. It seems like older Beatles fans like me seem to have a greater appreciation for their earlier albums 1964-66 than younger fans who seem to like the Sgt Peppers through Abbey Road period more. This album has the great song writing that you mentioned and is also so diverse in it’s song mix. The album was known for it’s marijuana influence and acoustic guitar sounds. It’s amazing to think how many musical genres they covered with these songs:
Drive My Car - Rock and Roll, Norwegian Wood - Folk, You Won’t See Me - Motown/Soul, Nowhere Man - Folk Rock with Jangly Guitar, Think for Yourself - Folk Rock w/ Fuzz Base, The Word - Funk, Michelle - Pop Ballad, What Goes On - Country and Western, Girl - Folk with Klezmer/Arabian influence, I’m Looking Through You - Folk Rock, In My Life - Pop/R&B, Wait - Soul/R&B, If I needed Someone - Folk Rock, Run for Your Life - Country and Western. Rubber Soul is one of the first records to be have used the album as an art form rather than just a collection of songs. You have mentioned that is a bit unfair to have listened to their later albums first as they were using more sophisticated recording techniques, experimental sounds and imaginative lyrics in their music. It probably isn’t the best way to understand the musical progression in their music especially since their early music which does may not sound that sophisticated today was still a huge leap from the pop/rock and roll songs that proceeded it. My suggestion would be to go back earlier still to their first album of all original songs A Hard Days Night and go forward from their to better understand where they came from and where they were heading. Enjoying taking this journey with you.
Hello Arnie, sorry it’s taken me so long to get back. First, thank you for watching and joining me on Patreon. It means the world.
I’m so excited to go back and listen to their older albums, as well as some other albums from the time period.
Thank you for all of this info around the album. It makes it so much better. I really love living in the artists world and this helps me to get into that mind set.
Thank you for getting into the music with me and I’m happy to share more moments and even later down the line, react with y’all, so thank you.
The Beatles really are one of/if not THE BEST bands of all time.
@@rjisasavage No problem Andre. Enjoy the journey man.
Yet another marvellous album of the Beatles. So... so Beatles
I love the twist at the end of Drive My Car.
"IS THAT A XYLOPHONE?????"
~Andre Taylor, 2022
My favourite album. Great job reviewing!
In My Life--What the fuck, indeed! Simply amazeballs.
The best way to go with Beatles is listen to their first album first, and then just go chronologically. That's what I did this spring. Listened to Please Please Me a couple of times, then moved to the next. Then the next. At the point I reached Abbey Road, it blew my mind. I discovered the Beatles THIS YEAR! - I'd heard a few songs here and there, but never fully. I thought they were overrated. How wrong I was.
Wish I would’ve done that
Interesting fact: At the end of 1999, someone did a countdown of the best 100 songs of the 20th century. "In my life" was no.1.
What incredible is that most of the singles they released (most of which went to number one) are not in the albums. So as rubber soul was released that had hits with a songs like ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We can Work it Out’
Oooooo. I’ll make videos to these
I thank my father for introducing me to The Beatles. I also want to say that Rubber Soul is hands down my favorite Beatles album from start to finish
My late father was always hates the beatles.. but he loves Elvis Presley 😅
Andre, it was John who had the true soulful voice in The Beatles. He brought the Motown covers into their set - Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Barrett Strong, Arthur Alexander, The Marvelettes, The Shirelles. Check out the early Please Please Me and With The Beatles albums from 1963. George Harrison sang covers of hits by The Donays and The Cookies on those albums as well.
Paul’s voice was definitely the most soulful
Oh and another thing about the Beatles is this music back then they just sounded so much more mature and more real than other artists of the time There was something really different about them very personal lyrics and experiencing life and sharing it with us.
One of my favourite albums of all time.
You should listen to 'Think For Yourself' a couple more times. It's a great song. Really.
A couple years back I was driving back from a show we'd gone to see with a friend of mine who's also a musician. He's more into punkrock and casually aware of the Beatles but not a hardcore fan. Anyways, the album came up in the playlist and he quickly pointed out how fresh it sounded! Such a great album!!
Also, about What Goes On... If you come across a drummer saying that Ringo sucks, get him to play that and if he gets through the piece without setting his forearms on fire from that shuffle ask him what he thinks of him then....
Andre I love the way you reatck to the Beatles ✝️☮️
fun fact: run for life lyrics “id rather see you dead little girl than to be with another man" is inspired by a song called baby let's play house by elvis
Everyone ignores that fact!
epic songwriters, epic vocals, epic musicians, all wrapped in one album that was way ahead of its time. Superior even today against anything produced since it was made.
Yes you have to listen to it again ✝️☮️💯
That piano was actually their producer George Martin who Play that on a grand piano but they sped the sound up so that sounded like a harpsichord.
Would love to see your reaction to Magical Mystery Tour, its uhhh a real trip for sure hahaha
As soon as UMG stops blocking my Beatles videos, I’ll have it up!
Yessir..
Nowhere man...
"Think For Yourself" is a great song - great melody, vocals, lyrics and instrumentals. I'm really surprised you don't like it. I think it's one of the best songs on Rubber Soul. It's just as good as "Norwegian Wood", "Michelle" and other well-known Lennon-McCartney songs from this album. The other George song, "If I Needed Someone", is excellent too in my opinion.
I don't know! I just wasn't really feeling it!
This is the album where the Beatles entered their own stratosphere and never looked back... first heard this in early 1966 when I was 11 years old, and it set the standard against which I have compared all music and other forms of art ever since
The harpsichord sound was created by producer George Martin playing the solo at a slowed pace, then speeding up the tape. There's a great podcast called Producing the Beatles that discusses how they, with Martin, created those new sounds.
Thank you!
Lennon played the Harpsichord on that. Sang lead and was actually the one who wrote "IN MY LIFE".
No, it was George Martin, their producer, who played the piano at half the speed and sped it up, look it up.
"Michelle" is Paul. Your ear is getting better.
Yessir White album..and then 'Let it be'...
Is really intersting how you ask if this was a conceptual album beacause it was not, but is probably the first rock/pop album that embrace that feeling back in the 60s, when this album came out one man gets that exact vibe from Rubber Soul and in his facination for repply and compite whit that idea creates the masterpiece album name Pet Sounds, his name is Brian Wilson song writer, composer and producer of The Beach Boys... for you to have an idea of the importance of this work in the Beatles career, thanks to interviews made to Lennon/McCartney and his producer George Martin is knowin that the Pet Sounds was the main musical inspiration for they to respond with singles like Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields Forever and the Sgt. Peppers Album. You should check on that:)
Thank you!!! I love Pet Sounds and SRGT Pepper!
'Think for Yourself' is probably my favorite song on the album. It's a George Harrison song, and like Lennon, his songs were sometimes more mysterious and sinister than McCartney's. It will grow on you. That fuzz bass he used was an innovation, and quite a sound!
I hope so!
Linda McCartney was Paul’s wife. He didn’t meet her until a few years after this album. I’m not sure why she’s in the conversation.
It showed up on Apple Music but I think it's because of the renewed album
Rubber Soul was the first really mature album of TB both lyrics and musically after their albums for "good girls". However previous albums are masterpieces as well...
I like hearing an interpretation from another generation you are so right on thank you I was just a 10 year old when I first heard it and it is still just as fresh
The White Album is when George really flourished as a songwriter. Abbey Road best songs were George's.
no album from the 60's sounds anywhere near as good as any beatles album, they were just that good
Boom
Phil Ochs made some good albums!
And the joy of the Beatles is that even if you have a favorite, it doesn't mean the other songs don't work. Their worst songs are better than what so many have produced at the time and since.
Huge step in Beatles progression. John's songs Girl, Nowhere Man, In My Life and Norwegian Wood alone would amount to a Hall of Fame career if he never wrote another!! By the way, the instrumental in In My Life is Beatles genius producer George Martin on piano (recorded at half speed) then played back at double to sound like a harpsicord and match the tempo!!