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View Full Version : Essential Albums #7: Revolver - The Beatles


MBS
01-26-2006, 07:24 PM
Let me tell you how it will be...

The Beatles. Ah, what can we say about the Beatles. Aside from being one of the most beloved and successful bands of the previous century, I think not much. I'm sure everyone has heard a Beatles song before, whether you're a devout fan, or just getting into music, The Beatles were a pop culture phenonenom that still has it's grip over the world. Paul McCartney's recent solo tour was his fastest selling ever. Revolver is considered by many to be the pinnacle of The Beatles, and one of the best albums ever placing in the top 10 of Greatest Album Ever lists all around the world. Whether it was because of it's fusion of past Beatles and what was to become, Revolver has always been considered the Beatles departure from touring band to studio success.

Each track on Revolver is, and I say this without any bias, damn near perfect. It begins with Taxman, a Harrisong. (*cheers erupt from the Beatles thread from my usage of the word Harrisong*) Taxman was written about how The Beatles had moved to the elite tax bracket in Britain and they had to pay huge amounts of money for taxes. George felt like he had no money because the more he made, the more he paid (props to Robo). This song as an insanely catchy riff, and beautifully layered vocals. A ripping solo from Paul, played on a 1964 Epiphone Casino, enters about halfway through. This was considered one of George's main contributions to the band.

Eleanor Rigby is a haunting ballad about a woman who goes through life without ever being noticed or appreciated. A Paul contribution, it features a haunting string arrangement. Paul sings this one too, and is one of the more popular Beatle songs. The main thing about this song is the strings arrangement, and the way they sound. Paul McCartney featured this song in his setlist during his US 2005 tour, and it still sounds amazing after almost 40 years of aging.

I'm Only Sleeping is a Lennon work, and is one of the weaker tracks on the album, IMO. (Five people click reply to flame, but stop because of the mystical powers of the IMO) Also, an interesting solo which sounds like it was made through a series of tape loops. Revolver is famous for it's tape loops and contributions to modern recording techniques. Harrison also played the notes of the lead guitar backwards, then reversed it in the studio so the notes were actually playing in the correct order, thus giving it that weird dreary feel.

Love You To is a sitar-rich composition which foreshadows Harrison's interest in the instrument and its use in later albums such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in the song Within You, Without You. The whole song is a flurry of psychedelia, sitar, and Harrison's guiding voice.

Here, There, and Everywhere is known for it's strange arrangement, and Paul's high vocals. The backing vocals accentuate every note McCartney sings perfectly, adding a surreal feel to the song. The ethereal guitars in the background seem very Beach Boys-esque, and I believe this is one of the songs McCartney wrote in response to Pet Sounds.

Beatles fans know what's next. Yellow Submarine. The song that miraculously creeped up to number 1 and is infectious. Ringo provides the vocals although Paul wrote the song. Everyone has heard this song, I believe, and I'll let the chorus of the song do the talking.

We all live in the Yellow Submarine
The Yellow Submarine
The Yellow Submarine

Some interesting facts: Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones can be heard clinking glasses in the background and the Beatles' road manager Mal Evans sang on the track.

She Said She Said is one of my favorite on the albums, particularly because of the lead guitar lines and the melodies of the songs. It was written by Lennon inspired by an LSD trip. The opening line "She said, I know what it's like to be dead" was inspired by Peter Fonda, who said "I know what it's like to be dead" to Harrison. (He meant that he almost died because of a self-inflicted gunshot wound).

Good Day Sunshine is the beginning of the second side on the vinyl. This song is a very optimistic song and has a very driving piano line. Paul McCartney also included this song on his set during the 2005 tour. This song is one of my personal favorites because of it's feel-good vibe about an optimistic sunny day. It's nice.

And Your Bird Can Sing is another upbeat Lennon contribution with heavily distorted guitars that will be featured later in the song Revolution. The intro guitar line is played simultaneously by George Harrison and Paul McCartney, and the solo is one of the best of all time. The lyrics are pretty good, too:

And when your prized possesions
Start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round

John stated in an interview that this was one of the worst songs he'd felt he had ever written aside from Dig a Pony.

For No One is a slow mournful ballad by McCartney written for his then-girlfriend Jane Asher. There is a nice horn solo in this song, and the whole thing is very piano driven. Paul played this song along with his keyboardist at the concert I went to. It seems to be a favorite of the regulars in the Beatles thread, also.

Doctor Robert may be attributed to 2 different people: the Beatles' dentist, who first supplied them with LSD, or Robert Fraser, who also supplied the group with drugs. It's a pretty good driving song with a guitar line that's very similar to Taxman.

I Want To Tell You, a Harrisong, is my favorite song on this album. With a brilliant intro lick that fades in, chunky piano part, and a driving bass, this is a fun song that I cover. The lyrics interpret Harrison's difficulty with writing lyrics with a song and can be clearly evidenced in the first verse:

I want to tell you
My head is filled with things to say
When you're here
All those words they seem to
slip away

This song was sung at The Concert for George (this weekend, I swear guys) by Jeff Lynne, and I feel he did the song justice. (Then again...)

Got To Get You Into My Life features a blaring trumpet intro and continual use of the brass instruments. This song is groovy, and has an interesting melody, especially when McCartney sings "Oooh, then I suddenly see you". He played this song live, too. /rubs in face But yeah, this song is good, definetly check it out.

Tomorrow Never Knows may be the Beatles' first voyage into psychedelia. With tape loops, processed vocals, reversed guitar, and a single chord (A, I believe) and is a very... interesting track, to say the least. It's good though, and definetly an excellent bang out to this album.

OMG I MOVED THE POLL EXPLANATION TO THE BACK! /lynch mob

Anyway, since Revolver won the tiebreaker... there it is. OK Computer is still in the polls along with Exile on Main Street. For the metalheads, I'm throwing in Ozzy Osbourne's Tribute to Randy Rhoads, a true shred pioneer and for those who want to learn more about him, Frank Zappa's Hot Rats

I've changed the way uploads work. Instead of uploading them and emailing it out to everyone, I'm going to post them on my livejournal, which could be found here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/aaronkay). I figure that's a lot easier. Check it out maybe a couple days from now, it should be on there. You can also read my emo passages of how the hot girl 2 seats from me in English looked at me, but didn't say hi. I cried a bucketful of tears that night.

Comment this or I will kill myself.

Jacaranda
01-26-2006, 07:25 PM
(*cheers erupt from the Beatles thread from my usage of the word Harrisong*)
Your clever.
Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones can be heard clinking glasses in the background
Ya!

Good write up, I think Eleanor Rigby is my favorite on the album but I think I'll have to relisten to it now, I also love Love You To. Shiz, the whole album is perfect. Its tied with Rubber Soul for my 2nd favorite Beatles.

Uh, I went with Exile.

Lunch
01-26-2006, 07:27 PM
Amazing write up. I wish I could rep you.

I also wish I "got" The Beatles.

robo2448
01-26-2006, 07:30 PM
Another great write-up. I love Revolver. It's such a classic.

Taxman was written about how The Beatles had moved to the elite tax bracket in Britain and they had to pay huge amounts of money for taxes. George felt like he had no money because the more he made, the more he paid (hey that rhymed).

And I'm Only Sleeping rocks. Fool. Yes I'm flaming you even though you said IMO. I'm such a cool rebel.

MBS
01-26-2006, 07:32 PM
Damnit I forgot to make it a public poll again.

/bangs head on keyboard

Uh, I went with Exile.

You didn't have to tell us. :lol:

And I'm Only Sleeping rocks. Fool. Yes I'm flaming you even though you said IMO. I'm such a cool rebel.

IMO! IMO! IMO! And I said it was one of the weaker tracks on the album, I didn't say it sucked. So, you're the fool, you foolish fool of a fool on a hill.

pigonthewing82
01-26-2006, 07:35 PM
Awsome write up man :thumb: I had no idea bout the Brian Jones thing.

I voted Hot Rats, though I was tempted to vote for the Tribute album. I don't listen to it much anymore but way back when, when I was first discovering music the Tribute album was my first album, and Paranoid off of it was the first live song I heard and thought "my god I want to do that" so in many ways that album is responsible for my guitar playing and was my first cd. Even though I didn't vote for it (personal reasons I for an album being essential like that I guess don't work if you have since learned some of the other albums on the list are better) it will always hold a special place for me.

clown_phobia
01-26-2006, 07:48 PM
Taxman is about how the beatles had to pay 95% tax.

I disagree with you about I'm only sleeping - that's one of my favourites.

MBS
01-26-2006, 07:50 PM
Taxman is about how the beatles had to pay 95% tax.

Taxman was written about how The Beatles had moved to the elite tax bracket in Britain and they had to pay huge amounts of money for taxes. George felt like he had no money because the more he made, the more he paid (hey that rhymed).

I said it was my interpretation guys. :( Plus, it makes sense 'cause you know, King George... George Harrison? Connection? Anyone? No? :upset:

Fine, I'll throw in something about the Beatles.

Magical_Mystery_Tour
01-26-2006, 07:51 PM
Revoler is a great album. One of my fav albums. After MMt of course.

robo2448
01-26-2006, 07:52 PM
I said it was my interpretation guys. :( Plus, it makes sense 'cause you know, King George... George Harrison? Connection? Anyone? No? :upset:

Fine, I'll throw in something about the Beatles.

I liked the King George part:thumb:

Clever.

In the Anthology though, George talks about how he wrote it about how he was losing all his money to taxes.

thickasabrick
01-26-2006, 07:53 PM
Awesomely written. I'm actually listening to Love To You right now. That's such a great song. I love this album.

dr._feelgood
01-26-2006, 08:17 PM
This was a great write-up I really need to get more Beatles albums.

MidnightRider
01-26-2006, 08:33 PM
Great write-up MBS, an exellent choice to carry on your series with. Revolver is my 2nd favorite Beatles album, behind Rubber Soul. Taxman was one of the first Beatles songs I heard, and one of my all time favorites, it's so damn catchy. Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine are good songs, but I've heard 'em so many times I'm about sick of them.

And vote Exile On Main Street!

Apocalyptic Raids
01-26-2006, 08:58 PM
Comment this or I will kill myself.
ok.

No seriously, good write up, and I voted Exile On Main Street for the next one.

Britton
01-26-2006, 09:19 PM
Great Write up dude.

Exile on mainstreet gets my vote.

MBS
01-28-2006, 01:06 PM
This is a bump for votes.

Broken Arrow
01-28-2006, 01:08 PM
I voted Hot Rats cause it is such a sweet album.

Good write up Aarron.

Grant
01-28-2006, 04:43 PM
Zappa needs more exposure on this board, thus...

blue3
01-28-2006, 04:50 PM
Nice write up. Revolver is such a great album. I voted for OK Computer.

Britton
01-28-2006, 04:51 PM
I guees I'll just have to hope that Exile gets more votes next time around :(

MBS
01-28-2006, 10:18 PM
Excellent guys, well the album has been uploaded. The link is at my livejournal found here:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/aaronkay

It should be the latest entry.