Review Summary: The Ultimate Pop Album
Artist: The Beatles
Album: Revolver
Date: August 5th, 1966
Genre: Pop/Rock/Psychedelic
Label: Apple Corps
Rubber Soul, released in December 1965, marked another step-up in maturity and musical complexity from the Beatles. At that point each release had found the band increasing experimentation and using eclectic influences in their compositions to push their music even further; Beatles For Sale found the band writing folk-rock styled tunes, while on Help! they increased their use of vocal overdubs and also incorporated string arrangements, and then finally on Rubber Soul their Folk influence came fully into fruition along with the use of a sitar from George Harrison. Even though the Beatles were getting better and better (or bolder and bolder), nothing could have prepared the world for what was to come, a revolution that would change music forever, a revolution that began with a revolver.
Revolver, the Beatles seventh album, was released on the 5th of August, 1966, to great critical and commercial success reaching number one on both the British charts and American charts, where it remained for seven and six weeks, respectively. Even though the band would go on tour a week after Revolvers release (the last tour the band would ever perform), none of the songs from the album would be played live due to the complexity of the songs which would be too difficult to be performed live. Only one song from the sessions of 1966 would be performed live, ’Paperback Writer’, which wasn’t even featured on the album.
There are two major differences that make Revolver unique from anything the Beatles had done prior; First they hit the zenith of experimentation that would result in some of the bands most psychedelic tracks ever, (check out ‘Eleanor Rigby’, ‘Yellow Submarine’, and ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’), and second they used a more electric guitar driven sound unlike their previous effort, Rubber Soul, which favored a more acoustic folk-rock sound. Therein lies most of the strength of Revolver, which is that the Beatles hit their stride during production, writing some of the best and most original compositions of their career. Every track has a defining quality that separates it from the rest, which at times does make for an unfocused album, but all is forgiven due to every song being a masterpiece of composition and creativity. Obvious highlights Include, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ which combines McCartney’s lyrical imagery with a string octet arranged by producer George Martin under McCartney’s direction; ‘Yellow Submarine’, a children’s song written by McCartney that is the only song on the album with lead vocals by Ringo Starr, and the use of sitar on ‘Love You To’ by George Harrison. Other highlights include the rocking opener ‘Taxman’, ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ with its reverse guitar riff and spectacular bass, the blurry guitars of ‘She Said, She Said’ and the juvenile lyrics of ‘Doctor Robert” that revolve around John Lennon’s relationship with his dealer. Although in the end, all experimentation, as great as it was, pales in comparison to the final track, ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, which introduced groundbreaking production techniques such as reverse guitar (which was also used on the previously mentioned ‘I’m Only Sleeping’), looped tape effects, and Lennon’s vocals being processed while reading lyrics inspired by Timothy Leary’s book, A Psychedelic Experience: A Manual on The Tibetan Book of The Dead, and underneath lies a strongly syncopated, repetitive drum beat. It’s a fitting finale to the album and a prime example of the stunning production techniques that were being pioneered by The Beatles and producer George Martin.
It’s debatable as to whether Revolver is the best Beatles album or not, but it’s undeniable the influence it had on the music world, kick starting the psychedelic revolution that would run throughout the decade and reach its climax with the bands follow-up, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Despite its dark content, the release of Sgt. Pepper, and the albums age, Revolver remains the ultimate pop album that still after all these years has the power to inspire and fill the imagination of the world.
Highlights
Eleanor Rigby
I’m Only Sleeping
Taxman
Tomorrow Never Knows
