Rubber Soul

1965 studio album by the Beatles

Rubber Soul is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 3 December 1965 in the United Kingdom, on EMI's Parlophone label. The double A-side single "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" was released at the same time. The first North American version of the album from Capitol Records had ten of the fourteen songs from the British Parlophone version. Rubber Soul was very popular with critics. It was at the top of sales charts in Britain and the United States for many weeks. The album proves the Beatles were starting to use LSD and marijuana.

Rubber Soul
Studio album by
Released3 December 1965
Recorded12 October–11 November 1965 (except 17 June 1965 for "Wait")
StudioEMI, London
Genre
Length34:55
Label
ProducerGeorge Martin
The Beatles chronology
Help!
(1965)
Rubber Soul
(1965)
Revolver
(1966)
The Beatles North American chronology
Help!
(1965)
Rubber Soul
(1965)
Yesterday and Today
(1966)

The album was recorded in London over four weeks in October–November 1965. Most call it a folk rock album, especially in its Capitol (North American) version. Rubber Soul has a mix of pop, soul and folk musical styles.

The songs show the Beatles' improving as songwriters. They also used brighter guitar tones and new instrumentation such as sitar, harmonium and fuzz bass.

Track listing change

Everywhere except North America change

All songs written and composed by Lennon–McCartney except where noted. 

Side one
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "Drive My Car"  McCartney with Lennon 2:25
2. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"  Lennon 2:01
3. "You Won't See Me"  McCartney 3:18
4. "Nowhere Man"  Lennon 2:40
5. "Think for Yourself" (George Harrison)Harrison 2:16
6. "The Word"  Lennon 2:41
7. "Michelle"  McCartney 2:40
Total length:
18:01
Side two
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "What Goes On" (Lennon–McCartney–Starkey)Starr 2:47
2. "Girl"  Lennon 2:30
3. "I'm Looking Through You"  McCartney 2:23
4. "In My Life"  Lennon 2:24
5. "Wait"  Lennon and McCartney 2:12
6. "If I Needed Someone" (Harrison)Harrison 2:20
7. "Run for Your Life"  Lennon 2:18
Total length:
16:54

North America change

All songs written and composed by Lennon–McCartney except where noted. 

Side one
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "I've Just Seen a Face"  McCartney 2:04
2. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"  Lennon 2:05
3. "You Won't See Me"  McCartney 3:19
4. "Think for Yourself" (Harrison)Harrison 2:19
5. "The Word"  Lennon 2:42
6. "Michelle"  McCartney 2:42
Side two
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "It's Only Love"  Lennon 1:53
2. "Girl"  Lennon 2:33
3. "I'm Looking Through You"  McCartney 2:24
4. "In My Life"  Lennon 2:24
5. "Wait"  Lennon and McCartney 2:15
6. "Run for Your Life"  Lennon 2:15

Sources change

  • Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 35 - The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu.

References change

  1. Unterberger, Richie. "The Beatles Rubber Soul". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. Robins 2008, p. 98.
  3. Bray 2014, p. 267.