Revolver
Beatles
1966
Album Summary
Revolver is the seventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 5 August 1966, accompanied by the double A-side single "Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine". The album was the Beatles' final recording project before their retirement as live performers and marked the group's most overt use of studio technology to date, building on the advances of their late 1965 release Rubber Soul. It has since become regarded as one of the greatest and most innovative albums in the history of popular music, with recognition centred on its range of musical styles, diverse sounds, and lyrical content. The Beatles recorded Revolver after taking a three-month break at the start of 1966, and during a period when London was feted as the era's cultural capital. Regarded by some commentators as the start of the group's psychedelic period, the songs reflect their interest in the drug LSD, Eastern philosophy and the avant-garde while addressing themes such as death and transcendence from material concerns. With no plans to reproduce their new material in concert, the band made liberal use of automatic double tracking, varispeed, reversed tapes, close audio miking, and instruments outside of their standard live set-up. Among its tracks are "Tomorrow Never Knows", incorporating heavy Indian drone and a collage of tape loops; "Eleanor Rigby", a song about loneliness featuring a string octet as its only musical backing; and "Love You To", a foray into Hindustani classical music. The sessions also produced a non-album single, "Paperback Writer" backed with "Rain". In the United Kingdom, the album's 14 tracks were gradually distributed to radio stations in the weeks before its release. In North America, Revolver was reduced to 11 songs by Capitol Records, with the omitted three appearing on the June 1966 LP Yesterday and Today. The release there coincided with the Beatles' final concert tour and the controversy surrounding John Lennon's remark that the band had become "more popular than Jesus". The album topped the Record Retailer chart in the UK for seven weeks and the US Billboard Top LPs list for six weeks. Critical reaction was highly favourable in the UK but less so in the US amid the press's unease at the band's outspokenness on contemporary issues. Revolver expanded the boundaries of pop music, revolutionised standard practices in studio recording, advanced principles espoused by the 1960s counterculture, and inspired the development of psychedelic rock, electronica, progressive rock and world music. The album cover, designed by Klaus Voormann, combined Aubrey Beardsley-inspired line drawing with photo collage and won the 1967 Grammy Award for Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts. Aided by the 1987 international CD release, which standardised its content to the original Parlophone version, Revolver has surpassed Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in many critics' estimation as the Beatles' best album. It was ranked first in the 1998 and 2000 editions of Colin Larkin's book All Time Top 1000 Albums and third in the 2003 and 2012 editions of Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". It has been certified double platinum by the BPI and 5× platinum by the RIAA.
WikipediaShe said: "Revolver is the best Beatles album. It doesn't overwhelmingly rock, roll or pop because its strategy is to transport the listener to the until-then uninhabited space between all three via melodic aggressiveness and sonic inventiveness." I said: "Who put all those thoughts in your head? It's got Yellow Submarine, for Christ's sake. And that strategy meant they took their eye off the ball lyrically and out popped Good Day Sunshine and Doctor Robert. (Let's just ignore the Harrison lyrics)." She said: "No, no, no, you're wrong. What sounds like filler or a lack of cohesion is the embodiment of the main theme: alienation. Listen again to how many of the songs take a side-on approach to loneliness and people talking past each other. As standalone songs, they're crystal clear, but together they jar. That's deliberate." I said: "Even though you know what you know, you're wrong." She said: "Then how come you're using one of their songs as a framing device for your review?" I said: "..."
Just a damn great album. Just ... just so great. If I didn't have a soft spot for the sheer quirkiness of "Rubber Soul", "Revolver" would be my #1 Beatles album. Great songwriting, performances, production, and arrangments from top to bottom. Hands down, one of the all-time greats of rock and roll.
This album scores highly purely on innovation and influence but when you add the quality of songs that feature on this album (minus Yellow Submarine) it gets full marks. Lyrically it’s probably their best work - “wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door.” 👌 The Beatles at their songwriting and creative peak, I love this album.
One of the most influential albums of all time and the point where the Beatles started changing the game. Tomorrow Never Know’s is perhaps one of the greatest finale’s on any album.
Finishing this classics week with a BANG. I've been looking forward to the day we'd get a Beatles album for months now, and here we are starting with my favorite! Revolver is such an unbelievable piece of art. The recording techniques are still mind-blowing by today's standards, and the genre exploration is such a welcome reprieve from the band's earlier work. There are, frankly, too many hits on here. I could list them, or you could literally just read the tracklist. Eleanor Rigby?? Taxman?? This is also home to one of my all-time favorite songs ever made, "Tomorrow Never Knows." What a dazzling, mystifying piece of music. And of course there's also "Here, There and Everywhere," famously sampled by Frank Ocean on Blonde. "She Said, She Said," reworked by the Black Keys. It's an experimental pop rock album, and it still manages to be a hit parade. As cliche as Beatles praise has become, it's almost frightening how good their albums like this are. This was made in 1966. Who was anywhere near this in 1966? We've heard so many rock albums on this list from that decade and decades after, and it's crazy how this holds up compared to any and all peers. This could never get less than a perfect score from me. Favorite tracks: Tomorrow Never Knows, Love You To, Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You Into My Life, Here There Everywhere, She Said She Said. Album art: Definitely iconic. I don't know what my favorite cover from the Beatles is honestly, but it isn't likely this one. Still, I can't escape it. 5/5
For about 15 years, I believed, and would argue, that this is the best Beatles album. I'm less certain now - purely because so many are brilliant, but it still feels like the balance of pop and experimentation is so perfect on this album, at least for me. It really isn't worth going track by track with the Beatles, as you'd almost believe every song is a single, such is their impact. It's perfect, or so near it doesn't matter anyway.
A dynamic album with top notch production value. There is a fair amount of experimentation with stereo sound, instrumentation and arrangements. When used, the harmonies are excellent. The drum lines simple and true. Individual songs differ enough from one another so as to not make for a monotone collection. There are pop-hooks a plenty, making fans of first-time listeners.
don't ever fucking make me listen to these piece of shit rat boys again you malfunctioning toaster
Honestly has to be a 10. This album revolutionized the studio as we know it. The Beatles experimented so hard with recording styles and it changed everything.
Here are The Beatles about to leap headlong into their new psychedelic personas. From the backwards guitar solo on Taxman to… the backwards guitar on Tomorrow Never Knows, the band is firing on all four cylinders. Everyone has their spotlight songs, and the album shows a group taking their first real step into the unknown.
One of the greatest albums of all time. You can hear the seeds of experimentation which would explode the next year in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This album represents a huge leap forward musically, and technologically as the Beatles began using the studio as an instrument in itself.
I often fall on the Alan Partridge trap of listening to ‘The Best of The Beatles’ and inevitably miss out on rediscovering songs that would be the pinnacle of most bands’ careers. Revolver is full of these, in particular Tomorrow Never Knows, Taxman, I’m Only Sleeping, and Got to Get You Into My Life. 5 stars in spite of Yellow Submarine.
This album blows my mind. Every single time. This is a pop/rock album, right? But here's Eleanor Rigby, a piece of chamber music with pop lyrics; Love to You, with its tabla and sitar; Yellow Submarine, which feels like something written for Sesame Street; For No One, backed only by piano, percussion, and French horn; and Tomorrow Never Knows which still sounds, in 2021, like it's from the future. The rest of the songs are more traditional rock and pop but they are an eclectic mix that I find difficult to place in a specific time period. Here, There and Everywhere sounds like 1960 Beatles. Got to Get You Into My Life sounds like 1970s Wings (which is honestly ok with me). Here is a short list of the things on this album that make me exclaim, "Are you kidding me?" to these geniuses when I listen to Revolver: The too slow countdown + cough + in tempo countdown that open Taxman and the guitar solo in the middle. The psychedelic fuzzy guitar on She Said She Said. The staggered entrances of the instruments and vocals at the beginning of Good Day Sunshine and the change to the melody on "Sunshine" the last time through the chorus. The way the bass and the piano play with each other on I Want to Tell You. The entirety of Tomorrow Never Knows. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is my favorite Beatles album.
I kind of wish I were listening to the Beatles albums in order, to follow their evolution, but it's also interesting to look at each album as a snapshot of one point in time, and to hear the familiar and unfamiliar songs in their original collections together. I do remark how this album represented an exploration of what it meant to craft recordings in a studio as its own thing, as opposed to capturing a group performance. I wouldn't really have noticed that if I hadn't read about it, but it's quite interesting to me to learn the details and innovations they came up with. I loved all the songs, from the very familiar to the less. I'm sure there would be a different favorite every time I listened. Today, unpredictably, it was "Got to Get You Into My Life."
This is a beautiful album of artwork and I always enjoy listening to it. It's not even my all-time top fave Beatles album but it's still deserving of 5 stars. I love where these songs take my imagination and I had a great time listening to some classic genius song-writing which did in fact change the direction of pop music inspiring millions globally. Well done Beatles love you long time.
The translation album between pop and psychedelia. Like every Beatles album it’s jammed with hits!
Maybe it's because I'm not a huge Beatles fan, or maybe it's because I hate "Yellow Submarine" with a burning passion. Either way, I thought this album was average, and I initially wanted to rate it 3 stars. However, I acknowledge that "Revolver" contains a few classic hits, such as "Eleanor Rigby" and the other song I mentioned. I was also pleasantly surprised by "Love You To," which I've never heard before. Therefore, I'll give this album 4 stars.
I did enjoy listening to this album, having never fully listened to any Beatles albums from beginning to end. Only knowing a few of their major singles, this definitely felt more psychedelic/experimental than perhaps their earlier work. Especially with the sitar and other instruments. It seemed obvious that they were on some good drugs around the time of recording this album. Controversial opinion - didn't care too much for Yellow Submarine. Best: Taxman; Elenor Rigby Worst: Here, There and Everywhere
I have never been a true Beatles fan. Maybe it's because when I was able to "get into them" I was too busy getting into "better" bands like Led Zepplin, Rush, and Van Halen. Anytime I listened to them I thought they were just a lighter version of that and never impressed me. But any time I really dove into a song, I tended to like it for the most part. I'm very excited that we have finally gotten an Beatles album on this list so I have an excuse to listen to them and this one didn't dissapoint. With classics like Elanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine (is it the true version?) I was hooked. Even the lesser knowns were enjoyable. I actually ended up listening to the album twice over and I can confidently say I am a fan. I have no ranking of the beatles albums but since this is the first I've fully listened to, I'll say, for now, it's my favorite. Super strange and cool album cover, something I'm sure they made while they were tripping on acid.
The Beatles seventh album is 5x platinum and regarded as the most innovative album in popular music. There's different musical styles, diverse sounds/instruments, new recording strategies, and great lyrics. The album is said to have inspired development of psychedelic rock, electronica, progressive rock and world music. The vibe the band was going for on this album, was sounds that weren't possible during live shows and ones that sounded otherworldly. The album accomplished this and it still holds up today as being extremely rich in different sounds, while holding up that pop rhythm. Furthermore, the album captured the spirit of the times which was progressive social and cultural changes - especially in London which during recording was regarded as a cultural capital. This is the first time I have listened to this album all the way through and I have to agree it sounds pretty epic!
Another Beatles album. This is number five. Seriously is the whole discography on this list? Not everything that the Beatles did was great. Never have I thought to myself, "Oh boy! Let's listen to an entire Beatles Album!" This album is no different, but at least the songs are concise and the album is short. Naturally, a lot of the songs are recognizable, but does that mean I needed to listen to the entire albu? The songs weren't as eccentric as other Beatles albums, save for a couple, but there were quite a few campy songs - I am looking at you, Yellow Submarine. Eleanor Rigby is the best song hands down. A Beatles song here and there is fine, and I will probably listen to some of these songs again, but the entire album is not necessary.
I understand why people like The Beatles now. I hate John Lennon but this was good. I'm mad that I actually like this but at least Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr seem cool.
1 good song (eleanor rigby) + a whole heap of stuff that sounds like kmart jingle fodder, only it's considered some of the best music ever written. either i'm a philistine, or the world is full of idiots.
No denying they have a unique sound but it doesn't really appeal to me.
Great use of other instruments for background parts. I was not a big fan of the Beatles before listening to this album, and my opinion has not changed much. I can acknowledge that it is quality music, but I don't particularly enjoy it.
I just really don't like the Beatles. Completely burned out on them. But this does get 1 additional star for Eleanor Rigby, which is a great song.
Willingness to be experimented for a band like this but that fact doesn’t make this album any better
Enjoyed several songs but Got to get You into my life was a favorite. Not a Beatles fan or should I say groupie. Can’t name a band I have ever screamed, cried or lamented for. Better writers than singers.
Kärlek som är lätt att förstå och känna igen. Förstår att de här pojkarna var så populära. Skivan är dock inte i min smak. Lite ojämn i stilen.
I listened to it for study music, but it didn't make me wanna get up in front of the class and boogie down, so it is not a 5/5. There were a few good tracks but overall it wasn't anything interesting. I need something to wow me.
Ratio: 14.20% Can understand why people love the Beatles, they have such a unique sound, interesting story telling. I just can't get behind the music, it's not for me. Favs: Eleanor Rigby / Got to get you into my life Dislikes: I'm only sleeping / Taxman
Remastered stereo version on Spotify. Super jarring mix and master, making the songs almost unlistenable. I'm sure there's greatness here, I just wasn't able to find it.
2 Our third Beatles album, and one that falls directly between the past two chronologically. So, it's only fitting my rating should fall there as well. It's interesting to listen to this album third, as it's very much a midpoint marker in the transition from the sound of early Beatles to later Beatles... and I'm learning I prefer the latter (though not drastically). That all being said, this is probably the longest 34-minute album I've ever heard, and I was pretty surprised to learn that the longest song on this album is exactly 3 minutes when I checked in on my listen progress - I just don't feel like there's a ton interesting going on here. Eleanor Rigby is a good song, though as if to counterbalance that, Yellow Submarine is probably one of the hottest pieces of garbage I've heard. As a whole, I didn't hate it, but I definitely felt underwhelmed. (Why is this the biggest band of all-time???? A global average of 4.26 are you kidding me?????) Favorite songs: Eleanor Rigby, Tomorrow Never Knows
Ugh, more Beatles. Yellow submarine reminds of Uncle Jeff and Grandma Morrow's house. Other than that, most other songs same old stuff. Do like Got to get you into my life. And I did think of Shankar's album when I heard Tomorrow never knows and Love you to. Speaking of Shankar, I should have rated him higher. Album released Aug 5th. My college roommate, Ninja's birthday. All I got except a plea for no more Beatles. 1.5 Bonus .5 for reminding me of Shankar.
Favs: Eleanor Rigby Least favs: I’m Only Sleeping, Love You To, Most of the rest I don’t want to be someone who hates on the Beatles just to be unique. I don’t hate the Beatles….. I just find I almost exclusively only enjoy their big hits. The rest of this album just didn’t do it for me.
I don't know what it is about the Beatles that I've never liked. I understand how and why they got popular, and musically they're pretty good, but I just can't get into them enough to delve into their library. This was a new one for me, but again, there isn't anything on here that stands out in my opinion. Pretty generic and dated, there are so many artists from the same time period that are infinitely better in so many ways that I would rather give my time to.
I‘m aware of the fame that the beatles have but the only song that ever did it for me is „Yesterday“. Nothing on this album impressed me personally or stayed in my mind once it was over, not one song made me „listen up“ and it mostly just passed me by. The „beatle voice“ also doesn‘t do anything for me and I find it a little bit annoying if I‘m fully honest. I can hear that there is something, but it missses me completely.
Honestly, it's neither better nor worse than those no-name albums I've rated 2 stars but I don't like Beatles + it's overrated + I'm not in the mood + 0
Definitely more my pace as far as the Beatles go. There’s a lot going on here musically, I can see myself coming back to this one
A classic. Didn’t know I knew most of the songs until I heard them. Can’t believe they are all on one album
Favourite songs - For No One She Said She Said I’m Only Sleeping Least favourite - Love You To Tomorrow Never Knows Overall one of my favourite albums
Stone cold classic. Every track a classic except maybe “Love You To,” which is famous in its own way for the introduction of the Indian influence. Forgot the really hard stereo effect amplified by wearing headphones.
took a second listen but this album is huge. can only imagine what a revolutionary thing the sitar would of been yellow submarine is hilarious tomorrow never knows im only sleeping
Well, it’s the Beatles, so it’s hard-pressed to be bad. ;) I liked this one, and it was interesting because they sounded young still to me on this one.
Rubber Soul part 2, arguably their best album and one of my personal favorites.
*sigh*. This is the most begrudging 5 stars I'm going to give. This is far from my favorite Beatles album, but it's the goddamn Beatles. Anything less than 5 is just straight up untrue.
This is not my favorite Beatles album but it does demonstrate the diversity of their artistic talent and how musical styles from other cultures can be incorporated but maybe not appropriated?
Very instrumental. More songs I recognized than I thought I would. A dope anime intro I've always looked for was on this too. A chill album, good for background music while doing art or cleaning
4.8 + Beatles in the pocket, pushing the envelope on pop sound with the discipline to not descend into self-indulgence.
Probably in my top 5 ever. Easily the best Beatles album, even with Yellow Submarine
The ones I didn’t know so well sounded class. Plus the ones I do know are a couple of my faves Beatles songs. Kids love Yellow Submarine too. These guys will go far.
Love it. Uplifting and gentle feeling album. Strings in Eleanor Rigby Cool Sitar, can Hear a lot of FOTC inspiration.
I’m a basic bitch, but this is absolutely the best album by one of the greatest bands. 10/10 would listen again.
Possibly their first album of pure genius. Best Tracks: Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows
Everything about the production of this album is amazing. Taxman is a killer opener, with amazing buildup as tracks and the bassline are progressively added. So good!