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Post by Dawn on Sept 18, 2005 7:11:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses to Friday’s post. I enjoyed reading your comments! I’m putting this one up a little early, as Mark and I will be leaving to go to southern NY later today (business trip) for a few days. I’m bringing my computer along, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll have internet access at the hotel. But I hope to have the next post up by Thursday at the latest. Today’s album is a suggestion from Adam, and one of the great albums of all time.  Revolver
The BeatlesReleased August 5, 1966 UK / August 8, 1966 US The track listing: 1. Taxman 2. Eleanor Rigby 3. I'm Only Sleeping 4. Love You To 5. Here, There and Everywhere 6. Yellow Submarine 7. She Said, She Said 8. Good Day Sunshine 9. And Your Bird Can Sing 10. For No One 11. Doctor Robert 12. I Want to Tell You 13. Got to Get You into My Life 14. Tomorrow Never Knows When I was beginning to investigate the Beatles’ music in more depth in early 1986, Revolver was among the first albums I picked up. I was intrigued by the segment in The Compleat Beatles documentary describing this album, which shows the LP cover spinning around, with the narrator describing John’s increasing experimentation with LSD as Tomorrow Never Knows plays in the background – very trippy! I’d never heard it before, being familiar mainly with the Beatles’ hit singles and a few album cuts at that time. Yellow Submarine was one of the songs I was most familiar with from the album when I purchased it – I remember hearing it at a very early age and singing it as a kid. It’s still enjoyable to listen to, but has become less of a fave over time compared to many of the other tracks on the album. And Your Bird Can Sing, Dr. Robert, and I’m Only Sleeping I had also heard before, but on my parents’ Yesterday and Today album when I was little. Even today, it seems a little strange sometimes to think of these cuts as part of Revolver, having been more familiar for a long time with the American version of the album which omitted them, but they’re all excellent contributions from John, very well done. Got to Get You Into My Life was a track that surprised me at first. I’d remembered hearing it many times in ’76, when it was released as a single and made the top 10 on the Billboard chart, and had always associated it with that time. It was surprising to find out it was recorded 10 years earlier, as it has that great horn-dominated sound that was popular in the mid ‘70s, and still sounds perfect alongside other singles of the time such as Lowdown. It’s my favorite track on the album. Eleanor Rigby is another of my favorites, beautiful and haunting, and Here, There, and Everywhere is an exquisite gem inspired by The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Both are among McCartney’s best compositions as a Beatle. George’s Love You To was a song I didn’t really warm up to at first, but it has definitely been a grower. Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth between this and Rubber Soul as my favorite Beatles album. They made great music during their entire career together as a group, but the middle years are my favorite era. What are your thoughts on this album? |
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Post by Triple J on Sept 18, 2005 15:49:49 GMT -5
Today's "Did You Know..." ;D Did you know that the album cover was designed by Klaus Voorman, who also designed the "Beatles Anthology" album covers? OK, to the tracks... 1. Taxman - Like it.  2. Eleanor Rigby - An all-time fave! 3. I'm Only Sleeping - Good, but a little too spooky for me. 4. Love You To - I'm not a fan of the sitar... still, I don't hate it. 5. Here, There and Everywhere - Good harmonies. 6. Yellow Submarine - Need we say more? No. 7. She Said, She Said - I'm just not into their "trippy" stuff.  8. Good Day Sunshine - Catchy. 9. And Your Bird Can Sing - Another fave. Great guitar by Georgie. 10. For No One - Like it a lot.  11. Doctor Robert - Not bad. 12. I Want to Tell You - Good one... love Ringo's drums! 13. Got to Get You into My Life - YAY! Great fun!  14. Tomorrow Never Knows - No question this was different and innovative, but I still don't consider this to be one of their best songs ever. Sorry.  |
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 18, 2005 21:40:24 GMT -5
Today's "Did You Know..." ;D Did you know that the album cover was designed by Klaus Voorman, who also designed the "Beatles Anthology" album covers? Yes I did! ;D |
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 18, 2005 22:23:43 GMT -5
Dawn, it may possibly be THE greatest album of all time! Reason being, there was SO many different styles on it! Rubber Soul was SUCH a great album, so much maturity, but this was another great step. I first had this on cassette, and it was the American version. Was so happy to get it on CD with the original 3 Lennon cuts on it! 1. Taxman-Without question, George's most famous track of the 3 (unprecedented on previous albums!) on here, but it's actually my least fave of the 3. Great song and all-hell Stevie Ray Vaughan covered it-just not as good as the other two. Watched the live clip of this from Japan and George added in several new lines! 2. Eleanor Rigby-As a kid, this was one of the biggies on here I knew. Loved it then. Certainly is a great track, just not one I love in comparison to all the other gems on here. 3. I'm Only Sleeping-John liked sleep, as evidenced in this and later on I'm So Tired. Learned this when I taped this, ironically with the other 2 Lennon tracks left off the American version, for my dad as a kid. Great backwards guitar, and it's different in the two versions! 4. Love You to-When I got that original tape, I did not like this at ALL. But then again, I didn't appreciate any of the Indian tracks. Now I absolutely LOVE it, one of my faves on here. George has so many of my fave lyrics and this one is definately no exception! "Each day just goes so fast, I turn around it's past, you don't have time, to hang a sign on meeeeeeeeee." Excellent. 5. Here, There and Everywhere-My dad said back in the 60s there was an article saying that Paul's voice was never better than on this song and Fool on the Hill. Gotta agree with that. Some beautiful singing on here, not to mention some wonderful background harmonies. Good enough for number 2 on my Beatles list! 6. Yellow Submarine-The other biggie from my youth. Loved it back then, especially all the background noises and John's silly repeating of Ringo's lines. Now Skylar is going through the stage of loving this song! 7. She Said, She Said-I don't know why my dad never listened to this much back then, but he must not have since he never knows how it goes! The line of course was inspired by something Peter Fonda said at a party the Beatles and the Byrds were at. What was it like back in 66 for fans to go from happy go lucky stuff like I Want to Hold Your Hand to this in 2 years? SO cool, with EXCELLENT drumming and guitar, pretty heavy for 66. 8. Good Day Sunshine-This is one I knew from youth so well that if I didn't learn about singles and charts, I woulda thought it was a single itself. Certainly was good enough. That's how good they were-their album cuts would've done better than 90% of the other artist's singles out there! Paul said it was inspired by the Lovin' Spoonful. 9. And Your Bird Can Sing-a bizarre little title! But some great guitar work, and the second of the 3 John songs I learned when I made my dad's tape. John called it "rubbish" and a "throwaway". Most artist's would sell out their mother to have a "throwaway" like this. 10. For No One-One I was indifferent to when I first got the tape, but I really learned to appreciate it. Once again the Beatles are innovators, using a horn not yet used on a rock record (can't remember the name of the type of horn). Working title of this was "Why Did it Die?" Yikes. 11. Doctor Robert-Yep, the third I learned from taping for my dad. The famous, or infamous doctor who would freely prescribe drugs for his famous clients. You knew the 60s were changing at this point. There is a part in the fade out where John says "Doctor Robert!" and sounds a lot like Davy Jones! 12. I Want to Tell You-Love this one. Excellent fade in, which is a favorite feature for me in songs. I don't know if the harmonies on this are great, they're just cool. Totally overlooked as far as George's Beatles catalog. That's a shame. 13. Got to Get You Into My Life-Boy, they sounded like Earth, Wind & Fire on this track!  Seriously, this is one I always link with Good Day Sunshine. I always felt like this was a single too, and I'm not just talking about it's posthumous release in 76. Hell, you could've put almost anything from this record out as a single and it woulda been huge. 14. Tomorrow Never Knows-SO damn trippy, SO damn good! Like Dawn, I too discovered this from that cool ass scene in Compleat Beatles where they get really trippy with the album cover. Another wonderful showcase for Ringo's underrated drumming. She Said, She Said was out there lyrically, this was out there lyrically AND musically. One of their absolute best!! All in all, a kick ass album!! |
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Post by djdave on Sept 19, 2005 13:06:16 GMT -5
Super album, it is!
I haven't really gotten into all the tracks, but especially love the 2-sider Yellow Sub/Eleanor, Here There, She Said She Said, and especially Taxman and Got to Get! For some insane reason, prefer the "Anthology" version of "Bird" even more!
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Post by Pete70s on Sept 19, 2005 19:23:23 GMT -5
It will probably win the album tourney, yet it isn't even my favorite BEATLES album, let alone favorite of all time. I think it has very strong LP cuts, but I can also live without a few.
I started doing a song-by-song, but I feel I've done that so many times, I'm sick of doing that. So instead I'll rank my faves in order:
And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Only Sleeping
Doctor Robert (notice my top 3 weren't on the U.S. album!)
She Said, She Said
Taxman
I Want To Tell You
Got To Get You Into My Life
Eleanor Rigby
For No One
Good Day Sunshine
Love You To
Here There and Everywhere
Tomorrow Never Knows (SO sick of this, USED to love it)
Yellow Submarine (Loved it when I was 6, but I'm not 6 anymore!)
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Post by Ken on Sept 20, 2005 17:22:35 GMT -5
Today's "Did You Know..." Did you know that the album cover was designed by Klaus Voorman, who also designed the "Beatles Anthology" album covers? I also knew that  |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 22, 2005 10:35:09 GMT -5
Today's "Did You Know..." ;D Did you know that the album cover was designed by Klaus Voorman, who also designed the "Beatles Anthology" album covers? OK, to the tracks... 1. Taxman - Like it. 2. Eleanor Rigby - An all-time fave! 3. I'm Only Sleeping - Good, but a little too spooky for me. 4. Love You To - I'm not a fan of the sitar... still, I don't hate it. 5. Here, There and Everywhere - Good harmonies. 6. Yellow Submarine - Need we say more? No. 7. She Said, She Said - I'm just not into their "trippy" stuff. 8. Good Day Sunshine - Catchy. 9. And Your Bird Can Sing - Another fave. Great guitar by Georgie. 10. For No One - Like it a lot. 11. Doctor Robert - Not bad. 12. I Want to Tell You - Good one... love Ringo's drums! 13. Got to Get You into My Life - YAY! Great fun! 14. Tomorrow Never Knows - No question this was different and innovative, but I still don't consider this to be one of their best songs ever. Sorry. The cover art is very cool, very advanced and different for '66! I like how Klaus mixed the sketches with the photo cutouts - that's probably among the first times that was done. Although I didn't mention it in my review, Taxman has always been a huge fave of mine, and ranks among my favorite cuts George did as a Beatle. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 22, 2005 10:43:20 GMT -5
Dawn, it may possibly be THE greatest album of all time! Reason being, there was SO many different styles on it! Rubber Soul was SUCH a great album, so much maturity, but this was another great step. I first had this on cassette, and it was the American version. Was so happy to get it on CD with the original 3 Lennon cuts on it! 1. Taxman-Without question, George's most famous track of the 3 (unprecedented on previous albums!) on here, but it's actually my least fave of the 3. Great song and all-hell Stevie Ray Vaughan covered it-just not as good as the other two. Watched the live clip of this from Japan and George added in several new lines! 2. Eleanor Rigby-As a kid, this was one of the biggies on here I knew. Loved it then. Certainly is a great track, just not one I love in comparison to all the other gems on here. 3. I'm Only Sleeping-John liked sleep, as evidenced in this and later on I'm So Tired. Learned this when I taped this, ironically with the other 2 Lennon tracks left off the American version, for my dad as a kid. Great backwards guitar, and it's different in the two versions! 4. Love You to-When I got that original tape, I did not like this at ALL. But then again, I didn't appreciate any of the Indian tracks. Now I absolutely LOVE it, one of my faves on here. George has so many of my fave lyrics and this one is definately no exception! "Each day just goes so fast, I turn around it's past, you don't have time, to hang a sign on meeeeeeeeee." Excellent. 5. Here, There and Everywhere-My dad said back in the 60s there was an article saying that Paul's voice was never better than on this song and Fool on the Hill. Gotta agree with that. Some beautiful singing on here, not to mention some wonderful background harmonies. Good enough for number 2 on my Beatles list! 6. Yellow Submarine-The other biggie from my youth. Loved it back then, especially all the background noises and John's silly repeating of Ringo's lines. Now Skylar is going through the stage of loving this song! 7. She Said, She Said-I don't know why my dad never listened to this much back then, but he must not have since he never knows how it goes! The line of course was inspired by something Peter Fonda said at a party the Beatles and the Byrds were at. What was it like back in 66 for fans to go from happy go lucky stuff like I Want to Hold Your Hand to this in 2 years? SO cool, with EXCELLENT drumming and guitar, pretty heavy for 66. 8. Good Day Sunshine-This is one I knew from youth so well that if I didn't learn about singles and charts, I woulda thought it was a single itself. Certainly was good enough. That's how good they were-their album cuts would've done better than 90% of the other artist's singles out there! Paul said it was inspired by the Lovin' Spoonful. 9. And Your Bird Can Sing-a bizarre little title! But some great guitar work, and the second of the 3 John songs I learned when I made my dad's tape. John called it "rubbish" and a "throwaway". Most artist's would sell out their mother to have a "throwaway" like this. 10. For No One-One I was indifferent to when I first got the tape, but I really learned to appreciate it. Once again the Beatles are innovators, using a horn not yet used on a rock record (can't remember the name of the type of horn). Working title of this was "Why Did it Die?" Yikes. 11. Doctor Robert-Yep, the third I learned from taping for my dad. The famous, or infamous doctor who would freely prescribe drugs for his famous clients. You knew the 60s were changing at this point. There is a part in the fade out where John says "Doctor Robert!" and sounds a lot like Davy Jones! 12. I Want to Tell You-Love this one. Excellent fade in, which is a favorite feature for me in songs. I don't know if the harmonies on this are great, they're just cool. Totally overlooked as far as George's Beatles catalog. That's a shame. 13. Got to Get You Into My Life-Boy, they sounded like Earth, Wind & Fire on this track! Seriously, this is one I always link with Good Day Sunshine. I always felt like this was a single too, and I'm not just talking about it's posthumous release in 76. Hell, you could've put almost anything from this record out as a single and it woulda been huge. 14. Tomorrow Never Knows-SO damn trippy, SO damn good! Like Dawn, I too discovered this from that cool ass scene in Compleat Beatles where they get really trippy with the album cover. Another wonderful showcase for Ringo's underrated drumming. She Said, She Said was out there lyrically, this was out there lyrically AND musically. One of their absolute best!! All in all, a kick ass album!! I've never heard Stevie Ray's version, but would like to check it out. As we talked about in PMs recently, that Live in Japan set sounds very cool! I was the same way with not warming up to the Indian tracks at first - I think the only one I really liked on first listen was The Inner Light. I'm still not as fond of Within You Without You, but Love You To has grown on me considerably, and that lyric is great, I agree! I completely agree about I Want to Tell You being overlooked compared to most of George's catalog. Very good track. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 22, 2005 10:48:37 GMT -5
Super album, it is! I haven't really gotten into all the tracks, but especially love the 2-sider Yellow Sub/Eleanor, Here There, She Said She Said, and especially Taxman and Got to Get! For some insane reason, prefer the "Anthology" version of "Bird" even more! Taxman and Got to Get You Into My Life are among the standouts for me also, along with And Your Bird Can Sing. I haven't heard the Anthology version in a while, but it's pretty cool from what I remember. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 22, 2005 10:59:54 GMT -5
It will probably win the album tourney, yet it isn't even my favorite BEATLES album, let alone favorite of all time. I think it has very strong LP cuts, but I can also live without a few. I started doing a song-by-song, but I feel I've done that so many times, I'm sick of doing that. So instead I'll rank my faves in order: And Your Bird Can Sing I'm Only Sleeping Doctor Robert (notice my top 3 weren't on the U.S. album!) She Said, She Said Taxman I Want To Tell You Got To Get You Into My Life Eleanor Rigby For No One Good Day Sunshine Love You To Here There and Everywhere Tomorrow Never Knows (SO sick of this, USED to love it) Yellow Submarine (Loved it when I was 6, but I'm not 6 anymore!) At one time, I would have probably chosen this as my favorite album of all time, but though I still enjoy it very much, there are a few albums that have edged it out of that spot in recent years. |
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Post by Ken on Sept 22, 2005 20:58:31 GMT -5
I can't believe I answered this earlier and my post disappeared ??
I'll try again
I first heard Revolver when I was little and loved many of the songs right away - especially Yellow Submarine which I used to sing around the house ;D
I admit that early on I didn't know quite what to make of tracks like Tomorrow Never Knows and Love You Too but by the time I bought my copy on vinyl in the early 80's, they were both big faves. She Said, She Said is such a great track with George's amazing distorted
guitar - sounds almost sitar like and Ringo's always tasteful drum fills ,it's a great track to play along with that's for sure.
McCartney once again adds some amazing tracks like Here, There and Everywhere and the stunning For No One and Good Day Sunshine is first rate all the way.George was maturing as a songwriter at a very fast pace - Taxman and I Want To Tell You have always been two of my favorite Harrison tunes.
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Post by beatles4ever on Sept 26, 2005 14:31:45 GMT -5
Totally excellent album!Probably my second favorite of the Beatles work. 1.Taxman-great song with a real touch or cynicism to it  2.Eleanor Rigby-sad,poignant and with a deep emotion...one of their best 3.I'm Only Sleeping-never got enough airplay and I really like it 4.Love To You-a personal George favorite of mine 5.Here,There and Everywhere-a lovely song with sweet sentiment 6.Yellow Submarine-YES!!!LOVE IT!!! 7.She Said,She Said-weird and a bit creepy....one of their few I never cared for 8.Good Day Sunshine-a great "pick-me-up" song 9.And Your Bird Can Sing-I have always liked this song quite a lot! 10.For No One-another overlooked song that I really enjoy 11.Doctor Robert-a neat little message song 12.I Want To Tell You-good song with such a great beat! 13.Got To Get You Into My Life-one of the most played Beatles song on the radio...still love it! 14.Tomorrow Never Knows-another one of their few I didn't like too much |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 27, 2005 7:36:48 GMT -5
I can't believe I answered this earlier and my post disappeared ?? I'll try again I first heard Revolver when I was little and loved many of the songs right away - especially Yellow Submarine which I used to sing around the house ;D I admit that early on I didn't know quite what to make of tracks like Tomorrow Never Knows and Love You Too but by the time I bought my copy on vinyl in the early 80's, they were both big faves. She Said, She Said is such a great track with George's amazing distorted guitar - sounds almost sitar like and Ringo's always tasteful drum fills ,it's a great track to play along with that's for sure. McCartney once again adds some amazing tracks like Here, There and Everywhere and the stunning For No One and Good Day Sunshine is first rate all the way.George was maturing as a songwriter at a very fast pace - Taxman and I Want To Tell You have always been two of my favorite Harrison tunes. Yellow Submarine - me too! I remember singing that and Mellow Yellow when I was very little. I agree with you about She Said She Said. Great song, very progressive sounding for '66, and I agree that the guitar does have an almost sitar-like quality. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 27, 2005 7:39:42 GMT -5
Totally excellent album!Probably my second favorite of the Beatles work. 1.Taxman-great song with a real touch or cynicism to it 2.Eleanor Rigby-sad,poignant and with a deep emotion...one of their best 3.I'm Only Sleeping-never got enough airplay and I really like it 4.Love To You-a personal George favorite of mine 5.Here,There and Everywhere-a lovely song with sweet sentiment 6.Yellow Submarine-YES!!!LOVE IT!!! 7.She Said,She Said-weird and a bit creepy....one of their few I never cared for 8.Good Day Sunshine-a great "pick-me-up" song 9.And Your Bird Can Sing-I have always liked this song quite a lot! 10.For No One-another overlooked song that I really enjoy 11.Doctor Robert-a neat little message song 12.I Want To Tell You-good song with such a great beat! 13.Got To Get You Into My Life-one of the most played Beatles song on the radio...still love it! 14.Tomorrow Never Knows-another one of their few I didn't like too much I agree! Which is your favorite album? Taxman - I have been known to sing this while filling out our 1040 forms! I love the great sardonic quality of George's lyrics. |
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Seriously, this is one I always link with Good Day Sunshine. I always felt like this was a single too, and I'm not just talking about it's posthumous release in 76. Hell, you could've put almost anything from this record out as a single and it woulda been huge.
