Field Mix: Revolver

Album: Revolver
Artist: the Beatles
Release Date: August 5th, 1966 (UK) & August 8th, 1966 (US)
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #3
Songs You'll Know: Yellow Submarine, Elenor Rigby
Songs You May Have Missed: And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert

A Little History/Why This Album is Famous: This album is a big deal for the history of music. Many critics regard Revolver as the album that redefined the parameters of popular music. This album, released a year before Sgt. Pepper's, showed that the Beatles had grown from a heartthrob pop band to a mature experimental rock band. Revolver features many of the musical techniques for which the Beatles are now famous: tape loops, sitar/Indian music influence, and the use of classical instruments. This album is the middle point of the Beatles' recording career. It also marks the time in their career where Lennon and McCartney were most equal with their songwriting credits. Up to this point, John Lennon had been the main contributor to the band's musical vision. Conversely, Paul McCartney became the main musical figurehead post-Revolver. George Harrison also had three writing credits (more than he'd ever had before) on this album: "Taxman", "Love You To", and "I Want To Tell You". Lastly, this album is famous for two non-musical reasons. One, the Grammy Award winning cover art by Klaus Voorman. Two, it was released in the midst of the controversy of Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" statement. If you don't know what the "bigger than Jesus" scandal is, consult your search engine of choice IMMEDIATELY! You need more musical help than I can provide.

Comments: I'm a huge Beatles fan, so it won't be a shock when I say that this album is rad. I find it to be a much more cohesive album than Sgt. Pepper's and therefore more enjoyable. Sgt. Pepper's has many merits, but can be a bit meandering at times. Revolver is an album you can play all the way through and stay in touch with its vision. Though the song styles are pretty varied, there aren't any true speedbumps. Nothing that interrupts the flow of the music. Nothing that comes across as experimentation for experimentation's sake. Not every track on this album is a home run ("I'm Only Sleeping" is appropriately a bit of a snooze), but everything makes sense together. This album, to me, feels very complete.

"Taxman" is a perfect opening track and an even more perfect roadtrip song. I really enjoy this collection of songs that cover a wide variety of subject matter, tempo, and tone. From the sweet "Here, There, and Everywhere" to the happy-go-lucky "Good Day Sunshine" with a pit-stop for some bitterness in "And Your Bird Can Sing". If social issues are more your thing, you can look to the aforementioned "Taxman" or "Doctor Robert". All this leads to the iconic final track "Tomorrow Never Knows". This was the Beatles' first foray into psychedelic music and it's super cool! I'm not even a drug user and I think it's cool!

There are many more things I could say about the album, but it would become redundant pretty quickly. I mean, how many times can a person say "IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL!" before it gets annoying? I am aware that some people do not like the Beatles. They are strange people, but they do exist. I think Revolver is an essential album for both the Beatles fan and the music historian. If you aren't a fan of the Beatles and/or don't feel that this album is worthy of praise, I would love to hear your opinion! Likewise, if you love Revolver, let me know why and tell me your favorite tracks.

That's all for now. Up next is Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited.

Arugalater!
Laura