The Beatles Revolver- 1966
RMR Album Rating- 10

Is Revolver my personal favorite album of all time? … No
Is Revolver the greatest rock album of all time? … Arguably
Is Revolver my personal favorite Beatles album? … Absolutely

Although Revolver is not my personal favorite album of all time, it’s certainly in the running for the title of rock’s greatest album of all time, and it is without question my favorite Beatles album. The interesting thing is, I think most people would disagree with me. Most fans and critics commonly cite Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper’s, The White Album, or Abbey Road as The Beatles’ best record, yet I think they all fall short of Revolver.

Here’s my personal story with Revolver. When I first bought it, I listened to it straight through twice on the way home, and I was simply blown away. There has never been an album that had such an immediate impact on me. It was pop; it was catchy; it was trippy; it was psychedelic; and most importantly– there was not a weak moment. Every song was (and still is) absolutely perfect. When I got home, I must have listened to it at least three more times straight through, and it amazed me more each time I listened to it; it is simply a magical record.

Every song on Revolver is a true highlight, and I could easily write an essay on each song, but I won’t. Instead, let’s put 60 seconds on the clock, and I’ll give you my take on each of its 14 songs. These will just be short ramblings on each song, as I will write this in one take while listening to the album.

So here we go! It’s 35-minutes of listening for me (the running time of the album), and it’s 60 seconds of reading for you. Start the clock…

Taxman: Their heaviest guitar sound to date, and a great start to the album. Eleanor Rigby: Amazing story telling, themes of loneliness, no instruments played by The Beatles, just vocals layered over George Martin’s orchestration. I’m Only Sleeping: Poppy, trippy, and that incredible psychedelic guitar ending. Love to You: India inspired music taken well beyond “Norwegian Wood,” very psychedelic, and you have to love the line– “I’ll make love to you, if you want me to,” making it their first love song that’s not just about love, but actually making love. Here, There and Everywhere: One of Paul’s best ballads along with “Yesterday,” very moving. Yellow Submarine: The Beatles just having fun, but be careful with this one, it will get stuck in your head for days. She Said, She Said: Awesome guitar intro, and the opening line (“I know what it’s like to be dead”) is Lennon quoting Peter Fonda during an acid trip that Lennon and Fonda shared, a perfect psychedelic rocker. Good Day Sunshine: Need to be cheered up, just put this one on and let McCartney’s piano playing and singing do the work, the song will just make you smile. And Your Bird Can Sing: Dueling fast paced guitars and a great chorus, making it my personal favorite track on the record. For No One: demonstrating once again that the Beatles can sing about a sad subject, but if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, you’d think it was a normal pop song, and don’t forget the amazing (but subtle) orchestration. Doctor Robert: An amazing chorus where everything just slows down and Lennon sings “well, well, well, you’re feeling fine,” just mind bending— almost as if you’re on LSD. I Want to Tell You: Straight away rock, no bells and whistles, just McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, and Ringo doing rock better than anyone else could. Got to Get You Into My Life: One of the true highlights of the album with McCartney’s screaming chorus of— “got to get you into my life,” simply awesome. Tomorrow Never Knows: This song is Lennon’s musical interpretation of taking acid, and no song has every portrayed it better, completely ahead of its time, using looping techniques, sampling, every sound imaginable, arguably their crowing achievement?

Click here to listen to Love You To
Click here to listen to She Said She Said
Click here to listen to And Your Bird Can Sing
Click here to listen to Got To Get You Into My Life
Click here to listen to Tomorrow Never Knows

I think that about sums it up. Everyone should be required to own this album. It was amazing when it was released in 1966; it is amazing now almost 50 years later, and it will be just as amazing in another 50 years. It is one of rock’s true crowning achievements, and it is a true work of art.

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(4 reader ratings, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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