TS: Rubber Soul VS. Revolver

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Because I'm bored and we haven't done this before, that's why.

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Elennor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Roberts
Wait < I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows.

Rubber Soul: 5 points
Revolver: 9 points

Revolver wins.

― darin (darin), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing

If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life

I think there's a good argument to be made that you have these backwards. As to the former, the existence of the "Anthology" outtakes of the high-as-a-kite Beatles trying to sing AYBCS is a sort of trump card. For the latter, it's closer to a push; IINS is one of the best three or four Beatles tracks George ever wrote.

― monkeybutler, Monday, 24 October 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Elennor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On = Good Day Sunshine
Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait Tomorrow Never Knows.

7.5 > 6.5 to Rubber Soul.

― vinegar (Koens), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:36 (twenty years ago)

and your bird can sing is my favorite beatles song, but rubber soul is more consistent. i pretty much never need to hear the overplayed tracks on revolver again but everything on RS has stayed surprisingly fresh.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

i pretty much never need to hear the overplayed tracks on revolver again but everything on RS has stayed surprisingly fresh.
Substitute pretty much randomly any two Beatle album titles for the two you named, Justyn, and you will get something that is true at least some of the time. At least in my case.

― k/l (Ken L), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

for me:

Drive My Car = Taxman (I love 'em both)
Norwegian Wood > Elennor Rigby
You Won't See Me = I'm Only Sleeping (love both)
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On > Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You > For No One
In My Life > Doctor Roberts
Wait = I Want To Tell You (I don't really care for either)
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life = Tomorrow Never Knows (love both)

So that's 4 whatevs, 6 for Rubber and 4 for Revolver for me.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 24 October 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

and actually "Michelle" and "She Said" could have been another = sign.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

the moral of the story is that George Harrison was a real asshole.

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

T/S: "Rubber Soul? I hardly know 'er!" vs. "Revolver? I hardly know 'er!"

― Hurting (Hurting), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car > Taxman (close, but DMC is just more fun)
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing (another close one)
I'm Looking Through You = For No One (Paul at his best, both times)
In My Life > Doctor Roberts
Wait Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life > Tomorrow Never Knows

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

revolver. no contest. taxman is the only song i don't REALLY like.

― jack dee, Monday, 24 October 2005 22:46 (twenty years ago)

I bought Revolver when I was 8, and I still like it. I bought Rubber Soul about 10 years ago, and grew tired of it about 7 years ago.

If I Needed Someone >> Got To Get You Into My Life

― when something smacks of something (dave225.3), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me > I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You To
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word < Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You > For No One
In My Life < Doctor Roberts
Wait < I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

Revolver by a score of 9-5. I'm surprised it was this close, though -- I play Revolver all the time and Rubber Soul not so much. For me the battle between the records is about peaks and valleys: Nothing on Rubber Soul is nearly as good as "She Said, She Said" and "And Your Bird Can Sing," and nothing on Revolver is nearly as bad as "Run For Your Life."

― Guayquil (eephus), Monday, 24 October 2005 22:56 (twenty years ago)

I guess I'm bored enuf, and enjoying a nice glass o' Merlot enuff, to do this. but none of this is as enjoyable as what I'm listening to right now--Cass Elliott doing Richard Manuel's "Orange Juice Blues (Blues for Breakfast)." and the Parliaments. anyway, in the end I like "Revolver" more, because "If I Needed Someone" and "Run for Your Life" are so shitty on "Rubber."

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man < Love You To
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You > For No One
In My Life < Doctor Robert
Wait < I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Monday, 24 October 2005 23:20 (twenty years ago)

Predicting a Revolver blowout:

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me = I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle > She Said She Said

What Goes On

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 24 October 2005 23:59 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait < I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

10-4 Revolver

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)

I just don't get people who find the white album inconsistent and think that these albums are flawless. That said, I'm voting Revolver for now, though "Norwegian Wood" complicates things. You don't fuck with "For No One" or "Eleanor Rigby".

― Sundar (sundar), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

I still can't be bothered to complete the exercise, but I'll just say that when I was coming up, most of these songs could be found on the same album, Yesterday and Today.

― k/l (Ken L), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

(This got screwed up the first time I posted it -- I'll repost, sorry)

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait > I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows.

Revolver takes it, 8.5 - 5.5. But like Guayquil said, the seeming closeness is deceptive; there are no valleys in Revolver, while I find "What Goes On" and "Run For Your Life" utterly unlistenable.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me > I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man < Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait > I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone > Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows.

Now ...

Eleanor Rigby < Taxman
You Won't See Me > Love You Too
Think For Yourself > The Word
She Said She Said < Good Day Sunshine
And Your Bird Can Sing < For No One
In My Life > Wait
If I Needed Someone > Tomorrow Never Knows

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

Big shout-out to Miccio for being the only person so far on this thread with the perspicacity to rank the delectable Ringo-tastic "What Goes On" over Paul's treacly "Good Day Sunshine".

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:36 (twenty years ago)

It's been a while since I've listened to these, but off the top of my head:

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me > I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man < Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word < Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

What Goes On > Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You > For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait > I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone > Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

So that's 9 for Rubber Soul and 5 for Revolver, but the best songs are on Revolver ("And Your Bird Can Sing" and "She Said She Said").

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:45 (twenty years ago)

how could i not have known that sir paul macca of knightly did the guitar solo on taxman until, like, 3 weeks ago? or whenever i read that interview in rolling stone. i love that solo. that guy was a spitfire. or a fireball or something.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

These versus lists are too much for me. Suffice it to say that Rubber Soul is my pick. While Revolver is a magnificent formalist exercise, RS has songs which touch an emotional specificity that makes it the best midperiod Beatles album -- even the George songs work.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 02:37 (twenty years ago)

TS: "What Goes On" vs the Velvets' "What Goes On"

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

Did we determine that it is indeed Paul soloing on "Good Morning Good Morning," too? That one is maybe even better.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 02:42 (twenty years ago)

I had no idea either that Paul was responsible for the hot guitar solo in Taxman. That's decades! I love that song. It's the primary reason I love Revolver. I even bought a pristine copy of the vinyl LP to replace the old scratchy one I had as a kid a couple weeks ago.

― George the Animal Steele, Tuesday, 25 October 2005 02:44 (twenty years ago)

The US version, George?

― k/l (Ken L), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:12 (twenty years ago)

in the interview, paul sez that he told george that there should be a wild solo in the song a la hendrix or something and george said, well you do it then, if you think you know so much (i'm paraphrasing with liberty). so he did.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:27 (twenty years ago)

I've wondered for a while if it was influenced by Jeff Beck's playing in the Yardbirds. It's got some mode-mixture-connoting-Eastern-music business going on.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:37 (twenty years ago)

Just that bass line of "Sunshine" alone beats all of "What Goes On" although I did enjoy listening for John to say "We already told you why!" faintly in the background after Ringo sings "Tell me why".

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:53 (twenty years ago)

I actually didn't know "Good Day Sunshine" was a Beatles song until I bought the album. I thought it was a Raisin Bran jingle.

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 03:55 (twenty years ago)

Miccio, you have just hurt me in my heart.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 04:40 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, k/l, it was the US version. 'Twas why I bought it. The Brit CD version isn't what I remembered and loved as a kid. I'm even fonder of the US version of Help with all the cheesy James Bond-ian orchestration and bright orange-y cover. It's what I played over and over, can't deal with the original UK print, no matter how George Martin and the Beatles wanted it to sound.

― George the Animal Steele, Tuesday, 25 October 2005 05:41 (twenty years ago)

Strangely, even as you wrote that I was ripping VU's "What Goes On" (from the 1969 live album.) Indeed, it is much, much, much better than the Beatles song.

― Guayaquil (eephus), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 05:44 (twenty years ago)

I lump them together so maybe they would have made a great double album (cf what most people seem to say about the White album).

― Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 11:14 (twenty years ago)

Drive My Car < Taxman
Norwegian Wood < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me = I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You To
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle > She Said She Said

What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Roberts
Wait Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows.

A narrow win for "Revolver" (which I would have expected to win more comfortably - the "draw" was lucky for "Rubber Soul" here - for instance, the classic and absolutely wonderful "Michelle" narrowly beating one of the better "Revolver" tracks)

The = is because those are both among my fave Beatles tracks, and there's no way that I'd be able to choose between them.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

the best thing about "what goes on" is that weird line "i met you in the morning, waiting for the tides of time." wtf?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

I suspect Ringo wrote the line, thus deserving his songwriting credit.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

I had a feeling this was a darin thread.

― righteousmaelstrom (righteousmaelstrom), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

I thought when this thread started that, since Revolver has replaced Sgt Pepper as the kingpin Beatle album, the contrarian factor would lead to more votes for Rubber Soul, but that does not seem to be the case.

I also thought miccio was gonna pick Revolver because of the Elliott Smith namecheck.

― k/l (Ken L), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Rubber Soul, easily (though Help! is even better).

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Unfortunately, we can't do a "TS: Rubber Soul + Revolver vs. White Album" -- uneven # of songs.

PS: This thread has me feeling like I take Sgt. Pepper for granted.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

You could throw "Day Tripper" b/w "We Can Work It Out" into that White Album fight if you wanna make it even.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

Really, shouldn't we first arrange the songs of each album in order of quality and then face them off in order? Otherwise one album might "outcoach" another and win despite having inferior players.

That said, Rubber Soul wins anyway you stack it. And though it might not be better than Tomorrow Never Knows, Run for Your Life is a pretty cool song, and anyone who says otherwise is a sissy.

― Roe Joe, Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

That's a really good idea. Ordered by their greatness, we get:

In My Life < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < Good Day Sunshine
Michelle < Got to Get You Into My Life
Drive My Car < I'm Only Sleeping
The Word < For No One
Wait < Here, There and Everywhere
Nowhere Man > Tomorrow Never Knows
I'm Looking Through You > And Your Bird Can Sing
If I Needed Someone > Taxman
Girl She Said She Said
Think for Yourself > Yellow Submarine
Run for Your Life < Doctor Robert
What Goes On < Love You To

9-5 decision for Revolver.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

This is what I wrote up-thread:

It's been a while since I've listened to these, but off the top of my head:
Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me > I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man < Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word < Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said

So that's 9 for Rubber Soul and 5 for Revolver, but the best songs are on Revolver ("And Your Bird Can Sing" and "She Said She Said").

But I felt guilty for making a decision on some songs when I wasn't even sure I remembered how they went, so I went back and listened to both albums again (not an unpleasant task). My original impression that Rubber Soul is the stronger album overall was confirmed. Things I'd change: I'd make "The Word" and "Yellow Submarine" a tie, and I'd give "For No One" the edge over "I'm Looking Through You" and "Got to Get You Into My Life" the edge over "If I Needed Someone". That makes the score a much closer match, but with Rubber Soul still coming out ahead, 7-6.

There are things that make me prefer Rubber Soul over Revolver that don't come out in the song-by-song competition. Rubber Soul may not be "soul" in the sense that a soul music fan would acknowledge, but it may be the closest that the Beatles came to it, and there is an organic, loose-limbed feeling to the rhythm section on this album that Revolver, with its occasional stiffness, lacks. Also, Rubber Soul features much better harmony singing from the group. Revolver is notable for its rampant experimentalism, but I think the experiments come at the expense of the band's strengths in some areas. Also, and this is more of a production issue, many of the songs on Revolver seem to fade out too soon.

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 27 October 2005 12:39 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Here is a site that makes it easy to match up these albums. It takes into account if a song is much better, or a tie:

http://beatlesbattle.com/

― silby, Thursday, 1 March 2007 02:29 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

I'm going to be a total beatle dork and try to do this matched up by category...

"Rocker": And Your Bird Can Sing beats Drive My Car: REVOLVER
"Ballad With Girl's Name": Eleanor Rigby beats Michelle: REVOLVER
"Song With Sitar": Love You To beats Norwegian Wood: REVOLVER
"Dreary John Song": I'm Only Sleeping is slightly less annoying than Girl: REVOLVER
"Ringo Song": I'm willing to give this to What Goes On: RUBBER SOUL
"Wheezy George Song": If I Needed Someone CREAMS I Want To Tell You, despite the great bassline on the latter: RUBBER SOUL
"Grumpy George Song": Taxman over Think For Yourself, mainly for Paul's solo on the former: REVOLVER
"John Angst Song": She Said She Said beats anything in the catalogue, certainly beats Nowhere Man: REVOLVER
"John Contemplation Song": Tomorrow Never Knows over In My Life: REVOLVER
"Upbeat Paul Song": Between Got To Get You Into My Life and I'm Looking Through You... TIE
"Another Paul Song": For No One over You Won't See Me: REVOLVER
"Another Rocker": I'm going to be a contrarian and give it to Run For Your Life over Doctor Robert: RUBBER SOUL
misc: The Word over Here There & Everywhere: RUBBER SOUL
misc2: Good Day Sunshine over Wait: REVOLVER

Nine clean wins for Revolver, four for Rubber Soul, one tie.

Glad that's settled!

― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 5 October 2008 20:41 (seventeen years ago)

I still can't be bothered to complete the exercise, but I'll just say that when I was coming up, most of these songs could be found on the same album, Yesterday and Today.
― k/l (Ken L), Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:43 AM (2 years ago)

me too (raised on my dad's vinyl). so how about a 3-way american-edition contest: rubber soul (released dec.6, '65) vs. yesterday...and today (june 20 '66) vs. revolver (aug. 8, '66)

i've just seen a face > drive my car > taxman
norwegian wood > i'm only sleeping > eleanor rigby
you won't see me > love you to > nowhere man
think for yourself > here, there and everywhere > doctor robert
yesterday > the word > yellow submarine
she said, she said > act naturally > michelle
and your bird can sing > good day sunshine > it's only love
for no one > girl > if i needed someone
we can work it out > i'm looking through you > i want to tell you
in my life > what goes on > got to get you into my life
tomorrow never knows > day tripper > wait

"run for you life" is a rubber soul bonus track for the purposes of scoring, since the other two each had 11 tracks.

so, assigning 3 points for first place, 2 for second and 1 for third for each track, that gives me ...

24 for rubber soul vs. 22 for yesterday vs. 20 for revolver.

― tipsy mothra, Monday, 6 October 2008 04:22 (seventeen years ago)

The track sequencing on Revolver is perfect, whereas RS is all over the place. RS also has nothing to touch
She said She Said or Tomorrow Never Knows, both totally fresh and still sounding like the future.
. Run for your Life? Even Lennon hated that one. Give me Hard Days Night or With the Beatles rather than Rubber Soul.

― Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 6 October 2008 13:51 (seventeen years ago)

I fucking love Run For Your Life.

― nate woolls, Monday, 6 October 2008 14:01 (seventeen years ago)

misc: The Word over Here There & Everywhere: RUBBER SOUL

The correct duel here would be "Michell" vs. "Here There & Everywhere". Which the latter would win.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 08:37 (seventeen years ago)

(Both are probably in my Beatles Top 10 of all time though)

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 7 October 2008 08:49 (seventeen years ago)

"Michell" the Beatles' tender tribute to the Henry VIII/Captain Beaky star of stage and screen.

― A. FIND MISSING LINK B. PUT IT TOGETHER C. BANG! (Marcello Carlin), Tuesday, 7 October 2008 09:00 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man < Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said
What Goes On < Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life < Doctor Robert
Wait > I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

RUBBER SOUL: 5
REVOLVER: 9

― Moka, Sunday, 23 November 2008 09:56 (seventeen years ago)

Wait = I Want To Tell You (I don't really care for either)

Even though this wasn't Geir's post or the way he voted, the fact that it even reminds me of him makes me think of him also makes me think I know way too much about this place.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 23 November 2008 10:14 (seventeen years ago)

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood > Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me < I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle > She Said She Said
What Goes On > Good Day Sunshine
Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You < For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait > I Want To Tell You
If I Needed Someone < Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

RUBBER SOUL: 9
REVOLOVER: 5

― Jake Sexchamp (Matt P), Sunday, 23 November 2008 10:14 (seventeen years ago)

Rubber Soul is a much better album, allowing Revolver only one clear winner. Personally, I go for:

Drive My Car > Taxman
Norwegian Wood < Eleanor Rigby
You Won't See Me > I'm Only Sleeping
Nowhere Man > Love You Too
Think For Yourself > Here There & Everywhere
The Word > Yellow Submarine
Michelle < She Said She Said
What Goes On > Good Day Sunshine
Girl < And Your Bird Can Sing
I'm Looking Through You = For No One
In My Life > Doctor Robert
Wait Got To Get You Into My Life
Run For Your Life < Tomorrow Never Knows

RUBBER SOUL: 8.5
REVOLVER: 5.5

― gabbneb, Sunday, 23 November 2008 13:22 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

IM HERE TO SHOW EVERYBODY THE LIGHT!!!!

"The Word" could have been the only song on this album and it would still be one of the greatest records of all time. Holy shit they drop it on this song. The beginning of all metaphysical Beatle myths is here.

― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 19:52 (sixteen years ago)

yea i liked that song, and i don't even like the beatles

― 2 guys 1 gag (surm), Tuesday, 6 April 2010 19:53 (sixteen years ago)

Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing

^^this is extremely wrong

― kulinary gangsta (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 6 April 2010 19:54 (sixteen years ago)

I read in a book that they're singing the word "tit" in the background of "Girl," and the tit berrypecker is a songbird, which makes the two...equal?

― how is abbott formed (Abbott), Tuesday, 6 April 2010 19:56 (sixteen years ago)

I've owned Rubber Soul for about 15 years now, and I gotta tell ya, it's kind of a waste of time...

― forgotten funk-uncle (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 7 April 2010 01:49 (sixteen years ago)

it does herald the start of Paul McCartney becoming a badass bass player though, so it's not completely worthless...also I like Norwegian Wood...

― forgotten funk-uncle (Drugs A. Money), Wednesday, 7 April 2010 01:50 (sixteen years ago)

Revolver > Rubber Soul

but lets leave this kind of stuff to the 8723408750247830580234957023745028934789057070342758734895790834705897 Beatles-devoted message-boards in existence right now.

― kelpolaris, Wednesday, 7 April 2010 02:00 (sixteen years ago)

Girl > And Your Bird Can Sing

^^this is extremely wrong

― kulinary gangsta (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, April 6, 2010 3:54 PM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

these are both extremely good songs

― samosa gibreel, Wednesday, 7 April 2010 02:03 (sixteen years ago)

also Think For Yourself < Here There & Everywhere is pretty close. I like Think because it's uglier but somehow still otherworldly beautiful.

I kinda feel like the non-folk parts of Rubber Soul are more futuristic than Revolver, what with all the 80's/90's dance beats they are cranking out.

― Adam Bruneau, Wednesday, 7 April 2010 02:14 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

I fucking love Run For Your Life.

The Revolver poll thread sent me down a mid-period Beatles rabbit hole this weekend and I gotta say, Ian MacDonald's misgivings notwithstanding about his sexism, I, too, love this song unconditionally.

― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 11:38 (twelve years ago)

Rubber Soul no contest, Paul stuff on there is way better even if it's not as "groundbreaking" as some of his stuff on Revolver

― nova, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 21:31 (twelve years ago)

three years pass...

You Won't See Me is one of the Beatles best songs. its Paul doing a really good Motown/Spector imitation, a stoned Marx Brothers garage band backing him up.

― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 21 July 2017 18:44 (eight years ago)

I don't really hear Spector in it but otherwise sure

― Οὖτις, Friday, 21 July 2017 18:48 (eight years ago)

Yeah, I don't hear Spector in it either. I like how direct the lyric of 'You Won't See Me' is... it's one of those songs that proves that McCartney could write direct, non-cryptic personal songs when he felt like it.

― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 21 July 2017 20:39 (eight years ago)

seven years pass...

I'm not sure what the original source for this is, but apparently there is a super deluxe edition coming for Rubber Soul and it's tentatively scheduled for next year.

― birdistheword, Sunday, 1 June 2025 05:52 (one year ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.