The year is 1966, rock is in a state of disarray, as vocals split into fragments, forming a new array of melodies previously unheard. Outside influences seeped their way into the culture, pushing new subject matters and fusions of genres that would carry albums for generations. The year 1966 was a pivotal year for music alone, from the Beach Boys, the Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, and finally the Beatles, everyone had a turn in the spotlight. Few would last as long as the Beatles’ contribution from their master class of an album, Revolver. The project pushed the boundaries of music, creating not an album, but an experience which cannot be recreated in most physical capacities. From rotating Leslie speakers, reversed tape overlays, and varying speeds of playback, the songs twist and turn through your head in a passive way which leaves behind a groovy vibration that can last for days.
Following a short hiatus in 1966, the Beatles found themselves reborn, and ready to share their new experiences with the world. The influence of eastern culture on the music and lyrics has a lasting effect on the Beatles, as they would find solace in the traditional eastern Buddhist ideologies. Songs such as Love You To and Tomorrow Never Knows have a blatant Indian sound, from the chords to the sitar itself, both have a resounding power over the songs which tower in comparison to the average amplified guitar sound.
Both lead singles for the album would go on to carry their own in the Beatles’ discography, not allowing their legacy to be trampled by the success of the project itself. Eleanor Rigby was the brainchild of Paul McCartney, as he crafted the carefully worded masterpiece from a simple tombstone he would come across on his daily walks. Showing how the simplest of details can inspire the deepest, most affected ideas to confound within us.
Yellow Submarine would only question us at first, leaving many worried about the sanity of the band at the time. However, only time would tell that it was indeed a byproduct of time, as the Beatles found themselves inundated with the psychedelic culture of the mid-60’s. The band had gained a reputation years earlier, as their music took a turn towards the slower, swirling harmonizing tunes of Rubber Soul. The band’s shift to Revolver would show a direct impact on multiple levels, from the production to the album cover and the various subject matters included in the songs. The Beatles take a turn in their ideology when they begin preaching against material possessions and instead recite theologies of higher thinking above our material world. Whether it was a lot of meditation, or outside chemical influences…only the Beatles can tell for themselves, but tomorrow never knows.
The songs Rain and Paperback Writer would not be included in the album but were recorded as B-Side track singles. The song Rain carries the characteristic heavy psychedelic reverb and distortion that was popular for the time, along with a harmony that is a criminal cut to remove from the track list. Easily worth checking out if you have the time - which if you’re reading this you do. The song Paperback Writer carries the same experimental tone, with an upbeat tempo. It lacks the composition to hold its own within the soundtrack, making it a reasonable cut from the project.
The film Yellow Submarine would later be released, bringing the seed of an idea to total fruition in true Beatles fashion. Nothing else would fully suffice, except for a fully animated feature film and accompanying soundtrack with instant classics. The movie would essentially be an acid-trip through the soundtrack itself, with astounding visuals that are strong enough to send your neighbors into epilepsy-induced seizures. But hey, you should have expected nothing less from the group of men singing about a yellow submarine, with no boating or marine experience whatsoever… The transition to more involved projects which could not be replicated live, even by the fab four, also coincided with the group’s downturn in tour runs. As John Lennon characteristically received pushback for remarking that the band had become “more popular than Jesus.” Rather than continue to perform for a vast sea of wailing schoolgirls, the Beatles took the high road and chose to revolutionize recording practices by creating new ways to elevate their sound than before.
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