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THE BEATLES - REVOLVER
(1966)

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For many, 'Revolver' was The Beatles finest album. It was really from 'Help' onwards that the band's maturity began to flourish.

The album begins with 'Taxman', an unusually acerbic George Harrison song, and the next track, 'Eleanor Rigby', remains one of Paul McCartney's most poignant songs, and the lyrical content is stunning for a man barely in his mid-20s.

Psychedelia flows through this album, and George Harrison unfurls his sitar on 'Love You To'. 'I'm Only Sleeping' and 'She Said She Said' are basically jaunty pop songs with backwards guitar ('Sleeping') and strange, waspish guitar ('She Said'). 'Tomorrow Never Knows' is hardcore psychedelia! A brain-splitting rhythm with sounds going off in all directions.

'Here, There And Everywhere' is a wonderful love song - McCartney's wistful voice, backed by melancholy backing vocals, which neat, understated guitar complements.

'Yellow Submarine' is as famous as a pop song gets, and has even been used to help Russian children speak English. Ringo's chirpy voice was often undervalued (as was his drumming) by musical 'experts'.

'And Your Bird Can Sing' is a thumping, vital rock number, with George's spikey guitar taking the musical honours.

'Good Day Sunshine' is another bright pop song from the Lennon-McCartney songbook, though this seems a Paul song, and, by this time, songs written predominantly by John or Paul were becoming easier to distinguish. 'For No One' is Paul in sad form again. Beautifully plaintive.

The upbeat, uplifting 'Got To Get You Into My Life' is another classic track, covered particularly well by Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers. The brass, and McCartney's vocal, gives it a good soul sound.

1966 was a good year to be English.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

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Product image for ASIN: B000002UAR Revolver
Product image for ASIN: B000002UAR Revolver [UK]

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REVOLVER FACTOIDS & MYTHOLOGY

Beatles Revolver Album Cover

'Tomorrow Never Knows' was originally titled 'The Void', and was inspired by the Tibetan 'Book Of The Dead'.
The 'Eleanor Rigby' title came about by either Paul looking at a headstone bearing that name, or he got the name 'Eleanor' from the actress Eleanor Bron, and the 'Rigby' from the name of a shop.
'I'm Only Sleeping' was inspired by John's love of sleep!
'Good Day Sunshine' was Paul writing in a Lovin' Spoonful style - a group he liked at the time.
'She Said She Said' could have been a songwriting credit on 'Revolver' for the American actor Peter Fonda. He told John and George, talking about a childhood accident when he nearly died, "I know what it's like to be dead" - a line which featured in the song. John cleverly changed the sex of the person in the song - to avoid any lawsuits, I guess!
'Taxman' was written with some feeling by George, as rich rock stars were taxed to the hilt in the '60s and '70s, and many went abroad as tax exiles. Not surprising when sometimes 99% of their earnings were taxed. I'm a leftie, but artists need some encouragement to be creative!
George was renowned for taking some time to come up with titles for his songs. On 'Revolver', his first-ever Indian-style composition, 'Love You To', had a jokey, earlier title of 'Granny Smith (named after the British apple of the same name)', and his 'I Want To Tell You' was originally called 'Laxton's Superb' (also a British apple) by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick.
A clavichord was hired for Paul's 'For No One'.
'Doctor Robert', written by John, was about an unconventional New York doctor. Euphemistically speaking...
Two members of Georgie Fame's Blue Flames - Eddie Thornton (trumpet) and Peter Coe (tenor sax) - played on Paul's 'Got To Get You Into My Life'.
George Martin played honky tonk piano on 'Good Day Sunshine'.

- Paul Rance.


Product photo
The Beatles "Revolver" T-shirt, X-Large

'Revolver' Track Listing
(All Lennon-McCartney songs unless otherwise stated)

Side One
Taxman (Harrison)
Eleanor Rigby
I'm Only Sleeping
Love You To (Harrison)
Here, There And Everywhere
Yellow Submarine
She Said She Said


Side Two
Good Day Sunshine
And Your Bird Can Sing
For No One
Dr. Robert
I Want To Tell You (Harrison)
Got To Get You Into My Life
Tomorrow Never Knows

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