THE BEATLES Rubber Soul Super Deluxe 5LP Box( Apple / Capitol / UMe)
If there’ s a case for the benevolent use of AI, this may be it. The Beatles recorded their sixth album at London’ s Abbey Road Studios on a four-track tape deck, the latest recording technology in 1965. Some fans will treat the original 14-track monophonic mix and master as definitive and sacrosanct, which is fine. That version will always exist to delight old-school Fab Four fans. However, for people who want to hear more detail in what the Beatles committed to tape, this set ' s new stereo mix uses forensic audio to separate individual voices and instruments. I’ m aligned with listeners who say the original mono mix offers a superior experience to the often hard-panned 1965 stereo mix, but producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell ' s new stereo mix is dramatically different in good ways, offering a wellbalanced, full-bodied sound. This mix clearly received a comparable level of care and attention as the 1965 mono mix. Beyond two vinyl platters of outtakes, this Super Deluxe box includes three versions of Rubber Soul. The original 12-song US stereo album is included, leading with Ringo Starr’ s brushed snare and skiffle / folk rhythm on“ I’ ve Just Seen a Face”( held over from the UK release of Help!). The general sound matches well with a clean 1988 pressing in my collection, although closer comparison of“ It’ s Only Love”( also from Help!), distinguished by George Harrison’ s springy guitar sound, reveals that the new remaster is detectably louder, a bit less bright, and fuller in the midrange frequencies where the guitars are present. The deluxe set ' s heavier 180-gram vinyl provides improved stability and reduces vibrationinduced effects during playback. The platter containing the original mono master delivers on its promise, presenting the Beatles’ and producer George Martin’ s original vision. 60 + years of familiarity with this version are treated with respect and affection. Rubber Soul found the
Beatles expanding their sonic palette and innovating anew in the studio. The album brims with standout tracks and forward leaps in skillful arrangements, making it the first of four truly essential albums for any pop or rock collection alongside successors Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’ s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Abbey Road. Key influences shaping the album’ s innovative blend of pop styles include The Byrds, Bob Dylan, and soul artists from the Motown and Stax labels. George Harrison introduced the sitar on John Lennon’ s otherwise folksy, deceptively gentle, veiled confession“ Norwegian Wood.” Paul McCartney added harmonium to“ The Word,” with the song itself as a thematic predecessor of“ All You Need is Love.” The harmonium was most prominently featured on the concurrent non-album single“ We Can Work it Out.” Brittle fuzz bass acts as a countermelody to Harrison’ s lead vocal on“ Think for Yourself.” With the buoyant“ Drive My Car,” Lennon and McCartney drew on the Stax sound of Booker T & the M. G.’ s members Steve Cropper and Donald“ Duck” Dunn. Lennon crafted sublime, Byrds-influenced jangle pop with the introspective“ Nowhere Man.” Harrison’ s harmony-laden and blissfully droning“ If I Needed Someone” is another sonic love note to the Byrds. McCartney has claimed Motown staples, the Four Tops, as an influence on“ You Won’ t See Me,” as heard in the song’ s chord structure and R & B-styled bass line. George Martin shaped the harpsichord-sounding baroque solo on " In My Life " by recording his piano part at half speed. McCartney’ s“ Michelle” is a sweet portrait of love clouded by a language barrier, borrowing from French cabaret singer Edith Piaf and accentuated by Harrison’ s jazz-influenced guitar melody. Lennon’ s vulnerable, reflective“ In My Life” is often cited as one of his finest compositions. Although a musical trifle, Ringo Starr’ s“ What Goes On” is a fun country-rockabilly romp in the vein of the Beatles’ recent cover of Buck Owens’“ Act Naturally.” The album ' s black sheep is“ Run for Your Life,” a follow-up to A Hard Day’ s Night ' s jealous track“ You Can’ t Do That.” It’ s
14 illinoisentertainer. com november 2026