Rubber Soul - Front Cover | Rubber Soul - Rear Cover |
Label | Parlophone | ||||||||||||||||||||
Catalogue No.'s | PMC 1267 (Mono) PCS 3075 (Stereo) CDP 7 46440 2 (C.D.) |
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Matrix No.'s |
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Release dates | 3rd December 1965 30th April 1987 (CD) |
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Total time | 34:55 | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.K. Album Chart Detail : |
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Detail : | The Beatles sixth official album release. The first Beatles album, to include all four as composers, and have no cover versions. And the last time that The Beatles would release two albums of new material in one year. The title came from an expression that black musicians were using to describe The Rolling Stones, which Paul then parodied from the original "Plastic Soul" to "Rubber Soul". This album had advance orders of over half-a-million, eventually selling around 750,000 in the Britain. Global sales are estimated ot over 3,000,000 units. Once again (of course) the American issue did not contain the full tracklisting, instead taking two tracks from the British "Help!" album, and leaving some off, which would appear on later releases. It should also be noted that during the sessions for this album, on 4th November 1965, The Beatles recorded another track for the album (with 2 takes). It was an instrumental that was never returned to, nor remixed ... "12-Bar Original". The cover was the first to NOT have The Beatles name on the front. The cover photography is again by Robert Freeman, taken in John Lennon's garden in Weybridge, and was Freeman's last involvement in their covers. The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set (see Beatles Collection).
On 30th April 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in stereo, with a catalogue number of
CDP 7 46440 2
The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set (see Beatles C.D. Box).
09/09/09 (Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine) - the album was re-released as part of the Beatles In Stereo Remasters collection.
Digital Downloads
Tape Media
Prior to 1973: In November 1987 the album was re-released on cassette tape (stereo only) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3075 (Originally released February 1966).
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Track | Composer | Recording Information | Time |
Drive My Car | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 13th October 1965 in 4 takes Final mix - take 4. |
2:25 |
Norwegian Wood | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 12th October 1965 - 1 take Remake recorded 21st October 1965 in 3 takes (Takes 2-4) Each take was different and complete (and should be sought out !!) ... Final mix - take 4. |
2:01 |
You Won't See Me | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes Final mix - take 2. |
3:18 |
Nowhere Man | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 21st October 1965 in 2 takes Remake recorded 22nd October 1965 in 3 takes (take 3-5) Final mix - take 4. |
2:40 |
Think For Yourself | Harrison | Recorded 8th November 1965 in just 1 take Final mix - take 1. |
2:16 |
The Word | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 10th November 1965 in 3 takes Final mix - take 3. |
2:41 |
Michelle | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 3rd November 1965 in 2 takes Final mix - take 2. |
2:40 |
Track | Composer | Recording Information | Time |
What Goes On | Lennon-McCartney-Starkey | Recorded 4th November 1965 in 1 take Final mix - take 1. |
2:47 |
Girl | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes Final mix - take 2. |
2:30 |
I'm Looking Through You | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 24th October 1965 - 1 take Re-make recorded 6th November 1965 in 2 takes (Takes 2-3) Re-remake recorded 10th November 1965 - 1 take (Take 4) Overdubs added 11th November 1965 onto take 4. Final mix - take 4. |
2:23 |
In My Life | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 18th October 1965 in 3 takes Recorded overdubs on 22nd October 1965 onto take 3 Final mix - take 3. |
2:24 |
Wait | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 17th June 1965 (during the "Help" sessions !) in 4 takes then discarded for
inclusion Overdubs made 11th November 1965 five months later, when one more track was required to fill this album ! Final mix - take 4. |
2:12 |
If I Needed Someone | Harrison | Recorded 16th October 1965 - 1 take (Backing track only) Further recording 18th October 1965, overdub of vocal onto take 1 Final mix - take 1. |
2:20 |
Run For Your Life | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 12th October 1965 in 5 takes Final mix - take 5. |
2:18 |
"What Goes On" | The mono version is missing some of the lead guitar at the end, just before the final chord. The full lead guitar part is heard on the stereo version. |
Visibly same as "Second" pressing below, but very first issue had a slightly different studio mix.Attempts at correcting first pressings (1965) - Mono version
It can be recognised by the matrix numbers ending with "-1", This is generally referred to as the "Loud" cut.
This was a mix that was discontinued after a very brief pressing run, when it was realised it was tonally unbalanced.
It lacks body, has a muddled bass, with vocals stretched thin making it sound aggresive and edgy (hence, "loud").
But this pressing is not really louder, and remember, it was withdrawn for a reason ... it is one you can do without.
Once again, visibly it is the same as "Second" pressing below.Second pressings (1965) - Mono AND Stereo versions
When the bad mono issue was realised above, the mix was corrected and the stampers were changed to have a matrix ending in "-4".
Incredibly, during this change over, there were some that had the dodgy mix on side 1 and on other presses the dodgy mix on side 2 !.
So you will find some with XEX 579-1 coupled with XEX 580-4
and you will find others as XEX 579-4 coupled with XEX 580-1
Again, as stated above, these are not better versions to have. They are not common, but they aren't the intended final product. Indeed, the general public in those days never noticed.
Ostensibly, this is really the first pressing, after those incorrect "loud" cut versions had been discovered and withdrawn above.Third pressings (1969) - Mono AND Stereo versions
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
Matrix number now changed on the Mono version.
Rubber Soul - First Pressing Stereo Label A-Side Rubber Soul - First Pressing Stereo Label B-Side
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.Fourth Pressings (1969) - Stereo version only
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label.Fifth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has one EMI boxed logo.
Silver/black Parlophone label.Sixth Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has TWO EMI boxed logos.
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label.Seventh Pressings (1995) - Stereo version ONLY
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
This release is on a lightweight vinyl.
Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label.
The sleeve has a printed statement which reads:
"This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.