Revolver

The Beatles
 
Revolver - LP cover Revolver - LP back
Revolver - Front Cover Revolver - Back Cover
Revolver - Original Print Revolver - LP cover
John, a Robert Freeman Original Print
Can you spot it above ?

Label Parlophone
  
Catalogue No.'s PMC 7009 (Mono)
PCS 7009 (Stereo)
CDP 7 46441 2
  
Matrix No.'s
 A-side B-Side
1st Press Mono :XEX 605-2 XEX 606-1
1st Press Stereo :YEX 605-1 YEX 606-1
Mono :XEX 605-2 XEX 606-2
Mono :XEX 605-2 XEX 606-3
Stereo:YEX 605-2 YEX 606-2
  
Release dates 5th August 1966
30th April 1987 (CD)
  
Total time 34:11
  
U.K. Album Chart Detail :
Entry Date :13th August 1966
Highest Position :1 ... for 7 weeks from 13th August 1966
Weeks in Chart :
+
+
+
34
  6 from 9th May 1987 (CD release, reached no.55)
  6 from 11th April 1998 (reached no.46)
  4 from 13th September 2009 (reached no.9 !)
==
50 weeks in total
==
  
Detail : The Beatles seventh official album release.
This release came out the same day as the double-A sided single, "Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine" ... the first time that the Fab Four had released a single on the same day as the album from which the tracks came.
Arguably showing the Beatles at their creative zenith. Lyrically and musically innovative, "Revolver" IS a pop masterpiece.
It's original title was to be "Abracadabra", but this was rejected as it had been used by someone else (this didn't stop Steve Miller years later)

Revolver had advance orders of 300,000 in Britain and yet, is only given a final sale figure of 500,000. Globally, sales are estimated at over two million.

Front cover features artwork by Klaus Voormann, a friend of The Beatles from their Hamburg days. Voormann went on to play bass with Manfred Mann (he replaced Jack Bruce !) and later, of course, played with John and the Plastic Ono Band.
Look dead centre at the Revolver sleeve above, and then look at the original Robert Freeman picture below it from 1966 ! ... Klaus Voorman used this picture as the centrepiece (which may explain to you why John looked "odd").
The rear cover photograph is by Robert Whitaker.

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 46441 2
And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered 3 CD Box Set Comprising:
Help
Rubber Soul
Revolver
+ "Beatles Monthly No.12" - July 1964
This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25/2, and was in a limited edition of just 2,500 copies.

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.
13th September 2009 it re-entered the chart again at number 9 in the third highest position of SEVENTEEN chart positions The Beatles captured in one amazing week.
         (see the box set detail for the chart position of all 17 titles together)
20th September 2009 - dropped eight places down to number 17.
27th September 2009 - dropped twenty-three places down to number 40.
4th October 2009 - dropped twenty-three places down to number 63.
11th October 2009 - dropped twenty-five places down to number 88 - which is outside the official chart and doesn't count for longevity purposes.
18th October 2009 - No longer listed in the Top 100.

Digital Downloads
In 2010 iTunes (a digital download agency) were given access to The Beatles product, which now meant each individual Beatles track was available to download to internet connected devices.
These downloads had to be paid for and the number of sales were permitted to be counted for chart purposes as "singles" (although JPGR doesn't concur with this process).
21st November 2010 - Eleanor Rigby was listed at number 94
But it is, of course, preposterous to count Eleanor Rigby as a Beatles single. It wasn't.

Tape Media
The album was also available on 4" reel-to-reel tape,
1966 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 7009 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape) - first edition (mono only) in a cardboard box.
1968 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 7009 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape)
                                        TD-PCS 7009 (3¾ ips 4-track stereo) these editions in a "jewel" box.

Prior to 1973:
The album was released on stereo cassette tape (1⅞ ips) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 7009.
The album was also released on 8-track stereo continuous play cartridge (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X-PCS 7009

In November 1987 the album was re-released on cassette tape (stereo only) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 7009 (Originally released September 1966).

In October 2022 the album is issued is a remixed special deluxe edition with bonus tracks.
See - Revolver - Super Deluxe Edition

 


Side 1

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Taxman Harrison Recorded 20th April 1966 - 4 takes ... all discarded.
Recorded 21st April 1966 11 new takes (Takes 1-11)
Recorded 22nd April 1966 overdubs, creating Take 12
Final mix - take 12.
2:35
Eleanor Rigby Lennon-McCartney Recorded 28th April 1966 in 15 takes
Vocals added to vacant track 29th April 1966 (still, Take 15) Final vocal overdub, 6th June 1966
Final mix - take 15.
2:04
I'm Only Sleeping Lennon-McCartney Recorded 27th April 1966 in 11 takes
Overdubs added to take 11 - 29th April
Overdubs added to take 11 - 5th May
Overdubs added to take 11 - 6th May making takes 12 & 13
Final mix - take 13.
2:58
Love You To Harrison Original working title, "Granny Smith"
Recorded 11th April 1966 in 6 takes
Recorded 13th April 1966 one more take, Take 7
Final mix - take 7.
2:58
Here, There And Everywhere Lennon-McCartney Recorded 14th June 1966 in 4 takes
Recorded 16th June 1966 - 10 takes (5-14)
Final mix - take 14.
2:22
Yellow Submarine Lennon-McCartney Recorded 26th May 1966 in 5 takes
Sound effects overdubs 1st June 1966 onto take 5
Final mix - take 5.
2:36
She Said She Said Lennon-McCartney Recorded 21st June 1966 in 4 takes
Final mix - take 4.
2:34

Side 2

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Good Day Sunshine Lennon-McCartney Recorded 8th June 1966 in 3 takes, backing track only.
Vocal overdubs onto take 1
Final mix - take 1.
2:07
And Your Bird Can Sing Lennon-McCartney Recorded 20th April 1966 - 2 takes
Remake recorded 26th April 1966 11 takes (Takes 3-13)
Final mix - take 10 and take 4.
1:58
For No One Lennon-McCartney Recorded 9th May 1966 in 10 takes
Overdubs added 16th May ending with takes 13 & 14
More overdubs 19th May onto take 14
Final mix - take 14.
1:58
Dr. Robert Lennon-McCartney Recorded 17th April 1966 in 7 takes, backing track only.
Vocal overdubs onto take 7 (on spare track)
Final mix - take 7.
2:13
I Want To Tell You Harrison Original title, "Laxton's Superb", then entitled, "I Don't Know"
Recorded 2nd June 1966 in 5 takes
Final mix - take 4.
2:26
Got To Get You Into My Life Lennon-McCartney Recorded 7th April 1966 - 5 takes
Recorded 8th April 1966 - 3 takes (Takes 6-8)
Overdubs and vocals added 18th May 1966 - 3 takes (9-11)
Final mix - take 9 with the brass from take 8.
2:26
Tomorrow Never Knows Lennon-McCartney Original working title, "Mark I"
What a start ... dare I say, the most innovative track on the album - years ahead of it's time, and yet, the very first track recorded at the start of the Revolver sessions.
Recorded 6th April 1966 in 3 takes
Take 1 is sensational ... seek it out. Take 2 was a breakdown
Final mix - take 3 with further overdubs made on 7th and 22nd April.
2:56

Mono/Stereo Differences

"Taxman" The mono version has a cowbell that starts during the second verse, on the stereo release it does not start until half-way through the second chorus.
"I'm Only Sleeping" The Lennon lead vocal is the same in both, but in the mono version the backwards guitar effects are in different places to the stereo mix.
"Yellow Submarine" The mono version has an opening guitar chord, which is missing on the stereo version.
The mono version has John's shouted repeats of Ringo's lines beginning one line sooner, and louder than on the stereo version.
"Got To Get You Into My Life" Paul's vocals during the fade-out are noticeably different between the mono and stereo mixes, this would suggest that the vocal is therefore taken from different takes for the two mixes.
"Tomorrow Never Knows" The mono version has different backwards tape effects than those on the stereo version.

Released Versions

First pressings (1966) - 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.
There is a much rarer mono version [very] first pressing, hastily withdrawn, which had a different mix of "Tomorrow Never Knows" (known as "remix 11") this has a matrix number on side 2 of XEX 606-1 and is worth up to £200 !
Second 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 starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
Third Pressings (1969) - Stereo version only
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label.
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.
Fourth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY
Silver/black Parlophone label.
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.
Fifth Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label.
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.
Sixth Pressings (1995) - Stereo version ONLY
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.
2022 - Revolver - Super Deluxe Edition

Special Import

I have a Russian double L.P. which couples Revolver WITH Sgt. Peppers !!
This utterly splendid double album is in a gatefold sleeve, which has a Sgt. Pepper front, with all the Words in Russian ! ... open it out and it has a similar Sgt. Pepper inside, but with the tracklistings of BOTH L.P.'s and a date of 1992, plus what looks to me like "Made In Gt. Petersburg" ? ... The rear has the look of a Revolver cover, BUT look closely and it IS different.
The insert has a whole page of Russian, which seems to be about Sgt. Pepper's, but could be about anything ! ... and turn it over and one can see a list of all the people on the cover ... but ... once again, in Russian.
Take a look at detail of the cover ... it is a DIFFERENT collage in the centre !
Detail of the Russian sleeve, with DIFFERENT collage ! :

Revolver - Russian Sleeve


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