It was a cold, grey day in Chicago, Monday, December 6, 1965. I
was almost 13. I could not concentrate on anything in 8th grade that
day, because all I knew was that a new Beatles album was coming out
and at 3:15...I would be at the Chicago-Rogers Park neighborhood
record store.
I did not know the album's name, or any songs that would be on
it. There were no pop music magazines except "16" and
there was only one radio station for young people, WLS. All they
said is that the new Beatles album would be out today.
I walked in the cold to the tiny mom & pop record store and
there it was--RUBBER SOUL...with its slightly distorted cover in
tones of brown and I took out the $1.98 for the MONO version, which
was a lot of money to a kid back then.
I ran home with it, took it out of its sealed enclosure and
joyfully placed it on my child's record player that I still had from
age 5 with its tiny speaker and limited one-tone control.
What I would hear would ASTONISH me. I was mesmerized.
It was amazing. And an incredible breakthrough
for this group going through a musical transition.
Side 1--I've Just Seen A Face was a great up-tempo pop song with
a great harmony hook (fallin' yes I am fallin')...Norwegian
Wood--was I hearing right? Was this The Beatles? It was
indescribable and what was that weird instrument they were
using?...You Won't See Me had such daring background vocals going
on...Think For Yourself--by now I was going crazy! That fuzz bass
sound (never used before) was captivating...The Word was so catchy
yet demanded your attention...and then the opening notes of Michelle
was just the beginning of this musical masterpiece--not only was
Paul singing French, but he was doing a complete separate Bass
composition on his own!...the enchantment continued with side 2, but
when I got to "In My Life"...I knew this album would
effect me the rest of my life.
Yes, it was Capitol Record's version of "Rubber Soul"
but nobody knew ANYTHING about another version. It wasn't until 1978
that Tower Records had a special Beatles week and brought in a
limited supply--one time only of the official British albums. And I
bought the whole set.
Was I ever surprised at what the real Rubber Soul consisted of.
99.9% of the rest of Americans did not know anything about this
until the official CDs were issued in the late 1980s of British
versions only.
*The American version of Rubber Soul did not contain the
following tracks--
They were taken off and used for a phony Capitol Beatles album
“Yesterday and Today”
only released in America and allowing yet another million selling
album:
"Drive My Car", "Nowhere Man", "What
Goes On" and “If I Needed Someone.”
*The American version of Rubber Soul contained the following
tracks not on
any release of the album elsewhere
worldwide:
“I've Just Seen A Face” and
“It's Only Love.”
This of course says something
important about artist integrity.
Up until “Sgt. Pepper,” Capitol
Records would butcher the Beatles albums
to create their own versions of
what they believed Americans wanted to
hear. They would take tracks off,
put other tracks on, add echo where they
wanted, use alternate versions. And
create non-existent albums.
America was the only country that
did not get the official British releases
as desired by the Beatles and
producer George Martin.
RUBBER SOUL has always been my favorite Beatles album.
I estimate that I have listened to the album on
LP, cassette, CD and in computer memory at least
1500-2000 times. I base this on the
fact that I have listened to
the album at least 30 times a year
since 1965.
The album inspired Brian Wilson of
the Beach Boys to create his masterpiece LP “Pet Sounds.”
Wilson's brilliant work inspired
Paul McCartney to put together “Sgt. Pepper.”
RUBBER SOUL is considered one of
the Top Ten greatest pop music albums ever
by every leading survey.
