It’s interesting to take a musical step back. That is, to take a classic album and look at the one the artist released directly before that. In other words a classic minus one.
First classic is Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band from The Beatles (1967), so back one is Revolver (1966). In many ways I actually get more from Revolver that its more famous cousin, Pepper. To me Revolver is the big jump album. It took the lads from the pop world into the more experimental landscape that the studio offered them.
This was a key time too. They were no longer touring or even playing live. So, in one sense, they didn’t have to be concerned about being able to re-create the recording live or in concert. I’d argue that they could easily re-create all of Revolver’s predecessor (1965’s excellent Rubber Soul) on the stage quite easily. Not so with Revolver itself. At least not without backing tapes to help.
A quick look at the track listing:
- Taxman
- Eleanor Rigby
- I’m Only Sleeping
- Love You To
- Here, There and Everywhere
- Yellow Submarine
- She Said She Said
- Good Day Sunshine
- And Your Bird Can Sing
- For No One
- Doctor Robert
- I Want to Tell You
- Got to Get You Into My Life
- Tomorrow Never Knows
…shows a wide variation of influences and styles. From George’s political opening number Taxman, through to Paul’s sad, socially aware Rigby and For No-One.
And John. Wow. John – for me at least – provides the Big Jump songs, such as And Your Bird Can Sing,She Said and Tomorrow. The lyrics, the playing and the recording, which included backwards guitars, chants etc, were (are!) stunning. This brings George Martin and his team of studio magicians into the mix: excellent work from them as well. Indeed I’d rate Revolver as a Classic Album unto itself. And hence the whole title and concept of this article is redundant. But I’ve enjoyed the journey anyway