Yea, it's really bizarre to see not one but two people (and especially Flyer Fanatic) say that "Rubber Soul" is the worst Beatles album ever! Are you people high??!! I take it that you don't own all of the Beatles albums in their catalog because if you did, you would know that the worst Beatles album is "Beatles For Sale" although "With the Beatles" isn't much better. "Rubber Soul" along with "Sgt Pepper's" are my 2 picks. I know a lot of people don't care for "Magical Mystery Tour" but it is one of my favorites. I have never gotten into The White Album, "Abbey Road", and "Let It Be" but I appreciate those albums, nonetheless and recognize their greatness and importance. I think it is very important to point out that the early Beatles - up to 1966 or whenever they released "Sgt Pepper's" was very much a singles based band. The singles they released in their early years was brilliant, IMO and are generally some of my all-time favorite Beatles songs ("I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "Can't Buy Me Love", etc.). And even though "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" came before "Sgt Pepper's", it was really the last album mentioned (Peppers) in which the Beatles quit focusing on singles so much and were more interested in putting great albums together and have them play as one long big record (sorta like what "Dark Side of the Moon" would do in the early '70s). For those that enjoy their singles, get "Past Masters, Volume 1" and "Past Masters, Volume 2". These 2 CDs include all the Beatles singles that did not appear on any of their albums.
Rubber Soul does does have the most retroactively uncomfortable Beatles song of all time, all about wife beating, stalking, and spousal murder. "I'd rather see you dead little girl, than to be with another man" "Let this be a sermon, I believe everything I've said, Baby I'm determined, and I'd rather see you dead" oops... From what I've read, John was trying to write an 'Elvis' song, but it didn't really work out too well.
Can't think of any that I could even consider remotely bad. My favorites are Sgt. Peppers, Let It Be, & the White album.
OK, I guess it's time for me to clarify a little. I own every Beatles album, and over the last month or two have listened to every album multiple times. There isn't a single album that I dislike, I probably should have mentioned that in my first post. It's just that from top to bottom, Rubber Soul is my least favorite, at least currently. Worst album was probably the wrong term, since there isn't a bad Beatles album. After seeing this thread I'll probably go back and listen to Rubber Soul a few times and see what I think. But I think it's pretty obvious that I could have listed any album as the "worst" and the majority of people would get bent out of shape. That's how great the Beatles were.
I too go through phases ofwhich is the best album. I will stick by selecting The White Album, but right now I am listening to Abbey Road & Let It Be alot. I recently made a mix CD of just George Harrison Beatles songs. George was one of the most underrated artists ever...
I'll say it...I don't dig the Beatles all that much. I understand why people do, I just could never really get into them. I only have one of their albums and I do admit it's awesome - Revolver.
Off topic, but the best web Beatles listening companion, if you have any interest at all in the mechanics of music composition is - http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-beatles_canon.shtml
best- Abbey Road worst - Let it Be do to spector's schmozz all over the album. Love the naked version... Still not their strongest song writing do to conflict but a few tunes that even Spector couldn't destroy (though he tried his darndest).
This was my first thought - plenty of good songs on Rubber Soul but NW alone makes it great. I don't dislike any albums or even have a "don't like as much" one but I definitely listen to their mid-late periods more. Maybe because of radio...not sure (not that I listen to the Beatles on the radio but growing up?...not sure). Picking a favorite is ridiculous. Revolver, Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road, White...man. I still laugh at my early teen years when I decided that the Beatles suck. I was raised almost exclusively on "classical" and the Beatles from age 0-8 so I had a mini rebellion. Then I got a little older and realized that I should stop being an idiot. The Beatles are the only band for which it can never be said that they have gotten too much praise or can be overrated or anything. They weren't all the best musicians but what they did was just plain silly and I can never think "they are the best ever" enough. Part of me wishes that i had an experience like Deckard where I actually was alive and buying music when Sgt Pepper dropped and I could have heard it with virgin ears instead of having it always be a given, always possible...but then I am glad I am not that old so it is OK. Next we should have a "best Beatles song" thread and then "best section of a Beatles song" and then "best moment in a Beatles song" because those could be fascinating.
i'm sure best beatles song has been done, but "best section" or "best moment" of a beatles song would make a great thread.
I like how at the end of "A Day in the Life" there is this one piano note (or is it a chord) that is played and then it resonates for like it seems a minute. Always thought that was cool how that sounded. I also liked in that same song when Paul sings the "Woke up, got out of bed..." part to counter what Lennon has been singing.
That was actually many grand pianos hammering out the same chord (seven I think - but it's been a while since I disected that recording) - hence the big sound. Mr. Emerick is actually part of a program going on right now where they take students into Abbey Road and recreate the entire recording process for Sgt. Peppers. He even talked the original guy who assisted on the sessions into coming in for the project.
I'm in. Best Song: Hey Jude Best Section: Carry That Weight (I like the drum part) Best moment: The build up & climax of A Day in the Life This is why I think the "LOVE" CD that came out last year was so excellent. It combined the best elements of a lot of songs. If you havent listened yet, go buy it now!
Records were $3.99 or $4.99 (most were $3.99), concert tickets were $3.00 to $5.00. When the best ticket went up to $6.00, there were demonstrations in front of the Music Hall and the Roman Barn. That's how I got into the Music Hall with a chick to see Spirit for free. I went to demonstrate and on a whim started trying the glass doors in the front (there were a long line of glass doors). One was unlocked, we walked in, walked up to the center aisle, and a sweet usherette asked for our tickets. When I shrugged and said we didn't have any, she said, "follow me!" and took us down to about the 3rd row center, where there were 2 empty seats. We sat down, and the concert started. One of my more vivid memories. Having said that, you're better off not being my age. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything, but I sure wish I could be a decade or two or three younger.
