The Beatles: Rubber Soul - The Departure Album

Thank God for the Beatles Podcast! co-hosts Karen and Jeff discuss how the Beatles grew up from adored moptops to artists creating a cohesive and timeless album. With the Rubber Soul album, the Beatles found a new way to record in the studio and satisfied their desire to explore new sounds in their songs.

✅ Subscribe, like and comment if you enjoyed the podcast.
The Thank God for the Beatles! podcast can be found on Anchor, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and other podcast platforms.

[mikeysaint]

I've only just discovered your channel, but 25 minutes into this episode I'm already impressed by the relaxed, informed discussion. There are myriad Beatles podcasts, but they're of varying quality. This seems like it could potentially be one of the best.

[davidkornblatt]

the sitar was first used arguably by The Kinks with See My Friends and/or in imitation by Jeff Beck with Heart Full Of Soul. But the Best use of it was Brian Jones with Paint It Black.

[carolynrabbani]

I think it is interesting Paul reached his full song writing maturity after John, since he is almost 2 years younger than John. As older adults, that hardly matters, but these guys were so young! Paul was what, 23 for Rubber Soul? Maybe still 22 when he wrote those songs, while John would have been 24, 25? Big difference at that time of life. George comes into his own a little later still, as he is even younger than Paul. Just an observation.

[farrellmcnulty]

GIRL - I had no idea Paul wrote that bit about "when she was young..." at the end of the song. I'd assumed it was John all this time, it sounds like him, and it doesn't sound at all like Paul. Nice surprise.

[mikeysaint]

Two years on, my second listen and my second quick comment. Thank you both for not being part of the crowd who insist that I've Just Seen a Face should have been on the album. It shouldn't. It was a Help! track, and that's where it belongs.

[joehinojosa]

"Yesterday "was Like that. Showed Beatles crossing over to more classical territories

[jackzaccardi]

Great album but I've Just Seen a Face from the US version seems to fit better than Drive My Car to open the album. DMC would have worked better on Revolver.

[carolinehills]

Great work The Beatles on my favourite band of all time and rubber soles probably one of my favourite albums of all time probably my favourite Beatle down with that or revolver or other board is not a bad track and roller saw the album it's just phenomenal vocals and harmonies and guitar playing it's not a bad track on the album it's fantastic

[tonyfluxman]

Vey nicely done. Should have more views.

[bajahehe]

I really like yer voice. This is better than online math y'know.

[dennispepperack]

Yes, George nicked If I Needed Someone from The Byrds' Bells of Rhymney. And was rated enough by the band that it became a staple of their '66 tour.

[farrellmcnulty]

I keep thinking Jeff is Bruce Spizer. I was looking for his name on here.

[jnagarya]

"Newbies" talk about "Revolver, " but "Rubber Soul" was a REVOLUTION.

[MichaelWarchol]

I will be the voice of dissent and say that the U.S. version of Rubber Soul is the superior version of.the album. I’ve Just Seen a face is the perfect song to open the album. The same can be said for Its Only Love opening Side two. Drive My Car is a good song, with clever lyrics, but it is harsh and sounds closer to old school Beatles. What Goes On is just plain weak with s weak melody and simple lyrics. It sounds like a tune that should have been on With The Beatles. For one time Capitol got it right.

[thumbsaloft]

Some good songs, but for me, Rubber Soul was when the Beatles slowed down and stopped rocking. I prefer the earlier Beatles.

[Wheatsolo]

You could make arguments that 'A Hard Days Night, ' 'Beatles for Sale, ' and 'Help!' were departure albums. To me Rubber Soul was a continuation of unique arrangements from 'Hard Days' the 60's rock and dark tone of 'Beatles for Sale' and the more eclectic song-writing of 'Help!'

The only truly throw-a-way album of The Beatles is 'With The Beatles' because John himself admits to wanting cash in before they lost popularity so let's just make the same thing. 'Beatles for Sale' can be argued as weak due to it's reliance on covers. 'Magical Mystery Tour' wasn't an LP, and 'Let it Be' has so many issues beyond recording... it's hard to judge it fairly.

Also, they started smoking pot while recording 'Beatles for Sale.' The Beatles themselves said they smoked pot all day long during filming and recording 'Help!'

Your best point is their collaboration goes beyond a middle 8 to track to track. There are flashes in earlier albums, but George Martin, along with John and Paul, focused on self-referential rhythms and melodies album-wide.

'Beatles for Sale' and 'Help!' were even more so John albums. Mainly due to Paul's distractions with Jane Asher which had him considering launching a solo career.

The Beatles catalog isn't as simple as Abbey Road was the end, and there's a departure album.