Arguably, two of the Beatles' best albums are Rubber Soul and Revolver, both of which closed their "safe era" of formulaic songwriting. These discs were the precursor to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which, under the inventive genius of Sir. George Martin, broke every rule in the songbook.
The Beatles released Rubber Soul on Dec. 6, 1965, and Revolver on Aug. 8, 1966. Both albums are wonderful listens with simple chord structures, snapshots of those sensitive years between the gunning down of JFK and the Summer of Love.
There are many similarities between the two albums, starting with the traditional seven songs per side, 14 songs per album. For George Harrison, the quiet Beatle, these albums demonstrate his emergence as a songwriter.
America, which had just been introduced to the Beatles in '64, was crazy for the Fab Four. Beatlemania was in full swing, a pop-culture diversion from the Vietnam War. It was Rubber Soul and Revolver, near mirror images, that supplied Top 40 radio with a seemingly endless soundtrack.
So which album is better? The easiest way to answer this question is to match both albums head to head, song for song. This is wildly subjective, of course, but since when does any Beatles discussion or debate resemble science?
The criteria is threefold: song structure, lyrics and relevance in 2005. After 40 years, which album has been able to best weather the test of time?
Drive My Car vs. Taxman:
Tough way to start, but Drive My Car is one of the Beatles' best straightforward uptempo classics. The song is so good that Sir Paul McCartney used it to open his recent Super Bowl set. Harrison is ultra-hip on Taxman, but there's nothing like Drive My Car's opening guitar riff.
Edge: Rubber Soul
Norwegian Wood vs. Eleanor Rigby:
Another tough call, but the simplicity of just McCartney with strings on Eleanor Rigby was beyond brilliant and still is today. Norwegian Wood is romantic and dreamy but lacks the courage of Eleanor Rigby, one of the purest sounding Beatles songs.
Edge: Revolver
You Won't See Me vs. I'm Only Sleeping:
Both tracks are on the weak side, in comparison to the volume of work on these discs. I'm Only Sleeping gets the nod with better lyrics and a groovier guitar vibe.
Edge: Revolver
Nowhere Man vs. Love You Too:
Nowhere Man is the legendary lyrical loser with no peer. Beautiful harmonies with superb production. Nice sitar work on Love You Too, but Nowhere Man is more of a classic.
Edge: Rubber Soul
Think for Yourself vs. Here, There and Everywhere:
Here, There and Everywhere is one of the greatest love songs ever written and a McCartney staple. Once again, sorry George. Paul has you beat again.
Edge: Revolver
The Word vs. Yellow Submarine:
This one was tough. The Word is a very underrated song, but Ringo gets the edge here with his trippy underwater diddy. The wacky sound effects were cutting-edge production for '66 and the vocals are very cool.
Edge: Revolver
Michelle vs. She Said She Said:
No contest here. She Said She Said is one of the ultimate Beatle rockers and Michelle is kind of a wimpy, sappy effort that gets a lot of elevator air time these days. My Bell? C'mon.
Edge: Revolver
What Goes On vs. Good Day Sunshine:
One of the best examples of classic optimism, Good Day Sunshine is something to be hummed every morning in the shower. Lennon's What Goes On is OK, but not real memorable.
Edge: Revolver
Girl vs. And Your Bird Can Sing
Another no-brainer. The guitar work on And Your Bird Can Sing is wonderfully mixed. Girl is a hokey McCartney B track. And what's up with that weird inhaling sound? It's like Paul is eating spaghetti.
Edge: Revolver
I'm Looking Through You vs. For No One:
McCartney and Lennon's harmonizing on I'm Looking Through You illustrates that vintage Beatles sound. For No One is a good song, but it doesn't measure up here.
Edge: Rubber Soul
In My Life vs. Doctor Robert:
Another easy one. In My Life is one of the greatest songs of all time. Lyrically brilliant, there are very few peers of songs at this tempo. Dr. Robert is a cool Lennon track, but it's up against solid gold.
Edge: Rubber Soul
Wait vs. I Want to Tell You:
Two weak songs. Harrison's I Want to Tell You is a better song, but these songs are bottom tier here. The lyrics in Wait are very corny.
Edge: Revolver
If I Needed Someone vs. Got to Get You Into My Life:
Another nod for George, who emerges as a songwriting force with this effort. If I Needed Someone is a great, great song that never received the radio airplay it deserved.
Edge: Rubber Soul
Run for Your Life vs. Tomorrow Never Knows:
Another easy one. Tomorrow Never Knows is trippy, hip, relevant and was a sign of bigger things to come. This would have easily fit on Pepper or the White Album. Run for Your Life hints at domestic abuse. Kind of an odd track.
Edge: Revolver
Final score: Revolver 9, Rubber Soul 5.
I think both albums are great. How can you pick one over the other? If I had to choose, I'd probably pick Rubber Soul. Just my opinion.
Posted by: Seth | May 16, 2005 at 01:19 PM
Congratulations from Barcelona.
My favorite album is RUBBER SOUL.
The Beatles forever !!!!!
Posted by: David Berzal | December 20, 2005 at 12:23 PM
It's not "My Bell" on 'Michelle.' It's "Ma Belle", which translates to "my beautiful one." I agree with your evaluation of the song, but you got that part wrong.
Posted by: Richard | January 30, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Trying to compare Rubber Soul and Revolver is as stupid as trying to compare each of the Beatles to one another. It's pointless. Secondly John Lennon mostly wrote and sang 'Girl', not Paul.
Posted by: Ian | August 19, 2009 at 12:25 AM
LOL Paul sang "Girl"? I don't think so.
Posted by: Kman | November 13, 2009 at 06:16 PM
lol, this guys got no idea what hes talking about.
Posted by: Nic | September 14, 2010 at 10:58 PM
I disagree with a lot of this, I love "Girl". I personally think "Got to get you into my life" is better as well.
Posted by: Colton | December 02, 2010 at 02:00 AM
Why argue?!?
Check out http://beatlesbattle.com/ and find out which you like more!
Posted by: Matt | August 29, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Personally, I feel if you are to compare these albums, you need to compare them on there so called weaknesses, if indeed there are any. I feel that Rubber Soul wins with only Ringo's "song" as a possible dip in quality. Revolver has songs that are truly "next step" creations, but when you compare songs like Eleanor Rigby or Here, There, and Everywhere to Doctor Robert or And Your Bird Can Sing, there are greater dips in quality of material. But not with Georges material! A tough call, but I feel Rubber Soul is a more even "listen".
Posted by: Maij | March 19, 2012 at 02:41 PM
There's a few errors in this post,
What Goes On is a Ringo song, for example.
Personally I think Revolver edges Rubber Soul, but barely.
Posted by: Gogo | June 10, 2012 at 09:45 PM
mmm...apples and oranges, imho...both are truly incredible albums...just depends on the mood i'm in.
Posted by: Prij2112 | March 09, 2014 at 09:09 AM