Plastic Soul, man, plastic soul
 Dec 2nd, 2003
(Jun 11th, 2004)
Advantages:
The Beatles
Disadvantages:
None
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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  BLUESY
About me:
I'm from Cádiz (Spain), and I'm here to improve my english with your appreciated help, ciao!
Member since:02.09.2003
Reviews:29
Members who trust:56
Review rated by 58 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
Hi:
'Rubber Soul' was one of the two 1965's albums, the first one was 'Help'. The name of the album was decided during the recording sessions od 'Can't buy me love', not included in this album. The thing is that Paul McCartney was saying 'plastic soul, man, plastic soul' in every break of this recording session. This 'plastic soul' was the way black singers used to call The Rolling Stones, because they used to sing in this black soul way. So, Lennon said: "well, if the Stones are 'plastic soul, we'll be 'rubber soul'". And that's the story of the name of the album.
The cover's got another interesting story. They were having a photograph session with their usual photographer at Lennon's garden. This man made some mistake with the focus, so the photographs happened to be unfocus, and a bit deformed. But the bealtes liked it, so they decided that photograph would be the cover for their next album. Another story about this album. Now, every beatles fan knows there was a lot of changes in beatles stuff. There are the pop years, from 1962 to 1965, and the 'best' years, from 1967 to the end. So there's one year missing, 1966, the year they released 'Revolver', an album considered the natural step between two diferent styles. The thing is that this 'Rubber Soul' was the REAL first step into this changes. 'Rubber Soul' is their first really good album, the first album to keep them inside the recording studios for a long period, so they could improve musically. In fact, this improvement was one of the main reasons for them to quit concerts and big gigs. But that would be the next year, 1966. Anyway, there are only two songs included in this album that would had been performed by the beatles in concert, and that's because their music was too complex to be performed in concerts. The Beatles music was improving too much, the concerts were almost over.
Anyway, as usual, I'll try and tell you who was the main composer of the songs included in this album, cause thou' almost all of them are Lennon-McCartney songs, in fact, the songs are written by Lennon or McCartney, but not by the two of them (usually). There's also a couple of Harrison songs
(he would own his own trademark, Harrisongs, from 1967 on). And there's also a little Ringo colaboration, a song writen by him with Lennon and McCartney colaboration. These are the songs of one of the best albums released by the Beatles (the very best, for sure, from 1962 to that 1965).
1. Drive my car (Lennon/McCartney)
Main Composer: McCartney, singer: McCartney/Lennon. This song starts with a guitar line by Harrison, and then join McCartney-s bass with a good riff. Paul sings this song with a "rocking" voice, with Lennon singing the whole song in the same low tune. There-s a bit of beatles clasical "pop", with these "pi, pi, pi, pi, yaeh!". A good rock song. Rate: 8/10
2. Norwegian Wood(This bird has flown) (Lennon/McCartney) Main Composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. This was the first song to include indian "sitar", played, of course, by Harrison. He was just learning how to play this complex instrument. Lennon heard him, and ask him to include something in a song he was working at, so Harrison wrote a simple riff, and it was finally included. So, as you see, it was not 1967s "Sgt. Peppers..." the first album to include this instrument in a beatles song. Anyway, the lirics are weird, but it was like this on porpouse, because what Lennon was talking about was the fact that he was having an "affair" with his neighbour (remenber he was married).
Rate: 8/10 3. You wont see me (Lennon/McCartney)
Main Composer: McCartney, singer: McCartney. Song about not been listened by your girlfriend, and about leaving her one day. There are lovely second voices sung by Lennon and Harrison, that reminds a bit the early years of this band. A very goos love song. Rate: 8/10
4. Nowhere man (Lennon/McCartney) Main Composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. This is the first Lennon/McCartney song that is NOT about love (it took 4 years to write a non love song...). The song, writen by Lennon, talks abut him and his feelings of been with a lot of people always, but after all, been alone. He IS the nowhere man, and the song, one of the best of the album, included a bridge with very nice second voices, and a great guitar solo played by Harrison. This is one of the two songs from the album that the Beatles would play in concert.
Rate: 10/10 5. Think for yourself (Harrison):
Main Composer: Harrison, singer: Harrison. One of the two Harrison songs included in this album. In this song McCartney plays, as usual, bass guitar. But he played it using distorsion pedals, in a time there where not distorsion pedals for bass guitar, so he used a guitar distorsion pedal, for the first time ever, playing bass. The thing is he told years before he didnt really liked the efect of this pedal, and thats why he would never usse it again. Now there are special distorsion pedal for basses, so I could say this pedal was McCartneys invention... Rate: 7/10
6. The Word (Lennon/McCartney): Main composer: Lennon/McCartney, singer: Lennon/McCartney. A song composed by Lennon and McCartney together, and also sung by the two of them. Not included in the bests songs from this album, but not a bad one. Theres a keyboards solo played by the producer of the album, George martin.
Rate: 7/10 7. Michelle (Lennon/McCartney)
Main composer: McCartney, singer: McCartey. After the big succes achieved with Yesterday that very year (included in the album Help), McCartney tried to write another "professional" song, and the result was this Michelle, writen to a french girlfriend/lover. A very nice and slow love song, played with acoustic guitars, with lovely second voices sung by Lennon, Harrison and McCartney himself. Another great hit penned by McCartney, and with thousands of cover from them to now. Rate: 9/10
8. What goes on (Lennon/McCartney/Starkey) Main composer: Lennon/McCartney/Starkey, singer: Starkey (Ringo). The only song included in this album penned by Ringo ¿with Lennon and McCartneys colaboration). Ringo is also the singer, with "nasal" voice, but not bad. I think the best thing of this song are these riffs played by Harrison, and the guitar solo, played also by him. Lennon and McCartney are also the singers, in a high(McCartney) and low (Lennon) tune, that are perfectly mixed with Ringos tune of voice. A good song, and probably, one of the best penned by Ringo.
Rate: 9/10 9. Girl (Lennon/McCartney):
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. This is one of my favourites songs of this album (probably, my favourite). Penned by Lennon, this sad love song was lovely sung by Lennon, with McCartney and Harrison singing second voices. Acoustic guitars and a slow and quiet drums by Ringo made a great song, one of the best of this album, and of the Beatles. The only thing I dont really like is the bridge part, with those noisy second voices... Rate: 10/10
10. Im looking through you (Lennon/McCartney): Main composer: McCartney, singer: McCartney. Nice acoustic intro for this nice pop/rock song penned by McCartney. It talks about seen how your gisrlfriend is changing, but you can see and feel these changes. A very good song, not very famous, but good.
Rate: 8/10 11. In my life (Lennon/McCartney):
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. If there wasnt "girl" included in this album, Id say this "In my life" is the best one of "Rubber Soul". Its a love song, but not only love for a woman, but for places of your childhood, people you have meet during your life, and also, for a woman, the bigger love. Theres a piano solo, permorfed by George Martin, that is just great. Good, good, goos song... Rate: 10/10
12. Wait (Lennon/McCartney): Main composer: Lennon/McCartney, singer: Lennon/McCartney. Another real Lennon and Mccartney colaboration, for a simple song. Thogh simple, a good one, but not from the bests...
Rate: 7/10 13. If I needed someone (Harrison):
Main composer: Harrison, singer: Harrison. The second and last song penned by Harrison included in this album. And also, the second and last song of this album that the Bealtes would perform in concerts. Theres a good guitar riff, but I think this is not the best song penned by Harrison at all, though is not a bad one... Rate:7/10
14. Run for your life (Lennon/McCartney): Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. The last song of the album, penned and sung by Lennon. The lyrics are, maybe, ofensive. It talks about jealousing (sorry, dont know if its perfectly spelt this word). The song says things like this: "Id rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man", or "if I catch with abother man, thats the end, little girl", or "you better keep your head little girl, or I wont know where I am". In fact, Lennon hated this song because of this lyrics, but it was finally included (and Im gratefull, because is a good rock and roll song, that included good electric guitars riffs, solos and also good slides techniques).
Rate: 9/10
And this is all, 14 songs that made a maybe too short album (just around 35 minutes, the only disadvantage). And as I always do, here is the list of the musicians, that you might already know:
-John Lennon: Rhythm Guitar, lead vocals, vocals.
-Paul McCartney: Bass guitar, lead vocals and vocals.
-George Harrison: Lead guitar, lead vocals and vocals
-Ringo Starr: Drums and lead vocals.
-George Martin: Fifth beatle, piano, keyboards and producer....
Ciao!!
BLUESY
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11.01.2006 00:17
Good review, well written and structured nicely, well done, roll on 2006 (-:
26.10.2004 17:35
This is my fav - How can you give Norwegian Wood just 8/10!
05.09.2004 16:19
It's good to see the songs composed by Harrison included on this. Maureen