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Rubber Soul: From Zero-to-Masterpiece in 30 Days

rubber soul

By 1965, The Beatles had already rocked the world with their music and films. They maintained a punishing schedule in order to stay at the top of the proverbial heap. Their lives were a predictable but chaotic cocktail of concert touring, press appearances, and recording. They had little time to think, much less write new music. Brian Epstein, The Beatles’ manager, put the group on a schedule of two albums and two singles a year. In 1963 and 1964, The Beatles’ fans had been rewarded with albums like Please Please Me and A Hard Day’s Night and singles like “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” This pace continued in early 1965 with the release of their fifth album, Help!, and the single “I Feel Fine.”

By the time October rolled around, The Beatles had still not begun work on their second album for 1965 — an album that would need to be in the stores by mid-November for the Christmas season. Moreover, The Beatles’ grueling schedule was taking its toll. Their list of new songs to record was shorter than it had ever been. Most groups would probably have churned out a covers album for Christmas. The Beatles knew hundreds of songs that they could have easily recorded in no time at all. But The Beatles weren’t just any group. They set about creating one of the greatest albums ever, Rubber Soul, an album full of spectacular songwriting and equally magnificent performances.

Rolling Stone ranked it #5 of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” Within the same thirty days in which Rubber Soul was recorded, they also recorded and released the first double A-side single, “We Can Work It Out” backed by “Day Tripper.” How did The Beatles manage to write, record, and mix this remarkable album in only thirty days?

 

Scott Freiman  (photo: Getty Images)

PS. For more Deconstructing The Beatles videos, check out our posts on Sgt. Pepper, Revolver, “Penny Lane,” “A Day In The Life,” and “P.S. I Love You.”


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10 comments on “Rubber Soul: From Zero-to-Masterpiece in 30 Days

  1. Todd Perkins

    This is a wonderful and fascinating series!! Sadly, I’ve never gotten to see more than little bits, as local theatres are not going to play them. I feel this is something that enough of a niche market that Scott would be served better by having these available online….I know I’d order them!!

  2. MARK ZUCCO

    COME TO PITTSBURGH! Especially the Hollywood Theater in Dormont, which is a great independent neighborhood theater. Here’s a Facebook link; https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodTheaterDormont/

  3. Lenny D.

    I don’t see the logic of releasing this series only in movie theaters for 1 day. The only reason I can think of is if they are trying to win an academy award for best documentary. And that’s a long shot. This series on the Beatles was made for home video. They would make a lot more money that way. We have been waiting for over a year to see just one of the series. Every B movie makes it to home video in record time. Why not Deconstucting the Beatles ?

    • Thanks for writing, Lenny. We are SO not angling for an Oscar. The theatres play us at their discretion, and that’s why the runs are often so short. We are working on a possible home media release, and will let you know when we have some news.

    • Lenny D. and everyone, it is all available on DVD now! Google it! 😃

  4. Basil Rosco

    First generation fans have heard all this before anyway

  5. The current Rolling Stone “best albums” has “Rubber Soul” at #35. “Abbey Road” is #5. FWIW.

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