Reprise » My Only and One: Rubber Soul
With this month’s release of The Beatles U.S. albums by Capitol Records and my ongoing re-appreciation of the group’s library of songs, I’ve decided to reprise a series arc from the archives. Each a short post of the British albums on The Lads official list.
From these, in the order as they are in 2009’s remastered stereo set, I’ll list their songs from the spotlighted album and pick two:
- the only – if I could only listen to one track, the best song that exemplifies the album, it would be this number
- the one – if I could pick a single tune that doesn’t get either the play or the credit it deserves, it’s this one
Rubber Soul
Drive My Car
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
You Won’t See Me
Nowhere Man
Think For Yourself
The Word
Michelle
What Goes On
Girl
I’m Looking Through You
In My Life
Wait
If I Needed Someone
Run For Your Life
The Beatles Rubber Soul album would be the first of theirs to not display the name of the group on its cover. Released by Parlophone on 3 December, 1965 to capitalize on another Christmas season, the LP would probably be the key indicator of the changes, musically and inspirationally, The Lads would embark on.
My Only: In My Life. I so struggled with this selection when I originally looked at this. With tracks like Nowhere Man, Michelle, Norwegian Wood, I’m Look Through You, and Drive My Car, it shows the complex strength of this album — and why it was so hard to choose. But, I settled on this remarkable and touching ballad because its lyrics mean more to me now than when I first heard them. It is my close second in my personal Top Ten of Beatles songs, too.
My One: Think For Yourself. I know this makes it a pattern. Yes, it’s another George Harrison cut. But, that wasn’t the reason I selected it here. Besides its relevant lyrics, it’s a song filled with some great guitar riffs — along with a signature fuzz bass — that doesn’t get enough play. There, I said it.
What would be your Only and One for this album?
The entire series can be found here.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
10 Responses to “Reprise » My Only and One: Rubber Soul”
This choice is even tougher then the last album as you have so many amazing songs. I would say you made the pick I would make for the only.
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Great to have your comment, mummbles. Yeah, depending on the album some choices are definitely harder than others. Thanks, my friend.
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In My Life is my favourite Beatles song. It would be my Only, it is hard to believe that there is a Beatles song that needs more attention or love. I’m Looking Through You would be the default choice for the One.
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A great one, for sure, to have as your favorite, Richard. Wonderful to have you chime in on this. Many thanks, my friend.
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Great album! My two would be both Lennon songs here…IN MY LIFE and NOWHERE MAN.
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It was that, wasn’t it? Yours another great pair of song, John. Many thanks. 🙂
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[…] what The Lads started doing in recording sessions and the booth from Rubber Soul on, guess it shouldn’t surprise to have gravitated toward a group like “the Dan.” […]
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[…] much as the Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band album further refined what The Lads started with Rubber Soul and the epiphany of Revolver, its real effect was the cumulative and creative breakthrough it […]
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[…] ever, repeated itself musically for what they had stamped on to vinyl. Especially from 1965’s Rubber Soul on through to their final album2. This compilation is at times warm, even playfully humorous, but […]
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[…] ever, repeated itself musically for what they had stamped on to vinyl. Especially from 1965’s Rubber Soul on through to their final […]
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