Revolver [UK]
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Revolver wouldn't remain the Beatles' most ambitious LP for long, but many fans--including this one--remember it as their best. An object lesson in fitting great songwriting into experimental production and genre play, this is also a record whose influence extends far beyond mere they-was-the-greatest cheerleading. Putting McCartney's more traditionally melodic "Here, There and Everywhere" and "For No One" alongside Lennon's direct-hit sneering ("Dr. Robert") and dreamscapes ("I'm Only Sleeping," "Tomorrow Never Knows") and Harrison's peaking wit ("Taxman") was as conceptually brilliant as anything Sgt. Pepper attempted, and more subtly fulfilling. A must. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (668)

Got To Get This Into Your LIfe
Lets get right to it, shall we? Revolver is a pretty good Cd, and although there were really only two hits on this album, most, if not all, of these songs are quite amazing. This is the official transition from the early, touring, ed sullivan appearing, drug-free beatles, to the drug-addled, beautifully lyrics, and innovative sounds.

Taxman- A good opener. George Harrison was my fave Beatle, but still, a good song. I especially like the intro, and the song takes a lot of influence from the old Batman theme song. 8/10

Eleanor Rigby- A great song, classic. Love the string selection, extremely sad, yet very thougt-provoking, and McCartney is awesome in this song. Great vocals. 9/10

I'm Only Sleeping- In my opinion, the best song on the album. Incredibly underrated, amazing lyrics, catchy tune, awesome chorus and verses, and classic Lennon vocals. Crazy how awesome this song is. I really, really love it! 10

Love You To- Another Harrison song. Pretty awesome intro, cool lyrics, and his voice is pretty awesome to boot. George is the only one playing on this track, and uses his beloved sitar, first used on Norwegian Wood (Rubber Soul). This track ends the energy-filled start of the album temporarily, but the energy will come back quite soon. 8/10

Here, There, And Everywhere- A great ballad by McCartney, with a very catchy tune, and awesome guitar in the background. Very realxing, a great love song. Continues the pause of the uptempo songs in the beggining of the album. 8/10

Yellow Submarine- Pretty good song for the kiddies, good lyrics, Ring does a pretty good job, but the song soon gets incredibly annoying. 6/10

She Said She Said- Written by Lennon during an acid trip w/ George and Peter Gonda. Apparently, George had such a horrible trip that he saw visions of his own death, and was totally "freaking out, man." But, Peter Fonda, who almost killed himself when he was a little boy, calmed George down. He kept saying, "I know what it's like to be dead," thus leading to that line in the song. Good sound, even better story. Also resets the album with a heavy chorus.7/10

Good Day SUnshine-Written by Paul, a nice little diddy with great sound. 7/10

And Your Bird Can Sing-John, who wrote this awesome song, hated it and even went as far as to say, "That song was a piece of trash, a piece of Sh*t," in an interview. A little harsh, considering that the guitar here is pretty awesome and strong for a beatles tune. 9/10

For No One- Pretty boring...sounds sorta cool..yeeah...(cough)..6/10

Doctor Robert- About Robert Freymann, adoctor who supplied celebs with drugs and stuff. Awesome song, will grow on you, especially the "Well. well, well, you're feeling down.." part. 8/10

I Want To Tell You-Another Harrison song, with a pretty cool intro. natch. 8/10

Tommorow Never Knows- Tied for the best song along with "I'm Only Sleeping," throughout the whole song is a c-pedal playing, and Lennon again is uncanny on this drug-influenced track. 10

Basically, it goes like this; 4th-rubber soul, 3rd-Revolver,2nd-Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band, and the best ever is Abbey Road.

The Revolutionary Groundbreaker of Music History
Revolver is without a doubt the most statistically and musically the greatest album of all time. For more than one reason. One is that you can literally listen to this album and not skip a song because its not good.You can listen to it the whole way through. Not many albums have achieved that.And second, near the end of the album, you get a sense of musical satisfaction that literally hasnt been achieved since this album or the legandary Dark Side of the Moon. Many say that Sgt. Pepper was the ground breaker for the Beatles and rock. But Revolver was the real groundbreaker. With every song as good as the one before it. I give to you, the Revolutionary, awe inspiring, musically changing, REVOLVER!

Pure sh**!
This is pure sh**! Led zeppelin and Black sabbath stared making great rock music...this album is awful! ... Read more

Asin: B000002UAR
Subjects:  1. Lo-Fi    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with "A Little Help" from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon's evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," the carnival-like "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite") and McCartney's music hall-styled "When I'm 64," to Harrison's Eastern-leaning "Within You Without You," and the avant-garde mini-suite, "A Day in the Life," Sgt.Pepper was a milestone for both '60s music and popular culture.--Billy Altman ... Read more

Features

• Deluxe Edition

Reviews (914)

The Four Horsemen Triumph Again
The argument over which Beatles album is best will never end with this album vying with Revolver etc for the title.Personally I think it's Abbey Road but Sgt Pepper is very close,and if in the right mood maybe my favorite.These things change ya know!
Now the songs,not a weak one among them as the Beatles perfect psychedelic music and make rock music a bonafide art form.As the reviewer states no one took rock seriously until Sgt Pepper though an argument could be made that Revolver also did. The album itself is a melange,yes a melange! of quirky english psychedelia,rock and old style english pop that some would say is the blueprint for brit-pop along with Revolver. Musical escapism at it's best and a testament to the unsurpassed musical genius of the Beatles.
Buy!!!

MASTERPIECE!!!
No, Just kidding. This album isnt worth the time the beatles spent making it. A truly weak and dissapointing effort.

Beatles Masterpeice
When they released this album,The Beatles themselves were wondering what would happen.But it seemed that everything they touched turned out brilliant.
The CD starts off with the title song Sgt Pepper.You hear the crowd and bang it starts.The title song is simply the beatles at thir best.Its a great way to start the CD,but everyone except for the teeny boppers must know these songs.
Next is With A Little Help From My Friends,and Ringo sings this one and i love it.All the members had good voices,and Ringos friendly voice was spot on with this song.
Then comes John's classic Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.Its a slow song but addictive like a drug,perhaps like LSD.
I love the next 2 songs Getting Better and Fixing A Hole.
She's Leaving Home is a slower song and while i like it,its not a fav of mine on the CD.
Then comes Being For The Benifit Of Mr.Kite.This song has alot of weird sounds in it.Over dubbing with a tape of an old piano they chopped into peices,then stuck it all back together again and thats how it turned out.That freaky bit at the end is amazing and i realy love this song.
Then comes the brilliant supurb Within Without You,great Indian tune,yeah right,yuck.How on earth this song made it to the album god knows.It was rumored that the laughing at the end was the other 3 beatles laughing it was finally over.But they said it was to bring back the happy spirit of the album.
When I'm 64 is a great song with a real catchy tune.Lovely Rita is good also.Then comes Good Morning Good Morning,they got the name from a Cornflakes add.Lots of animal noises in this one,and of course its a good song.Man i love the reprise of Sgt Pepper,gets me singing every time.
The comes the final song A Day In The Life.A kind of weird tune but its a Beatle classic.
And at the end is the 2 second long inner groove.
This is one hell of a good CD. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UAU
Subjects:  1. British Invasion    2. British Psychedelia    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Psychedelic    8. Rock    9. Rock & Roll    10. Rock/Pop   

Abbey Road
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Beatles' last days as a band were as productive as any major pop phenomenon that was about to split. After recording the ragged-but-right Let It Be, the group held on for this ambitious effort, an album that was to become their best-selling. Though all four contribute to the first side's writing, John Lennon's hard-rocking, "Come Together" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" make the strongest impression. A series of song fragments edited together in suite form dominates side two; its portentous, touching, official close ("Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End") is nicely undercut, in typical Beatles fashion, by Paul McCartney's cheeky "Her Majesty," which follows. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (844)

Beautiful Album
I wont bore you with things that have been said before about this masterpiece. These guys knew it was the end, and boy did they deliver.

Best Beatles Album, hands-down.

music for wankers
yes you red right, it pisses me off to listen to such bad and talentless music. This band should quit right now. The only good song is not on this CD. Try Prince's sign o' the times and Inca son first before you lose yourself COMPLETELY in the barren landscape of rok musick.

Peter Penn

ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM!!!!!
It's strange to think that this turned out to be their Swan Song as this is better than most bands are at their peak.

All the turmoil and distrust that must have surrounded the making of this and the previous album Let it Be (although Let it Be would be the bands final release in 1970) yet they some how constrive to make on of the greatest albums ever.

There are so many highlights, Come Together,Summer Son, Octopusses Garden, I want you (she's so heavy), but the main attraction of the album is the intergation of tunes from You never gave me your money to polythene Pam, and She came through the bathroom window to End.

This section is pure genius, and is worth buying for that alone.

Like this album, why not try:

A Hard Days Night
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt Peppers
The White Album ... Read more

Asin: B000002UB3
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. British Psychedelia    3. England    4. Hard Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Prog-Rock/Art Rock    8. Psychedelic    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll    11. Sunshine Pop   

Rubber Soul [UK]
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $18.98 -- our price: $13.49
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Rank 'em how you like, Rubber Soul is an undeniable pivot point in the Fab Four's varied discography no matter where, or how, you first heard it. The album was softened up in its original12-song American edition to jibe with the Dylan/Byrds folk-rock sound, as well as squeeze money from the Parlophone catalog. The 14-song U.K. edition--the version now available on compact disc--is a different, more dynamic, and ultimately more accomplished achievement. So many classics: "Drive My Car" and "Nowhere Man" (both omitted from the U.S. edition) merge the early combustible Beatifics to a burgeoning studio consciousness; "The Word" can be read as a pre-psych warning shot; the sitar-laden "Norwegian Wood" and the evocative "Girl" (the latter written on the last night of the sessions) stand as turning points in John Lennon's oeuvre. George finally emerges too, with the McGuinn-ish "If I Needed Someone." --Don Harrison ... Read more

Reviews (483)

the first Beatles masterpiece
RUBBER SOUL remains a milestone in The Beatles' recording careers.It ushered in their most celebrated and sophisticated musical phase that is unrivalled to this day.

In the 20 months since The Beatles landed in America to the time the band recorded this album, rock 'n' roll had undergone a revolution, sparked by The Beatles themselves.The British invasion inspired Bob Dylan to go electric, while The Beatles converted the L.A. folk quartet, The Byrds, to replace their acoustic guitars with electric music.Add to this the whiff of American grass and you get the influences which shaped the late-1965 Beatles.

Above all, the Beatle's songwriting takes a big leap forward with RUBBER SOUL.For the first time John, Paul and George avoid the cliched boy-meets-girl songs and address introspective themes.Though RUBBER SOUL was widely viewed as Just Another Beatles Album in late-1965, some listners took notice of the words with as much care as they did Dylan albums.Some started to use the word "poetry" to describe Beatles music.

The album opens superbly with the funky Drive My Car which features a sharp vocal by Paul and a gorgeous bass influenced by Motown.John's Norwegian Wood is one of the record's highlights and introduces the sitar to Western ears.It obliquely tells of an affair John once had.You Won't See Me could've easily been a single.Paul's song, it is simply structured but strong.Nowhere Man was actually pulled as a single in the U.S. and is the first Beatles song not to talk about love or girls.John looks in the mirror and finds himself lost in a lyric that was one of his best (Dylan covered it many years later).George's Think For Yourself also steers away from the love song and features Paul playing the distinctive fuzz bass.The Word preceeds All You Need Is Love and discusses love not in boy-girl terms but universally (at a time when the Anti-War Movement was growing).Michelle closes side 1 in style.Love it or hate it, it is a fine love song with another great bass line.

Side 2 opens and closes with two disposable songs, What Goes On? and Run For Your Life.RUBBER SOUL would have been far better with the double-sided single, We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper, taking their place.However, the rest of side 2 shines with Girl and I'm Looking Through You -- John and Paul's complex views about women which are light-years away from She Loves You -- and In My Life which the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently named as the best song of all time.In My Life is a milestone in Lennon's career, featuring a nostalgic but bittersweet lyric.Lennon has never been this candid with his audience.Word is merely a leftover from the Help! sessions, though George's If I Needed Someone features the chiming Rickenbacker put to good use.

Today, RUBBER SOUL remains fresh.Amazingly, it was rush-recorded in two weeks with most of the songs written in the studio.John and Paul are at the height of their powers, while George is keeping pace with two songs instead of his customary one (or none).The album's acoustic sound allow's the band's maturing lyrics to be heard, while the arrangements are simple, yet intelligent.Few Beatles albums can rival RUBBER SOUL insongwriting.The sound of the album sounds unified which will pave the way for their next two albums, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper.RUBBER SOUL is The Beatles' first masterpiece.

Another Brilliant Beatle CD
The problem with saying which is your favourite Beatle album,is that there is so many good ones to choose from.This is a definite master peice.
I wont bother going through the songs and saying which ones are good and which ones are bad.There is no bad songs here.This album is consistent from start to finish.
It often amazes me that with all the modern tech,they cant better what The Beatles did.
What you have here is realy good tunes,something alot of modern singers struggle to do.
If its value for money you are looking for,get this.

Simply Put, Beautiful
I find Rubber Soul shines in almost every aspect as a studio album, and that was the real accomplishment for this album. Now to review some of the music.

We begin a great catchy tune, Drive My Car. A nice kick start to this impressive album, with a hard based rock style to it. Moving on, we get some lyrically beautiful songs, including You Won't See Me, a very likeable song, and in essence, I found it to be very representative of The Beatles as a band. More great music follows, as Nowhere Man is a strong, very lyricallydriven thing of beauty. A very impressive guitar solo as well compliment this track. Think For Yourself is overall very consistent lying among the group of songs on Rubber Soul, and, of course, it is great. Michelle is the typical ballad, with the glorious melody of the song, and John Lennon sending us to heaven with the lyrical delivery. Carries similarities to Yesterday, of the album Help! The album picks up its pace again with What Goes On, and I essentially found this to be a lowpoint of the album. It really isn't a very memorable song for me. Nevertheless, I enjoy listening to it. I'm Looking Through You seems to drive the album forward again, with heavier guitar riffs then usual constructed nicely around a catchy chorus. Another melodic song comes with In My Life, reflecting past times. A well written song, with a nice flow. The album finishes nicely, highlighted with Run For Your Life, lyrically exceptional, and the guitar melody is perfect.

Pyschedelia really wasn't present at the point of this release for The Beatles, and they kept their sound barriered. This is not in any way a criticism, however, I myself prefer the psychedelic sounds that they conveyed with Revolver. I am personally not a big fan of The White album though. Therefore this should be the one Beatles release that no one can complain about. This album is quite simply beautiful music, for most people, that's all that's important. So, to conclude, I highly recommend this is as one of the prime Beatles purchases, and along with Rubber Soul, I will highly recommend Revolver(my personal favourite), Abbey Road, Help!, Sgt. Peppers, and Magical Mystery Tour. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UAO
Subjects:  1. Bass    2. British Invasion    3. England    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Rock & Roll    9. Singer/Songwriter   

The Beatles (The White Album)
by Capitol
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $34.98 -- our price: $27.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Better known as the "White Album," this was meant to be the record that brought them back to earth after three years of studio experimentation. Instead, it took them all over the place, continuing to burst the envelope of pop music. Lennon and McCartney were still at the height of their powers, with Lennon in particular growing into one of rock's towering figures. But even McCartney could still rock, and the amazement on "Helter Skelter" was that he had vocal cords at the end. From Beach Boys knock-offs to reggae and to the unknown ("Revolution #9"), this has it all. Some records have legend written all over them; this is one. --Chris Nickson ... Read more

Reviews (866)

"White" is right
I was never a fan of Beatles. I grew up (like the rest of) being aurally assualted by them during every television docu-drama, in every elevator, amidst every familiy road trip. By the time I formed my own musical opinions, I was utterly turned off to anything Beatles so I'll be the first to admit that this cultural inundation prevented me from listening to their music with anything close to a fresh ear. For reasons I cant explain, I re-examined them toward the end of High School. I listened to all the records I was familiar with, namely everything before the White Album and I was impressed. They came up with one adorable melody after another, and paired them with simple lyrical conciets that scanned almost perfectly. None of the music gave me any visceral feeling of musical fulfillment but I must say that there were moments during Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour that came damn close.

A couple months later, I heard the White Album during (gee-wiz) a road trip. I recognized some songs (Ob-la-di, USSR, Blackbird) but most of it was entirely new to me. By the fifth track I began to get that feeling. What I found in the White Album was an intesity and vibrance that was missing from every other Beatles CD (Abbey Road has since become my second favorite). The thing that amazed me most was how or why Lennon and McCartney waited this long to start singing their songs with some fricken balls. There are pre-White Album moments mostly on Lennon tracks like "I am the Walrus," or "A Day in the Life" but thats just what they are, moments. The first disc starts off kind of lukewarm but picks up almost immediately with "Dear Prudence" and doesn't really begin to let up until near the end. To be sure, there are plently of weak spots: "Ob-la-di," "Dont Pass me by," "Birthday," "I Will," "Long Long Long," "Revolution #9," "Good Night" which is why most people are quick to critisize this opus since most Beatles albums dont have "weak spots." Then again, most Beatles albums dont even come close to the White Albums high points of which there are plenty. Harrisons compositions are generally weaker but succeed (for the most part) on sheer ingenuity. Ringo's song is a good effort but pretty disposable. But even McCartney who provides most of the albums cheese, pulls "Helter Skelter" out of his hat which is quite possibly the greatest Beatles recording I've ever heard. Each song on the album displays an interesting musical idea and is worth listening to but in the end, the album belongs to Lennon. Every one of his tracks (with the exception of his lengthy Cagian exercise) hits the mark. He succeeds on song after song at being personal, witty, and utterly euphonious all at the same time and he seems to do it more effortlessly than any other Beatle. Thats not to say he didn't struggle with his compositions. Songwriting is hard work even for a musical genius. Lennons specific genius is his ability to compose songs which SEEM effortless and natural as opposed to McCartney's more contrived approach. Nowhere is this temperamental difference more apparent than on the White Album which is one explaination for why its completely schizo.

This lack of coherence provides most of the fuel for White Album detractors who just cant seem to accept the arguement that the very absence of a unifying concept is, in itself, a concept. This was an experimental album in more ways than one in that it SEEMS to force the listener into a song by song experience SEEMINGLY providing a stark contrast to Abbey Road which is nothing if nota cohesive whole. I believe The White Album can be experienced the same way, though. That is, in fact, why we call it the White Album. Or more accurately, that is why the Beatles didn't give it a real name and made the cover white. You sit back and listen to an array of songs (colors) which are very different (blue, yellow, green, red) when experienced seperately but can also be experienced together as well (white-assuming these colors are light based) thus bringing the listener into a trance-like meditative state--and the Indian influence thus rears its ugly head. In this way, all the supposed filler and mediocre songs serve a purpose. Epstiens death and the ensuing lack of leadership is not the unfortunate cause of the White Album as many people are wont to claim. The Beatles were perfectly capable of not making silly crap like "Wild Honey Pie," "Piggies," or "Martha my Dear." They where perfectly capable of opting for a single disc full of grandiose themes and top 40 hits. Instead they chose to make one of the greatest CDs of all time

Experimental, thought provoking music
I am mainly writing this review to clear up one thing. I have read reviews from other people saying that "kids should not be able to review" because they "don't have good music opinions". Well guess what? I am 14 years old. I have every Beatles album past Revolver, every Led Zeppelin album, about 7 Pink Floyd CDs, and a lot more. 99% of the music I listen to is from the 60s and 70s. So don't go saying that kids have horrible music opinions.
Anyways, on to the review.
This is an incredible album. Aside from Pink Floyd's The Wall I think this is the greatest double album ever. It is very interesting to watch the band progress from around the Revolver days where they worked together on everything, to albums like this and Abbey Road where you could tell it was only one member working on an individual song. Some of my favorite songs are "Helter Skelter", "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" (which great guitars provided by Eric Clapton), "Happiness is a Warm Gun", and "I'm So Tired". The reason this did not get 5-stars from me is I only assign albums 5-stars if they are the best by that particular band. I happen to feel that this is not the best by The Beatles, I think that award goes to Let it Be. Many people may disagree, but that is my opinion. If you like this album, you should also listen to the rest of The Beatles later material, andsome of the bands it sounded like they were immitating, i.e. The Beach Boys. One of the other reasons I gave it 4-stars was because I have this on Vinyl, and in the booklet it has information that was not on the original album, and I was not informed that that would be there. I do not have a problem with that, but I think I should have been told. However, that should not stop you from buying this album. I think you get a much greater experience listening to it if you do with the music up and the lights off.

So please do not click the "No" button below saying you did not find it unhelpful because I only gave it 4-stars or because I am 14 years old, actually listen to what I have to say before deciding to click it.

The second best beatles album (first is abbey road)
i love this album, and about a year ago, i hated the Beatles and didn't know this particular album even existed. I told one of my friends how i thought they were just a stupid sixties pop group, and he told me that the early stuff they did was just that, stupid pop, but that the later stuff, such as Srg. Peppers, The White Album, and Abbey Road, was not. He by some chance had gotten the white album on vinyl from a relative and i gave a listen, and i was so surprised. I thought to myself, wow, this is actually music, not just crap. to this day i still don't like their voices, but i have to say that songs like Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Rocky Raccoon, Julia, Helter Skelter, Revolution, Blackbird, and almost every single song out of Abbey Road, have changed my idea of the Beatles and changed me. Now i like the Beatles a lot, and think that they have written some of the best songs of all time. Its like their a standard. I've never met someone who has never liked at least a couple of classic Beatles songs. but i advise to go for their last four or so albums, because i still think that their early stuff (before Srg. Peppers) is just crappy early sixties pop. I advise to listen to and love The White Album, Abbey Road, Srg. Peppers, Let it Be, and Magical Mystery Tour, because those albums really are apart of the best music of the sixties, and some of the most well written music of all time. I personally suggest the White Album, if your new to these guys. ... Read more

Asin: B000002UAX
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Baroque Pop    3. British Psychedelia    4. Folk-Rock    5. Hard Rock    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Psychedelic    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll    11. Singer/Songwriter