1966 was a very busy year in Rock & Roll but probably one of the biggest events was the release of The Beatles 7th album "Revolver." This album pretty much screams drugs..but it still is probably one of my favorite albums. This CD has songs raging from the satirical song "Taxman," to "Love You Too," both preformed by George to the ever famous "Yellow Submarine," (to be honest even though I now am a Beatles fan I still think that it's a really stupid song). The song "Love You Too," began Georges' first and in my opinion best try at the Indian feel that The Beatles and other bands were experimenting with at that time. Georges mastery of the sitar really makes this song what it is.
Another huge hit on this album is none other than "Elanor Rigby," sung by Paul, only accompanied by a double string quartet in the background adding to the somber and very serious mood created by the song itself. This is also the first track in which no other Beatles were apart of or played on. Another strange aspect of this song is that even though it is led my McCartney, the song is still depressing, something that is rarely seen by The Beatles, let alone Paul.
The second to last track on the album, "Got To Get You Into My Life," was another hit on "Revolver," eventually even being covered by the one and only Earth, Wind & Fire. The two versions are very different from each others version yet still maintaining some similarity. The Beatles version sung by McCartney introduces a prominent brass section like the Earth, Wind & Fire version but also takes a more bluesy route with the chorus. Also a short guitar solo that is almost identical to the guitar riff in "Paperback Writer" appears right before the horns re-enter. The Earth, Wind & Fire version seems to take a more "funky" role as that is what they do best.
Another of my favorites from this album is a song called "And Your Bird Can Sing." The reason this song is so cool in my opinion is that the repetitive harmonies of "...and your bird can sing," are never sung the same, always on a different chords. The song also has great guitar playing with many solos along with a really technical and cool repeating riff. And Your Bird Can Sing video link
Overall, this album is one of my favorite Beatles albums because of its diversity and the quality of songs that it contains. In this album The Beatles are still transitioning into the psychedelic band they will become in the later 60's yet there are definitely moments of foreshadowing this change, making the album all the more interesting.
-Brooks Gonzales
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