An astonishing album, it’s beauty is its diversity, crafted by a band at the height of its power. The mind boggles how they could come up with this masterpiece a Mere 3 years from She loves you, it has everything from the cynicism of Taxman, the melancholic beauty of Eleanor Rigby to the joyous And your bird can sing and the dreamlike I’m only sleeping finishing with Tomorrow never knows that still sounds like the future. Genius from start to finish, a wonderful gift that we can still revel in and celebrate, brilliant.
My favorite Beatles album, too. I’ve often said the seeds of “Sgt. Pepper” were planted on “Revolver”. John and Paul have so many great songs on this and so does George who really is coming into his own as a songwriter. Backwards guitars, ADT, melodic bass lines, the beginning of psychedelic rock, Indian music, it’s all here.
@@Sweetish_Jeff_ lf that's what you want to believe then carry on, but the number of times l've heard people moaning under their breath 'Oh, Jesus he's going on again about how the seeds of Sgt Pepper were planted on Revolver'....
Here, There, and Everywhere may indeed be my most favorite love song ever. It is just so perfect in every way. From the intro, to the magnificent backing harmonies, to the elegant uncluttered instrumentation, to Paul's vocal excellence,.... really beautiful. I'm always amazed how these very young men could come up with gems like this.
The variety! Just consider the astounding variety of songs, styles, and themes on this LP. No one had EVER done anything like this on a successful pop album. It broke so much ground, and even today, more than half a century later, I don't think anyone else has matched the incredible breadth of music on this one record.
LETS GOOOO! revolver is absolutely my favorite beatles album too, there’s just so much character in every single song and every direction they go in sonically is executed perfectly imo
Great reaction. Consider what an absolutely brilliant album Rubber Soul is. It defined what a pop group could do at the highest level. Now consider 8 months later, the Beatles released Revolver, and it blew apart that mold, and expanded what anyone could imagine for popular music and to this day, no other band has come close to that level of command of their craft.
'Here, There and Everywhere': Paul told in an interview that this was the only time when John gave him credits to a song; he said: 'You wrote a very nice song'.
While this is true, in a magazine interview in which John was talking about who wrote what in the Lennon/McCartney songs he says of "For No One" the following - "Paul. Another one of his I really liked." It's a shame he never told McCartney that!
“Taxman”: Such a great song to kick off an album. Paul plays the lead guitar solo on this and it sounds very Indian. Some have speculated that George was inspired by the TV show “Batman” for the “Taxman!” line. The bass on this song is so grooving. Very similar to “I Feel Good” by James Brown. “Eleanor Rigby”: Love the strings on this. The Father was going to be McCartney, but changed to McKenzie. The harmonies are killer. Love how Paul simultaneously sings both lines at the end of the song. ELO did a song on their first album similar to this called “Look At Me Now”. “I’m Only Sleeping”: Funny how John wrote a song called “I’m So Tired” and this one. The guitar solo was played forwards then the tape accidentally played it backwards. John loved the effect. This song reportedly was inspired by “Daydream” by The Lovin Spoonful. The “Anthology 2” version reflects this more than this version. “Love You To”: Not gonna lie. I used to skip this track when I was younger. A woman I dated years ago turned me on to Indian music and this song is now one of my favorites. I love George’s Indian songs. That lyric “love me while you can/till I’m a dead old man” always makes me sad when I think of how young George was when he died. I really love the ending when the Indian instruments start rocking out. “Here There And Everywhere”: LOVE this song. Paul has said this is his favorite Beatles song. John really loved this song, too, and so did George. Those harmonies are amazing. Very Beach Boys. Paul was the Brian Wilson fan while John was the Bob Dylan fan. Both even went so far as to begin copying their look, Paul with the eyeglasses and John with the Greek fisherman cap. “Yellow Submarine”: A children’s song Paul wrote for Ringo. I love the sound effects and the sea chanty feel to this. Fun fact: the young woman who lets out the loud laugh during the “and our friends are all aboard” is Pattie Harrison. The goofy repartee between Paul and John “as we live a life of ease” (a life of ease!) always makes me smile. “She Said She Said”: Paul is not on this track. The story was that there was an argument and Paul walked out. George plays bass here and sings the harmony vocals with John. The story is that John got the title from Peter Fonda who recounted an acid trip by saying “I know what it’s like to be dead”. The original demo of John’s was “He Said He Said” and later changed. This is also one of Ringo’s favorite tracks and his drumming on this is too-notch. Sorry for the length, but I LOVE this album so much.
The Beatles were NOT complaining about taxes in general. They were complaining about how THEY were being taxed. In those days, high income earners were MUCH MUCH more heavily taxed than they are today. As much as 82% in the USA. I have read that the Beatles paid an astounding 98% of their income in taxes. The system was not designed for short termers like the Beatles. People whose income was limited to a few productive years. Basically, they were working for NOTHING.
Also, with Eleanor Rigby, people found a gravestone in a cemetery near Woolston in Liverpool a few blocks from where Lennon and McCartney hung out as teens with the name 'Eleanor Rigby' which is a complete coincidence as the name was created by McCartney after he saw a shop called 'Rigby' and looked up 'Eleanor' in the phone book. Slight correction with 'I'm Only Sleeping' is that the reversed sounds were discovered by Lennon when he returned home with a tape of that day's recordings and, whilst high, fed the tape through the machine forwards (which reversed the sound) and he brought his discovery into the studio the next day. The guitar solo was created knowing it was going to be reversed ahead of time, hence why they had to make several solos to see which one sounded better backwards. Both 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and 'Rain' were recorded prior to 'I'm Only Sleeping' and both also included backwards/reversed sounds and so Lennon's discovery is most likely to have occurred in early/mid April of '66 (the month where these three songs were recorded). Top work with the other facts though. I also love this album :)
Studio outtakes of Paul and John are hysterical! It's a wonder they got any work done. All of the goofing off and joking they did in Get Back was apparently the norm while they were playing music together.
@@loosilu i just watched that bit last night. with paul and john goofing off oblivious to the world, George glowering in the corner, then getting up and huffing off.
Revolver is a masterpiece. Probably my favourite album of all time. Here, there and Everywhere and Tomorrow never knows are in my top 5 fav Beatles songs along with Happiness is a Warm Gun, Across the Universe and Because
Nothing like the Beatles, they gave humanity a great gift, in the same way the great composers of the past did with their own creative classical music.
"I'm Only Sleeping" es una de mis canciones favoritas de toda la vida, The Beatles, la mejor banda de todos los tiempos! Saludos desde México City 🇲🇽 🇲🇽 🇲🇽 🇲🇽
Paul McCartney is the greatest composer of the last 100 years. In addition to The Beatles, Wings, and solo efforts, he has composed symphonies and operas.
@@rafailkarampetsos6914 yes, because of them, and George Martin everything was possible, Lennon influence in Paul's music and life is huge, and Harrison contribution to Paul's and John's music is huge too: and I love her, Norwegian wood, etc.....
Dude give Lennon his credit he’s just as relevant he has just as many or arguably more masterpieces than Paul and don’t forget George the most underrated songwriter in the band
as a first generation Beatles lover, it is extremely wonderful to follow your appreciation and insights on this as yet not fully realized global phenomenon in the world. Be well, peace. Aloha
YES Crystal! Revolver IS the best Beatles album. I would go so far as to assert that every Beatles album that came thereafter, all the way to "The End" on Abbey Road, was an extension of Revolver. You can feel the ship starting to turn on Rubber Soul but by the time we're through side 1 of Revolver, that boat is on an entirely new course; innovative, eclectic, fresh and groundbreaking.
"She Said, She Said" is one of my favorite Beatles songs ever, and in many ways I think it could be their most influential. You can hear it all kinds of modern guitar based indie rock and power pop bands, lean muscular guitar, highly melodic vocals, fantastic guitar hook on the breaks at the end of the verses. More that fifty years after its release it still sounds fresh, sleek, and modern. I can hear it in everything from Cheap Trick to Blur to The Strokes and more. With Rubber Soul, I feel like they brought their early period to a masterful, sophisticated close. With Revolver, they kicked the door down to something totally new and boldly announced that the rule book had been burned and anything was possible. EDIT: BTW, some of the lyrics to "She Said, She Said" are based on a disturbing conversation John and George had with actor Peter Fonda while on LSD. Fonda told them about a nearly fatal accidental gunshot wound he received as a child, and kept repeating "I know what it's like to be dead", to which John replied (with characteristic wit) "You're making me feel like I've never been born" and "Who put all that shit in your head?"
Crystal, you make me appreciate Beatles music more than I ever thought could be possible, but you do it. (And at 67 I've been loving it since the beginning). You're amazing and I love you as much in your moments. I'm addicted to you too. Now you have to live up to such praise, heh, heh. Just be you.
One of the greatest crimes on all of UA-cam is that you do not have hundreds of thousands or millions more followers!! I absolutely love your channel so much Crystal - you have no idea! You are so smart, you understand music so well, you appreciate greatness when you hear it, you are able to explain in such simple terms the complexity of what you are hearing! Please don't stop reacting to music in my lifetime!!!!!
Sugarbear strikes again. I think this is your best Beatles reaction. You're on fire!!! It obviously helps with Revolver being your favourite and I'm probably biased because it's mine too. Great comments on every song: the harmonies on Taxman, the mournful strings on Eleanor Rigby, the backwards guitar and the leading bass line on I'm Only Sleeping, the otherworldly instruments on Love You To and your comments on your favourite song. I was fascinated by your comments on Here There and Everywhere (I need her eve - RY - where), pointing out the 'rabbithole' intro and back down to earth with 'Here' was a great observation and the walk-down harmonies (loveI never dies, watching her eyes). I love that you say 'No! It didn't need to end!' Well, of course, you can always play it again! It has to be said with this listen-along (and your insights), Revolver actually not only has great songs but something different with each one which is really what makes it stand out, the combination of quality and uniqueness in each song. Looking forward to side two SOOOO much. It is my favourite side of any record EVER. I'm sure you'll have lots of strong observations - so much quality to admire and appreciate!!!
So what happens in the yawning part of I'm only sleeping was George Martin's voice accidentally picks up and we hear him say, "Yawn Paul" and then Paul yawns.
This is my favorite album because it is very innovative, experimental and lyrically perfect. For me it was the moment when modern rock music born. Sgt. Pepper’s, White Album, and Abbey Road are great but Revolver is the real transition from early Beatles to later Beatles. Simply a perfect masterpiece.
Wonderful, articulate and highly intelligent commentary makes this a special reaction channel like no other!Plus ,for some reason the voice manipulation going higher and lower makes me smile to no end ! Thanks from a Beatlemaniac ha ha!
It blew my mind when I found out that McCartney plays lead guitar on Taxman, Another Girl and Back In The USSR (plus drums on the latter as well). This album is timeless, it doesn't sound dated as some of their earlier stuff. What they accomplished from beginning to end in a mere seven years is mind boggling. Utterly fab.
You are beyond right. Paul has always been such a talented musical force, I was talking with my uncle and he was implying that Paul might have been the greatest drummer in the band! I didn’t even know he played! Blew my mind!
@@loosilu Hey! Don’t feel bad. I thought Paul played drums on it too for decades! It wasn’t until the 2018 “White Album” remix that we learned it was Ringo and George on the track.
3:00 Entertainers in Britain were paying 19 shillings on a pound in taxes. A 90% tax bracket. That was not reformed until the Thatcher era. That's why so many British rock stars lived in the USA, France, or Ireland, to avoid the English tax man. George Harrison also moved to Switzerland in the last months of his life, to dodge the British inheritance taxes on his estate.
I heard this album the first time in 1978 i fell in love with it immediatly, especially with the sleeve or cover amazing piece of art from German Artist Klaus Voorman who been a friend of the Fab 4 since 1962 in Hamburg, Germany. This is the first Album that the Beatles been let lose off the leash so they could experiment with sound like never before. This Album had an influence even on Pink Floyd who did not care for the early Beatles light rock music much. Remember Revolver came out in 1965!! Real early.
Crystal you are wonderful and a joy to watch. Thank you for your insight into my life time favorite ro k band. I am 75 and have NEVER written a comment before,,,but your compelling thoughtful magical insight into all the albums has prompted me to do this the very first time. I am greafull for your talents thart have made me hear the lads with new ears om.n my Electo Static speekers...oh what fun gping down that rabbit hole once again.😊 27:16
good insight. i love revolver, as i do all beatles albums but the white album, though very individual, gets me the most.. i love to see the young guys appreciating the talent and influence these guys gave to music.
I thought you were so in point in reference to "Girl"and "Michelle" two of my all time favs and your analysis of side 1 of Revolver is so fantastic cause I haven't visited this album in so long. I've always loved "I'm Only Sleeping", "Taxman" and of course "Here, There, And Everywhere! It's almost as if the spirits of John and George are with you!
Revolver is my favorite album too. I almost went to see The Beatles in 1964 in Kansas City, but I lived on a farm and I just got my driver's license so driving my parent's car into the big city was just too intimidating.
The Beatles most creative album. Having George open the album was just the first sign that the group was kicking things up a notch. But I'm really looking forward to side 2. When I first heard 'Tomorrow Never Knows', thirty-some years after it was recorded, it blew my mind. And it was the first song on Revolver to be recorded!
Your comment that "maybe these songs are a little deeper" is an understatement. This was the Beatles maturing in their material. For those of us who heard this music when it first came out we realized that the Beatles were morphing into a world class group and they were in it for the long haul.
Crystal, thanks for another Beatles reaction video. You have internalized Beatles' songs so much that you can even reach out to other albums, notice similarities and create playlists. Very nice!
My favorite Beatles album too (and album cover). I love how they give each member a good amount of songs each: John: 5, Paul: 5, George: 3, and Ringo: 1, and they’re all great!
"She Said. She Said" is my second favorite song on Revolver. It is an obvious drug song, an LSD-inspired song. It isn't really a Rock song. It isn't a Bluesy song. It isn't Country. It isn't a dance song. It isn't a ballad. It isn't a love song. It isn't Punk. It's neither a fast song, nor slow. It seems to move along at its own pace. like a dream. It isn't a sad song. It isn't a happy song. But what it is, is it transcends all those narrow genres and becomes an entirely new form of Popular Music. So much of Post-Punk, Glam, Punk, Ska, New Wave and Alternative, Roxy, Eno, Bowie, Japan, Duran, Ultravox, Police, Eurythmics, DEVO, all stems from Psychedelic songs like this gem. I think it is an amazing track, unthinkable before the studio wizardry of its time, inconceivable before the experimentation of LSD, etc. The way the guitars intricately weave around each other and the drums hold it all together is magical. Ringo's bold crashing cymbals really elevate and power the song! I love how the chorus is repeated over and over, layered on top of the previous, like Row, Row, Row Your Boat does, at the ending of the song. The song doesn't end, but trails off into infinity. She Said, She Said is a VASTLY better song than even most Beatles fans give it credit for. Even John Lennon himself never appreciated how innovative and brilliant this track of his is. It is a daring dynamic masterpiece.
Crystal,George was a trendsetter He was the first musician to play a backward Solo (I'm only Sleeping and Tomorrow Never Knows) and He was the first to use Indian Instruments on pop songs (Sitar and Tamboura on songs like (Norweigan Wood, Love You Too and Tomorrow Never Knows).Nobody was playing backward guitar solo's in 1966.Many records in 1967 and 1968 were using backward solo's and Indian Instrumentals but The Beatles were the first.
It is very hard for me to make a top 10 Beatles songs list. This is my list at this very moment but it could change any time. 01- Strawberry Fields Forever 02- Tomorrow Never Knows 03- A day In The Life 04- Here Comes The Sun 05- In My Life 06- Here, There and Everywhere 07- Dear Prudence 08- We Can Work it Out 09- Hey Jude 10- Let It Be
Good list, but I would include: I’ll follow the sun in there somewhere as well as For No one., oh and Golden slumbers and of course, Yesterday, as well!
@@Tony-bg7vv it is very hard to pick only 10 from their entire genius catalog. While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Something, Penny Lane, and many of their early years songs are simply brilliant. I think it’s more easy to pick ten from each periods. 10 from their early years, 10 from their psychedelic era and 10 from their later years.
One of my favorites things about your reactions is that you find a way to appreciate EVERY Beatles song. I feel the exact same for their entire catalogue. Even “Revolution No. 9”. Even though you have your favorites, like we all do, there is a reason to appreciate them all. Either because they are all still great songs, or, at the very least, it’s for the diversity. AND weirdness. Using “Revolution No. 9” again as an example. It’s not even a song. Sometimes I skip it. It’s not anything really enjoyable to listen to, but I am so glad it’s there. It is part of their lore. ‘Number 9’, ‘Number 9’, ‘Number 9’, I mean, how many Beatle fans hear themselves or anyone else say the words ‘number 9’ together, for any reason at all, and hold back from repeating it back in the Beatles way of saying it from the album. I always do it. Anyway, my point is, you get it, and I really appreciate that about your reactions.
My top Beatles albums are probably: 1. Abbey Road 2. Rubber Soul 3. Revolver Though, it can change depending on my mood. Side note, i like the Onewheel recharge sound clip you put in these vids.
In college I had a radio show called, In The Garage. No garage door, couch or springs. You have one upped me and it’s awesome! Love your reactions and your wonderful musical insight.
Re the Eleanor Rigby string arrangement: Yes, George Martin scored it, but the history is a bit more nuanced. According to John Lennon, Paul conceived the idea in the first place. ‘The violin backing was Paul’s idea,’ John said. ‘Jane Asher had turned him on to Vivaldi.’ Paul specified aspects of the score George Martin produced which was based on Paul’s Vivaldi-inspired staccato piano: ‘I thought of the backing, but it was George Martin who finished it off,’ he said, adding ‘I just go bash, bash on the piano. He knows what I mean.’ Paul’s concern in studio discussions had been that it might come out lush. Engineer Geoff Emerick recalls that Martin had to reassure Paul that it would work with an octet. Paul’s final word was, ‘Ok, but I want the strings to sound really biting.’ Paul then visited George Martin’s flat to rough out the score. ‘Paul told me he wanted the strings to be doing a rhythm. He played the piano and I played the piano, and I took a note of his music,’ said Martin, who wrote out the string parts guided (he said) by the sound of a Bernard Herrmann film score. Paul also supervised the string recording session from the control room. Emerick close-miked the instruments to get that "biting" timbre and it was recorded very dry.. Paul's final instruction relayed via George Martin was to insist on ‘no vibrato,’ as he had done two years before for Yesterday. In his recent 'The Lyrics' Paul describes it like this: 'George Martin had introduced me to the string-quartet idea through “Yesterday.” I’d resisted the idea at first, but when it worked I fell in love with it. So I ended up writing “Eleanor Rigby” with a string component in mind. When I took the song to George, I said that, for accompaniment, I wanted a series of E-minor chord stabs. In fact, the whole song is really only two chords: C major and E minor. In George’s version of things, he conflates my idea of the stabs and his own inspiration by Bernard Herrmann, who had written the music for the movie “Psycho.” George wanted to bring some of that drama into the arrangement. And, of course, there’s some kind of madcap connection between Eleanor Rigby, an elderly woman left high and dry, and the mummified mother in “Psycho.” '
Revolver never ceases to amaze me. It’s coming up on being 56 years old and still sounds amazing with its diversity between the tracks. So many different sounds throughout the album. Tomorrow Never Knows is unlike any other song ever recorded. This album, along with a lot of other Beatles material, will always remain fresh.
NÚMERO UNO, Enserio disfruto la música igual que tu, sobre todo este album, que para mi es el mejor album de todos los tiempos y por mucho. UN SALUDO DESDE SAN SALVADOR!
Can you imagine from Mid 1964 to Mid 1969 The Beatles produced albums were - A Hard Days Night, Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, Yellow Submarine, Let it Be, Abbey Road containing god knows how many epic hit songs. This is why they will always be the Greatest Band ever in history.
I’ve always thought of “i’m only sleeping” as a artist explaining his creative state of mind. Purposely apart from the world, reveling in a dreamlike state and observing and letting his impressions form.
Elanor Rigby. This song was so well written even after all these years I feel Father MacKenzie and Elanor's isolation, pain and sadness. All I could do was stare at the radio the first time I heard it, almost in a trance. And BTW you are really good at analyzing. You seem trained in music theory talking of dissonant chords and fourths and fifths yet convey it to your viewers very well. And I like that if someone supports you you write a little song for them at the end.
I've been sat here watching your Beatles appreciations for the last couple of hours. Absolute delight to hear your reactions and see how they really are eternal geniuses appreciated by younger people. Their music will last forever. They're the Shakespeare of popular music. If you ever get a chance, visit the city of Liverpool. You can actually stand inside the homes where John and Paul grew up, and see the places they sing about, like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.
Nice catch with the yawn in 'I'm Only Sleeping'. The "indistinct voice" just before is Lennon saying "Yawn, Paul" and then the yawn is Paul yawning. Many sources attest to this (plus, if you really concentrate, you can hear it too).
Hi Crystal. I have been a Beatles fanatic since 1964 when I was 6. I think Revolver is song for song the best Beatles album but it's not my absolute favorite for some reason. I think Sgt. Pepper is the most influential album, Abbey Road is the ultimate masterpiece but The White album with all it's "flaws" is my favorite for personal reasons. Thank you. You made this sad day for me much brighter.
I've always preferred it to Pepper. Maybe my fav. as well (though the White album is close). Great insights as always. Paul's ballads are stronger here and the rockier material has more bite than on Pepper (the exception being Sgt. Pepper reprise and Good Morning).
I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 that Revolver will get the Super Deluxe Boxset treatment next. The masterful Let it Be super deluxe boxset was, and continues to be, my default listen for months (try ‘Oh! Darling Jam, or Get Back Take 8 for example) but there is so much to love about Revolver I can only imagine what some of their demo or alternate versions would be like. Your musical analysis was wonderful to listen to. I was probably 5 yrs old when my dad turned my attention to Revolver, so watching you, a dozen years younger than myself, it’s like watching me enjoying it years ago. Such fun 🤩 Going to watch your Side Two Revolver now. Thanks Crystal 👏🏻
Another “Revolver” fun fact: this album was the debut of new engineer Geoff Emerick who was 19 at the time. He replaced Norman Smith who left to produce a new band called Pink Floyd. Emerick came up with the idea of miking the drums closer to give it a heavier sound. He also suggested putting tea towels on Ringo’s drum heads. You can hear this on “Tomorrow Never Knows”.
Great review. Eleanor Rigby is one my absolute favorites. I hope you'll consider moving on to their solo albums. George's All Things Must Pass is incredible.
Revolver is tied for my top 3 of all time...Pepper, Revolver, and....Ram...I hope you get to it someday. I can tell by watching you that the music is taking you to exactly where they meant it to take you...and you GET it! Kudos!
Well reviewed! I love this album.😬 ‘ I’m only sleeping’ was reportedly written because Paul used to arrive at john’ House at about 9 each morning for a song writing session. Unfortunately, John had developed the habit of partying on LSD until 2 or 3 a.m.😬 He just wanted to sleep it off.
Crystal, when you do Side 2, it may be interesting to contrast the lyrics of "Love You to" as you reference them at 16:30 with "I Want to Tell You" (also by George).
Side 1 of Revolver is perfection...hard to pick a favourite...perhaps Taxman is the best opening track of any album ever made and has THE GREATEST guitar solo. But then there's Eleanor Rigby...Here, There and Everywhere...and every other track is great too. Masterful songwriters and musicianship - the guitar break in Taxman - the riff running through She Said She Said - the beautifully arranged orchestration of Eleanor Rigby - the bass in I'm Only Sleeping - the rythm and Indian influence from George - the fun vocals of Yellow Submarine. Perfect signing and backing singing from all four Beatles. And that's just side one! Yes, it's my favourite Beatles album too. Thanks again Crystal :)
Hola! Thx for your fun and insightful observations! I think on Here there and everywhere that Ringo is slightly behind the beat to give a more relaxed feeling. I also agree with you about the harmony part where John or George drops down! That part always caught my ear! I think it’s in my top 10 as well!
Many years ago, a friend who got me into the Beatles' music let me borrow a few Beatles bootlegs. One of them had various early takes of the songs that would be on Revolver as well as early takes of Paperback Writer and Rain, from the same sessions. I heard it before having heard the actual Revolver album. So I was taking in these earlier takes, Demo, Take 2, Take 7, Take 20, etc. as "new songs". Later, I heard the actual finished album. It was a very strange way to familiarize with Revolver. There were some surprises to me when hearing the finished album, like the addition of the horn section on "Got to Get You into My Life" and the seagull sounds and other loops on "Tomorrow Never Knows". I think it also made me more aware of certain nuances on the songs. It's still one of my favorite albums.
Great analysis, Crystal!!!! But I'm going to riot if "Tomorrow Never Knows" isn't your final Top 5 :-) BTW, there is a theory that love is a mental illness -- but if anything refutes that it is "Here, There, and Everywhere" -- Changing my life with a wave of her hand..... the song is so sweet it hurts....
I believe George featured on bass (She Said, She Said) due to a minor disagreement during the sessions between Paul and John. The song makes sense once you know the origin…check it out
Revolver is my own number 1, because of everything between "Taxman" and "Got to Get You Into My Life" and John's utterly mindbending alien miracle that ends the album, that somehow manages to still sound like it's from the future 55 years after it's recording.
this is IT. not sayin it's better than 'LaTraviatta' or 'In a Silent way ' but for our purposes, # 1... for example, to me the soundtrack for the TV show ' Twin Peaks ' came direct from Revolver, 2 decades later. plus the at the time Indian culture ( mostly George ) and Psychodelia of course.
@@CrystalMarieShannon 1000 % they do NOT play Beatle songs.or any 'songs', really. it's more of a mystical feeling that prob. I'm the only one relating. as a show T.P. is great thou. the first season anyway, not so much S.2 which loses its way. S.3 is in-between
If anyone didn't know, while I think of it, in Taxman: "There's one for you, 19 for me" - at the time, the higher tax rate in the UK was a whopping 95%. I'm not against taxing high earners, but I can imagine the frustration of suddenly earning tons of cash and being hit with that. In the guitar solo, the 'eastern feel' is created by the variation between the run down, in which Paul plays a major 7th note (C#) and the run back up, in which he plays the dominant 7th (C). That kind of blew my mind. So simple, so effective
You know, I'm really enjoying these reaction music lesson but truth be told lately I've been listening to a lot more Mozart, Tschiakovsky, Chopin, Beethoven et cetera. It occurred to me today that as you represent the new generation listening to the Beatles I'm the next generation listening to the great classical composers. Obviously of course I apply many of the things you talk about here when I'm listening to them, so thx.
Ok, here are my Top 10 Beatles songs of all-time: 1) Got To Get You Into My Life 2) Tomorrow Never Knows 3) I Am The Walrus 4) In My Life 5) Here There And Everywhere 6) Girl 7) Here Comes The Sun 8) Something 9) I’ll Cry Instead 10) Anytime At All
@@sterioapple I have. In fact, a few years ago I got the “Beatles In Mono” boxed set and I LOVE the mono mixes. They’re often very different, sometimes better, than the stereo mixes.
@@nielsbie8922 As John once said, when you go to see sometime live, you’re listening to them in mono, not stereo. The thing is, the recent Beatles remixes by Giles Martin sound phenomenal.
The interesting thing about "I'm Only Sleeping" is that it's not so much about sleeping or dreaming, per se, but about depression. At that point in his life, with his first marriage breaking down, John was so depressed that all he wanted to do was sleep. And not your usual "8 hours per night" but ALL THE TIME, as if his very life energy had been sucked out of him. The whimsical sound of the song and the backwards guitar, and general dreaminess of the tone of the song hides its desperate, black, and unhealthy core. And it's wonderful.
An astonishing album, it’s beauty is its diversity, crafted by a band at the height of its power. The mind boggles how they could come up with this masterpiece a Mere 3 years from She loves you, it has everything from the cynicism of Taxman, the melancholic beauty of Eleanor Rigby to the joyous And your bird can sing and the dreamlike I’m only sleeping finishing with Tomorrow never knows that still sounds like the future. Genius from start to finish, a wonderful gift that we can still revel in and celebrate, brilliant.
My favorite Beatles album, too. I’ve often said the seeds of “Sgt. Pepper” were planted on “Revolver”. John and Paul have so many great songs on this and so does George who really is coming into his own as a songwriter. Backwards guitars, ADT, melodic bass lines, the beginning of psychedelic rock, Indian music, it’s all here.
l've heard you say it. ln fact we're all fed up of you saying it. Give it a rest!
@@billythedog-309 You’re the only one complaining, Billy.
@@Sweetish_Jeff_ lf that's what you want to believe then carry on, but the number of times l've heard people moaning under their breath 'Oh, Jesus he's going on again about how the seeds of Sgt Pepper were planted on Revolver'....
Here, There, and Everywhere may indeed be my most favorite love song ever. It is just so perfect in every way. From the intro, to the magnificent backing harmonies, to the elegant uncluttered instrumentation, to Paul's vocal excellence,.... really beautiful. I'm always amazed how these very young men could come up with gems like this.
The variety! Just consider the astounding variety of songs, styles, and themes on this LP. No one had EVER done anything like this on a successful pop album. It broke so much ground, and even today, more than half a century later, I don't think anyone else has matched the incredible breadth of music on this one record.
LETS GOOOO! revolver is absolutely my favorite beatles album too, there’s just so much character in every single song and every direction they go in sonically is executed perfectly imo
YES!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE WITH IT!!
My favorite switches between Revolver and Sgt Pepper. Both are so rich and colorful and gorgeous.
Great reaction. Consider what an absolutely brilliant album Rubber Soul is. It defined what a pop group could do at the highest level. Now consider 8 months later, the Beatles released Revolver, and it blew apart that mold, and expanded what anyone could imagine for popular music and to this day, no other band has come close to that level of command of their craft.
Amazing. Nowadays, “Revolver” would come out 5 years after “Rubber Soul” and have 15 songwriters on it.
This album is literally the orgin for sampling in modern music. Chew on that for awhile.
@@loosilu Indeed. This is why many hip-hop artists and rappers love and respect The Beatles.
'Here, There and Everywhere': Paul told in an interview that this was the only time when John gave him credits to a song; he said: 'You wrote a very nice song'.
While this is true, in a magazine interview in which John was talking about who wrote what in the Lennon/McCartney songs he says of "For No One" the following - "Paul. Another one of his I really liked." It's a shame he never told McCartney that!
@@keymack2477 But McCartney knows.
Georg Martin was brilliant orchestrating the strings in Eleanor Rigby.
“Taxman”: Such a great song to kick off an album. Paul plays the lead guitar solo on this and it sounds very Indian. Some have speculated that George was inspired by the TV show “Batman” for the “Taxman!” line. The bass on this song is so grooving. Very similar to “I Feel Good” by James Brown.
“Eleanor Rigby”: Love the strings on this. The Father was going to be McCartney, but changed to McKenzie. The harmonies are killer. Love how Paul simultaneously sings both lines at the end of the song. ELO did a song on their first album similar to this called “Look At Me Now”.
“I’m Only Sleeping”: Funny how John wrote a song called “I’m So Tired” and this one. The guitar solo was played forwards then the tape accidentally played it backwards. John loved the effect. This song reportedly was inspired by “Daydream” by The Lovin Spoonful. The “Anthology 2” version reflects this more than this version.
“Love You To”: Not gonna lie. I used to skip this track when I was younger. A woman I dated years ago turned me on to Indian music and this song is now one of my favorites. I love George’s Indian songs. That lyric “love me while you can/till I’m a dead old man” always makes me sad when I think of how young George was when he died. I really love the ending when the Indian instruments start rocking out.
“Here There And Everywhere”: LOVE this song. Paul has said this is his favorite Beatles song. John really loved this song, too, and so did George. Those harmonies are amazing. Very Beach Boys. Paul was the Brian Wilson fan while John was the Bob Dylan fan. Both even went so far as to begin copying their look, Paul with the eyeglasses and John with the Greek fisherman cap.
“Yellow Submarine”: A children’s song Paul wrote for Ringo. I love the sound effects and the sea chanty feel to this. Fun fact: the young woman who lets out the loud laugh during the “and our friends are all aboard” is Pattie Harrison. The goofy repartee between Paul and John “as we live a life of ease” (a life of ease!) always makes me smile.
“She Said She Said”: Paul is not on this track. The story was that there was an argument and Paul walked out. George plays bass here and sings the harmony vocals with John. The story is that John got the title from Peter Fonda who recounted an acid trip by saying “I know what it’s like to be dead”. The original demo of John’s was “He Said He Said” and later changed. This is also one of Ringo’s favorite tracks and his drumming on this is too-notch.
Sorry for the length, but I LOVE this album so much.
I’m very impressed you wrote all of this, Crystal would be proud!!!😃👍☮️❤️
I also found this very useful because I found out information I did not know!!!😃👍☮️❤️
The Beatles were NOT complaining about taxes in general. They were complaining about how THEY were being taxed. In those days, high income earners were MUCH MUCH more heavily taxed than they are today. As much as 82% in the USA. I have read that the Beatles paid an astounding 98% of their income in taxes. The system was not designed for short termers like the Beatles. People whose income was limited to a few productive years. Basically, they were working for NOTHING.
Batman and REvolver came out about the same time, so George couldn't have heard it before he wrote the song.
Also, with Eleanor Rigby, people found a gravestone in a cemetery near Woolston in Liverpool a few blocks from where Lennon and McCartney hung out as teens with the name 'Eleanor Rigby' which is a complete coincidence as the name was created by McCartney after he saw a shop called 'Rigby' and looked up 'Eleanor' in the phone book.
Slight correction with 'I'm Only Sleeping' is that the reversed sounds were discovered by Lennon when he returned home with a tape of that day's recordings and, whilst high, fed the tape through the machine forwards (which reversed the sound) and he brought his discovery into the studio the next day. The guitar solo was created knowing it was going to be reversed ahead of time, hence why they had to make several solos to see which one sounded better backwards. Both 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and 'Rain' were recorded prior to 'I'm Only Sleeping' and both also included backwards/reversed sounds and so Lennon's discovery is most likely to have occurred in early/mid April of '66 (the month where these three songs were recorded). Top work with the other facts though. I also love this album :)
What you heard in “I’m Only Sleeping” is John saying, “Yawn, Paul.” And Paul complies. 😊
Thank you Cupcake Parade! I love you and love your name!! Also we love good band team work!!!
Studio outtakes of Paul and John are hysterical! It's a wonder they got any work done. All of the goofing off and joking they did in Get Back was apparently the norm while they were playing music together.
@@loosilu i just watched that bit last night. with paul and john goofing off oblivious to the world, George glowering in the corner, then getting up and huffing off.
Revolver is a masterpiece. Probably my favourite album of all time. Here, there and Everywhere and Tomorrow never knows are in my top 5 fav Beatles songs along with Happiness is a Warm Gun, Across the Universe and Because
Can't disagree with those choices!
Hey, Crystal! “Revolver” has been remixed and a new boxed set is coming out at the end of this month. 😊
Thats awesome!!! Thank you for letting me know about it my friend!!! 💙💙
She said she said is my absolute favorite Beatles song. I am happy to hear your analyses of it.
Nothing like the Beatles, they gave humanity a great gift, in the same way the great composers of the past did with their own creative classical music.
I love your passion, I love your enthusiasm. It’s my favourite Beatles’ album and thank you for appreciating it x
"I'm Only Sleeping" es una de mis canciones favoritas de toda la vida, The Beatles, la mejor banda de todos los tiempos! Saludos desde México City 🇲🇽 🇲🇽 🇲🇽 🇲🇽
Yeah its
Paul McCartney is the greatest composer of the last 100 years. In addition to The Beatles, Wings, and solo efforts, he has composed symphonies and operas.
His electronic music from the 90s is beautiful.
1000 years
Also John and George are incredible
@@rafailkarampetsos6914 yes, because of them, and George Martin everything was possible, Lennon influence in Paul's music and life is huge, and Harrison contribution to Paul's and John's music is huge too: and I love her, Norwegian wood, etc.....
Dude give Lennon his credit he’s just as relevant he has just as many or arguably more masterpieces than Paul and don’t forget George the most underrated songwriter in the band
as a first generation Beatles lover, it is extremely wonderful to follow your appreciation and insights on this as yet not fully realized global phenomenon in the world. Be well, peace. Aloha
"I just loved the idea of kids singing it"--Paul on "Yellow Submarine"
YES Crystal! Revolver IS the best Beatles album. I would go so far as to assert that every Beatles album that came thereafter, all the way to "The End" on Abbey Road, was an extension of Revolver. You can feel the ship starting to turn on Rubber Soul but by the time we're through side 1 of Revolver, that boat is on an entirely new course; innovative, eclectic, fresh and groundbreaking.
"She Said, She Said" is one of my favorite Beatles songs ever, and in many ways I think it could be their most influential. You can hear it all kinds of modern guitar based indie rock and power pop bands, lean muscular guitar, highly melodic vocals, fantastic guitar hook on the breaks at the end of the verses. More that fifty years after its release it still sounds fresh, sleek, and modern. I can hear it in everything from Cheap Trick to Blur to The Strokes and more. With Rubber Soul, I feel like they brought their early period to a masterful, sophisticated close. With Revolver, they kicked the door down to something totally new and boldly announced that the rule book had been burned and anything was possible.
EDIT: BTW, some of the lyrics to "She Said, She Said" are based on a disturbing conversation John and George had with actor Peter Fonda while on LSD. Fonda told them about a nearly fatal accidental gunshot wound he received as a child, and kept repeating "I know what it's like to be dead", to which John replied (with characteristic wit) "You're making me feel like I've never been born" and "Who put all that shit in your head?"
Crystal, you make me appreciate Beatles music more than I ever thought could be possible, but you do it. (And at 67 I've been loving it since the beginning). You're amazing and I love you as much in your moments. I'm addicted to you too. Now you have to live up to such praise, heh, heh. Just be you.
The Beatles were the Mozart and the Monet of their time, groundbreaking and brilliant.
One of the greatest crimes on all of UA-cam is that you do not have hundreds of thousands or millions more followers!! I absolutely love your channel so much Crystal - you have no idea! You are so smart, you understand music so well, you appreciate greatness when you hear it, you are able to explain in such simple terms the complexity of what you are hearing! Please don't stop reacting to music in my lifetime!!!!!
Sugarbear strikes again. I think this is your best Beatles reaction. You're on fire!!!
It obviously helps with Revolver being your favourite and I'm probably biased because it's mine too.
Great comments on every song: the harmonies on Taxman, the mournful strings on Eleanor Rigby, the backwards guitar and the leading bass line on I'm Only Sleeping, the otherworldly instruments on Love You To and your comments on your favourite song.
I was fascinated by your comments on Here There and Everywhere (I need her eve - RY - where), pointing out the 'rabbithole' intro and back down to earth with 'Here' was a great observation and the walk-down harmonies (loveI never dies, watching her eyes).
I love that you say 'No! It didn't need to end!' Well, of course, you can always play it again!
It has to be said with this listen-along (and your insights), Revolver actually not only has great songs but something different with each one which is really what makes it stand out, the combination of quality and uniqueness in each song.
Looking forward to side two SOOOO much. It is my favourite side of any record EVER. I'm sure you'll have lots of strong observations - so much quality to admire and appreciate!!!
So what happens in the yawning part of I'm only sleeping was George Martin's voice accidentally picks up and we hear him say, "Yawn Paul" and then Paul yawns.
This is my favorite album because it is very innovative, experimental and lyrically perfect. For me it was the moment when modern rock music born. Sgt. Pepper’s, White Album, and Abbey Road are great but Revolver is the real transition from early Beatles to later Beatles. Simply a perfect masterpiece.
I especially enjoyed this reaction video. The humor made me literally laugh out loud. :) Your love for this album really showed through.
Yeah, Crystal inspired me to love Beatles music more than I did, which I thought could be impossible, but she does it. And I love her for it.
Wonderful, articulate and highly intelligent commentary makes this a special reaction channel like no other!Plus ,for some reason the voice manipulation going higher and lower makes me smile to no end ! Thanks from a Beatlemaniac ha ha!
Yeah, Crystal reacts/analyzes and entertains like no other. She's the best and my favorite.
It blew my mind when I found out that McCartney plays lead guitar on Taxman, Another Girl and Back In The USSR (plus drums on the latter as well). This album is timeless, it doesn't sound dated as some of their earlier stuff. What they accomplished from beginning to end in a mere seven years is mind boggling. Utterly fab.
You are beyond right. Paul has always been such a talented musical force, I was talking with my uncle and he was implying that Paul might have been the greatest drummer in the band! I didn’t even know he played! Blew my mind!
@@CrystalMarieShannon He played drums on Ballad of John and Yoko and Martha My Dear, not sure if there are more. And of course his solo albums.
@@loosilu Ringo actually played drums on “Martha My Dear” and George plays guitar. John is the only one not on that song.
@@Sweetish_Jeff_ The internet lied to me!!! Thanks :) I do believe Paul played drums on Back in the USSR, though.
@@loosilu Hey! Don’t feel bad. I thought Paul played drums on it too for decades! It wasn’t until the 2018 “White Album” remix that we learned it was Ringo and George on the track.
3:00 Entertainers in Britain were paying 19 shillings on a pound in taxes. A 90% tax bracket. That was not reformed until the Thatcher era. That's why so many British rock stars lived in the USA, France, or Ireland, to avoid the English tax man. George Harrison also moved to Switzerland in the last months of his life, to dodge the British inheritance taxes on his estate.
Wonderful analysis and appreciation of this remarkable album. I'm glad you loved so many of the tracks (so far).
I love this album so much!! Thank you for being here and listening along with me!
Yeah, and she continued to for side two.
I heard this album the first time in 1978 i fell in love with it immediatly, especially with the sleeve or cover amazing piece of art from German Artist Klaus Voorman who been a friend of the Fab 4 since 1962 in Hamburg, Germany. This is the first Album that the Beatles been let lose off the leash so they could experiment with sound like never before. This Album had an influence even on Pink Floyd who did not care for the early Beatles light rock music much. Remember Revolver came out in 1965!! Real early.
Crystal you are wonderful and a joy to watch. Thank you for your insight into my life time favorite ro k band. I am 75 and have NEVER written a comment before,,,but your compelling thoughtful magical insight into all the albums has prompted me to do this the very first time. I am greafull for your talents thart have made me hear the lads with new ears om.n my Electo Static speekers...oh what fun gping down that rabbit hole once again.😊 27:16
These first two songs (Taxman & Eleanor Rigby) reflect the old adage, "There's nothing more certain than death and taxes."
This album has been my favorite for over 50 years. Each Beatle contributed masterpieces.
good insight. i love revolver, as i do all beatles albums but the white album, though very individual, gets me the most.. i love to see the young guys appreciating the talent and influence these guys gave to music.
I love singing John's "And Your Bird Can Sing" in our gigs or even just jamming.
There is a rumor that this song was written as a dig against Frank Sinatra who was dating Mia Farrow at the time.
The harmonies really stand out here too. Fantastic!
For me this is the best album of all time, surely very soon there will be a new mix of this album by giles martin
I thought you were so in point in reference to "Girl"and "Michelle" two of my all time favs and your analysis of side 1 of Revolver is so fantastic cause I haven't visited this album in so long. I've always loved "I'm Only Sleeping", "Taxman" and of course "Here, There, And Everywhere! It's almost as if the spirits of John and George are with you!
Revolver is my favorite album too. I almost went to see The Beatles in 1964 in Kansas City, but I lived on a farm and I just got my driver's license so driving my parent's car into the big city was just too intimidating.
Aww, that's too bad but understandable.
The Beatles most creative album. Having George open the album was just the first sign that the group was kicking things up a notch. But I'm really looking forward to side 2. When I first heard 'Tomorrow Never Knows', thirty-some years after it was recorded, it blew my mind. And it was the first song on Revolver to be recorded!
In Elanor Rigby, Father McKenzie was originally Father McCartney, as a placeholder, while the song was being crafted.
I think I’m only sleeping is my favourite song ever. It’s just gorgeous. The rhythm the harmonies. It’s just perfect.☺️ And the bass!
Taxman has Paul on lead guitar. A great George song. Paul had 4 great songs on this one, maybe 5.
IT's a killer solo by Paul.
I just love your word choices for some of your analytical discriptions.. 😀
Your comment that "maybe these songs are a little deeper" is an understatement. This was the Beatles maturing in their material. For those of us who heard this music when it first came out we realized that the Beatles were morphing into a world class group and they were in it for the long haul.
Crystal, thanks for another Beatles reaction video.
You have internalized Beatles' songs so much that you can even reach out to other albums, notice similarities and create playlists. Very nice!
My favorite Beatles album too (and album cover). I love how they give each member a good amount of songs each: John: 5, Paul: 5, George: 3, and Ringo: 1, and they’re all great!
Your videos never fail to cheer me up when i’m having a rough day. Keep up the great content.
"She Said. She Said" is my second favorite song on Revolver. It is an obvious drug song, an LSD-inspired song. It isn't really a Rock song. It isn't a Bluesy song. It isn't Country. It isn't a dance song. It isn't a ballad. It isn't a love song. It isn't Punk. It's neither a fast song, nor slow. It seems to move along at its own pace. like a dream. It isn't a sad song. It isn't a happy song. But what it is, is it transcends all those narrow genres and becomes an entirely new form of Popular Music. So much of Post-Punk, Glam, Punk, Ska, New Wave and Alternative, Roxy, Eno, Bowie, Japan, Duran, Ultravox, Police, Eurythmics, DEVO, all stems from Psychedelic songs like this gem. I think it is an amazing track, unthinkable before the studio wizardry of its time, inconceivable before the experimentation of LSD, etc. The way the guitars intricately weave around each other and the drums hold it all together is magical. Ringo's bold crashing cymbals really elevate and power the song! I love how the chorus is repeated over and over, layered on top of the previous, like Row, Row, Row Your Boat does, at the ending of the song. The song doesn't end, but trails off into infinity. She Said, She Said is a VASTLY better song than even most Beatles fans give it credit for. Even John Lennon himself never appreciated how innovative and brilliant this track of his is. It is a daring dynamic masterpiece.
U r right!
Crystal,George was a trendsetter He was the first musician to play a backward Solo (I'm only Sleeping and Tomorrow Never Knows) and He was the first to use Indian Instruments on pop songs (Sitar and Tamboura on songs like (Norweigan Wood, Love You Too and Tomorrow Never Knows).Nobody was playing backward guitar solo's in 1966.Many records in 1967 and 1968 were using backward solo's and Indian Instrumentals but The Beatles were the first.
It is very hard for me to make a top 10 Beatles songs list. This is my list at this very moment but it could change any time.
01- Strawberry Fields Forever
02- Tomorrow Never Knows
03- A day In The Life
04- Here Comes The Sun
05- In My Life
06- Here, There and Everywhere
07- Dear Prudence
08- We Can Work it Out
09- Hey Jude
10- Let It Be
Good list, but I would include: I’ll follow the sun in there somewhere as well as For No one., oh and Golden slumbers and of course, Yesterday, as well!
@@Tony-bg7vv it is very hard to pick only 10 from their entire genius catalog. While my Guitar Gently Weeps, Something, Penny Lane, and many of their early years songs are simply brilliant. I think it’s more easy to pick ten from each periods. 10 from their early years, 10 from their psychedelic era and 10 from their later years.
Even some of their session takes are brilliant. I love this first take of Strawberry Fields Forever. ua-cam.com/video/vqtSddcsXHk/v-deo.html
One of my favorites things about your reactions is that you find a way to appreciate EVERY Beatles song. I feel the exact same for their entire catalogue. Even “Revolution No. 9”. Even though you have your favorites, like we all do, there is a reason to appreciate them all. Either because they are all still great songs, or, at the very least, it’s for the diversity. AND weirdness. Using “Revolution No. 9” again as an example. It’s not even a song. Sometimes I skip it. It’s not anything really enjoyable to listen to, but I am so glad it’s there. It is part of their lore. ‘Number 9’, ‘Number 9’, ‘Number 9’, I mean, how many Beatle fans hear themselves or anyone else say the words ‘number 9’ together, for any reason at all, and hold back from repeating it back in the Beatles way of saying it from the album. I always do it. Anyway, my point is, you get it, and I really appreciate that about your reactions.
Yeah, even celebrating their weirdness is okay, because it recognizes them for who they are/were.
My top Beatles albums are probably: 1. Abbey Road 2. Rubber Soul 3. Revolver
Though, it can change depending on my mood.
Side note, i like the Onewheel recharge sound clip you put in these vids.
I have those same 3 favorites
In college I had a radio show called, In The Garage. No garage door, couch or springs. You have one upped me and it’s awesome! Love your reactions and your wonderful musical insight.
Re the Eleanor Rigby string arrangement: Yes, George Martin scored it, but the history is a bit more nuanced.
According to John Lennon, Paul conceived the idea in the first place. ‘The violin backing was Paul’s idea,’ John said. ‘Jane Asher had turned him on to Vivaldi.’ Paul specified aspects of the score George Martin produced which was based on Paul’s Vivaldi-inspired staccato piano: ‘I thought of the backing, but it was George Martin who finished it off,’ he said, adding ‘I just go bash, bash on the piano. He knows what I mean.’
Paul’s concern in studio discussions had been that it might come out lush. Engineer Geoff Emerick recalls that Martin had to reassure Paul that it would work with an octet. Paul’s final word was, ‘Ok, but I want the strings to sound really biting.’
Paul then visited George Martin’s flat to rough out the score. ‘Paul told me he wanted the strings to be doing a rhythm. He played the piano and I played the piano, and I took a note of his music,’ said Martin, who wrote out the string parts guided (he said) by the sound of a Bernard Herrmann film score. Paul also supervised the string recording session from the control room. Emerick close-miked the instruments to get that "biting" timbre and it was recorded very dry.. Paul's final instruction relayed via George Martin was to insist on ‘no vibrato,’ as he had done two years before for Yesterday.
In his recent 'The Lyrics' Paul describes it like this:
'George Martin had introduced me to the string-quartet idea through “Yesterday.” I’d resisted the idea at first, but when it worked I fell in love with it. So I ended up writing “Eleanor Rigby” with a string component in mind. When I took the song to George, I said that, for accompaniment, I wanted a series of E-minor chord stabs. In fact, the whole song is really only two chords: C major and E minor. In George’s version of things, he conflates my idea of the stabs and his own inspiration by Bernard Herrmann, who had written the music for the movie “Psycho.” George wanted to bring some of that drama into the arrangement. And, of course, there’s some kind of madcap connection between Eleanor Rigby, an elderly woman left high and dry, and the mummified mother in “Psycho.” '
Revolver never ceases to amaze me. It’s coming up on being 56 years old and still sounds amazing with its diversity between the tracks. So many different sounds throughout the album. Tomorrow Never Knows is unlike any other song ever recorded. This album, along with a lot of other Beatles material, will always remain fresh.
NÚMERO UNO, Enserio disfruto la música igual que tu, sobre todo este album, que para mi es el mejor album de todos los tiempos y por mucho. UN SALUDO DESDE SAN SALVADOR!
I can recall (way back in 1982, before you were born)...proclaiming REVOLVER as MY favorite Beatles LP. LOVE it.
Can you imagine from Mid 1964 to Mid 1969 The Beatles produced albums were - A Hard Days Night, Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, Yellow Submarine, Let it Be, Abbey Road containing god knows how many epic hit songs. This is why they will always be the Greatest Band ever in history.
You forgot Sgt Peppers
Probably their most incredible album
Also there's plenty of bootleg albums,home sessions,private concerts and many more avenues to keep this channel going for a 'long long time'.
Yep. I think it's their best album too.
I’ve always thought of “i’m only sleeping” as a artist explaining his creative state of mind. Purposely apart from the world, reveling in a dreamlike state and observing and letting his impressions form.
Elanor Rigby. This song was so well written even after all these years I feel Father MacKenzie and Elanor's isolation, pain and sadness. All I could do was stare at the radio the first time I heard it, almost in a trance. And BTW you are really good at analyzing. You seem trained in music theory talking of dissonant chords and fourths and fifths yet convey it to your viewers very well. And I like that if someone supports you you write a little song for them at the end.
I've been sat here watching your Beatles appreciations for the last couple of hours. Absolute delight to hear your reactions and see how they really are eternal geniuses appreciated by younger people. Their music will last forever. They're the Shakespeare of popular music. If you ever get a chance, visit the city of Liverpool. You can actually stand inside the homes where John and Paul grew up, and see the places they sing about, like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.
Nice catch with the yawn in 'I'm Only Sleeping'. The "indistinct voice" just before is Lennon saying "Yawn, Paul" and then the yawn is Paul yawning. Many sources attest to this (plus, if you really concentrate, you can hear it too).
Hi Crystal. I have been a Beatles fanatic since 1964 when I was 6. I think Revolver is song for song the best Beatles album but it's not my absolute favorite for some reason. I think Sgt. Pepper is the most influential album, Abbey Road is the ultimate masterpiece but The White album with all it's "flaws" is my favorite for personal reasons. Thank you. You made this sad day for me much brighter.
I've always preferred it to Pepper. Maybe my fav. as well (though the White album is close). Great insights as always. Paul's ballads are stronger here and the rockier material has more bite than on Pepper (the exception being Sgt. Pepper reprise and Good Morning).
I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed 🤞🏻 that Revolver will get the Super Deluxe Boxset treatment next. The masterful Let it Be super deluxe boxset was, and continues to be, my default listen for months (try ‘Oh! Darling Jam, or Get Back Take 8 for example) but there is so much to love about Revolver I can only imagine what some of their demo or alternate versions would be like.
Your musical analysis was wonderful to listen to. I was probably 5 yrs old when my dad turned my attention to Revolver, so watching you, a dozen years younger than myself, it’s like watching me enjoying it years ago. Such fun 🤩
Going to watch your Side Two Revolver now. Thanks Crystal 👏🏻
Revolver is also my numero uno! I like your metaphor of falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland with the opening of Here, There and Everywhere.
Their best album. Tremendous variety--Motown pop, a children's song, sad ballads, Indian rhythms, and psychedelia. All on one record.
I must have listened to this album nearly a hundred times but I still think their first album is my fave for sheer joy, rawness and catchyness
Great commentary. You are very insightful, Thank you!
Wow thank you Charles!! I’m touched by your kind compliment!
Another “Revolver” fun fact: this album was the debut of new engineer Geoff Emerick who was 19 at the time. He replaced Norman Smith who left to produce a new band called Pink Floyd. Emerick came up with the idea of miking the drums closer to give it a heavier sound. He also suggested putting tea towels on Ringo’s drum heads. You can hear this on “Tomorrow Never Knows”.
Great review. Eleanor Rigby is one my absolute favorites. I hope you'll consider moving on to their solo albums. George's All Things Must Pass is incredible.
Here there and everywhere gets more beautiful every time I hear it. Great video, thank you so much
I just don't get the fuss about 'Here, There and Everywhere'. Sounds cloying and saccharine to me. Never liked it. Can't stand it
Revolver is tied for my top 3 of all time...Pepper, Revolver, and....Ram...I hope you get to it someday. I can tell by watching you that the music is taking you to exactly where they meant it to take you...and you GET it! Kudos!
Well reviewed! I love this album.😬 ‘ I’m only sleeping’ was reportedly written because Paul used to arrive at john’ House at about 9 each morning for a song writing session. Unfortunately, John had developed the habit of partying on LSD until 2 or 3 a.m.😬 He just wanted to sleep it off.
There is also a story that Paul wrote Here, There, and Everywhere when he got to John's house, John was asleep, so he wrote a song to kill the time.
To me this is the peak of the mop top era, from '67 on we have a brand new band--only the name (Beatles) remains the same.
Revolver was the first full album I ever listened to. To this day it is still my favorite!
Revolver is second on my list. Behind Abbey Road and just ahead of Rubber Soul. Great album.
Crystal, when you do Side 2, it may be interesting to contrast the lyrics of "Love You to" as you reference them at 16:30 with "I Want to Tell You" (also by George).
Can’t wait for the top 10. I’d love to see you do some covers.
Thank you 🙏🏻 Crystal
Side 1 of Revolver is perfection...hard to pick a favourite...perhaps Taxman is the best opening track of any album ever made and has THE GREATEST guitar solo. But then there's Eleanor Rigby...Here, There and Everywhere...and every other track is great too. Masterful songwriters and musicianship - the guitar break in Taxman - the riff running through She Said She Said - the beautifully arranged orchestration of Eleanor Rigby - the bass in I'm Only Sleeping - the rythm and Indian influence from George - the fun vocals of Yellow Submarine. Perfect signing and backing singing from all four Beatles. And that's just side one! Yes, it's my favourite Beatles album too. Thanks again Crystal :)
Love this album too, alongside some of the later albums ... its class, thank you 💕
Hola! Thx for your fun and insightful observations! I think on Here there and everywhere that Ringo is slightly behind the beat to give a more relaxed feeling. I also agree with you about the harmony part where John or George drops down! That part always caught my ear! I think it’s in my top 10 as well!
Many years ago, a friend who got me into the Beatles' music let me borrow a few Beatles bootlegs. One of them had various early takes of the songs that would be on Revolver as well as early takes of Paperback Writer and Rain, from the same sessions.
I heard it before having heard the actual Revolver album. So I was taking in these earlier takes, Demo, Take 2, Take 7, Take 20, etc. as "new songs".
Later, I heard the actual finished album. It was a very strange way to familiarize with Revolver. There were some surprises to me when hearing the finished album, like the addition of the horn section on "Got to Get You into My Life" and the seagull sounds and other loops on "Tomorrow Never Knows".
I think it also made me more aware of certain nuances on the songs. It's still one of my favorite albums.
Absolute masterpiece that changed music forever.
Great analysis, Crystal!!!! But I'm going to riot if "Tomorrow Never Knows" isn't your final Top 5 :-)
BTW, there is a theory that love is a mental illness -- but if anything refutes that it is "Here, There, and Everywhere" -- Changing my life with a wave of her hand..... the song is so sweet it hurts....
There is a HUGE wikipedia page just for that one song, describing how much of an impact it had on music.
I believe George featured on bass (She Said, She Said) due to a minor disagreement during the sessions between Paul and John. The song makes sense once you know the origin…check it out
Revolver is my own number 1, because of everything between "Taxman" and "Got to Get You Into My Life" and John's utterly mindbending alien miracle that ends the album, that somehow manages to still sound like it's from the future 55 years after it's recording.
this is IT. not sayin it's better than 'LaTraviatta' or 'In a Silent way ' but for our purposes, # 1... for example, to me the soundtrack for the TV show ' Twin Peaks ' came direct from Revolver, 2 decades later. plus the at the time Indian culture ( mostly George ) and Psychodelia of course.
Yes yes yes & Woah!!! I have to watch Twin Peaks if the soundtrack is that good!!
@@CrystalMarieShannon 1000 % they do NOT play Beatle songs.or any 'songs', really. it's more of a mystical feeling that prob. I'm the only one relating. as a show T.P. is great thou. the first season anyway, not so much S.2 which loses its way. S.3 is in-between
If anyone didn't know, while I think of it, in Taxman:
"There's one for you, 19 for me" - at the time, the higher tax rate in the UK was a whopping 95%. I'm not against taxing high earners, but I can imagine the frustration of suddenly earning tons of cash and being hit with that.
In the guitar solo, the 'eastern feel' is created by the variation between the run down, in which Paul plays a major 7th note (C#) and the run back up, in which he plays the dominant 7th (C). That kind of blew my mind. So simple, so effective
You know, I'm really enjoying these reaction music lesson but truth be told lately I've been listening to a lot more Mozart, Tschiakovsky, Chopin, Beethoven et cetera. It occurred to me today that as you represent the new generation listening to the Beatles I'm the next generation listening to the great classical composers. Obviously of course I apply many of the things you talk about here when I'm listening to them, so thx.
Ok, here are my Top 10 Beatles songs of all-time:
1) Got To Get You Into My Life
2) Tomorrow Never Knows
3) I Am The Walrus
4) In My Life
5) Here There And Everywhere
6) Girl
7) Here Comes The Sun
8) Something
9) I’ll Cry Instead
10) Anytime At All
You heard the mono version of Tomorrow Never Knows? Its different. Not just a fold down mix.
@@sterioapple I have. In fact, a few years ago I got the “Beatles In Mono” boxed set and I LOVE the mono mixes. They’re often very different, sometimes better, than the stereo mixes.
@@Sweetish_Jeff_ Always Better
@@nielsbie8922 As John once said, when you go to see sometime live, you’re listening to them in mono, not stereo. The thing is, the recent Beatles remixes by Giles Martin sound phenomenal.
i love see your reaction
Elenore Rigby, ... George Martin once again, string arrangement, perfect!
The interesting thing about "I'm Only Sleeping" is that it's not so much about sleeping or dreaming, per se, but about depression. At that point in his life, with his first marriage breaking down, John was so depressed that all he wanted to do was sleep. And not your usual "8 hours per night" but ALL THE TIME, as if his very life energy had been sucked out of him. The whimsical sound of the song and the backwards guitar, and general dreaminess of the tone of the song hides its desperate, black, and unhealthy core. And it's wonderful.