THE BEATLES – ’Think For Yourself’ taken from the LP ‘Rubber Soul’ on (Parlophone PMC 1267) December 1965

The Beatles | Rubber Soul | (Parlophone) 1965 | GREAT thing about this LP is that the Beatles are still finding different ways to make us enjoy listening to them. Here is a track-by-track run-down on a fine piece of recording artistry and adventure in group sound. All songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where stated :—

Side 1:

Track 1: DRIVE MY CAR.—Light-hearted song about girl who can drive fellow’s car, with catchy “beep-beep, beep-beep, yeh” motif running though it. Sounds out of tune, but isn’t quite, and diction of John and Paul is slurred at times.

Track 2: NORWEGIAN WOOD.—Folksy-sounding bit of fun by John, with Arabic-sounding guitar chords in between.

Track 3: YOU WON’T SEE ME.—Paul double-tracks and sounds at times as if he’s had elocution lessons and forgotten his scouse. Hear him say “liss-ten.” Paul is also on piano, with others lah-lahing behind him. More of the Mersey sound. Road manager Malcolm Evans is on ‘Hammond organ.

Track 4: NOWHERE MAN.—Another elocution piece (John, Paul and George turn on the diction here), with some exciting guitar sounds. Double-tracking, too. At times has an Everly sound. Theme is about nowhere man making nowhere plans for nobody. A plaintive, attractive sound.

Track 5: THINK FOR YOURSELF.- Written by George Harrison, and sung by him, with John and Paul behind him. A good tempo and vocal sound. Words give advice to someone who’s going off the rails to think for himself and rectify things (sort of mother’s advice to a son?).

Track 6: IN MY LIFE.—Has special effect by holding on to “Wor-r-r-d,” a sort of gospelishish sound, with special messages done in almost recitation. Good harmony singing. And George Martin’s harmonium adds a little bit, but not much. But the whole concoction is exciting. The word, incidentally is love.

Track 7: MICHELLE.-0oh la la, here’s a bluesy French sound, with Paul wistfully telling Michelle the only words he knows in French, and adding in English how much he wants her. Paul sings well with others using voices as instruments. A memorable track.

Side 2:

Track 1: WHAT GOES ON.- Ringo has composing credit with John and Paul, and takes the vocal of a jogging, tuneful country-and-western song. Others come in vocally behind Ringo, who sings well. The instrumental backing is catchy.

Track 2: GIRL.- A sigh song ! As John puts over the words about a difficult illogical girl he likes in slow, deliberate way, adding soft acoustic guitar accompaniment for himself, the others add some amusing vocal effects.

Track 3: I’M LOOKING THROUGH.- Paul takes the lead in this unison vocal, which sounds rather like earlier Beatles numbers. A quiet, rocking song about a girl who has changed after letting hwer boy down. Ringo on organ.

Track 4: IN MY LIFE.— A slow song, with a beat and spinet sounding solo by George Martin in the middle. Song tells of reminiscences of life.

Track 5: WAIT.— A jerky song, with pauses giving more effect to the short lines of the lyric, which gives advice to someone who has to wait for a loved one who’s been away. John and Paul take the vocal.

Track 6: IF I NEEDED SOMEONE. —George’s second tune. He takes the lead, with Paul and John harmonising well in the quick-tempoed, up-beater which is the Hollies latest single. Backing is a little ordinary, but vocalising makes up for it. A “more-ish” track.

Track 7: RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.—A bit of a raver, John leading out with advice to a little girl who had better run for her life, because if he catches her with another man, that’s the end. Paul and George are right behind vocally, and the instrumental sound is happy.

Altogether a good album, with plenty of tracks you’ll want to hear again and again, liking them better each time. (Record Mirror, 04/12/65)

Rubber Soul (Parlophone PMC 1267 / PCS 3075) 12/65 ‘Rubber Soul is their best yet. It brings a new Beatles sound — tighter, with better harmonies than ever, and with tremendous instrumental separation, allowing the boys to shine even more. The Beatles rightly believe they have improved with each LP. But this one brings a still greater improvement . . . Some great songs, all brilliantly played and sung — Disc, 27/11/65

The new Beatles album is not their best on first hearing . . . It isn’t apparently filled with Lennon-McCartney classics, although one or two tracks should stand out in a few months. Without a doubt the Beatles sound has matured, but unfortunately it also seems to have become a little subdued. ‘You Won’t See Me’ and ‘Nowhere Man’ almost get monotonous —Melody Maker, 4/12/65

Over half the tracks, if recorded by anyone other than the Beatles, would not be worthy of release . . . there is none of the old Beatles excitement and compulsiveness about them. Previous LPs have been well above average, but Rubber Soul is nowhere near so good —Record Mirror, 18/12/65