1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: 70. The Beatles – Revolver (1966)

 

The Beatles really get into the biting social commentary on this album. They poke a bit at the politicians of the time on Taxman (Ah-ah, Mr [Harold] Wilson, Ah-ah, Mr [Ted] Heath) as well as bemoaning the grasping nature of taxes of the time. Then there’s the magnificent polemic against social isolation that is Eleanor Rigby, where the group eschew their guitars for a string quartet backing, creating a distinctive and timeless track with razor-sharp lyrics.  

They’re also not afraid to keep with the heartfelt lovesongs (Here There and Everywhere), some classic McCartney R&B/pop tunes like Got To Get You Into My Life or Good Day Sunshine, or the endearing Ringo silliness of Yellow Submarine. The final track (Tomorrow Never Knows) is a piece of psychedelic/raga rock, of the kind that will typify the back half of the Sixties, and given that it features a drone style and sitar work, surprisingly isn’t written by Harrison. Not to be confused with a Bond film, by the way.

One minor nit. This album is one of those that plays with the new “stereo” sound to gimmicky effect, with the music hopping from one side to the other, or some instruments/vocals mixed to one ear and others to the other. That kind of thing is fine once in a while as a special effect – here it’s done a lot. 

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