Beatles Official Releases Story - Rubber Soul

Label Parlophone
Catalogue No.'s PMC 1267 (Mono)
PCS 3075 (Stereo)
CDP 7 46440 2 (C.D.)
Matrix No.'s 1st Press Mono ("Loud" Cut) : XEX 579-1 XEX 580-1
Mono : XEX 579-4 XEX 580-4
1982 Mono : XEX 579-6 XEX 580-5
Stereo: YEX 178-5 YEX 179-3
Release dates 3rd December 1965
30th April 1987 (CD)

Total time 34:55

U.K. Album Chart Detail : Entry Date : 11th December 1965
Highest Position : 1 for 9 weeks from 25th December 1965
Weeks in Chart : 42
+4 from 9th May 1987 (CD release, reached no.60)
+1 week 25th April 1998 (No.62)

Detail : The Beatles sixth official album release.
The first Beatles album, to include all four as composers, and have no cover versions.
And the last time that The Beatles would release two albums of new material in one year.
The title came from an expression that black musicians were using to describe The Rolling Stones, which Paul then parodied from the original "Plastic Soul" to "Rubber Soul".

This album had advance orders of over half-a-million, eventually selling around 750,000 in the Britain. Global sales are estimated ot over 3,000,000 units. Once again (of course) the American issue did not contain the full tracklisting, instead taking two tracks from the British "Help!" album, and leaving some off, which would appear on later releases.

It should also be noted that during the sessions for this album, on 4th November 1965, The Beatles recorded another track for the album (with 2 takes). It was an instrumental that was never returned to, nor remixed ... "12-Bar Original".

The cover was the first to NOT have The Beatles name on the front. The cover photography is by Robert Freeman.

The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set (see Beatles Collection).

On 30th April 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in stereo, with a catalogue number of CDP 7 46440 2
And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered 3 CD Box Set Comprising:
Help
Rubber Soul
Revolver
+ "Beatles Monthly No.12" - July 1964
This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25/2, and was in a limited edition of just 2,500 copies.

The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set (see Beatles C.D. Box).

The album was also available on 4" reel-to-reel tape,
1966 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1267 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape) - first edition (mono only) in a cardboard box.
1968 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1267 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape)
TD-PCS 3075 (3¾ ips 4-track stereo) these editions in a "jewel" box.

Prior to 1973:
The album was released on stereo cassette tape (1⅞ ips) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3075.
The album was also released on 8-track stereo continuous play cartridge (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X-PCS 3075

In November 1987 the album was re-released on cassette tape (stereo only) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3075 (Originally released February 1966).

Usa Capitol Sleeve

Side 1
Drive My Car Lennon-McCartney Recorded 13th October 1965 in 4 takes
Final mix - take 4. 2:25
Norwegian Wood Lennon-McCartney Recorded 12th October 1965 - 1 take
Remake recorded 21st October 1965 in 3 takes (Takes 2-4)
Each take was different and complete (and should be sought out !!) ...
Final mix - take 4. 2:01
You Won't See Me Lennon-McCartney Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes
Final mix - take 2. 3:18
Nowhere Man Lennon-McCartney Recorded 21st October 1965 in 2 takes
Remake recorded 22nd October 1965 in 3 takes (take 3-5)
Final mix - take 4. 2:40
Think For Yourself Harrison Recorded 8th November 1965 in just 1 take
Final mix - take 1. 2:16
The Word Lennon-McCartney Recorded 10th November 1965 in 3 takes
Final mix - take 3. 2:41
Michelle Lennon-McCartney Recorded 3rd November 1965 in 2 takes
Final mix - take 2. 2:40

Side 2
Track
What Goes On Lennon-McCartney-Starkey Recorded 4th November 1965 in 1 take
Final mix - take 1. 2:47
Girl Lennon-McCartney Recorded 11th November 1965 in 2 takes
Final mix - take 2. 2:30
I'm Looking Through You Lennon-McCartney Recorded 24th October 1965 - 1 take
Re-make recorded 6th November 1965 in 2 takes (Takes 2-3)
Re-remake recorded 10th November 1965 - 1 take (Take 4)
Overdubs added 11th November 1965 onto take 4.
Final mix - take 4. 2:23
In My Life Lennon-McCartney Recorded 18th October 1965 in 3 takes
Recorded overdubs on 22nd October 1965 onto take 3
Final mix - take 3. 2:24
Wait Lennon-McCartney Recorded 17th June 1965 (during the "Help" sessions !) in 4 takes then discarded for inclusion
Overdubs made 11th November 1965 five months later, when one more track was required to fill this album !
Final mix - take 4. 2:12
If I Needed Someone Harrison Recorded 16th October 1965 - 1 take (Backing track only)
Further recording 18th October 1965, overdub of vocal onto take 1
Final mix - take 1. 2:20
Run For Your Life Lennon-McCartney Recorded 12th October 1965 in 5 takes
Final mix - take 5. 2:18

Mono/Stereo Differences
"What Goes On" The mono version is missing some of the lead guitar at the end, just before the final chord. The full lead guitar part is heard of the stereo version.

Released Versions

Very First pressings (1965) - Mono version
Visibly same as "Second" pressing below, but very first issue had a slightly different studio mix.
It can be recognised by the matrix numbers ending with "-1", This is generally referred to as the "Loud" cut.
This was a mix that was discontinued after a very brief pressing run, when it was realised it was tonally unbalanced.
It lacks body, has a muddled bass, with vocals stretched thin making it sound aggresive and edgy (hence, "loud").
But this pressing is not really louder, and remember, it was withdrawn for a reason ... it is one you can do without.
Attempts at correcting first pressings (1965) - Mono version
Once again, visibly it is the same as "Second" pressing below.
When the bad mono issue was realised above, the mix was corrected and the stampers were changed to have a matrix ending in "-4".
Incredibly, during this change over, there were some that had the dodgy mix on side 1 and on other presses the dodgy mix on side 2 !.
So you will find some with XEX 579-1 coupled with XEX 580-4
and you will find others as XEX 579-4 coupled with XEX 580-1
Again, as stated above, these are not better versions to have. They are not common, but they aren't the intended final product. Indeed, the general public in those days never noticed.

Second pressings (1965) - Mono AND Stereo versions
Ostensibly, this is really the first pressing, after those incorrect "loud" cut versions had been discovered and withdrawn above.
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
Matrix number now changed on the Mono version.

Third pressings (1969) - Mono AND Stereo versions
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.

Fourth Pressings (1969) - Stereo version only
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has one EMI boxed logo.

Fifth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY
Silver/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has TWO EMI boxed logos.

Sixth Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
This release is on a lightweight vinyl.

Seventh Pressings (1995) - Stereo version ONLY
Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label.
The sleeve has a printed statement which reads:
"This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.
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