RUBBER SOUL

This and Revolver are like two peas in a pod. Sometimes lumped together unfairly (I just did it). I think Revolver is decidedly more psychedelic, or moving that direction. Rubber Soul is like a culmination of their early period, and what a fast early period from 62 to 65. Rubber Soul is in many ways Ground Zero for album oriented rock. I love a lot of 50s and early 60s albums, but it was with Rubber Soul that a band first decided to have feel in the production, arrangements, songwriting and song order to create an overall "album" that we all love so much.

Whats important to note is this album was hugely influential on the Beach Boys next album, the great Pet Sounds. Which in turn was hugely influential on Sgt. Pepper's. I do think its a shame that we include the Beatles and not the Brian Wilson/Beach Boys. Brian's "Smile" is about as Progressive Rock as we could ever hope for, and one of the greatest albums every (finally) completed.