RUBBER SOUL

The cover said it all. The fish-eyed , off-kilter, odd-angled picture of the somber foursome told us all that we'd never be able to look at them the same way ever again. The public's hysteria had ruined stage performing for them forevermore and they had made the decision to devote all their time and energy to creating songs in George Martin's unrestricted studio playground. The result was nothing short of musical revolution for the masses. This one required contemplation in order to process the tunes mentally and that was unheard of in pop music. But the time was right. From the strange guitar intro and chord progression of "Drive My Car" to the incredible introspection that is "In My Life" we fans knew we had ventured into uncharted seas with only the four self-assured and confident members of the band as guides. We heard a sitar for the first time on "Norwegian Wood" and a fuzz bass on "Think for yourself." We were informed that the "Word" was love and that if you didn't understand that concept you'd become a "Nowhere Man." We were told why they wouldn't be touring anymore on "You Won't See Me" when they sang "Time after time you refused to even listen." And, in "I'm Looking through You" we were told that "Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight." The only thing that keeps this from a 5 star rating is the unfortunate inclusion of "Run for your Life," perhaps one of the only throw-away songs they ever recorded. Nonetheless, the album represents the Beatles' turning away from the constant pressure of appealing to popular acceptance and entering the realm of experimentation and fearless musical exploration that was to characterize their work from that point onward.