Given the popularity of The Beatles back in 1966 when this album was released, they were in a position to do nearly anything possible with their music and stylistic approach. The early and more formulaic releases by The Beatles, the band that consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, taught the group to exercise more and more individual creativity as time went on. This worked a treat as an evolutionary process. Their 1965 release Rubber Soul was their best and most inventive album yet. Utilising some of the best technology and recording techniques of the time, it was so consistently good that The Beach Boys Brian Wilson used the Rubber Soul album as a reference point to create the fantastic album by The Beach Boys, 1966’s Pet Sounds. It seems that The Beatles had some musical competition at the time. This album was the last to feature songs that the band properly toured with, before retiring from touring altogether in late 1966. Utilising a bunch of different processed sounds and layering instrumentation techniques, including using backwards tapes, this is by far one of the most amazing and adventurous releases by the group ever to be made, alongside being frequently considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Let’s take a listen to Revolver and we shall hear if it sounds as powerful as a revolver gunshot.

Taxman is a political song by The Beatles. It begins with some backward sounds and coughing, before launching into a direct and scathing attack by George Harrison about the UK millionaire’s 95% taxation rate, which to be fair, is a bit rich for the UK government to charge an individual person. In any case, The Beatles articulate the fact that they were being ripped off at the time, and the backward guitars and other interesting sounds does this amazing song justice. It references UK Labour leader and Conservative Party leaders Harold Wilson and Sir Edward Heath in this song as well. A cool and clever listening experience that is worth your time and money to listen to. Nonetheless, a solidly brilliant and interesting listen.

Eleanor Rigby launches right into it, with a gorgeous yet moody string section and Paul McCartney’s immortal vocals. This is a sad lament-styled tune about death itself. Possibly referencing an actual deceased person in Liverpool, The Beatles showed that symphonic string instrument-based music had its place in the Pop/Rock world from 1966 onwards. A sad and moving listening experience that sounds wonderfully fantastic throughout. One of the highlights of this amazing album.

I’m Only Sleeping is a John Lennon piece with clanging acoustic guitar, dual-tracked and treated vocals, along with other amazing sounds that to be fair, had never really been done before in the history of music. Nonetheless, the backwards guitars and performances on this song are undeniably fantastic to listen to. A really sweet and divine listen about the need for someone to take their time and sleep one’s life away. All in all, an awesome song with layers of instrumentation and fantastic backwards guitars to test your ears out with. Paul McCartney’s bass guitar playing in this song is nimble and precise, and he has massively improved since the early days of The Beatles. An amazing listening experience from start to finish. The outro sounds almost like trippy Sitar, although it is a great combination of a multitude of backwards guitar parts. Excellent.

Love You To is an Eastern Sitar ballad by George Harrison. Reportedly mastering that particular instrument within a very short time, this is a fantastic listening experience throughout with Tabla Drums and other supporting instrumentation to spice up this mix. The lyrics are also very introspective, and deals with spirituality and mysticism throughout. This is one of the better George Harrison efforts playing an actual Sitar. All in all, a superb and ridiculously good listen that never gets old. A very nice and refreshing listening experience from start to finish, and something undeniably powerful. The outro has a sped-up jam section that is a winner. Great tune.

Here, There and Everywhere begins with some gorgeously strummed clean electric guitar parts and launches into one of the sweetest and most romantic songs that one can hear today. The mixture of production, lyricism and melodies all sound really fantastic to listen to. A very pretty, lovely and melodic tune that sounds deep and moving, this is a historic Pop/Rock classic of a song. Paul McCartney delivers a fantastic song to listen to, and this is mind-blowingly good. Finger clicking is present here as well. A superb tune and a listen worth hearing.

Yellow Submarine is the childhood sung by Ringo Starr. It has a mixture of singalong lyrics and vocals and some of the best sounds that The Beatles could make. Acoustic guitars and other sounds are abound here. The chorus is instantly recognisable and very singalong throughout. An awesome listen, and something that all music fans should hear at least once. There is a keyboard-led breakdown in the second half of this amazing song, which is super cool. A song that, although possibly drug-influenced, needs to be heard sober. A fantastic listen from start to finish. It fades out sweetly, a great two and a half minute long childhood song.

She Said She Said begins with some heavily overdriven guitars and launches into a fantastic-sounding tune that was allegedly inspired by an LSD trip by John Lennon. No surprises there. In any case, this song is a marvellous wonder of sound and performance throughout. Ringo Starr’s drumming in the left channel, in particular, is very superb to listen to. A wonderful and sweet tune to listen to, this is a cool listening experience that demands to be heard from this album. In addition, this is less than three minutes long and sounds fresh and amazing to this very day. A great slice of Pop/Rock perfection. “I know what it’s like to be dead…” is repeated throughout. Amazing music.

Good Day Sunshine begins with chugging piano and drum rolls, launching into an excellent Pop piece with treated vocals by Paul McCartney. Bear in mind that this was decades prior to autotune, and the music here sounds really fantastic as a result. An excellent listen in any case, this sounds very pretty and unique throughout. In the second half are romantic lyrics and handclaps to match this fantastic song. Allegedly inspired by an early listen to The Beach Boys Pet Sounds 1966 album, this is an enjoyable listen, through and through. The outro is amazing.

And Your Bird Can Sing is a loud, electric guitar-driven song with impeccable singing and playing throughout. Paul McCartney’s nimble bass playing, George Harrison’s guitars, John Lennon’s singing and Ringo Starr’s shuffle drums are a match made in heaven on this tune. Indeed, this is a very Psychedelic and lovely listening experience. With some of the lyricism and imagery throughout, this is a nice two minute long tune that Rocks well. Fantastic to hear, and something very unique.

For No One is a bitter song with Paul McCartney and piano singing about a real breakup situation that is awful but makes for a great song. Paul’s singing is absolutely superb, in amongst all the misery of this song. Some bugle horn is present throughout this song, adding some excellent flavour throughout. All in all, a very enjoyable musical moment in history that sounds absolutely fantastic to listen to. A really great two minute long breakup song, likely inspired by a real-life Beatles breakup. Sensational music.

Doctor Robert is a song dedicated to drug use, believe it or not. A powerful and interesting Rock song with lyrics about a doctor who delivers drugs from the NHS. Allegedly inspired by a real-life encounter with an LSD dealer, this is a catchy and interesting sounding tune with some of the most amazing sounds from 1966 throughout. An awesome song, particularly if you love drug taking, which some readers would indeed, love. The bridge is fantastic, with treated vocals, organ and loud electric guitars. A really great listen.

I Want To Tell You begins with fade in guitar and sounds excellent, from the go. Clanging piano and deep bass guitar enter, and this piece comes alive with George Harrison’s singing. A very good song, and proof that this album is not just a consistent listen throughout, but cutting edge to this very day. The singing is excellently treated and warped sounding, and the music throughout is energetic, youthful and timeless to listen to. For a lesser discussed song from Revolver, this sounds really amazing throughout. In the second half are handclaps and a great rhythm to match it all. A great song with an Indian-based vocal in the outro. Excellent.

Got To Get You Into My Life believe it or not, is a brassy ode to marijuana. Yes, you read that correctly. In any case, this song is legendary and it sounds gorgeous and interesting throughout. A legendary Paul McCartney song that showcases The Beatles ability to create some spacey and Psychedelic sounding music from start to finish. Paul’s singing is immortal on this album, and he delivers a fantastic listening experience from start to finish. A real joy to listen through, despite the fact that this is a drug song. The outro has a Soul Music feel to it all. Wonderful and joyful music.

Tomorrow Never Knows is a futuristic pastiche of music, that sounds amazing to this very day. It begins with an Eastern slice of sounds, looped drum beats and treated John Lennon vocals. Allegedly using lyrics from The Tibetan Book Of The Dead, this is a futuristic and amazing listening experience from 1966. It sounds way better than most pieces of music from today as well. Backwards guitars and high-pitched laughter are present here (to mimick the sound of a seagull), and the whole tune is a masterpiece of sound. John Lennon’s vocals are delivered from a Leslie speaker in the second half of this wonderful tune. A really great and inspired piece of music, The Chemical Brothers agreed and used this song as the basis of their own Setting Sun song. A fantastic listening experience from start to finish. The outro has some joyous piano parts and more backwards tapes.

This is an amazing album that, to this very day, sounds brilliant. Every single song on Revolver is a legendary and enjoyable listen from start to finish. Utilising cutting-edge and amazing sounds, The Beatles ensured the competition that they were the real pioneers of Psychedelic Music back in 1966. They would not stop there, Sgt. Pepper was just around the corner. A fantastic album that must be heard by all.

The future of music in 1966.

9/10