REVOLVER (US)

The albums of The Beatles which were released in my country were a bit confusing because EMI Capitol Mexico sometimes released the U.K versions of their albums, and they sometimes released the U.S. versions of their albums (as it was the case with "Revolver"). In early 1982 I bought this album as an import from the U.S. At that time I didn`t know that the U.K. original version included three otther tracks: "Dr. Robert", "I`m Only Sleeping" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" . It was until December of that year when I listened to the original U.K. album in a Radio broadcast that I realized that some of their U.S. albums were different to their original U.K. albums.

Anyway, I was happy with this U.S. version. Even without those three tracks (and which curiously were composed and sung by Lennon), the album sounds well. I also have to say again that the quality of the sound of the U.S. version is very good, the manufacturing of the disc is very good, and the cover printing is also very good. But I also prefer the original U.K. version.

"Dr. Robert", "I`m Only Sleeping" and "And Your Bird Can Sing" were released in June 1966 (that is, two months before the U.S. and the U.K. versions of "Revolver" were released) in an album called "Yesterday...and Today", but with different mixings. I still have not listened to the "Yesterday...and Today" album, so I can`t say nothing about the mixing differences.

The alternative tracklisting for The Beatles "Revolver" album is quite a curiosity and not quite as good as the original UK version missing some of the best songs.

The original managed to captivate and speak to the love-in generation of tune in, turn on, drop out drug culture. The psych material is still here on the US version but there are some oddities.

'Taxman' begins with the coughing spluttering count in and a wonderful crashing guitar riff. 'Eleanor Rigby' is simply a masterpiece with full blown orchestras as a backing under Paul's heartfelt plea, "look at all the lonely people". 'Love You To' is weird and wonderful tripping pysch rock. 'Here, There and Everywhere' is a slow paced track heavily reliant on harmonies and a catchy title line. 'Yellow Submarine' is a silly but infectious children's song from Ringo, similar to 'Octopus's Garden' yet to come on "Abbey Road". 'She Said She Said' is a throwaway but an excellent track nonetheless only found on this album. I love the bridge on this, "no, no, no you're wrong girl, when I was a boy, everything was alright".

'Good Day Sunshine' is a bonafide classic featuring strong harmonies and melodies. 'For No One', and 'I Want To Tell You' are not memorable but work okay in my ears. 'Got to get you into My life' saves the tracklist from spiralling into obscure numbers, and it all ends on a positive high note with the incomparable 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. This track could well be the proggiest Beatles number focusing on an eastern mystical feel and very trippy acid fuelled lyrics. The music is incredibly Indian in nature and psychedelic. It is one of the most powerful Beatles songs and sung by the wonderful Harrison.

The tracks missing are the dreamy 'I'm Only Sleeping', the cool swinging 'Doctor Robert', 'And Your Bird can Sing', one of my faves I was recently re-introduced to watching the old classic Animated Beatles show from the 60s.

Overall this is not quite as good as the original but still a class act, with some of the proggiest Beatles moments on vinyl.