About
In October 1965, we started to record [Rubber Soul]. Things were changing. The direction was moving away from the poppy stuff…now we’d come to the point where we thought, ‘We’ve done that. Now we can branch out into songs that are more surreal, a little more entertaining.’
Paul McCartney – Quoted in “The Beatles – The Capitol Albums volume 2” boxset, 2006
From The Beatles:
Rubber Soul was another album for Christmas – released on 3rd December, 1965 just two weeks after final mixing had taken place. Following the release of their previous album The Beatles had undertaken a momentous tour of the USA and Canada including a record breaking appearance at New York’s famous Shea Stadium.
Following a deserved holiday, the guys returned to the studios in mid October, not only to record the album but also a new single – their first double A-side featuring “Day Tripper” and “We Can Work It Out”
The album consisted of eleven songs by John and Paul, two by George and another with the unique writing credit of Lennon-McCartney-Starkey. The inclusion of a sitar on the song Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) also illustrated George’s growing interest in Indian music and culture.
Rubber Soul was also the last Beatles album for which Norman Smith manned the control desk. He took his leave after six albums and eleven singles going on to produce Pink Floyd and later still to enjoy success as ‘Hurricane’ Smith.
The front cover photograph of Rubber Soul was again taken by Robert Freeman but the way the faces appear slightly distorted on the sleeve was a result on a happy accident while the image was being projected. It is also interesting to note that the group’s name is absent from the front of the sleeve.
The album spent nine weeks at the album chart summit in the UK during a healthy 43 chart stay.
In the US Rubber Soul was released but despite the fact that sleeve looked similar to its UK counterpart, the track listing was different. Of the twelve tracks released on the American album only ten were common to the UK version. ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’ and ‘It’s Only Love’ from side two of the British Help! album replaced four tracks which the US would save for a future release titled “Yesterday….And Today”. The US “Rubber Soul” album reached # 1 in early January 1966 and stayed there for six weeks during an initial chart run of 51 weeks.
The title Rubber Soul was kind of, ‘Hey man, it’s got soul – it’s a lot of soul. A lot of soul, that music’. – It was a spoof on that you know. Seemed nice and amusing. Very us – you know, very whacky.
Paul McCartney – From Rubber Soul | The Beatles

Last updated on October 16, 2023
Special editions
Rubber Soul (Mono - 2009 remaster)
By The Beatles • Official album
Rubber Soul (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
By The Beatles • Official album
Rubber Soul (US - 2006 remaster)
By The Beatles • Official album
Rubber Soul (US - 2014 reissue)
By The Beatles • Official album
By The Beatles • Official album
By The Beatles • Official album
Related songs
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Officially appears on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Related artists
Related sessions
Oct 12, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)

Oct 12 - Nov 30, 1965
Oct 13, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
"We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper" Session #1
Oct 16, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
Oct 18, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Oct 21, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Oct 22, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Oct 25, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 03, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 04, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 08, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 09, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 10, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 11, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
Nov 15, 1965 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Rubber Soul (UK Mono)
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Love this album and they made it so quickly!