66: Revolver at 50

SATB 66In this edition, Richard and Robert discuss the creation of what is arguably The Beatles’ collective highest achievement – Revolver. Taped before a live audience, you’ll hear an array of in-progress takes of the album as well as the single recorded during the sessions, “Paperback Writer” / “Rain.” Songs include “Tomorrow Never Knows,” “I Want To Tell You” and Here, There and Everywhere.” 

Thanks to Winona Patterson and Xavier Duran. 

Check out Robert Rodriguez’s Revolver: How The Beatles Re-Imagined Rock ‘n’ Roll here

Check out Richard Buskin’s Classic Tracks here

23 thoughts on “66: Revolver at 50”

  1. Have just recently been made aware of SOMETHING ABOUT THE BEATLES. It truly is awesome. The work, research, joy and love that is in every podcast is overwhelming. I belong to a FB group Beatle fans around the world that has 30,000 members literally all over the world. I’m posting your amazing podcasts on that FB group. As an aside I have to share. My last name is WOOLSTON. Years ago when I was a teenager reading Hunter Davis authorized bio of the Beatles, for first time I learned where John and Paul met: WOOLTON fest. I was stunned and on a cloud because the Beatles were sooooo close to knowing my name…just missing the “s”. Fantastic job. I now look forward to your podcast.

  2. Have just recently been made aware of SOMETHING ABOUT THE BEATLES. It truly is awesome. The work, research, joy and love that is in every podcast is overwhelming. I belong to a FB group Beatle fans around the world that has 30,000 members literally all over the world. I’m posting your amazing podcasts on that FB group. As an aside I have to share. My last name is WOOLSTON. Years ago when I was a teenager reading Hunter Davis authorized bio of the Beatles, for first time I learned where John and Paul met: WOOLTON fest. I was stunned and on a cloud because the Beatles were sooooo close to knowing my name…just missing the “s”. Fantastic job. I now look forward to your podcast.

  3. I just wanted to say that Richard Buskin is smoking crack because he doesn’t like the Ram album. Paul was the better songwriter than John. In fact, Paul is the greatest songwriter in pop/rock music history. John was good, but just looking at what John and Paul did post Beatles, it’s clear who’s the better writer. And Richard even admits that on hey Jude alone, Paul wins but then he changes back to a Lennonista.

    1. It’s a little like saying apples are better than oranges. Both were amazing songwriters and what is undeniable is that working together improved BOTH of them and pushed them to heights they might not have achieved on their own.

  4. I just wanted to say that Richard Buskin is smoking crack because he doesn’t like the Ram album. Paul was the better songwriter than John. In fact, Paul is the greatest songwriter in pop/rock music history. John was good, but just looking at what John and Paul did post Beatles, it’s clear who’s the better writer. And Richard even admits that on hey Jude alone, Paul wins but then he changes back to a Lennonista.

    1. It’s a little like saying apples are better than oranges. Both were amazing songwriters and what is undeniable is that working together improved BOTH of them and pushed them to heights they might not have achieved on their own.

  5. The best thing to happen for us Beatles fans since 1970 is listening to you guys talk about it all. May it never end. Thanks so much. Sincerely Gary.

  6. The best thing to happen for us Beatles fans since 1970 is listening to you guys talk about it all. May it never end. Thanks so much. Sincerely Gary.

  7. Why couldn’t you do a recording directly to the recorder, not an audience recording of your discussion. Unlistenable.

  8. Why couldn’t you do a recording directly to the recorder, not an audience recording of your discussion. Unlistenable.

  9. Audio was the worst ever
    Revolver has some poor tracks on it:-

    Love You Too
    She Said She Said-awful
    I Want To Tell You
    Tomorrow Never Knows-one of the worst Beatle songs I have ever heard!
    Yellow Submarine-just makes the cut as a ‘bad’ track. It is an O.K. novelty kid’s song but definitely NOT for serious adult listeners.

    I can think of NO OTHER Beatles 14 track L.P. that has 5 weak songs on it.
    If there is, please tell me. That said, the songs that ARE good are exceptionally strong. Some of the strongest ever written.

    1. There is no accounting for taste! Some of us would count She Said, She Said and Tomorrow Never Knows among the Beatles’ finest tracks. Love You Too is not my favorite but it is absolutely groundbreaking and genre-creating in bringing Indian sounds to rock…

      I found the audio of this episode challenging as well and was aurally “squinting” to hear a lot of it, but the content itself redeemed the audio difficulties.

    2. I would switch out She Said She Said with Doctor Robert. But I think you are actually right.

      Tomorrow Never Knows, while “ground breaking” for 1966, now is not that interesting. I can respect it for its production, but as a song in 2016 it’s one I skip.
      Love To You is also a big stinker. If Indian music would have become a hugely popular thing here, I might be able to give it credit, but The Beatles tried to get people to like sitar music, but that quest was a failure. This is just not a good song.
      I want to Tell You. I like parts of this song. But ultimately it falls short of being a good song. If you were to show someone this song today who had never heard The Beatles before they would be extremely disappointed.
      Yellow Submarine. I get its appeal. It’s fun and goofy. My kids like it. But it is a novelty song. It’s closer to a Weird Al song than a Beatles song.
      Doctor Robert. I just can’t get into this song. It feels all over the place.

  10. Audio was the worst ever
    Revolver has some poor tracks on it:-

    Love You Too
    She Said She Said-awful
    I Want To Tell You
    Tomorrow Never Knows-one of the worst Beatle songs I have ever heard!
    Yellow Submarine-just makes the cut as a ‘bad’ track. It is an O.K. novelty kid’s song but definitely NOT for serious adult listeners.

    I can think of NO OTHER Beatles 14 track L.P. that has 5 weak songs on it.
    If there is, please tell me. That said, the songs that ARE good are exceptionally strong. Some of the strongest ever written.

    1. There is no accounting for taste! Some of us would count She Said, She Said and Tomorrow Never Knows among the Beatles’ finest tracks. Love You Too is not my favorite but it is absolutely groundbreaking and genre-creating in bringing Indian sounds to rock…

      I found the audio of this episode challenging as well and was aurally “squinting” to hear a lot of it, but the content itself redeemed the audio difficulties.

    2. I would switch out She Said She Said with Doctor Robert. But I think you are actually right.

      Tomorrow Never Knows, while “ground breaking” for 1966, now is not that interesting. I can respect it for its production, but as a song in 2016 it’s one I skip.
      Love To You is also a big stinker. If Indian music would have become a hugely popular thing here, I might be able to give it credit, but The Beatles tried to get people to like sitar music, but that quest was a failure. This is just not a good song.
      I want to Tell You. I like parts of this song. But ultimately it falls short of being a good song. If you were to show someone this song today who had never heard The Beatles before they would be extremely disappointed.
      Yellow Submarine. I get its appeal. It’s fun and goofy. My kids like it. But it is a novelty song. It’s closer to a Weird Al song than a Beatles song.
      Doctor Robert. I just can’t get into this song. It feels all over the place.

  11. Loved the show! Such an incredible album! You’re beginning to convince that it was better than Pepper… Even though that was incredible too. That comment about John possibly having ADHD was very interesting in light of the speed he took. What about a show on “where are they now?” And the impact those folks had, if at all (ie, Jimmy Nichol, Best, Astrid, Magic Alex, etc)… Just an idea! Keep up the great work!

  12. Loved the show! Such an incredible album! You’re beginning to convince that it was better than Pepper… Even though that was incredible too. That comment about John possibly having ADHD was very interesting in light of the speed he took. What about a show on “where are they now?” And the impact those folks had, if at all (ie, Jimmy Nichol, Best, Astrid, Magic Alex, etc)… Just an idea! Keep up the great work!

  13. The Kinks never ‘routinely’ recorded in the US in the 60s. In fact the solitary studio recording they made in the US in the 60s was a demo of the song ‘Ring the Bells’. Their first full blown US recording sessions weren’t until 1979 when they reocrded the ‘Low Budget’ album.

      1. Apologies for being so anal, but I’m a big Kinks fan so I was compelled against my better judegment to pick that up, even though it was the briefest of mentions.

        Have to apologize and admit that it was a bit lame of me to make the above my first comment on this podcast, as for the record, after discovering your cast last month I’ve been addicted to it: it’s the most informad and entertaining Beatles commentary I’ve ever heard and has given me hours of listening pleasure. Kudos.

  14. The Kinks never ‘routinely’ recorded in the US in the 60s. In fact the solitary studio recording they made in the US in the 60s was a demo of the song ‘Ring the Bells’. Their first full blown US recording sessions weren’t until 1979 when they reocrded the ‘Low Budget’ album.

      1. Apologies for being so anal, but I’m a big Kinks fan so I was compelled against my better judegment to pick that up, even though it was the briefest of mentions.

        Have to apologize and admit that it was a bit lame of me to make the above my first comment on this podcast, as for the record, after discovering your cast last month I’ve been addicted to it: it’s the most informad and entertaining Beatles commentary I’ve ever heard and has given me hours of listening pleasure. Kudos.

  15. This is my favorite Beatles album and I was really looking forward to this episode but had to give up due ti the audio quality.

    Any chance you can clean it up at some future date?

  16. This is my favorite Beatles album and I was really looking forward to this episode but had to give up due ti the audio quality.

    Any chance you can clean it up at some future date?

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