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Rubber Soul box set… finally

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If this is your sort of thing and I know there are one or two of us here with a passing interest in the HJHs – it seems the long awaited Rubber Soul box set will soon be with us. Looking forward to this very much.

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  2. A judicious, a Hey-Judicious (hey hey), casual beer avoidance policy over the next couple of weeks, and I’m buying this. Soon raise enough, I’m always nipping in and out of the King’s Arms.

    I’ve deserved it, I have to put up with whatever 2026 is, and it’ll probably be my one contribution to the end of year reissues. I’ll do it now to save myself the bother in December…

    1. ‘Rubber Soul’ – The Beatles

  4. Revolver was a big disappointment for me (not many extras and no Blu-ray) and I didn’t buy it. I expect similar for Rubber Soul (recorded quickly, not too many listenable outtakes). We have 2 separate stereo versions that have been released on CD previously (original 65 mix *, plus revised George Martin one from 1987), and this remix will produce a third version and probably a revision of the preferred mono one. I think the ones on the most recent red album are ok, but I am doubting this is going to be a value for money purchase.

    Of course there is also the US version that has now been released twice on CD in 3 different versions.

    * this version was initially available only in Canada on CD in 87 by mistake, but was added to the mono CD release in the box set in 2009.

    • Hmmm … if you play the box set from start to finish, it looks like you have to listen to “Run for your Life” four times. No thanks. Can’t we have a few more versions of “Norwegian Wood” instead?

  10. Never been convinced by Giles Martin’s involvement, but what was so wrong about his tinkering around She Said, She Said? I haven’t heard it.

    If the 2CD version had the ‘mono’ and a whole load of outtakes for £23 or whatever it is, I’d be in.
    It doesn’t, and now, for CDs not vinlys, it is very definitely a buyer’s market. I might as well buy quality for peanuts.

    • What’s wrong with Giles’ mix of SSSS is that George’s descending guitar line after “when I was a boy” is mixed way too low. The genius of that line is that it mirrors the ascending vocal line and so really should be treated as a vocal line, but played on the guitar. Martin snr instinctively knew that but the wee lad didn’t understand

  11. The inclusion of the US version is important because it is quite a different album, but no less important or influential. The US Revolver was essentially the same except it had 3 fewer tracks than in the UK, so obviously there was no point in including that, but we are now getting into the world of very different US/UK LP track listings, not to mention differing mixes sometimes used. If there are ever Help! Or A Hard Day’s Night box sets I expect a similar approach, but I really doubt they are going to do the early stuff, regrettably as this is the part of the catalogue that could do with stereo remixes.

    I never quite understood the clamour for a RS box set – very few extras to include and we already have 2 Stereo mixes plus the excellent mono version.

      • ‘The inclusion of the US version is important’ what a load of tosh. It’s an audio monstrosity and a compilation same as all the US Beatles albums up to Sgt Pepper.

        • The US version was certainly important in North America. The replacement of Drive My Car with I’ve Just Seen A Face make it into a Folk album and it is a different mix. Capitol thought it needed a bit more reverb and there are some variations on the vocals, particularly The Word.

          I think it’s a valid inclusion, even though I have it already.

          • Absolutely. In the US and Canada, their version is the one that is remembered, and is the one that inspired Brian Wilson to write Pet Sounds. Giles Martin talks about it a bit in the link I added downthread. I also had the thought that this album and Revolver are the only albums where the US one has the same title and sleeve as the UK one, and RS is unique in having the notably different track list (Revolver merely being truncated by 3 tracks), and the US market is rather important I would venture to suggest.

            I also agree that, to my ears as well, it is an abomination because I have listened to the proper version since the end of 1965. Spoiler alert – Giles says his dad and the Beatles also hated the US versions.

            • I keep hearing this about Brian Wilson but I sure that had he heard the UK version that would have inspired him equally or more. Maybe he would have made an even better album than Pet Sounds? 😉

  12. I am an unrepentant Beatles nut. I have the mono box, the stereo box, the US albums box, the remixed 1962-66 and Anthology. I’m guessing I’m not the only one. There is hardly anything here that I don’t own already.

    I’m in for the Blu-Ray. Daft of them not to include it in the CD box.

    • Everything seemed to swing in the direction of vinyl and streaming with the Revolver set. The direction of travel away from CD based sets and to merely ape the vinyl sets with CDs was significant and annoying because it removed the advantage of the CD to include much more content than a vinyl set allows. The White album set was the high water mark – fantastic content that just couldn’t be done reasonably with LPs.

      There was a kick back over the lack of a blu-ray with Revolver, and I think a standalone blu-ray is a reasonable compromise as it offers a genuine alternative, but the content on the disc looks a bit stingy. I would have preferred it in the box set personally. I have seen arguments that it would make the set too expensive, but I can’t quite see that. These discs don’t cost much to press (unless someone here knows different…?).

      • Absolutely. I think it started with Let It Be. That CD single is outrageous and Don’t Let Me Down is spoiled by chat. It’s a shame, because the remix of the actual album is the best of the lot, the young man bringing out all the quality from the Spector/Martin combination. Judging by 1962-66, the actual Rubber Soul remix (involving the demix first) has the potential to match it.

      • Yes if this deluxe reissue programme had been handled with anything approaching long term strategy and consistency we’d have ideally kept with the blueprint established with the Pepper box – the CD version really well crafted and containing Bluray. Not only has the overall project been a total mess, but switching around of formats such as Bluray discs which were included in Abbey Road/White album and Pepper boxes into non-events (revolver) or separate (rubber soul) is a pain.

      • At least the outtakes in the RS box are contained on one CD rather than 2 (they are on 2 LPs), however the main album would fit on one CD in stereo and mono versions. They did this with the US albums box sets, but not on these ones

        Overall I think Pepper and White are excellent, the others all disappoint in one way or another, and each one has gradually got worse since The White Album. I didn’t buy Revolver and will get Blu-ray only probably for Rubber Soul, so I am glad I don’t have to pay 150 quid just to get it.

        I am sure the book will be lovely, but past experience has shown me I would probably look at it once or twice

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