Tag Archives: revolver

My iPod #519: The Beatles – Here, There and Everywhere

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Speaking of The Beach Boys and Pet Sounds, “Here, There and Everywhere” was a track by The Beatles that was very much influenced by the sound the former were able to achieve on that album. Left in amazement by the song “God Only Knows“, Paul McCartney was inspired to write something that was able to match the emotional impact and lightness in execution, resulting in a song that would be placed fifth in the tracklisting of Revolver, released in the summer of 1966.

In contrast to the rich and plentiful instrumentation that is present throughout Pet Sounds, “Here, There and Everywhere” incorporates a more minimalistic approach. Apart from the usual band setup are only percussive finger-clicks and smooth ‘oohing’ backing vocals that add to the song’s close and intimate feel.

Paul sings about wanting his partner to be wherever he is, appreciating the small things she does that seem to make his life that bit much better. He promises that he will always stand by her side in return. The track is a tender love song, able to depict that perfect moment one feels when they have found their perfect match.

My iPod #465: The Beatles – Got to Get You into My Life

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“Got to Get You into My Life” is the jubilant, horn-heavy, Motown influenced ode to marijuana written by Paul McCartney, appearing as the penultimate track on the Revolver album. Why do I say it’s an ‘ode to marijuana’, you may be thinking. Well because that’s what it is. McCartney said it himself; the statement can be read in this authorised biography. Sorry to all those who’ve thought it was a typical song about yearning for love. But the real influence behind it makes the track all the more clever, slick and a bit humourous.

But when the first note plays and the blaring horns play the memorable introductory phrase it doesn’t matter what it’s about, you just know that the song is gonna be a good one. It doesn’t disappoint. Paul pulls off yet another stunningly smooth vocal take amongst the aforementioned brass instruments, leaping from the tamest of notes to the other end of the spectrum in a matter of milliseconds. It’s may be a bit worthy to note that Paul is the sole Beatle to sing on here with no harmonies from John and George, something that’s eventually mirrored by the former’s sole vocal presence on the next track. Still the two are make their presence known in the music, particularly George who from out of nowhere brings out a stellar lead guitar solo at the song’s climax, cueing the celebratory coda.

A brilliant track. It’s the last song on the album that you can get up and sing your heart out to before things get a bit philosophical and spaced out for “Tomorrow Never Knows”. Really dig it.

My iPod #456: The Beatles – Good Day Sunshine

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Opening up the second side of The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver is “Good Day Sunshine”, a bouncy Paul McCartney number about the happiness one seems to feel with everything (including the weather) whilst being in love. After the somewhat lyrical subject matter in “She Said, She Said”, the track comes to alleviate the mood and start the second half with positive vibes.

Set to a swinging rhythm established by the vibrant piano work and grounded drums, “Good Day Sunshine” is the song to go to on those days where you feel nothing could go wrong and everything’s going your way. The vocal work ain’t too bad. McCartney takes sole lead vocal during the verses, but it’s in the choruses where he is joined by George and John on the harmonies to produce to a simple, repetitive, but memorably catchy melody – one that also gets a sudden key change treatment right at the end of the song.

Only just over two minutes, “Good Day Sunshine” is of the happiest tracks you’ll hear today. I once made it the alarm song on my phone if that’s of any use to you. Made for a good way to start the day.

My iPod #381: The Beatles – For No One

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A slow song about the gradual ending of a relationship, “For No One” written by Paul McCartney and performed by The Beatles is one of the saddest tracks in the group’s catalogue.

McCartney was going through a rough patch with a girlfriend many many years ago, and this is one of many songs that he wrote about that point in time. This seems to detail the eventual end of that ‘patch’ ‘cos from “Sgt. Pepper” onwards he didn’t write those types of songs anymore. In fact, it seemed to be getting so much better for him from that point onwards. Still, “For No One” is details McCartney’s regret and sadness caused by the situation.

Accompanied by only by drums (courtesy of Ringo Starr) which you can barely hear and a mournful French horn that gets its own solo and appears again near the song’s conclusion, “For No One” is the one track from “Revolver” that will have you tearing up and feeling Paul’s pain. John Lennon was a fan of this one too, but probably not because of that reason.

My iPod #316: The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby

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I don’t like “Eleanor Rigby” that much. I feel like it should grip me somehow with its dramatic strings and depressing lyrics, but it never does. Is there something wrong with me? Because from what I’ve read and researched, this track is one of the most popular by The Beatles and definitely one of the most loved on the band’s album “Revolver”. But I have to be that guy who prefers “I Want to Tell You” and “Doctor Robert”.

The song is the second one on “Revolver”, and the first time Paul takes lead vocal on the album. It’s not one to listen to if you’re in a good mood. The lyrics focus on two lonely characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father MacKenzie. The former wishes to be married and the latter writes sermons that apparently no one will hear. At the end of the track, the former character has died and the latter conducts her funeral. The irony.

I may not like it that much. But this track was a sign of many exhibiting the band’s evolution from the mop-top pop group that amazed everyone in the 60s to the experimental group that maintained that admiration.