The world of music is divided in two halves, before Rubber Soul and after Rubber Soul. And same is true for the music of The Beatles.

This is where they stopped wanting to hold a girl’s hand and started talking about deeper things in their lives. This is where they started experimenting with their sounds and learnt the real joy of a proper studio recording. This is where John Lennon began on a journey of writing personal songs (Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Girl, In My Life) and Paul McCartney got tighter on bass and melodic compositions (Drive My Car, Michelle). This is where George Harrison introduces the Sitar for the first time in a pop song…birth of World Music, anybody? This is where the band started on a five year trip that changed the course of popular music forever.

Lyrically influenced by Bob Dylan, which, as they say, happened after marijuana induced meeting with him and musically influenced by The Byrds guitar sounds, this is fab four’s coming of age masterpiece, after which they never rested on their laurels. All the tracks are masterpieces but the one which shines the most is Lennon reminiscing his childhood in In My Life, which is further brightened up by the producer George Martin’s small and brilliant piano solo. Just consider these lines and the inherent grace and sophistication in it. It belies Lennon’s age, which was all of 24 years.

There are places I'll remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I've loved them all

This was also their first LP which didn’t carry their name on the cover, exhibiting a confidence which only The Beatles could have carried at that point in time, circa 1965.

Interestingly, for me, I got down to this album in its totality after all their subsequent gems. And then I started connecting the dots to feel where their magic and contribution to the world of music started from. I still do it very often when I put on the original mono LP on my turntable and on every single occasion I get astonished by its magic.

Year: 1965

Genre: Rock / Folk Rock / Pop

Length: 35:50

Label: Parlophone

Producer: George Martin

Rating: 5/5

Reviewed by Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 25 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com