Wednesday 8 March 2023

The Making of Rubber Soul

Instruments used on Rubber Soul

Andy Babiuk reveals, in Beatles Gear, that plenty of instruments were used by The Beatles during the Rubber Soul sessions.

These included:
John Lennon
  • 1964 Jetglo Black Rickenbacker 325
    • S/N DB122
    • given to Lennon at the Deauville Hotel Miami, 14 February 1964
  • Spanish Classical Guitar
    • presented to Lennon in Madrid on 2 July 1965
  • 1962 Gibson J-160E Jumbo electro-acoustic guitar
    • ordered from Rushworths, Liverpool and imported directly from Gibson, 27th June 1962
  • Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster 
    • bought by Mal Evans for Lennon for the Help! sessions, February 1965

Paul McCartney

  • 1964 Fireglo Sunburst Red Rickenbacker 4001S Bass
    • S/N DA23
    • first presented to McCartney at the Savoy Hilton Hotel, New York, 8 February 1964. 
    • He finally accepted it in late August 1965 at the home of Burt Lancaster in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles
  • 1963 Hofner 500/1 Bass
    • bought by McCartney September / October 1963
  • Framus Natural Finish 5/024 Hootenany 12-String acoustic guitar
    • bought for the Help! sessions in early 1965
  • 1962 Epiphone Casino ES-230TD electric guitar
    • S/N 84075
    • bought by McCartney for Another Beatles Christmas Show, December 1964
  • 1964 Epiphone Texan FT-79 flat-top acoustic guitar
    • bought by McCartney for Another Beatles Christmas Show, December 1964

George Harrison

  • 1961 Sonic Blue Fender Stratocaster
    • S/N 83840
    • bought by Mal Evans for Harrison for the Help! sessions, February 1965 
  • 1965 Fireglo Sunburst Red Rickenbacker 360-12 12-string electric guitar
    • given to Harrison at a press conference in Minneapolis by radio station WDGY in association with local music store B-Sharp Music 
  • 1962 Gibson J-160E Jumbo electro-acoustic guitar
    • ordered from Rushworths, Liverpool and imported directly from Gibson, 27th June 1962
  • Sitar
    • Purchased by Harrison from Indiacraft, Oxford Street, London, late summer 1965

Ringo Starr

  • 1965 Ludwig Super Classic Oyster Black Pearl Finish Drum Set with 22-inch bass
    • Received from Ludwig on arrival in the USA for The Beatles' American Summer 1965 Tour, 13 August 1965

Beatles Keyboards

  • Vox Continental Portable organ
    • bought for the Help! sessions, mid-1965
  • Hohner Pianet C electric piano
    • bought for the Help! sessions, early 1965

Additional keyboards owned by Abbey Road

  • Steinway Grand acoustic piano
  • Challen Upright acoustic piano
  • Hammond RT-3 organ
  • Harmonium

Amplifers

  • Vox AC-100
  • Vox AC-30
  • Fender Bassman
  • Leslie 145 with Leslie 147 power amplifier

The Rubber Soul Sessions


Wait (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney
Recorded but rejected for the Help! album.

17 June 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 7:00-10:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald

  • Recording Take 1 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 3 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 4 (Best)
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass guitar), George Harrison (guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdub onto Take 4
    • John Lennon (vocals), Paul McCartney (harmony vocals) 
18 June 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2 Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald

  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 4
    • unreleased


11 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 6:00pm-7:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

  • Overdubs onto Take 4
    • Paul McCartney (vocal), John Lennon (vocal), George Harrison (tone pedal guitar), Ringo Starr (tambourine and maraca) 


15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio 1 Control Room, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush

  • Mixing Mono Mix 2 from Take 4 (2:11)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:11)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 


Run for Your Life (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon

12 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:30-7:00pm.
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott / Phil McDonald 
John Lennon (vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar), George Harrison (guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)

  • Recording Take 1 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 3 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 4 (Incomplete)
  • Recording Take 5 (Best)
  • Overdubs onto Take 5 
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar), Paul McCartney (backing vocals), George Harrison (backing vocals), Ringo Starr (tambourine)

 

9 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys

  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 5 (2:19)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]

 

10 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys

  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 5 (2:18)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 



Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon
Working Title: This Bird Has Flown

12 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 7:00-11:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
John Lennon (acoustic guitar), Paul McCartney (bass guitar), Ringo Starr (tambourine)

  • Recording Take 1
  • Overdubs onto Take 1
    • John Lennon (double-tracked vocals), Paul McCartney (harmony vocals), George Harrison (double-tracked sitar), Ringo Starr (finger cymbals, maraca)
    • Released in the UK and the US on 18th March 1996 on Apple PCSP 728 (LP), CDPCSP 728 (CD), TCPCSP 728 (Cassette) Anthology 2


21 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
Re-make. Each of the three different takes were different

  • Recording Take 2 – Heavy Sitar introduction
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass, vocals), George Harrison (double-tracked sitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Recording Take 3, retitled Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass, vocals), George Harrison (acoustic guitar)
  • Recording Take 4
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass, vocals), George Harrison (12-string acoustic guitar, sitar), Ringo Starr (kick drum, tambourine)

Details of overdubs are unknown


25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:02)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]


26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender

  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:02)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 

 


Drive My Car (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney / John Lennon

13 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 7:00pm-12:15am

  • Recording Take 1 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 3 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 4
    • Paul McCartney (guitar), George Harrison (bass guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdubs onto Take 4
    • Paul McCartney (vocal, piano, lead guitar), John Lennon (vocal), George Harrison (harmony vocal), Ringo Starr (cowbell, tambourine) 


25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:21)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol T-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Mono]


26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender

  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:26)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]

 


Day Tripper (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney

16 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

John Lennon (rhythm / lead guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)

  • Recording Take 1 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 3
  • Overdubs onto Take 3
    • John Lennon (double-tracked vocal), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocal), Ringo Starr (tambourine)


25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 3
    • unused


26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender

  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 3 (2:47)
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]
      • Included in The US Albums Box Set


29 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 4:00-5:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott

  • Mixing Mono Mix 2 from Take 3 (2:49)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone R3589 We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol 5555 We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
      • Included on Mono Masters
  • Mixing Mono Mix 3 from Take 3
    • Used on the Granada Television show The Music of Lennon and McCartney


10 November 1966, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:00-4:30pm
Producer: N/A, Engineer: Peter Brown, 2nd Engineer: Graham Kirkby

  • Mixing Stereo Mix 2 from Take 3 (2:47)
    • Released in the UK on 9 December 1966, on Parlophone PCS7016 A Collection of Beatles Oldies [Stereo]
      • Included on Past Masters



If I Needed Someone (Harrison)

Composer: George Harrison

16 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 7:00pm-12:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (1965 Rickenbacker 360/12 12 String electric guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)

18 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-5:45pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdubs onto Take 1
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal), George Harrison (double-tracked lead vocal), Ringo Starr (tambourine)

25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 1 (2:19)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol T-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Mono]

26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 1 (2:19)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]


In My Life (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
18 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-5:45pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1
  • Recording Take 2
  • Recording Take 3
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar, double-tracked vocal), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal, bass), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (drums, tambourine)
    • George Martin (Hammond organ - unused)
22 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 10:30-11:30am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Stuart Eltham, 2nd Engineer: Mike Stone
  • Overdub onto Take 3
    • George Martin (double-speed piano)

25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 3 (2:23)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]

26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 3 (2:22)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 


We Can Work It Out (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney / John Lennon

20 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-6:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2
    • John Lennon (acoustic rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (tambourine), Ringo Starr (drums)

20 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 7:00-11:45pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdub onto Take 2
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal, harmonium), Paul McCartney (lead vocal)

28 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 5:00pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1, from Take 2 (2:14)
    • Intended for the Granada Television show The Music of Lennon and McCartney but unused

29 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdubs onto Take 2
    • John Lennon (additional harmonium), Paul McCartney (double-tracked lead vocal)

29 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Mixing Mono Mix 2 from Take 2 (2:12)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone R3589 We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol 5555 We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
      • Included on Mono Masters
  • Mixing Mono Mix 3 from Take 2 
    • Used on the Granada Television show The Music of Lennon and McCartney

10 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 2 (2:11)
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]
      • Included in The US Albums Box Set

10 November 1966, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:00-4:30pm (2:13)
Producer: N/A, Engineer Peter Brown, 2nd Engineer: Graham Kirkby
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 2 from Take 2
    • Released in the UK on 9 December 1966, on Parlophone PCS7016 A Collection of Beatles Oldies [Stereo]
      • Included on Past Masters

 


Nowhere Man (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon

21 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2 
    • John Lennon (electric rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal), George Harrison (harmony vocal)

22 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
Re-make
  • Recording Take 3
  • Recording Take 4
  • Recording Take 5
    • John Lennon (acoustic rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (acoustic rhythm guitar?), Ringo Starr (drums)

22 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 7:00-11:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdub onto Take 4
    • John Lennon (lead vocal, lead guitar), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal), George Harrison (harmony vocal, lead guitar)

25 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-1:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1from Take 4 (2:40)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 21 February 1966, on Capitol 5587 Nowhere Man / What Goes On
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol T-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Mono]

26 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two Control Room, 10:00am-12:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:40)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]
 

I'm Looking Through You (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney

24 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (claves), Ringo Starr (drums)

24 October 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdubs onto Take 1 (2:52)
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocal, organ), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (maracas)
    • Released in the UK and the US on 18th March 1996, on Apple PCSP 728 (LP), CDPCSP 728 (CD), TCPCSP 728 (Cassette) Anthology 2

6 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 7:00pm-1:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
Remake
  • Recording Take 2
  • Recording Take 3
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar, bass), George Harrison (lead guitar, tambourine), Ringo Starr (drums, Hammond organ)
    • Unreleased
    • Mark Lewisohn says this version was similar to the finished version, only faster. Personnel are assumed to be the same as on the finished version.

10 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 9:00pm-4:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
Re-remake
  • Recording Take 4
    • John Lennon (acoustic rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (tambourine), Ringo Starr (drums)

11 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 6:00pm-7:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Overdubs onto Take 4
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocal), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (Hammond organ)

15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio One Control Room, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:27)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 4 (2:23)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] (includes unintentional false starts, bringing the run time to 2:27)
      • Included in The US Albums Box Set
 

Michelle (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney / John Lennon / Jan Vaughan

3 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 2:30-7:00pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar), Paul McCartney (vocal, bass), George Harrison (electric guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)

3 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 7:00-11:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Tape reduction Take 1 into Take 2
  • Overdubs onto Take 2
    • John Lennon (backing vocal), Paul McCartney (backing vocal, acoustic guitar), George Harrison (backing vocal)

9 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1, from Take 2 (2:42)
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
      • Included in The US Albums Box Set
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1, from Take 2 (2:40)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 

15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio One Control Room, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush
  • Mixing Mono Mix Stereo Mix 2, from Take 2  (2:34)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]


What Goes On (Lennon/McCartney/Starkey)

Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney / Richard Starkey

4 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 11:00pm-3:30am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott / Graham Platt
  • Recording Take 1
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdubs onto Take 1
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (lead vocal)

9 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 1 (2:45)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 21 February 1966, on Capitol 5587 Nowhere Man / What Goes On
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol T-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 1 (2:45)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 20 June 1966, on Capitol ST-2553 "Yesterday"… and Today [Stereo]

 


12-Bar Original (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey)

Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney / George Harrison / Richard Starkey

4 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 11:00pm-3:30am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott / Graham Platt
  • Recording Take 1 (incomplete)
  • Recording Take 2
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (lead guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
    • George Martin (harmonium)
      • Edit of Take 2 released in the UK and the US on 18th March 1996 on Apple PCSP 728 (LP), CDPCSP 728 (CD), TCPCSP 728 (Cassette) Anthology 2 (2:53)

30 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 4:45-5:00pm
Producer: n/a, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ron Pender
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 2 (6:41)

 


Think for Yourself (Harrison)

Composer: George Harrison
Working Title: Won't Be There With You

8 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio 2, 9:00pm-3:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Ken Scott
  • Recording Take 1
    • John Lennon (electric guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (electric guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdubs onto Take 1
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal, electric piano), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal, fuzz bass), George Harrison (vocal), Ringo Starr (maracas, tambourine)

9 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 2:30-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 1, retitled Think for Yourself (2:16)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 1 (2:16)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 

 


The Word (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon / Paul McCartney

10 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 9:00pm-4:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Recording Take 1
  • Recording Take 2
  • Recording Take 3
    • John Lennon (rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (piano), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdubs onto Take 3
    • John Lennon (lead vocal), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal, bass), George Harrison (harmony vocal, lead guitar), Ringo Starr (maracas)
    • George Martin (harmonium)

11 November 1965, Abbey Road Room 65, 4:00-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Mike Stone
  • Mixing Mono Mix 1 from Take 3 (2:42)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 1 from Take 3 (2:43)
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
      • Included in The US Albums Box Set

15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio One Control Room, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush
  • Mixing Stereo Mix 2 from Take 3 (2:41)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]


You Won't See Me (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: Paul McCartney

11 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 6:00pm-7:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Recording Take 1
  • Recording Take 2
    • John Lennon (piano), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (electric guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
    • Mal Evans (Hammond organ)
  • Overdubs on Take 2
    • John Lennon (harmony vocal), Paul McCartney (double-tracked lead vocal), George Harrison (harmony vocal), Ringo Starr (Tambourine)

15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio One Control Room, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush
  • Mixing Mono Mix from Take 2 (3:21)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix from Take 2 (3:19)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 
 


Girl (Lennon/McCartney)

Composer: John Lennon

11 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio Two, 6:00pm-7:00am
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Jerry Boys
  • Recording Take 1
  • Recording Take 2
    • John Lennon (acoustic guitar), Paul McCartney (bass), George Harrison (acoustic guitar), Ringo Starr (drums)
  • Overdubs onto Take 2
    • John Lennon (double-tracked lead vocal), Paul McCartney (harmony vocal), George Harrison (harmony vocal, acoustic lead guitar)

15 November 1965, Abbey Road Studio One Control Room, 2:30pm-5:30pm
Producer: George Martin, Engineer: Norman Smith, 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush
  • Mixing Mono Mix from Take 2 (2:28)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PMC1267 Rubber Soul [Mono]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol T-2442 Rubber Soul [Mono]
  • Mixing Stereo Mix from Take 2 (2:28)
    • Released in the UK on 3 December 1965, on Parlophone PCS3075 Rubber Soul [Stereo]
    • Released in the US on 6 December 1965, on Capitol ST-2442 Rubber Soul [Stereo] 
 


Rubber Soul
The Rubber Soul sessions had begun in the afternoon of  12 October 1965, when the band started work on Run For Your Life, which John Lennon had written by stealing a line from Elvis Presley's 1955 hit, Baby, Let's Play House.

That evening, they moved on to the rather more complex Norwegian Wood, then labouring under its original title of This Bird Has Flown.

The following evening, the 13th October, they recorded four takes of Drive My Car, working beyond midnight for the first time in their career to turn the song into a Motown-ish, cowbell-driven workout.

The band took two days off, returning on the afternoon of the 16th October to work on Day Tripper. The song was, Lennon and McCartney later admitted, forced, stealing thematically from their own Drive My Car. They returned to work that evening to complete Day Tripper and begin work on Harrison's If I Needed Someone. They finished working on that on the afternoon of the 18th October, when they also recorded three takes of In My Life.

20th October was dedicated to recording We Can Work It Out. The first of a trio of songs by McCartney about his failing relationship with Jane Asher, it was written from the heart, unlike Day Tripper.
George's Sitar was sold at auction in 2017, fetching $62500

Unhappy with the 12 October version of This Bird Has Flown, the Beatles returned to the song, now retitled Norwegian Wood, on the afternoon of 21st October, recording a further three takes, each one different from the others. The final take was used for the album.

That evening, they moved on to another Lennon song, Nowhere Man, recording a couple of takes before deciding that the song needed more work.

On the morning of the 22nd October, George Martin added an organ solo to Take 3 of In My Life. Unhappy with that, he replaced it with a piano, recorded at half speed to give it an almost harpsichord quality when played back at the correct tempo. 

That afternoon, work continued on Nowhere Man, which Lennon had reworked overnight. The song's distinctive three part harmony vocal was added in the evening.

The afternoon of the 24th October was dedicated to a new McCartney song, I'm Looking Through You, with vocals added in the evening.

It was at this point, nine songs into the sessions, that The Beatles ran out of material.

Two of the nine, We Can Work It Out and Day Tripper, had already been earmarked for a single, so they desperately needed to find another seven songs to complete the 14 tracks for the album, which had to be released in time for Christmas 1965.

By 29th October, all 9 tracks had been mixed, and The Beatles still had no new songs.

Paul McCartney's original 1963 demo of Michelle.
In desperation, Paul McCartney set words to a cod-French guitar piece that he had used to impress girls at parties in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s. He had recorded a demo of the song in 1963, but it had never made it on to any of the band's albums. The result, Michelle, was recorded on 3rd November.

John Lennon also dug into his past. An early composition, What Goes On, written by Lennon during his time in The Quarrymen, was supposed to have been recorded on 5th March 1963, as a follow-up single to Please Please Me. But a new song, From Me To You, was recorded instead.

McCartney extended a verse and a chorus, and the song was given to Ringo Starr to sing, who added a few words, giving the song the unique writing credit Lennon/McCartney/Starkey. It was recorded on 4th November.

Also on 4th November, The Beatles recorded the decidedly unoriginal 12-Bar Original, a direct rip-off of Booker T and the MGs’ Green Onions. Intended as the closing track on Rubber Soul, it didn’t see the light of day until it appeared on Anthology 2 in 1995.

By now the barrel had been well and truly scraped. They needed four more songs and had nothing to give, playing for time by re-recording I’m Looking Through You on 6th November.

Lennon and McCartney went away to force themselves into writing new material, and they pressed upon George Harrison, then with only three released songs to his name, to come to their rescue. The result was his angry retort, Think For Yourself, recorded by the band on 8th November.

By 10th November, Lennon and McCartney had come up with a joint composition, The Word, written with the aid of marijuana the previous day. It was recorded on that day, along with yet another version of I’m Looking Through You. This was the version that would finally end up on the album.

A final 13 hour session on 11th November saw the recording of a new McCartney song, You Won’t See Me, (his first new song since I’m Looking Through You, with which it shared its subject matter - his rapidly deteriorating relationship with Jane Asher). Next up was a new Lennon composition, the European sounding Girl.

Suddenly, time was up, but the album was incomplete. One more song was needed, and by this time, they had decided that 12-Bar Original was too close to Green Onions to release.

But by lucky chance, they had several songs left over from the sessions for their previous album, Help!. Considered to be not strong enough, a few had been left unreleased. One of these, If You’ve Got Troubles, was dismissed out of hand because there was nothing that could be done to rescue it. Another, That Means A Lot, had been given to PJ Proby, who had scored a minor hit with it. But the last, a piece called Wait, had potential.

Digging Wait out of the vaults, The Beatles tried to disguise what they considered to be a weak song by pepping it up with extra percussion.

And with that, the album was finished.

The remaining songs were mixed on 15th November, and the album was in the shops by 3rd December.

That it is considered to be one of their finest works is all the more remarkable given the state of near panic with which it was recorded