The significance of Rubber Soul (and the Beatles next two albums) cannot be overstated. These albums changed the world of rock music in such a profound way that probably even in 100 years artists will still be citing them as their inspiration. Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Rubber Soul as the 5th greatest album of all time. It was released in December of 1965 in mono and stereo, and began a 42 week run in the British charts, and by the end of Dec is hit the number one spot, replacing Help! It was released in the US (also in mono and stereo) at the same time which a slightly modified track listing. It had a 59 week run on the US charts staying at the top for 6 weeks. The missing tracks (Drive My Car, Nowhere Man, If I Needed Someone and What Goes On) would appear on the US album called Yesterday and Today.
As with the rest of the Beatles Canon, the first CD release was in 1987 in the UK and the US with an LP released in the US with the original UK track listing. All of these were issued in stereo.
What Goes On – Mono. The stereo is a great mix but the solo part by Ringo is just out of the left and sounds odd.
Girl – Mono. Vocal out of the right and in the beginning there is almost nothing out of the left.
I’m Looking Through You – Tie. The stereo has more depth, but there is something about it that just hits me wrong.
In My Life – Mono. By far! This song goes back to the earlier stereo mixing with almost everything out of the right except the drums.
Wait – Mono. Again the vocals out of the right, although there is some interesting mixing when the guitar out of the left mimics the vocals at certain parts.
If I needed Someone – Mono. The vocals out of the right are not as bad as earlier songs, but they are distracting.
Run For Your Life – Tie. The vocals are still out of the right for the solos, but the backup vocals are out of the left and that sounds great.
Here are the two versions of In My Life. You Choose!
Enjoy!
Mono
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukbbPJirTaE]
Stereo
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAS8sCffZg]