Rubber Soul – The Beatles – What’s On The Table
Our third “What’s On The Table” video is here!
It will come to no-one’s surprise that we really wanted to discuss a Beatles album at some point. It’s hard to pick a favourite Beatles record but for us Revolver and Rubber Soul would be tied for the #1 spot.
After enjoying Colin Blunstone’s album “Ennismore” last time, we thought we would bring it back to the 60’s with today’s pick, more specifically to 1965 when Rubber Soul was born.
Brew a tea, press play and listen to some music with us 
Many of you will know a lot if not all of the songs on that record. Do you have any favourites? Any thoughts, memories or stories connected to them? We’d love to hear about them!
Have a groovy day!
Mona & Lisa
I could watch the two of you listen to a Beatles album (track by track) all day long. It is so much fun to watch the obvious love you have for each song as it plays. Would absolutely love to see you do a video of every one of their albums – or even every one of their songs. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Great video.
You can tell that it is not an original pressing – because it had the Apple logo on the record. Apple began in 1968 – and this LP came out in 1965.
I think my first choice would be “Norwegian Wood” for you to make a cover – of the songs on that LP. “It’s Only Love” would be very nice as well. It would be awesome to hear you do a cover of any of the tracks from that album.
Mona – In the US, Capitol Records simply wanted to make as much money off the group as they could – so they would put out 3 LPs per year instead of 2 in the US by keeping some tracks off the Beatles UK versions and then adding a couple of singles. The UK version would have 14 tracks and they would make 2 per year – for 28 LP tracks. The US would put out 3 LPs with maybe 11 tracks per album. So that is 33 total tracks. They add in 5 tracks from singles with the 28 and they would now have 3 albums to put out in the US. It was all about the money.
How about doing a Beatles cover from Please Please Me to mark the 60th anniversary of their first album, maybe a Duo Session?
11 songs from it were recorded 60 years ago today in the Abbey Road Studio.
Didn’t you take some photos there when you visited?
It is wonderful watching the MLT thoughts and comments on a lifetime obsession. You are true musicians and I’m not, but the joy and discovering of the music (and Liverpool) and growing up with it I totally identify with. It brings back the memories of how it felt being young, listening in my bedroom, analysing lyrics and so much more it became ingrained in my soul and still is to this day. I love the MLT work that has come from this unequalled songbook and there isn’t anyone comes close in both covers or original writing in my view. Thank you
From Ruber Soul I remember your I’m looking trough you. Really great.
I discovered the MLT the same way they discovered the Beatles – outside of the context of albums. Sure not the only one.
Cool hearing the ladies mention their obsession over the Beatles; it was the same for music geeks back in the day. Couldn’t wait for a new single/album to arrive. And one of the things that made “Rubber Soul” so amazing is that it contained all new material. None of the songs had been released as singles – before or after – that was just unheard of back then.
All Beatles albums are in essence “greatest hits”, “Rubber Soul” being no exception. Glad the ladies got around to covering “I’m Looking Thru You”; along with “Baby’s In Black”, it’s probably their most countryish covers.
Someone may have mentioned in the comments and I missed it scrolling through – “Norwegian Wood” was George’s first usage of the sitar on a Beatles song. I remember on initial listens noticing that different sounding stringed instrument. And then there were John’s somewhat cryptic lyrics…………….
I’m still in the early, obsessive stage with the MLT. It’ll likely just segue into major fandom, but like with the Beatles, already certain will be a lifetime devotee of their music.
Hi Mona and Lisa, Rubber Soul is my favorite album when I bought it I was surprised the maturity of the songs, the quality, the evolution of the group the sitar, the lyrics, the compositions of the songs. This album is a masterpiece. I love the cover. It is strange. Merci pour tout ce que vous dites, I like it.
Mein Lieblings Song auf Rubber Soul ist Girl. Ich weiß sogar noch wann und wo ich den Song auf meinem Tonbandgerät aufgenommen habe (wir hatten in der DDR ja nichts LOL).Es war 1971 in der Musiksendung “Eine kleine Beatmusik” auf UKW BBC Radiostation Berlin. Habe mich geärgert es wurde nicht ganz ausgespielt ca.10 Sekunden fehlten, die Sendung war zu Ende – Ärger Ärger.
That’s all for today bye bye
The thing about different tracks on US releases as compared with UK versions was that the US record company, Capitol, were determined to squeeze more sales out by cutting tracks from albums and putting them onto others to create more album releases. The Beatles had no control over this, and hated it because they conceived their albums (or LPs as we called them at the time) with a carefully selected running order as per the UK release. A theory about the notorious ‘butcher” cover of the US release Yesterday And Today, a tpyical Capitol mish-mash of new and older songs, is that it was the Beatles’ way of showing their feelings about Capitol “butchering” their albums.
I was lucky enough to follow the Beatles’ career in ‘real time’, and to heard their records as they came out. This allowed us to notice the evolving style of the group over time. I have sometimes wondered how it feels for people not around at the time to come to the Beatles’ records as a complete body of work.
A classic example of this comes up straightaway here. The first track on the Twins’ US release copy, “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, was actually on side 2 of the UK release of the previous “Help” album.
I lost my younger sister in 1970. My fondest memory is that she was a huge Beatles fan and didn’t like me referring to them as “Bubblegum”. One day I was walking past her room and she summoned me in. She showed me “Rubber Soul” and asked me if I’d heard it. I answered no and told me to sit down and listen without commenting. At the end of side 2 she asked me for my opinion and I was speechless. It’s still my favorite album of all time and when I hear it I always think about her and how blessed I was to have her in my life (even for such a short time.)
I was born in1963, so I was too young to see the Beatles in concert. In the early 70’s we (brothers and sisters) had most of the albums and would listen and sing to the music for hours. I appreciate all the time you spend communicating with your fans!!! Once COVID settles down, I plan to go to as many of your shows as possible. If you don’t come to the U.S., I’ll just hop across the pond to see you. I would love to see you do “The Word”
Rubber Soul was the second Beatles album I bought. My first album I purchased was Revolver. That was for two reasons. First, though I liked the Beatles, it was crazy how the girls acted which was kind of sickening and second I didn’t have money to buy records. When I heard Revolver I was hooked. I went back and purchased all their albums and have ever since then even, all their solo stuff. I never bought 45’s because I figured those would be on the albums. Boy was I wrong. I think my favorite song on Rubber Soul is probably “I’m Looking Through You” because I really like songs that I call peppy. Like all the songs on “Help”. “Help” is one of my all time favorite Beatles songs. I think it’s great that your whole family is involved in this project, and we are all the benefactors. Thank You!
Rubber Soul is one of my favorites. I bought it when it first came out in 1965. I really liked it then but grew to love it even more over the years. I am in the US so I had the version you reviewed. I remember when I first heard it the first track (I’ve Just Seen A Face), it really grabbed my attention because it was different from what the Beatles had done before with an unusual guitar intro. But, in all other countries the song was on the Help!!! album. Actually it is a pet peeve of mine because Capitol (the distributor of Beatles records over here) kept rearranging the albums and there is an extra album in the US called Yesterday and Today which trued up all the rearrangements between Help!! and Revolver and added songs not on the original albums (like Yesterday) which took away from what the Beatles intended to be on the albums. My speculation is that Capitol did it so there would be additional albums in the US and make more money because anything Beatles was guaranteed to sell at least a million albums here. Anyway with Rubber Soul I was in a duo with another guitarist in the late 1970s and he and I covered many songs from Rubber Soul. So, listening to it now reminds me of one of my favorite music playing times and how much I miss certain people as well as when I was in my early teens. So, it is a bitter-sweet album to me. Mike.
Excellent session. Rubber Soul is definitely one of my faves! It was one of the first American Beatles albums in my older brothers’ collection I really remember listening to (at the ripe old age of 5!) I think you would kill onThink For Yourself!
Another great session, Ladies. Thank you.
I bought the album when it came out. The American release. My three favorites songs are
In My Life which was mine wedding song. Norwegian Wood and Think for Yourself. This album was an important album by the Beatles. They were influence by Bob Dylan and started to write songs with more meaning. This album and the American album Tomorrow Never Knows and Revolver launched them into another level.
Abbey Road is still my favourite, but Rubber Soul is a close second, mainly because they did much more in the way of vocal harmonies than before or since.
Speaking of…I know you ladies seem to be more into completely live, without much overdubs, production these days, but I’d love for you to look more into layered a capella sessions, your voices are just so damn good. Hearing whole songs with nothing but your voices would be wonderful.
Lisa, thank you for your comments. You made my day a lot brighter
I love everything you and Mona do. The two of you never do any song just ordinary. Everything is always extraordinary.
I would love to see y’all do any Beatle cover, but one song I love and would love to see you cover is “I’ve Just Seen a Face.”
Peace and Love, and STAY GROOVY!!!
I have this album both on vinyl and CD. The vinyl is original version, not the mutilated American version, but not the original pressing and CD is 2009 remaster. I rank “Rubbber Soul” very high. It´s one of the three best Beatles albums with “Revolver” and Abbey Road”. What I´d love to hear from you is duo session version from “Norwegian Wood”. By the way I love “The Duo Sessions” album. Stay groovy you too !
Norwegian Wood …. Strange to think that we never recorded it. It’s one of those guitar parts we’ve been playing for years. Maybe one day! Thanks for getting the new album ♥
I can`t pick a favourite song from the album, and there`s only one song i`ve never been keen on, You Won`t See Me. I find that one a bit monotone and going on for to long, hope that saying that won`t get me beaten up. I`ve never heard anyone cover It`s Only Love, i read Lennon didn`t think much of it, and in the beginning called it: That`s a nice hat , lol, but actually it`s a very catchy song, with some interesting guitarwork, it would be fun hearing you do that one, and ofcourse Nowhere Man, because of those harmonies, that would be a great one for you, but i`m sure you have loads of requests for that one, and it`s a difficult one for girls i think. You would probably have to change the key to play that one?
Oh Lennon and his dislike for awesome Beatles tunes 😉
Nowhere Man is probably one of the most requested Beatles songs we get. We’d love to record it for a future “Beatles and more” album. The harmonies, the words – it’s a special one amongst special ones! We played this song live with Mike Masse last year and didn’t change the key as he was taking over parts of the lead vocals but we had to shuffle the harmonies around a little bit to make them fit our female ranges. So if we would record it from scratch we’d definitely change the key.
Rubber Soul on the table! I pulled out my Rubber Soul and put it on my table with the ORANGE slip-mat. Took me back many many moons ago. I used to play this back to front over and over again. There were no mp3’s back then, though we did do “Mix tapes”. I would put the cassette tape recorder in front of the gramophone press stop and start to make them. Though LP’s were the main source.
“SMITH” were my cousins in Brazil, so it seems I inherited this one from them.
“Yes It Is” has always been a favorite of mine. B side of Ticket to Ride. If we’e playing “Beatles Song Association” here’s a few:
I’m Looking Through You / You Won’t See me
Paperback Writer / Nowhere Man
Dizzy Miss Lizzy / Long Tall Sally
She’s A Woman / I’m Down
I would LOVE it if you covered “Nowhere Man”, from the UK/world version, but Rubber Soul nonetheless.
Thank you! ??
I’m slow sometimes… just realized this Rubber Soul album belonged to Sweet Lorraine Smith. Yes, my aunt I’ve talked about before. Coincidence??
Wow that would make that album very special and priceless Tomas! I bought mine at a used record store and the owner checked the label LP # and determined it’s one of the originals cut in 1965 (UK version).
Okay, here are some more song associations …
Any Time At All / Thank You Girl
I Call Your Name / When I Get Home
Honey Pie / Martha My Dear
Julia / Mother Nature’s Son
I’m A Loser / I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party / You Like Me Too Much
That was a fun exercise 😉
Nowhere Man … We’ll have to record that at some point. How can we not, with harmonies like that ♥
My favorite one on this LP is I’ve Just Seen a Face. Bought this album in 1966 a year after its release and went threw 4 copies with playing it so much I wore the grooves out…LOL…I think this would be a great cover for the Mona Lisa Twins. The guitar riffs and vocals jump out at me and would love to hear how Mona and Lisa would cover this song. I love this segment What’s on the Table, so cool and feel like we are all sitting at the dinning room table talking music! Love it!
We’ve played “I’ve Just Seen A Face” for fun many times but it would be a great one to do “properly” in the future. Maybe that’s a new “Duo Session” candidate 🙂
My favorite Will always be Sgt Peppers. My older brother gave it to me when I was 14. My first year of high school, so I needed to know what kool music was. He gave me that and Pink Floyd’s Animals. I wore both of them out on my cheap turntable.
I love these WOTT episodes. You two are funny. I am like Mona when it comes to the favorite child. Whenever my parents are introducing their four children (Im#3) I always introduce myself as the favorite.
JP
I’m a real nowhere man (hint, hint)
Sgt Pepper definitely wins in coolness points 😉 Together with Pink Floyd’s Animals album … what a soundtrack for your teenage years!
Nowhere Man has been on our “songs to do” wishlist forever … I can’t see it not happen eventually ♥
You posted this just in time. You may have noticed some excessive wear on the previous WOTT episodes; that’s because of me. Sorry.
I’ve read that some believe this recording was an indication of how the Beatles were starting to treat an album as something other than a collection of songs, leading to widespread agreement that later works (Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road) were meant to be listened to in order. Not sure how that plays here due to the releases in North America being different from most others. But even as a collection of songs, you can hear some of the evolution the band went through since “Please Please Me”. Musically I very much like “Run For Your Life”. Despite a rather dark theme, it’s another example of how the Beatles explored things others didn’t…or wouldn’t.
If you can find it, Leon Russell’s “Carney” would be a great candidate for a WOTT. Songs that make you think, along with stellar musicianship. Part of that is the personnel; Carl Radle on bass, who played with many talented musicians, but sadly can be listed in the rock and roll book of tragically short careers. And, Jim Keltner, a session drummer who has played with everybody, but most notably all the boys except Paul, post Beatles. “This Masquerade” (hey Mona, got some flute here!) and “My Cricket” are two I’d recommend you check out, if you’re not familiar already.
As always, THANK YOU for WOTT!
Dale, that is similar to classical music where the 3 or 4 movements of concertos and symphonies are meant to be listened to in order for the listener to experience the progession of emotions the composer is trying to express. In some of Bachs work like the Goldberg variations, there are 30 short piano variations that are meant to be heard consecutively. In a similar vein the Beatles with Rubber Soul started the album as a work of art concept that groups like the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Supertramp….to MonaLisa Twins would carry on in their albums.
Thanks Jung,
Got that, I was just wondering whether the effect intended would be the same since the North American and European releases were different, as if a Bach piece had the 2nd movement replaced for one performance vs. another. Of course the Beatles at this time didn’t have the control over their releases they should have.
Dale, I wonder if the Parlophone UK version selection and order of songs is truer to the way the Beatles would have wanted it. Capital is well known for putting $$$ in front of creative freedom the way they treated Brian Wilson with Pet Sounds.
Now it would be quite something to see Lisa smash the awesome raw lead guitar piece on Run For Your Life! George Harrison called it one of his fave songs for a reason. The dark lyrics, we can blame it on Elvis as it was inspired by an Elvis song according to John Lennon. 🙂
I’m 20 seconds into “Carney” (Tight Rope) and I’m already intrigued. I’ve never heard this album but I’ll definitely give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion.
“Run For Your Life” is genius. Weird and wrong, sure, but what a way to end an album 😉 I think it especially works well in the context of the whole record, both in tempo and style. I agree that there is so much more that you get out of their music (especially with Rubber Soul and onwards) when you listen to the albums as a whole. Like we say in the video, that wasn’t how we first got into their music but it definitely added another layer of magic to their work.
Lisa I think you perfectly articulated Run For Your Life for me! Every time I hear that song it always stands out, despite the crazy lyrics, ending the album with a raw bang, genius indeed! 🙂
I would pick Girl or It’s only Love. Lennon’s Dylan phase
I have to say that this is my favorite Beatles album. It is my go to every time I load up my MP3 player. And although I do own both the Capital US version and the EMI Euro version, I am partial to the US version. It is the version that I purchased new in 1966 (in glorious Mono) so it is the song lineup that I prefer
The pressing info will be coded in the deadwax between the end of the groove and the label.
You’ll probably have to move the record around under a good light to be able to see it.
I’d love to see a cover of Face, but any song would be great. It’s like choosing a favourite child 🙂
You sir, are a genius 😉 It’s a ‘71 pressing – Thanks!
Well I was only 7 when Rubber Soul came out so did have the album right away of course. Fave songs on it are Drive my car, If I needed Someone, Nowhere man, In my life. I LOVE MLT’s version of Drive my car of course! It’s one of the first videos I saw of you 2 when I “discovered” you 2 years ago! I was watching Beatles videos on Youtube and stumbled upon your videos! A very happy stumble!
You’ve brought me so much joy the past 2 years.
We never thought that out of all the videos we uploaded the live version of “Drive My Car” would introduce so many new people to our music. But we’re glad it did 😉 Thanks ♥
Rubber Soul was my favorite album! Yes I was alive when it came out so of course I bought it! I’ve just seen a face and You won’t see me are my favs from the album. I would love to see you cover either one! It’s so much fun watching you two interact with each other! Makes me smile! You are the grooviest!
I’d like to hear you do “I’ve just seen a face “ exactly for the reason I’ve never heard anyone else cover it. I never thought the song got as much air play as it deserves.
It would lend itself really well for a future duo session. It’s going on the brainstorm list 🙂 Have you seen the movie “Across The Universe”? They do a cute version of the song.
Yes, the Capitol execs probably chose ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’ back in ’65 to capitalize on the Dylan craze at that moment. Dylan Goes Electric by Elijah Wood explores the years before and during this period in great detail if you’re interested. Thank you for inserting your videos from your past – they add context and fun to your album chats! Keep on growing, love it!! Mark
Glad you enjoyed it!
As a millennial I know Elijah Wood as a “Lord Of The Rings” actor, and him writing a book about Bob Dylan made me giggle. So I googled it (did I mention I’m a millennial?) and saw that you probably meant Elijah Wald? And then I noticed that “Wald” is actually German for “Woods”, and that had me giggle again 😉
My personal favorite Beatles album is Abbey Road because I love every song on the album. My favorites being Come Together (John), Something (George), Oh Darling (Paul) & Octopus’s Garden (Ringo). My favorite on Rubber Soul is Run for Your Life.
I may be alone in this, but my favorite Rubber Soul track is “You Won’t See Me”. It was the first Beatles song I ever heard that I wanted to listen to over and over. Something about the way the “ooh-la-la-la” plays off the melody just grabs me.
I also have a special place in my head, if not my heart, for “What Goes On”, because it was recorded on the very day that I was born. I was “what went on” that day!
As far as possible MLT covers, my first choice would be “Nowhere Man”, largely because they teased us with a little of it in that video last year where Michaela entered the bedroom while they were rehearsing, and I’ve been dying to hear the rest of it ever since.
Agree David, Nowhere Man would be great too. Loved that bedroom rehearsal video, it left me hanging for that song.
We get requests for “Nowhere Man” more than any other song it seems 😉 We had fun doing it live last year and were always planning on recording it at some point. How could we resist harmonies like that? 😉
Rubber Soul is probably my favorite Beatles album. If I had to pick a favorite off of the album it would have to be “In My Life”. The arrangement, the lyrics, the melody. I suppose it’s my favorite because of where I was in my life at the time. Certain songs can turn on certain memories that otherwise might have faded way. You girls really bring this song to life with your performance. I enjoyed your “What’s on the table” today. Stay safe and be well.
Thanks, Roy! We too love how some songs can do that. They bring back memories that would otherwise be long gone. It really fits with the sentiment of “In My Life” which is quite poetic.
I got Rubber Soul vinyl in 2018 shortly after joining the MLT Club. On ask the MLT forum I asked what was the best first Beatles album to get for a beginner, you recommended Rubber Soul Lisa! Thank you, I’ve come to love every track on the album, awesome album! In high school I had a good friend who really loved the Beatles and one day we hung out at his place and I remember listening to a Beatles Album and we ended up both really getting into “Girl”, and “Michelle” singing it, and it was only after I got Rubber Soul many decades later I realized this was that album, so it made getting it even that much more meaningful. If I had to pick favorites, my top 3 would be Girl, Michelle, and Norwegian Woods. As for my vote for another cover off the album, it would be a tough choice between Girl and Norwegian Woods, but I’d say Girl just because of the memory from high school. For a lesser known gem to cover off the album, “Think For Yourself” has a catchy sound with some nice guitar work. The other one might be “Run For Your Life”, love the guitar sound, despite the lyrics being a bit morbid and crazy though, not for the faint hearted.
BTW, the part where Lisa said “who’s your favorite child” and Mona gestured herself cracked me up. You ladies are so fun! 🙂 Thanks for this, I so enjoy all your What’s On the Table series.
I have the Parlophone UK version and the the two tracks you highlighted that appears on the US version are new to me. I’ve Just Seen a Face, and It’s Only Love I like! Both have a catchy sound, and the intro guitar riff in I’ve Just Seen a Face is great. I’m not sure which I prefer more between the 2 versions. The Parlophone UK version has If I Needed Someone and Nowhere Man which I couldn’t imagine not having on the album either. Well I think it’s good to have both albums! LOL. I’m glad they both have I’m Looking Through You, the other big favorite of mine which I understand the Beatles ended up re-recording 3 or 4 times before finally settling on the last version which is a more upbeat version than the original they did which later appears on the Anthology album decades later, which interestingly sounds quite different and is much slower.
I am so glad you got the album and that it connected with your childhood memory, that’s so precious! “Girl” is such a Lennon-y song with its twisted way of describing something/someone we can all relate to. It’s perfection!
We’ll consider all of your suggestions for a future cover once the next album is done 🙂
Thanks Mona! Yes Girl is such an elegant song and has a way of stirring the soul, just like your Sweet Lorraine. Perfection indeed. I’m so looking forward to your new album! All the best to you both!
Capitol records rearranged the Beatles’ albums from Help! through Revolver. ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face’ was on the Help! album in the UK and Europe. It’s been a decades long pet peeve of mine because Capitol released in June 1966 Yesterday and Toady which included songs from Rubber Soul and Revolver as well as singles not on any official albums, e.g., Yesterday. So, Yesterday and Today was a “true-up album” to make sure all the songs through Revolver were heard both in the US and Europe. But, Revolver was released in August 1966. At the time I was not quite 13 and could only afford one of the two (Y and T or Revolver). So, I bought Y and T. And, I “missed” Revolver and didn’t know some of the songs on Revolver until the next decade. Oh well……I guess the bottom line is that Capitol records made a little more money by having an extra Beatles album. Also, I enjoyed your review of Rubber Soul and like the “What’s On the Table” videos. Another also, one of my favorite lines comes from If I Needed Someone and that is “carve your number on my wall and maybe you will get a call from me”. Another also……in the late 1970s I was in an acoustic guitar duo with another guy. He and I did many songs from Rubber Soul.
I had almost forgotten about the dead-baby record “Yesterday and Today”! It seems crazy today in times of YouTube, Spotify, etc. that “not buying an album” would mean that you simply couldn’t hear the songs.
It’s great that you played many of the “Rubber Soul” songs yourself! A lot of them are quite tricky!
Yes, they are. The other person in the duo was the primary guitarist because 1) He was better and 3) He owned a Martin D-45. I was pure rhythm guitarist and played the basic 3 or 4 chords. But, he was more of a baritone to bass singer and I was more of a tenor to high bass singer…..so I sang the high harmonies. So, my friend played the hard guitar parts and I played the basic rhythm.
I was in 5th grade(many years ago) and my favorite band was The Beatles. Rubber Soul was the only album I didn’t have from them but my Dad had an unopened copy on Capital Records. For my Birthday that year he gave it to me as a gift. It’s been one of my favorite albums since.
Best birthday present and best dad ever!
Yes I agree Rubber Soul & Revolution are tied in being #1.
In the Mid 1960’s There was back and forth competition between The music fans ears of The Beatles & The Beach Boys. A battle of the bands when I was a teenager then. I think after Rubber Soul The Beach Boys had their album of “Pet Sounds“ . Pet Sounds album inspired The Beatles to create Sgt. Pepper. Listen to both those albums. Both those albums really changed music into experiments with various recording used by a multitude of bands for decades that followed. Rubber Soul & Revolver seemed to be doorway into a change in Recording music. The change was from using organic instruments to synthetic instruments along with using more multi track recording compared to open mics of swimming sounds picked up by the various other recording microphones. It took years until synthetic instruments could recreate the sounds that both The Beatles & Beach Boys made in the studio. In those days they did not tour with those songs because it could not be performed before a live concert. That all history now. The albums have a tremendous history that can only be found in the history behind the recordings. Today the listener is unaware of the creativity of then as compared to today’s sound sampling access at the press of a button.
Rubber Soul is the first album that had a thematic bridge throughout. Up until then albums were just a collection of songs. Brian Wilson in a recent tweet said of Rubber Soul he was amazed at how every song on the album felt like it came from the same place, referring to that thematic unity. Its an important album, along with Revolver in the shaping of music
We’ve never liked those band comparisons and competitions but I guess people love ranking and rating things as a pastime and way to participate. Both the Beach Boys and The Beatles put out incredible music during that time and that they inspired each other was a good thing.
We couldn’t agree more, those records you mentioned opened the door to so many new recording techniques and created a new understanding of what’s possible in the studio. Yet weirdly for us very few things that came after and should have benefitted from these innovations come even close to that magic, and the creativity fell to the wayside.
As you say, it’s weird to us that so many producers have forgotten that but at the same time they all love the old records! Thanks for your insight 🙂
Love this picture of Mona from the “June” Video (my favorite). Your hair and overall look were beautiful and reminded me of my girlfriend back in the 60’s. Great song and video as well. I wish you would make an autographed copy of this picture available in your store. Also the same for a picture of Lisa. Thank you!
I’m glad you like the “June” video, although that was a long time ago now! 🙂 We are planning to create some new posters later this year with some updated photos so if you would like to get yours signed we’ll be happy to do that!
Hi Mona and Lisa,
I do really enjoy your What’s on the table very entertaining. I must say in my opinion no one can cover the Beatles as good as you can in fact I can honestly say although I liked them i much prefer your versions. I think my favourite track on Rubber Soul is Girl.
Thank you so must for keeping real music alive MLT you really are amazing, your covers are superb as are your originals so versatile and talented. You are super⭐⭐
♥♥♥ That means a lot to us, thank you. This music is too important not to be celebrated, and if we can do our bit to keep it around for a new generation then the Beatles covers are more than worth it. For us, they are such a big source of inspiration, not just musically, and we love to share that with people.
I would like to say one thing girls you just talk Lola and smashed it out of the ballpark!!!!!!????
We had a good time with it, we are glad you liked that video 🙂
I loved “It’s Only Love”. I think you ladies would do it really well!
We love the slightly haunting, romantic feel to it. Maybe we’ll give it a go one day 🙂
Ahhhhhh…one of , if not, the Beatles album that my 2nd older bro got me into, he and I share similar music tastes..,Also it helped that his Grade 5 teacher was an immense Beatlesiac and had their class perform a Beatles music montage at the school one evening for whatever the school concert was for, I was there as my Grade 2 class did a concert thing too, I don’t recall now what but I recall watching my bros Gr.5 class Beatles concert…that was more memorable.??
As far as songs go, I ‘ve Just Seen A Face, Girl, and a few others you played and did not, I like, Also, now you have intrigued and wondering if Canadian Record companies released their own version of it, the USA, or UK version at the time, . I read an article in local newspaper some years ago about a Canadian connection with The Beatles that I was not aware of…Thankyou for this latest installment of “WOTT”, it was MLTBuzzLuvGroovy?♀️?????
Yeah, I wonder if there were any Canada specific releases for any of the Beatles albums! We’ll have to do a bit of googling in a minute 🙂
That sounds like a groovy Grade 5 teacher! Our school put on a Beatles musical a year after we had left school but we had birthed the idea together with our guitar teacher during our last few lessons there. We would have been in it had we not left for student exchange to Australia but unfortunately the timing didn’t work out.
We watched it as visitors later. It was great fun and probably as memorable as your brother’s was for you!
Thanks Mona for your reply, hope you find some Canadian Beatles albums gem info, as you mentioned you’d be Googling Up on….I had posted some Canadian Beatles connected info in the Forum, under General Discussion…perhaps that would help jumpstart your intrigue about it….????
I had heard a couple of songs from Rubber Soul and knew I had to get the album. So, I bought it as soon as it came out. The album blew me away. I loved every song on it and it has always been, since the day I bought it, my favorite Beatle album. But, I also love the “White Album. ”
And, Abbey Road.
Like the MonaLisa Twins’ albums, I love all of the Beatle’s albums!
Thanks, Jerry! Usually, it’s hard to find a “I don’t want to skip a single track” kind of album. How they managed to create albums like that, with putting out nearly all their releases (!), is still beyond us. I can only imagine what it was like hearing it at the time when it came out.
The song i probably prefer (though it’s obviously hard to choose) is Norwegian Wood. I can’t say why, but the guitar in that piece really stuck in my mind… (would love to one day hear your version of it, of course 🙂 )
PS: I couldn’t help but smile as you did while listening to those excerpts, so thank you for making my evening a bit brighter
I agree. Norwegian Wood has always been one of my very favorite Beatles songs, and oh my gosh would I love to hear an MTL cover of that.
“Couldn’t help but smile” is the Beatles in a nutshell 😉 Thank you ♥
I bought Rubber Soul when it first came out, then years later, when working at a record store, I bought the Parlophone pressing. I still have both albums. Nowhere Man to this day is my favorite all time Beatles song.
It’s such a standout song! We’d love to do a proper recording of it one day. 🙂 I’m sure working at a record store made for many great stories …
Yes, I do have many great stories, especially when I worked as a store artist. I’ve met many musicians over the years including John Lennon, partied with a few, and attended many great concerts. I only wish that someday you will both perform here is the U.S.
Rubber Soul is one of my favorite Beatles albums of all times and ‘In my life’ was one that speaks of our life.
We read that Lennon once said that “In My Life” was his first “real” major piece of work, because it was so personal. It’s such an honest, touching song, we love it too! 🙂