On this day in music history: January 8, 1966 - “Rubber Soul”, the sixth studio album by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for 6 weeks. Produced by George Martin, it is recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London from June 17, October 12 - November 11, 1965. The album is recorded in a relatively brief and intense four weeks worth of recorded sessions (with the exception of one song started during the “Help!” sessions (“Wait”), but not completed until later), following the bands’ second world tour. It is a major progression for the band musically and lyrically boasting such classics as “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”, “Michelle”, “Nowhere Man”, “In My Life”, and “I’m Looking Through You”. The album is regarded by both critics and fans as one of their greatest works. The album is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2000, and is the subject of a pair of tribute albums titled “This Bird Has Flown” and “Rubber Folk”. “Rubber Soul” is certified 6x Platinum in the US by the RIAA. 

I think we have said here before that it is the seminal 'Rubber Soul' that really stood out for me and made me take real notice of the band. I APPRECIATED, and possibly took for granted, all the love songs and sillier more trite things they sang about before but here, their own songwriting to the fore, I realised this was getting interesting and really spoke to me. 'Norwegian Wood' told a story and had such a special flavour, Ringo on 'Michelle' was singing in FRENCH about a girl he KNEW (as far as we could tell* though written actually by McCartney but at the time we wondered . . . .who WAS this girl aaaah) and 'Nowhere Man' was our pantheon to those who didn't 'get it'! 'In My Life' spoke to us all about pathos and heartfelt emotions previously unable to find expression. These were feelings we shared! We were growing up . . . . . . together