Out of all their recordings, ‘Rubber Soul’ was the album where the Beatles became artists in their own right. Before 1965 they released pop songs to please their fans- pop music about holding hands and sharing secrets. All of which made them irresistible to their young girl fans buying the records.
It is thought that a meeting with Bob Dylan in 1964 changed the band’s attitudes. They didn’t want to make music just to sell records, they want to express themselves and have more freedom. It turned out to be pivotal moment for the group.
The Beatles recorded the album in London in October 1965 and it was released in December. They had full commitment to the album over 4 weeks.
The title ‘Rubber Soul’ comes from ‘plastic soul’, which is a term used to describe white musicians playing a traditionally black style of music- essentially “fake” soul music. Paul heard the quote from an American who described Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones as “good, but plastic soul”.
Paul says that this was “the germ of ‘Rubber Soul’.”
"I didn't hate them. I actually like two or three of their songs. I just thought they were ridiculous. What was so disgusting was the way they were consumed and merchandised. No music has succeeded in America unless it was accompanied by something to wear, something to dance or a hairdo. A phenomenon is not going to occur unless you can dress up to it.”
- Frank Zappa on the Beatles
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