Or, a breakdown
This is the last spiel about a record turning 55, I swear. It’s my boys and it’s maybe their greatest album (the case has been made) and it’s one I’ve come to really love as an adult and I had to.
Song I’ve loved from the start: “I’m Only Sleeping”
Song I returned to after doing some growing up and discovered just what I’d been missing: “Doctor Robert”
Song that in my darker moments makes me want to quit doing anything creative because it can’t possibly measure up: “Here, There, and Everywhere”
Song that I’m not that into but the bridge is cool: “And Your Bird Can Sing”
Song with the best riff: “I Want to Tell You”
Song that might have been the point at which the McCartney-ness began to go off the rails: “Good Day Sunshine”
Song that proved they were not gonna be cute and cuddly anymore: “Tomorrow Never Knows”
Song with a horn interlude which no one can hear over all the talk about “Penny Lane”: “For No One”
Song that I suspect is a portal to another dimension in the right circumstances: “Love You To”
Song that was fast growing on me anyway and then the demo made me Explode(TM): “She Said She Said”
Song that you can tell which artists have the best taste because they choose to cover it: “Got to Get You Into My Life”
Song that people forget is actually on this album: “Yellow Submarine”
Song that I find myself singing not infrequently: “Taxman”
Song that is perfect: “Eleanor Rigby”
Overall review: Sonically intimidating, melodies miles ahead of (almost) anybody else, sexy in unexpected ways. Gotta respect.
Image: 5 August 1966 on EMI
So many lovely tunes…the beauty of H, T, & E is otherworldly…I believe it and The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows were written by God.
I’m inclined to agree!