Rubber Soul [US] – The Beatles

In a stroke of marketing whimsy, Capitol Records removed four songs from the U.K. edition of Rubber Soul, and added two songs from the U.K. Help! in an attempt to offer a more "American" release. Surprisingly enough, the reworked U.S. edition holds together better than its British counterpart. Obviously inspired by the folk-rock sound blossoming in the States, the songs on the U.S. Rubber Soul show the influence that the sound of the Byrds and the songwriting of Bob Dylan were having on the Beatles. The songs added from Help! (the pleading acoustic "It's Only Love" and the rollicking opener "I've Just Seen a Face") change the entire feel of the album, making it more earthy and textural. By dropping the piano-driven "Drive My Car" and the stark "Nowhere Man," the U.S. edition stands as a much more organic and warm musical whole, enduring as by far the most intimate Beatles album until Let It Be was released in 1970. [Some pressings of the U.S. edition were released with an odd "false start" at the beginning of "I'm Looking Through You," a fact that is sure to prick up the ears of die-hard Beatles fans upon first listen.] ~ Zac Johnson, All Music Guide