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The Beatles' seventh studio album - and the bridge between Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - 1966's Revolver is recognized as one of the Fab Four's most groundbreaking as well as significant albums. With producer George Martin, the group employed studio wizardry to bring their new songs to life - tape loops, automatic double tracking, close miking, use of varispeed and reversed tapes, among other techniques that would soon be imitated by countless others - as well as non-traditional instrumentation. It didn't hurt, of course, that all of these innovations were in service of some of The Beatles' strongest songs yet, including "Eleanor Rigby," "Here, There, and Everywhere," "And Your Bird Can Sing," "Taxman," "Good Day Sunshine," "Got to Get You Into My Life," and "Tomorrow Never Knows." Engineer Geoff Emerick, who counted Revolver as his first work with the group, noted that it "changed the way everyone else made records."
Now on October 28, Apple, Capitol, and UMe are offering the opportunity to hear it anew with a variety of remastered, remixed and deluxe editions overseen by producer Giles Martin (son of George) and engineer Sam Okell. It will be available in the following formats:
Revolver: Special Edition (Super Deluxe)
- 5CD (New stereo and original mono mixes; sessions; EP) with 100-page hardbound book in a 12.56" x 12.36" slipcase - total of 63 tracks
- 4LP+7-inch EP (New stereo and original mono mixes; sessions; EP) on half-speed mastered 180-gram vinyl with 100-page hardbound book in a 12.56" x 12.36" slipcase - 63 tracks
- Digital Audio Collection (Stereo & hi-res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + mono + Dolby Atmos) - 63 tracks
Revolver: Special Edition (Deluxe)
- 2CD (New stereo mix and sessions highlights) with 40-page booklet; 29 tracks
Digital
- New stereo mix & hi-res 96kHz/24-bit stereo + new Dolby Atmos mix
1CD
- New stereo mix only; in digipak
1LP
- New stereo mix only on half-speed mastered 180-gram vinyl
Limited Edition 1LP vinyl picture disc
- New stereo mix; illustrated with the album cover art
At the heart of the campaign is the new stereo mix by Martin and Okell, created from the original four-track master tapes. The undertaking has been possible due to advances in de-mixing technology developed by the team of Emile de la Rey at Peter Jackson's WingNut Films (who demonstrated this stunning work in Jackson's multi-part Let It Be-era documentary Get Back in 2021). In addition to the new mix, the Super Deluxe formats include the original 1966 mono mix sourced from the original master tapes; 28 early and alternate takes; three home demos; and a four-song EP with new stereo mixes and the original mono mixes for the non-LP single "Paperback Writer" b/w "Rain." Martin and Okell have also created a new surround mix in Dolby Atmos, but for the first time, the surround mix is digital only and will not be included in a physical package.
Every one of The Beatles was powerfully showcased on Revolver. The decision to quit touring led the group to fiercely pursue new sounds that couldn't necessarily be replicated onstage at that time; they played their final traditional concert on August 29, 1966 just weeks after Revolver's release. Harrison shone on the snarling opener "Taxman" as well as his immersion into Indian music, "Love You To," and the urgent "I Want to Tell You." Ringo got a vocal showcase on the whimsical "Yellow Submarine" while McCartney introduced the gorgeous likes of "Here, There, and Everywhere" and "Eleanor Rigby" and the ebullient "Good Day, Sunshine." Lennon ventured into psych-rock territory with "She Said, She Said" and the even more experimental "Tomorrow Never Knows." A non-LP single was of the same remarkable quality as the album, offering the thrilling "Paperback Writer" (the final new song introduced by the Fabs on their final tour in 1966) and the experimental "Rain" featuring both reversed tape and one of Ringo Starr's most indelible drum performances.
The Sessions discs feature more than two dozen rare and unheard takes which explore the making of these famous songs. These include The Beatles' first take of "Tomorrow Never Knows" from the April 6 session and an alternative mono mix that was issued on a small number of albums before it was recut with the proper mix; "Taxman" with alternate lyrics and John and Paul on falsetto background vocals; the first version of "Got to Get You Into My Life" as well as a special mix emphasizing the brass overdubs; very different, early versions of "Yellow Submarine" and a mix of its offbeat sound effects; the first two takes of the "Paperback Writer" backing track; and two versions of "Rain": Take 5 (one at the actual speed The Beatles played it and the other, a slowed down "evolutionary mix" used to create the master recording.)
Originally released on August 5, 1966, Revolver spent seven weeks at number one on the U.K. Albums Chart, while a double A-side single with "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine" topped the U.K. Singles Chart for four weeks in August and September. The U.S. only received an 11-track iteration as "I'm Only Sleeping," "Doctor Robert," and "And Your Bird Can Sing" had been plucked for the June release of Yesterday and Today. The truncated Revolver nonetheless spent six weeks atop the Billboard Top LPs chart.
The various editions all boast the original Grammy-winning artwork of Beatle pal Klaus Voormann. The Super Deluxe boxes on CD and vinyl include a foreword by Paul McCartney, an introduction by Giles Martin, an essay by The Roots' drummer Questlove, and a lengthy essay by Beatles historian Kevin Howlett. Rare and previously unpublished photos and memorabilia images (handwritten lyrics, tape boxes, recording session sheets, print ads) and excerpts from Voormann's graphic novel birth of an icon: REVOLVER rounds out the package.
Revolver returns to stores on October 28, and the new stereo mix and Atmos mix of "Taxman" is streaming now. You'll find the pre-order links and track listings below!
The Beatles, Revolver (Parlophone PCS/PMC 7009 (U.K.), 1966 - reissued Apple/Capitol/UMe, 2022)
5CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
4LP + 7": Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Official Store (Picture Disc)
CD/LP 1 & CD/LP 4 Revolver (CD 1 - New Stereo Mix/CD 4 - Original Mono Mix, Remastered)
- Taxman
- Eleanor Rigby
- I'm Only Sleeping
- Love You To
- Here, There and Everywhere
- Yellow Submarine
- She Said She Said
- Good Day Sunshine
- And Your Bird Can Sing
- For No One
- Doctor Robert
- I Want to Tell You
- Got to Get You Into My Life
- Tomorrow Never Knows
CD 2/LP 2: Sessions One
- Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)
- Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono mix RM 11)
- Got to Get You Into My Life (First version) - Take 5
- Got to Get You Into My Life (Second version) - Unnumbered mix - mono
- Got to Get You Into My Life (Second version) - Take 8
- Love You To (Take 1) - mono
- Love You To (Unnumbered rehearsal) - mono
- Love You To (Take 7)
- Paperback Writer (Takes 1 and 2) - Backing tack - mono
- Rain (Take 5 - Actual speed)
- Rain (Take 5 - Slowed down for master tape)
- Doctor Robert (Take 7)
- And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) - Take 2
- And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) - Take 2 (giggling)
CD 3/LP 3: Sessions Two
- And Your Bird Can Sing (Second version) - Take 5
- Taxman (Take 11)
- I'm Only Sleeping (Rehearsal fragment) - mono
- I'm Only Sleeping (Take 2) - mono
- I'm Only Sleeping (Take 5) - mono
- I'm Only Sleeping (Mono mix RM1)
- Eleanor Rigby (Speech before Take 2)
- Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)
- For No One (Take 10) - Backing track
- Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape - Part 1) - mono
- Yellow Submarine (Songwriting work tape - Part 2) - mono
- Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)
- Yellow Submarine (Highlighted sound effects)
- I Want to Tell You (Speech and Take 4)
- Here, There and Everywhere (Take 6)
- She Said She Said (John's demo) - mono
- She Said She Said (Take 15) - Backing track rehearsal
CD 5/7": Revolver EP
- Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)
- Rain (New stereo mix)
- Paperback Writer (Original mono mix remastered)
- Rain (Original mono mix remastered)
2 CD Track Listing:
CD 1: Revolver (New Stereo Mix)
CD 2: Sessions
- Paperback Writer (New stereo mix)
- Rain (New stereo mix)
- Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)
- Got To Get You Into My Life (Early mix)
- Love You To (Take 7)
- Doctor Robert (Take 7)
- And Your Bird Can Sing (First version) Take 2
- Taxman (Take 11)
- I'm Only Sleeping (Take 2) - mono
- Eleanor Rigby (Take 2)
- For No One (Take 10) - Backing track
- Yellow Submarine (Take 4 before sound effects)
- I Want To Tell You (Speech and Take 4)
- Here, There And Everywhere (Take 6)
- She Said She Said (Take 15) - Backing track rehearsal
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The five CDs could easily fit onto three. $140 list is steep, to say the least.
Agree. And rather than repeat the same track with different takes, why not sequence an alternate version of the LP using those different takes? I don’t really enjoy hearing the same song several times in a row.
Can actually fit on 2 cds. New remix and mono with the Paperback Writer ep on one disc. All of the outtakes will fit on on 82 minute disc. This should be the 2 cd version. You can get everything for around 25 bucks. What a ripoff. Hard pass for this Beatles fan.
Can’t wait to see eleventy thousand complaints about the digital-only surround mix! 🥳
Yep .. fully agree JG. I have their previous sets, but this one, without a surround sound bluray is a no for me .. even if it were £40 it'd still be overpriced. I'll settle for the single cd version .. I was so looking forward to this one as well .. at least "Sgt Peppers .." onwards had the surround sound set included with the box set ... very disappointed.
this is what I get for not including a #sarcasm tag, I guess
Why sarcasm? It makes perfect sense for people to want to have a physical copy of the surround version.
I am buying the box regardless, but it is a disappointing move.
I agree. I'm gutted. So hoping that they would continue with the same blu-included format.
Excited at first, now disappointed. No 5.1 like the other albums is a downgrade and won't find it's way to my Beatles shelf. Bummed.
Probably will get the LP when it comes down in price, maybe the 2 cd set too, that seems like all the outtakes I need.
Dolby ATMOS really has spoiled all of us, in a good way- a bit of a slap in the face to the shrinking physical format audience to state that the mix has been created but won’t find a home/this time on Blu-ray. Streaming ATMOS is just not the same- significant downgrades throughout the channels. And what’s with CD 5 having only four tracks? If I wanted to get up off the couch after every four songs…(wait for it)…I’d buy vinyl. At least there’s some tangible point to early 12” records and actual EPs- but on CD and in a Super Deluxe setting; no thanks. Just maximize the space and add content. I imagine this is how people feel about etchings on Side D of double albums.
The Let It Be box had the same issue with an “EP” on CD.
Completely nonsensical as the discs can hold so much more music, and, certainly in the case of LIB, so much more that SHOULD have been included (Namely, the complete Rooftop performance that was relegated to streaming only).
Can't believe there is no DVD?? Sgt. Pepper costs less, and they included the DVD!! We are suffering here in America with 40 year record inflation, gasoline has doubled so has food all in the last 18 months or so...guess you folks in England and Europe have a better economy, it's terrible here in America. I'm a senior and we are the folks who will be interested in these box sets anyway, amazing they just want to take advantage of us folks on fixed incomes. Shame on you Paul/Ringo/Yoko/and the Harrison estate.
nope it's bad over here in the UK too. Unbelievable food price rises and high inflation. I'm not buying this box set .. all i wanted was the surround sound but like the Beach Boys, the Beatles have opted for streaming only .. great eh???
Ar least the Beatles sets don't mix cds and vinyl .. but why do they limit the cds to around 40 mins each ???? Let me guess so that each cd content will fit on to one vinyl. anyone remember the times, before the vinyl revival, when groups would put out cds with 60 to 80 mins of music on ???
I don’t know what America you are living in, but it’s not terrible here. Gas and food prices are not double, that’s an exaggeration and you know it. Europe’ s economy is much worse off. Also, who pays the list price for anything? Buy it on Amazon and it will probably be 15-20% cheaper than list. I have all the sets they’ve put out so far and have not even popped the DVD with the surround in at all. From what I hear they sound terrible anyway. Audiophile Michael Fremer has said the the 5.1 mixes are horrendous.
I agree with Brad. In Canada, we've got inflation under control. Not perfect, but we're doing okay. I look forward to buying the Beatles "REVOLVER" Box Set on vinyl which includes a 100 page book. Folks will tell me the price tag for this Box Set is too high....but these same people will go to a fancy restaurant and fork over $200+ on a big meal plus over-priced alcoholic beverages. To each their own. I've got all BEATLES albums on vinyl, including their special edition Box Sets. Last year I got hold of "LET IT BE" and besides the package being visually stunning...the sound is impeccable !!! YAH YAH YAH
Fed up and tired of paying for blue rays and stuff... this feels like heavenly sweet revenge! I laughed a lot with JG's comment cause I have the same feelings. No sarcasm this time!
the new mix of taxman has the vocals at the start, NO cowbell is heard till later WHAAT????????, damage done. i dont like it at all,the mono and stereo differ in that respect. who approved this ? price to high. why didnt they make a new mix of the period mixes from 66 that are different. example being the 4 revolver trax on the u.s. yesterday and today were early mixes (66) that are really different. why not include them ? sooo that $35 a cd mmmmmmmm total $140, sessions does interest me tho but...........
also questlove liner notes, you gotta be kidding.
I think calling the four track cd a "bonus" is the real insult. A bonus to what? And if it is a bonus that means this is a four cd / lp box set at an outrageous price. As the John Lennon boxes have shown you can do superb box sets at a reasonable price.
the ep tracks should of been on cd 1 and cd 4.
With no blu-ray or DVD, I need to learn how to stream Dolby Atmos to a Dolby Digital av receiver.
This is a significant downgrade to the entire series. Compared to the White Album set, this has much less new content; it misses the US mixes, it repeats Anthology tracks, there is no cohesive story and the lack of a BluRay with the videos and 5.1 audio - despite being or not good enough - gave the series a tone. This is really disappointing, especially with Revolver being such an incredible album and having such a great story behind it. Many Lennon demos have surfaced over the years: none included.
The idea you need to subscribe to Apple Music to listen to Dolby Atmos when you charge 140 quid for a "Super Deluxe" edition is pathetic.
yes the u.s. mixes are a great loss to this set they are invalable to understanding the mix process,.all the lennon demos should be here to plus paul and georges if they exsist.
I thought Dave Dexter was out of the picture after Rubber Soul. The US and UK mixes are the same, it's the sequencing and song selection that are different, IIRC.
So many negative comments! I get that the set doesn't have everything people want, or have come to expect after the last few super deluxe Beatles sets, but I'm really excited for what this set DOES include. It looks awesome and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the whole thing.
My preference is to have the 24 bit 94 kHz versions of this, but I would also like the 100 page book. It seems unfair that I have to purchase a physical copy and then separately purchase the digital collection in order to have both. I have purchased the past box sets primarily for the blu-ray and didn't really use the CD's. A really good package would be to let you buy the vinyl + book ($199) and include a download for the digital collection. When I purchased the Dylan Cutting Edge Collection - it was pricey, but you got the physical package and a hi-res download.
Like many here I have purchased all of the previous SDE editions for the multi-channel mixes. Yes, I do enjoy checking out the book and sometimes even listen to the extras. I’ve also picked up the single vinyl editions to hear the albums with less compression but in most cases the thing that go back to is the Blu-ray. I had actually pre-ordered the SDE before realizing that it didn’t include a BR disc and have since canceled my order. I might consider purchasing the single vinyl, CD or even one of the SDE’s if I can get it a deal. On the flip side the more recent Lennon box-sets I’ve purchased have included more material for less money and I thought that All Things Must Pass and the Let It Be SDE’s were comparatively over priced. If this it the shape of things to come I may have to pass on the SDE’s.
Any where to find a photo of the back of the box set?
the back of the box is the cover of the original lp with the tracks listed in small print for each cd.
Any idea when amazon.ca will indicate how much the 5CD will cost? Thanks.