| Revolver: Special Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Digital super deluxe cover | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 28 October 2022 (2022-10-28) | |||
| Recorded | 6 April – 21 June 1966 | |||
| Studio | EMI, London | |||
| Length | 161:58 | |||
| Label | Apple | |||
| Producer | George Martin (original recordings) Giles Martin (remix) | |||
| The Beatles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Revolver: Special Edition is an expandedreissue of the 1966 albumRevolver by the English rock bandthe Beatles. It was released on 28 October 2022,[1] and includes a new stereo remix of the album byGiles Martin and Sam Okell, with the help of de-mixing technology developed byPeter Jackson'sWingNut Films, as well as the original mono mix, session recordings, demos, and anEP including new mixes of the non-album single "Paperback Writer" and its B-side, "Rain", recorded during theRevolver sessions.
Giles Martin had previously expressed interest in remixing the Beatles' pre-Sgt. Pepper albums via special "demixing" technology developed atAbbey Road Studios, but wanted to wait until the software improved enough to be used in such a project. Speaking toRolling Stone in July 2021, Martin said that the software was "getting a lot better" and that he was "constantly looking at how we could approach it if I ever get to [remix]Revolver orRubber Soul, early albums, which a lot of people want me to do".[2] In October 2021, Martin toldSuper Deluxe Edition: "I don't think it's ready at this moment in time",[3] but noted aboutRevolver: "There's not as much bouncing down onRevolver as there is onPepper. There's not that many instruments, it's not that complex."[3]
[On "Taxman"] I can take off the guitar, I can take off the bass, and then I can even separate the snare drum and kick drum as well. And theysound like the snare drum and kick drum. There's no hint of guitar on there (even though they'd been baked together on the master tapes). And I don't know how it's done! It's like I'm giving them a cake and they're giving me flour, eggs, and milk and some sugar.[1]
In late August 2022, Martin confirmed viaTwitter thatRevolver would receive a remix,[4] with a further tweet hinting at an additionalsurround sound mix.[4] The reissue was officially announced on 7 September 2022.[1] Martin confirmed that the "demixing" technology had improved considerably by that point, and credited the work done byPeter Jackson's audio team in the development ofThe Beatles: Get Back for making the new remix possible.[1] To promote the reissue, the new mix for the album's opening track, "Taxman", was released as a preview.[5]
The remixed and expanded edition ofRevolver was released on 28 October 2022. The editions include a five-CD or four-LP/one 7-inch-EP super deluxe set, containing the half-speed remastered original album in both stereo and mono, demos and sessions, the EP, and a 100-page book; a deluxe edition, featuring an abridged 40-page book, the new stereo mix, session highlights, and stereo mixes of the singles; and standard digital, CD, and vinyl releases. Following the announcement of these editions in September, a preview of the 2022 mix of "Taxman" was released onSpotify[6] andiTunes. The new mixes of the original album tracks, as well as of "Paperback Writer" and "Rain", were also released on streaming services inDolby Atmos.
The 100-page book features a foreword byPaul McCartney; an introduction by Giles Martin; an essay byQuestlove; and track notes by author Kevin Howlett. The book is illustrated with images of handwritten lyrics, tape boxes, and recording sheets, as well as 1966 print ads and extracts from the graphic novel,Revolver 50: Birth of an Icon, written and illustrated byKlaus Voormann.[7]
Along with the restoration of the original album artwork by Voormann, the record sleeve that holds the session outtakes features Robert Freeman's proposed cover design, featuring the heads of the Beatles in a psychedelic circle.[8]
OnMetacritic,Revolver: Special Edition holds an aggregate score of 100 out of 100, based on nine reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]
Annie Zaleski ofThe Guardian gave the album five out of five stars, writing: "Revolver's new details tease out deeper meanings in the songs. Now more prominent, the low-lit backing harmonies on 'Here, There and Everywhere' remake the tune as an old-fashioned rock'n'roll love song; the piano bending out of key on 'I Want to Tell You' mirrors the narrator's insecurity; and McCartney's booming walking bass on 'Taxman' illuminates the biting, cynical tone of Harrison's lyrics ...Revolver still sounds so vibrant."[10]
All tracks written byLennon–McCartney, except where noted.[11][nb 1]
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Taxman" (George Harrison) | Harrison | 2:36 |
| 2. | "Eleanor Rigby" | McCartney | 2:11 |
| 3. | "I'm Only Sleeping" | Lennon | 2:58 |
| 4. | "Love You To" (Harrison) | Harrison | 3:00 |
| 5. | "Here, There and Everywhere" | McCartney | 2:29 |
| 6. | "Yellow Submarine" | Starr | 2:40 |
| 7. | "She Said She Said" | Lennon | 2:39 |
| Total length: | 18:33 | ||
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Good Day Sunshine" | McCartney | 2:08 |
| 2. | "And Your Bird Can Sing" | Lennon | 2:02 |
| 3. | "For No One" | McCartney | 2:03 |
| 4. | "Doctor Robert" | Lennon | 2:14 |
| 5. | "I Want to Tell You" (Harrison) | Harrison | 2:30 |
| 6. | "Got to Get You into My Life" | McCartney | 2:31 |
| 7. | "Tomorrow Never Knows" | Lennon | 3:00 |
| Total length: | 16:28 | ||
| No. | Title | Original Release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tomorrow Never Knows" (Take 1) | Anthology 2 | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Tomorrow Never Knows" (Mono Mix: RM11) | Revolver (Very First UK Pressings) | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Got To Get You Into My Life" (First Version: Take 5) | Anthology 2 | 4:10 |
| 4. | "Got To Get You Into My Life" (Second Version: Unnumbered Mono Mix) | 2:36 | |
| 5. | "Got To Get You Into My Life" (Second Version: Take 8) | 2:48 | |
| 6. | "Love You To" (Take 1) | 2:40 | |
| 7. | "Love You To" (Unnumbered rehearsal) | 1:35 |
| No. | Title | Original Release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love You To" (Take 7) | 2:55 | |
| 2. | "Paperback Writer" (Takes 1 & 2) | 3:38 | |
| 3. | "Rain" (Take 5: Actual Speed) | 2:38 | |
| 4. | "Rain" (Take 5: Slowed Down for Master Tape) | 3:12 | |
| 5. | "Doctor Robert" (Take 7) | 2:59 | |
| 6. | "And Your Bird Can Sing" (First Version: Take 2) | 2:14 | |
| 7. | "And Your Bird Can Sing" (First Version: Take 2 withgiggling) | Anthology 2 | 2:23 |
| No. | Title | Original Release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "And Your Bird Can Sing" (Second Version: Take 5) | 2:20 | |
| 2. | "Taxman" (Take 11) | Anthology 2 | 2:37 |
| 3. | "I'm Only Sleeping" (Rehearsal fragment) | Anthology 2 | 0:48 |
| 4. | "I'm Only Sleeping" (Take 2) | 2:28 | |
| 5. | "I'm Only Sleeping" (Take 5) | 2:43 | |
| 6. | "I'm Only Sleeping" (Mono Mix: RM1) | 3:07 | |
| 7. | "Eleanor Rigby" (Speech before Take 2) | 2:11 | |
| 8. | "Eleanor Rigby" (Take 2) | 2:20 |
| No. | Title | Original Release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For No One" (Take 10) | 2:23 | |
| 2. | "Yellow Submarine" (Songwriting Work Tape: Part 1) | 1:04 | |
| 3. | "Yellow Submarine" (Songwriting Work Tape: Part 2) | 4:42 | |
| 4. | "Yellow Submarine" (Take 4 Before Sound Effects) | 2:37 | |
| 5. | "Yellow Submarine" (Highlighted Sound Effects) | Real Love EP | 2:43 |
| 6. | "I Want To Tell You" (Speech and Take 4) | 1:24 | |
| 7. | "Here, There And Everywhere" (Take 6) | 2:29 | |
| 8. | "She Said She Said" (John's Demo) | 1:10 | |
| 9. | "She Said She Said" (Take 15: Backing Track Rehearsal) | 3:24 |
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Taxman" (George Harrison) | Harrison | 2:36 |
| 2. | "Eleanor Rigby" | McCartney | 2:11 |
| 3. | "I'm Only Sleeping" | Lennon | 2:58 |
| 4. | "Love You To" (Harrison) | Harrison | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Here, There and Everywhere" | McCartney | 2:29 |
| 6. | "Yellow Submarine" | Starr | 2:40 |
| 7. | "She Said She Said" | Lennon | 2:39 |
| Total length: | 18:46 | ||
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Good Day Sunshine" | McCartney | 2:08 |
| 2. | "And Your Bird Can Sing" | Lennon | 2:02 |
| 3. | "For No One" | McCartney | 2:03 |
| 4. | "Doctor Robert" | Lennon | 2:14 |
| 5. | "I Want to Tell You" (Harrison) | Harrison | 2:30 |
| 6. | "Got to Get You into My Life" | McCartney | 2:35 |
| 7. | "Tomorrow Never Knows" | Lennon | 3:00 |
| Total length: | 16:40 | ||
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Paperback Writer" (New Stereo Mix) | McCartney | 2:16 |
| 2. | "Rain" (New Stereo Mix) | Lennon | 3:01 |
| Total length: | 5:15 | ||
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Paperback Writer" (Original Mono Mix Remastered) | McCartney | 2:26 |
| 2. | "Rain" (Original Mono Mix Remastered) | Lennon | 3:01 |
| Total length: | 5:25 | ||
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 2 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] | 2 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] | 5 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] | 5 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17] | 6 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[18] | 5 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] | 3 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] | 18 |
| Irish Albums (OCC)[21] | 3 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[22] | 17 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[23] | 5 |
| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[24] | 6 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[25] | 4 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26] | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[27] | 6 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[28] | 3 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[29] | 1 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 4 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[32] | 2 |
| USBillboard 200[33] | 4 |