"Michelle (Take 1)" is an early studio recording of one of Rubber Soul's most beloved songs, released ahead of The Beatles – Rubber Soul (Special Editions). This intimate first take offers a fascinating glimpse into the song's development, showcasing the band's performance before the final master was completed.
Paul McCartney's original inspiration for "Michelle" dates back to John Lennon's time at Liverpool College of Art, where Paul and George Harrison would often attend student parties. Recalling the song's origins, Paul said:
"One of John's tutors would have parties. At one of these, sitting over in the corner, there was the troubadour in a black sweater doing Jacques Brel songs. So I used to pretend to be French and I had this song that turned out later to be 'Michelle'. So that's where it all started with me having memories of this faux French song."
Recorded during a nine-hour session on 3 November 1965, Take 1 was the only complete performance to survive on the original four-track tape. Presented here without the later overdubs heard on the finished master, it reveals the song in its earliest recorded form. The tape also preserves tantalising fragments of earlier takes that had been recorded over, offering a rare glimpse into the band's creative process.
The album "Rubber Soul", originally released on December 3, 1965, represented a turning point in the development of The Beatles. It was released at the end of a remarkable year during which John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr reached new artistic and commercial heights. The album showcased a band that transcended the confines of pop music at the time and embraced a more daring and exploratory approach to songwriting and recording.
Recorded over four weeks in October and November 1965, following the band's record-breaking concert in front of more than 55,000 fans at New York's Shea Stadium, "Rubber Soul" marks The Beatles at a creative turning point. The album features classics such as "Drive My Car", "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)", "Nowhere Man", "Michelle", "Girl and In My Life". On it, The Beatles experimented with new instruments, sounds and recording techniques, and the album is considered one of the pioneering achievements that established the long-playing pop album as an independent art form.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time and a turning point in the development of the pop album, Rubber Soul marks the beginning of a period in which The Beatles' music, ideas and unfettered creative ambitions began to truly develop, as the band was no longer burdened by the commitments of concerts, radio or film.
All new formats of the "Rubber Soul" album feature a new stereo mix, made directly from the original four-channel master tapes. Sound is presented with exceptional clarity thanks to state-of-the-art audio separation technology, developed by the award-winning sound team led by Emile de la Rey at WingNut Films Productions Ltd. Peter Jackson. At the same time, the new mix remains true to the spirit of the original recordings.
The upcoming reissue gathers all 14 new stereo mixes in one place for the first time, while the extended editions open the doors of the studio to listeners and provide insight into the making of the "Rubber Soul" album. The Super Deluxe Collections feature 24 early studio recordings, including 20 previously unreleased versions and three previously unreleased home demos. Among them are early versions of "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out", as well as "Little Girl" - a previously unknown sketch of a John Lennon song that had never before been released or talked about.
The collections also include the original mono album, the original US version of the Capitol album and the double A-side single from 1965. Deluxe editions on two CDs and two LPs bring carefully selected highlights of studio recordings, demos and singles.
Super Deluxe editions on four CDs and five LPs are accompanied by an 88-page hardcover book. The book features an all-new introductory text by Paul McCartney, as well as a foreword composed of John Lennon's words, which brings together his thoughts on the album "Rubber Soul" from different periods of his life, including the years after The Beatles broke up.
These two texts provide a unique look at the genesis and lasting impact of the album, along with rare photographs, a detailed account of its creation, and commentary on individual tracks.
"Rubber Soul" will be available in standard editions on one CD and one LP, Deluxe editions on two CDs and two LPs, and Super Deluxe editions on four CDs and five LPs. The collection will also be available on Blu-ray disc, featuring a new Dolby Atmos mix, high-resolution stereo sound, and promotional films for the songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out." Limited editions on orange vinyl will also be offered, as well as exclusive D2C editions on Zoetrope vinyl.
The Beatles remain one of the most successful and influential musical groups in history. More than five decades after their breakup, their music continues to resonate across generations – from fans who experienced '60s Beatlemania to new audiences discovering songs like "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be" through streaming services and social media.
In addition to their extraordinary record sales, The Beatles changed fashion, youth culture, songwriting and album production, launched the "British Invasion" in the United States, and redefined popular music with groundbreaking albums such as "Rubber Soul" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
Their legacy continues to draw millions of visitors to iconic sites such as Abbey Road Studios, where fans keep coming to recreate the famous 'Abbey Road' album cover photo of crossing the street. An announcement made earlier this month stated that the building at 3 Savile Row, home of their legendary rooftop concert, will be transformed into the band's first official fan attraction, opening in 2027.
In April 2028, the long-announced film project about The Beatles is expected, which will include four films, produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions. The project represents the first case in which Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles ceded full rights to their life stories and music for the feature film.
Directed by Sam Mendes, the roles will be interpreted by Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
More than six decades after its original release, "Rubber Soul" remains one of the defining moments in the story of The Beatles - the album that connected the fever of Beatlemania with the experimentation that would follow on "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and later works.
