Beatles History Blog

Revolver is Released

When Revolver was released on 5th August 1966, it took people by surprise. How could a group that two years earlier had released a great soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night, composed of great pop and folk rock songs, transition so much in those two years. A good friend of mine, Andrew Phillips, when he bought and first played Revolver, was not impressed, put it down and went to listen to the Monkees. He then returned to it a few months later and, after a few plays, realised how incredible an album it was, and got back into the Beatles. This album probably took fans longer than any other to fully appreciate its groundbreaking musical evolution, or more accurately, a revolution.

In 1966, there were important albums by Dylan, the Byrds, the Kinks, and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Did Lennon and McCartney feel they couldn’t be left behind? How important was the competition to The Beatles?

Lennon and McCartney were definitely aware of everything happening in the music scenes on both sides of the Atlantic. The was now making huge leaps in terms of songwriting, as well as the advances in technology in the studio, meaning that nobody could stand still, especially John and Paul. Their thirst for continued success meant that, instead of being prepared to sit back and keep generating the same musical genres on each album, which still would have sold, they were determined to lead the revolution from the front. They listened to every album by their competitors, and then set out to improve upon what they were producing. This drove them on to greater and greater success. 

For this reason, I say that Revolver was the most important album of the 1960s. With so many great tracks, everything was leading up to the most transformative song on the album, “Tomorrow Never Knows”. At that point, all the other bands must have thought to themselves: “How do we beat that?” And the answer was, they couldn’t.

Revolver stands tall and proud as the most incredible and culturally important album of the 1960s. 

The Beatles: What If?

Discover how Andrew Phillips and I debate the importance of Revolver, and 70 other key moments in Beatles history, in our book, The Beatles: What If?

The Beatles: What If?

Why did we write the book? Why another Beatles book?

My friend Andrew and I spent ages at a Fest of Beatles Fans debating various situations when Beatles history could have worked out differently, and by the end of the conversation had agreed to write the book.

Why? Because we all have “What If” moments in our lives, when something happens and it changes the course of our lives, maybe in a small way, or maybe in a big way.

For me, it was being signed off work back in June 2000 for 1 month, which became 3 months then 6 then a year and then I was told I would not be returning to my job. At 35, my working life was over. I had a wife and three young children. It completely changed my life.

However, out of the madness of giving up work, I ended up with this Beatles life which has been incredible. It ended up being a blessing. But it completely changed the lives of me and my amazing family.

What is your “What If” moment or moments?

I am sure when it comes to the life and career of The Beatles, you can think of many career-changing moments, but probably the biggest and most important was the meeting of John and Paul, which only came about because of Ivan Vaughan. If that doesn’t happen, we have no Beatles! What if Paul and George don’t meet on the bus because they were at the same high school? What if Ringo doesn’t join The Beatles and Pete Best stays? What about Stuart Sutcliffe? So many meetings and chances.

Others we will discuss: what if they don’t meet Brian Epstein? What if Decca DOES sign The Beatles? What if they don’t get onto the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964? What if Brian doesn’t die? What if John doesn’t meet Yoko?

The book contains 70 key moments in Beatles history, and we look at four possible outcomes: “Let It be”: nothing changes. “The End”: it would have been the end of The Beatles. “Tomorrow Never Knows”: we can guess but we don’t know the impact of the event/ incident. And “You Can’t Do That”: things they did which could have ended up with The Beatles being finished, but they got away with!

You don’t have to agree with us! But, once you get your mind into ‘What If?”, you will find yourself debating these points with other Beatles fans, and you won’t stop, before you head down many rabbit holes!!

It is meant to be fun, whilst also looking at the incredible story of The Beatles. Only then, as we found when writing the book, we realised that phrases like “destiny” and “written in the stars” don’t even begin to describe what really happened.

This is a unique and fresh look at the story of The Beatles that will have you hooked.

If you haven’t already, get your copy now by clicking below.

Thanks for supporting my work!

David