The Beatles - Rubber Soul [Special Edition Deluxe 2LP]

By late 1965 The Beatles had about four weeks to make an album in time for Christmas. What they delivered was Rubber Soul, the record where the world's biggest pop group became album artists. Released on December 3, 1965, their sixth album traded the rush of Beatlemania for something warmer, sharper and more grown-up, and pop music spent the next few years catching up.

The songs are among the most loved in their catalog. George Harrison's sitar on "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" opened a door to Indian music for a generation of rock bands, "In My Life" paired one of John Lennon's most personal lyrics with George Martin's sped-up piano solo, and "Michelle" went on to win the Grammy for Song of the Year. Around them sit "Drive My Car," "Nowhere Man," "Girl" and Harrison's own "If I Needed Someone," fourteen tracks with barely a wasted second.

For this Special Edition, Giles Martin and Sam Okell have created a new stereo mix sourced directly from the original four-track master tapes, using the audio technology developed by the sound team at Peter Jackson's WingNut Films to bring out detail the 1965 mix could only hint at.

This limited 2LP Deluxe edition pairs the new stereo mix with a 16-track disc of session highlights, including early takes, instrumental backing tracks and the non-album singles "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out." Both discs are half-speed mastered on 180-gram black vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve with a 4-page insert.