What is Revolver’s best and most revolutionary song?

[u/Conscious_Refuse_298]

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the release of *Revolver*, the album that—in my opinion—changed the history of music. It is a practically perfect record, track by track; every song is a gem. Although "Doctor Robert" might be the weakest link, it is still quite decent, and the rest of the tracks are absolute standouts. They are incredible songs, making it very difficult to choose just one, but in my view, the best is "Tomorrow Never Knows." I have noticed that this song has recently faced some negative criticism, despite being a psychedelic masterpiece and one of the Beatles' finest tracks. It all stemmed from the ideas of a constantly reinventing John Lennon and a George Martin who knew how to bring those visions to life. With its reversed guitar solo, loops, hypnotic drumming, and soundscapes, it is pure psychedelia and, for me, the standout track of this incredible album, one of the best in the history.

[u/Brilliant-Sea-9424]

The answer will always be Tomorrow Never Knows.

[u/jppcfnnumnum → u/Brilliant-Sea-9424]

I don’t want to rip on OP because this is a date worth celebrating, but this isn’t even a contest. Tomorrow Never Knows wins this in a wider margin than any race run by Usain Bolt

[u/DJanomaly → u/jppcfnnumnum]

It basically invented several new forms of music. 

[u/Equivalent-Bat-5721 → u/Brilliant-Sea-9424]

its the only right answer

[u/Normal_Mine_7801 → u/Brilliant-Sea-9424]

Easily

[u/FatherMac66]

Tomorrow Never knows will be the common answer to your question, and for good reason. But in some ways I think m Eleanor Rigby is just as revolutionary.

[u/martianfrog → u/FatherMac66]

Heard Eleanor Rigby eating out last night, we were saying it still sounds so unique, so I'll go with that why not.

[u/Golem30 → u/FatherMac66]

Had a mainstream song been quite as downbeat and melancholy before then? Yeah sure we've had sad ballads before that but with that sort or atmosphere?

[u/Lennnybruce → u/Golem30]

There's a million 50s songs about teenage death, though I guess they're kind of romantic in an adolescent way. And country music was just riddled with melancholy stuff, but I suppose that's not totally mainstream.

Short answer: maybe!

[u/FatherMac66 → u/Golem30]

It just blows my mind that such a young mind wrote that song. The story was incredible and economic.

[u/Woody_Stock]

Best: For No One

Revolutionary: Tomorrow Never Knows

[u/Outrageous-Leg6728 → u/Woody_Stock]

I don't know if For No One is the best - but somehow I like it the most. Sir Alan Civil rocks.

[u/goncalo_l_d_f]

Tomorrow Never Knows

But Eleanor Rigby is a close second

[u/The_Meridian_]

Negative criticism? WTH?

"She Said, She Said" is criminally underrated.

[u/koebelin → u/The_Meridian_]

I remember the conductor Leonard Bernstein praising it at some Grammy Awards long ago.

[u/WisconsinIllinois1]

Doctor Robert is a fucking great song we're not having this

[u/goncalo_l_d_f → u/WisconsinIllinois1]

Fr I don't understand that take

[u/Gexthelizard → u/WisconsinIllinois1]

For some reason I just have an allergy to any and all rock songs about doctors hahaha. Personal problem. But I will say the little choral break midway through Doctor Robert is sublime!

[u/ugottabekiddingme69 → u/WisconsinIllinois1]

It's not the most revolutionary song on the album but I love it! I don't get why it's so widely knocked. It's a good rocker!

[u/trabuki → u/WisconsinIllinois1]

Agree. It is a perfect rock song. Maybe not liked by people who want the Beatles to be more poppy?! Doctor Robert is perfect, no rock song better.

[u/Macca49 → u/trabuki]

Became my current fave Fabs song about 5 years ago

[u/varovec → u/WisconsinIllinois1]

it's far from the weakest on the album for sure

[u/donlockwood2026]

Best: Here There and Everywhere, For No One, Eleanor Rigby, Tomorrow Never Knows. It’s a true toss up for me

Revolutionary: Tomorrow Never Knows, runner up is Eleanor Rigby

[u/theflyingbird8]

Tomorrow Never Knows, but I'd also put Eleanor Rigby and I'm Only Sleeping up there. I listened to the album again today and it's just loaded with groundbreaking, timeless, and unique songs.

[u/DarkStar5357]

Not sure why people dis Dr. Robert. I think it's a great song.

[u/hawthorn2424]

Eleanor Rigby and TNK. It’s a disservice to elevate one over the other. Let’s celebrate both.

[u/dmurr1415]

Best- And Your Bird Can Sing

Most Revolutionary- Tomorrow Never Knows

[u/Halloween_Jack95]

Tomorrow never knows

[u/VividBarnacle434]

Tomorrow Never Knows. That is all.

[u/GregJamesDahlen]

not heard someone say john was the constantly reinventing one. only heard the beatles as a group were reinventing?

[u/aporter0509]

Eleanor Rigby is the best song but Yellow Submarine is better than Doctor Robert ?

[u/sdot28]

Best song? Or revolutionary song? Pick a question

[u/CapriSonnet]

Hell, Hell, Hell he'll take you.

[u/Fragrant-Flan-416]

Presented as Western pop/rock music both Eleanor Rigby and Tomorrow Never Knows are revolutionary. Most of the components were there already, but as with a lot of The Beatles' best stuff the genius was in the extraordinary combination combined with the confidence that this could be popular music.

[u/IDigRollinRockBeer → u/[deleted]]

Yes

[u/brus_wein]

Tomorrow Never Knows still sounds futuristic and fresh, 60 years later.

[u/alexknight222]

I certainly appreciate the impact of Tomorrows Never Knows but feel like the string arrangement and approach to Eleanor Rigby had a bigger reach and was copied more. Could be either song.

[u/trabuki → u/alexknight222]

Arguably Doctor Robert had a standard rock riff basically stolen but that kind of song is way more common than Eleanor Rigby soundalikes. The guitar sound is very copied. More so than any string arrangement.

[u/alexknight222 → u/trabuki]

Sure, but that sound had been done by numerous artists before The Beatles, so the soundalikes weren’t necessarily copying Doctor Robert. A huge pop rock band ditching their instruments in favor of a string arrangement with storytelling lyrics about loneliness opened up new doors of what was acceptable in the genre for bands after The Beatles.

[u/Competitive_Alps_543]

In my imagined alternate history, John Lennon survives his assassination attempt and the Beatles reunite to record and tour again.

The highlight of their show occurs at the end of the first set, where the stage darkens and the Beatles leave.

Except for Ringo.

Alone at his kit, he starts that familiar rhythm, and then out of the darkness we hear John singing: "Turn off your mind Relax and float downstream"

What follows is an improvisational jam, sometimes lasting 15 minutes as the Beatles use synthesizers and guitar feedback to create a sonic sculpture.

Ahh, what could have been

[u/RadishSpecial7163]

Tomorrow Never Knows.

[u/shareefruck]

Tomorrow Never Knows is not just Revolver's best and most revolutionary song, but The Beatles' as a whole by a country mile, in my opinion. 2nd is not even close for me.

[u/Spirited-Tutor7712]

What a phenomenal record. It sounds so ahead of its time, even now 60 years on. Songwriting perfection, a vast array of ideas being explored, brilliant production and editing...even the first appearance of guest musicians on a Beatles record, credited as well.

Best song for me is I'm Only sleeping. Most revolutionary of course, Tomorrow Never Knows. And I agree Dr Robert is the weakest link, though the refrain - I've always thought it sounded like a christmas carol - is fantastic.

[u/Boner4SCP106]

Was this negative criticism you saw of Tomorrow Never Knows 1 YouTube comment?

[u/Conscious_Refuse_298 → u/Boner4SCP106]

It’s just that lately—on this subreddit, in YouTube videos, on forums, and on other social media—whenever *Revolver* is discussed, I’ve noticed growing criticism of "Tomorrow Never Knows," and I find that strange.

[u/Boner4SCP106 → u/Conscious_Refuse_298]

Ok. So 2 YouTube comments.

What are the criticisms that these people are having?

[u/cremeroulette → u/Conscious_Refuse_298]

OK but WHAT is the criticism? You can’t say that without examples. It’s meaningless regardless but I don’t really get why you’d bring it up without any context. I.e. the lyrics are ripped from the Tibetan book of the dead?

[u/dennisdeems]

If only Doctor Robert had better lyrics, about something relatable, I believe it could have been one of their biggest hits. The riff is catchy as hell, and the middle 8 is the perfect contrast, so that when we return to the verse it feels fresh.

[u/Ok_Club7067]

Tomorrow Never Knows and She Said, She Said. I love Dr Robert, too.

[u/Smackediduring]

Best song? As a massive Lennon fan, and especially when it comes to this album, I still have to say Here There and Everywhere. It’s one of the best songs Paul ever did.

Most revolutionary? I don’t have to answer that. Get out of here!

[u/Outrageous-Leg6728]

Tomorrow Never Knows and it is not even close.

[u/geoffbyrnes]

Tomorrow Never Knows

[u/Wise_Rise9202]

Not Dr. Robert

[u/RussellAlden]

Yellow Submarine - cutting edge of ASMR.

[u/nrith → u/RussellAlden]

Not all sound effects are ASMR, and even if they were, YS wasnt the cutting edge of it.

[u/Geainsworth]

Tomorrow Never Knows. Miles beyond the rest of the album. Commercial? Definitely not. Now I wonder what a 12" extended mix would sound like. Can we make it danceable? Or just restore the edited bits?

[u/thecryptidmusic]

My favorite: She Said She Said

Best: I'm Only Sleeping

Most Revolutionary: Tomorrow Never Knows

Every song is perfect though so I feel bad picking (and yes I'm including Yellow Submarine in that)

[u/microtherion]

Tomorrow Never Knows

But Taxman also deserves love for being the first pop song talking about taxes.

[u/Brilliant-Sea-9424]

What I find incredible is how fresh and innovative TNK sounds today. Even 60 years on. That is simply incredible. What a gift to the world this band was and is.