December 1965 US & UK
Charted:
#1 US & UK
Album Notes:
John Lennon once said that this was the first album over which the band had creative control. It marked a distinct move away from the Liverpool "Merseybeat" sound of the band's previous albums.
Album Cover Notes:
As the band viewed slides of potential cover photos, the screen slipped and made the photo look stretched. They liked the effect, and the photographer printed the photo that way.
Track List & Song Info:
Side One
1. "I've Just Seen a Face" (Lennon-McCartney)
Originally appeared on the UK version of Help!
2. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" (Lennon-McCartney)
The song that introduced the Indian sitar to the Western world
3. "You Won't See Me" (Lennon-McCartney)
A departure from McCartney's typically "happy" love songs
4. "Think For Yourself" (Harrison)
Written and sung by Harrison, who later said he couldn't recall what inspired it
5. "The Word" (Lennon-McCartney)
It's about love, but it was also Lennon's first foray into political references
6. "Michelle" (Lennon-McCartney)
Partially in French, it was one of the first bilingual song hits
Side Two
1. "It's Only Love" (Lennon-McCartney)
Generally regarded as forgettable filler
2. "Girl" (Lennon-McCartney)
Lennon said this song was, indirectly, critical of the Catholic faith
3. "I'm Looking Through You" (Lennon-McCartney)
Yet another song inspired by troubles in McCartney's love life
4. "In My Life" (Lennon-McCartney)
Lennon's poem about his childhood
5. "Wait" (Lennon-McCartney)
Originally recorded for Help! it was added here to pad the album length
6. "Run For Your Life" (Lennon-McCartney)
Lennon later said this was the Beatles song he most regretted having written
The UK version also included "Drive My Car," "Nowhere Man," "If I Needed Someone" and "What Goes On" -- all of which would later appear on the US release, Yesterday and Today.