The Beatles ‘Revolver’ At 50: Track-By-Track Covers Spotify Playlist

The Beatles issued their landmark album Revolver in their native United Kingdom on August 5, 1966 and a few days later on August 8 in North America. To mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the release of the record that saw the emergence of a more experimental and innovative Fab Four sound, below is a track-for-track re-creation of the 14-songs that make up Revolver each covered by a different artist.

Taking up George Harrison’s album opening “Taxman” is funky-jazz outfit Soulive from their Rubber Soulive tribute album. Sticking with the jazz-leaning instrumental approach, Paul McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby” is handled by guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan. Chris Robinson Brotherhood/Hard Working Americans guitarist Neal Casal recorded John Lennon’s “I’m Only Sleeping” on his All Directions solo album and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James (as Yim Yames) covered “Love You Too” on his Tribute To EP honoring The Quiet Beatle.

Renowned R&B vocalist Roberta Flack included a live version of “Here, There And Everywhere” on her Beatles covers record and the nameless musicians behind the Pickin’ On series crafted an instrumental bluegrass arrangement of Ringo Starr’s “Yellow Submarine.” Jam rockers Gov’t Mule put their stamp on “She Said, She Said” for their 1998 album Dose and veteran folk performer Judy Collins sang the well-known McCartney favorite “Good Day Sunshine.”

The Bangles co-founder Susanna Hoffs and rock guitarist Matthew Sweet put Lennon’s “And Your Bird Can Sing” on the first of several volumes of collaborative covers releases, which is followed on the playlist by a recording of “For No One” from the album Pieces Of The Sky issued in 1975 by the beloved Emmylou Harris. Italian producer Giacomo Bondi made his own remixed version of “Doctor Robert” with a cover band and earlier this year punk band Melvins recorded “I Want To Tell You” for their new album Basses Loaded.

One more instrumental cover inclusion on the playlist, legendary B-3 soul rock group Booker T. & The M.G.’s take “Got To Get You Into My Life” out for a spin. The psychedelic standout closing Revolver track “Tomorrow Never Knows” is performed live by the Grateful Dead off of Dick’s Picks 27, which featured part of the band’s December 17, 1992 Oakland Coliseum show. The 14 covers are trailed by the remastered edition of The Beatles version of Revolver in the Spotify Playlist presented below: