Revolver: Special Edition


Revolver: Special Edition is an expanded reissue of the 1966 album Revolver by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released on 28 October 2022, and includes a new stereo remix of the album by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, with the help of de-mixing technology developed by Peter Jackson's WingNut Films, as well as the original mono mix, session recordings, demos, and an EP including new mixes of the non-album single "Paperback Writer" and its B-side, "Rain", recorded during the Revolver sessions.

Background

Giles Martin had previously expressed interest in remixing the Beatles' pre-Sgt. Pepper's [Lonely Hearts Club Band|Sgt. Pepper] albums via special "demixing" technology developed at Abbey Road Studios, but wanted to wait until the software improved enough to be used in such a project. Speaking to Rolling Stone in July 2021, Martin said that the software was "getting a lot better" and that he was "constantly looking at how we could approach it if I ever get to Revolver or Rubber Soul, early albums, which a lot of people want me to do". In October 2021, Martin told Super Deluxe Edition: "I don't think it's ready at this moment in time", but noted about Revolver: "There's not as much bouncing down on Revolver as there is on Pepper. There's not that many instruments, it's not that complex."
In late August 2022, Martin confirmed via Twitter that Revolver would receive a remix, with a further tweet hinting at an additional surround sound mix. The reissue was officially announced on 7 September 2022. Martin confirmed that the "demixing" technology had improved considerably by that point, and credited the work done by Peter Jackson's audio team in the development of The Beatles: Get Back for making the new remix possible. To promote the reissue, the new mix for the album's opening track, "Taxman", was released as a preview.

Content

The remixed and expanded edition of Revolver was released on 28 October 2022. The editions include a five-CD or four-LP/one 7-inch-EP super deluxe set, containing the half-speed remastered original album in both stereo and mono, demos and sessions, the EP, and a 100-page book; a deluxe edition, featuring an abridged 40-page book, the new stereo mix, session highlights, and stereo mixes of the singles; and standard digital, CD, and vinyl releases. Following the announcement of these editions in September, a preview of the 2022 mix of "Taxman" was released on Spotify and iTunes. The new mixes of the original album tracks, as well as of "Paperback Writer" and "Rain", were also released on streaming services in Dolby Atmos.
The 100-page book features a foreword by Paul McCartney; an introduction by Giles Martin; an essay by Questlove; and track notes by author Kevin Howlett. The book is illustrated with images of handwritten lyrics, tape boxes, and recording sheets, as well as 1966 print ads and extracts from the graphic novel, Revolver 50: Birth of an Icon, written and illustrated by Klaus Voormann.
Along with the restoration of the original album artwork by Voormann, the record sleeve that holds the session outtakes features Robert Freeman's proposed cover design, featuring the heads of the Beatles in a psychedelic circle.

Reception

On Metacritic, Revolver: Special Edition holds an aggregate score of 100 out of 100, based on nine reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
Annie Zaleski of The Guardian gave the album five out of five stars, writing: "Revolvers new details tease out deeper meanings in the songs. Now more prominent, the low-lit backing harmonies on 'Here, There and Everywhere' remake the tune as an old-fashioned rock'n'roll love song; the piano bending out of key on 'I Want to Tell You' mirrors the narrator's insecurity; and McCartney's booming walking bass on 'Taxman' illuminates the biting, cynical tone of Harrison's lyrics... Revolver still sounds so vibrant."

Track listings

All tracks written by Lennon–McCartney, except where noted.

''Revolver'' (2022 stereo remix)

''Revolver'' sessions

Original Mono Mix

''Revolver'': Bonus EP

Personnel

  • Giles Martin – production and mixing
  • Sam Okell – engineering and mixing
  • Miles Showell – mastering
  • Alex Wharton – mastering
  • Sean Magee – mastering
  • Thomas Hall – mastering
  • Emile de la Rey – head of machine learning
  • Matthew Cocker – engineering
  • Kevin Howlett – liner notes, archive tape research, editing
  • Mike Heatley – archive tape research, editing
  • Darren Evans – art director
  • Aaron Bremner – photo editing and research
  • Dorcas Lynn – photo editing and research
  • Steve Tribe – copy editor

    Charts