A comprehensive collection featuring brand-new remixes, rare U.S. and U.K. versions, and a wide array of audio variations from around the world and across the decades! This is the second installment of the latest edition covering *Rubber Soul*—the historic masterpiece that opened the door to a new dimension of music!!
Introducing the *Rubber Soul: Versions / Alternate Album Collection*—a newly compiled, 3-CD international collector's edition!
This latest compilation features brand-new "Anniversary Versions" and "Elemental/Underdubbed Mixes," alongside rare U.S. and U.K. album versions and various other audio variations.
[First-press limited edition: Deluxe 3-CD set in a triple-gatefold sleeve with paper-jacket styling; includes original commentary obi strip]
(Direct-import original pressing)
THE BEATLES / RUBBER SOUL : VERSIONS
ANNIVERSARY EXTENDED VERSION ALBUM-SINGLE
/ THE ELEMENTAL : UNDERDUBBED MIX & US CAPITOL EAST COAST MIX / UK LOUD CUT MONO / DEMOS AND OUTTAKES
plus THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
[3CD] BMI=BEAT MASTERS INTERNATIONAL BMI011SP(CD1/2/3)
【THE ALTERNATE ALBUM COLLECTION】
The "Alternate Album Collection" is a series of newly compiled international releases that exhaustively explores audio material related to the Beatles' original albums, incorporating the latest updates. It serves as a new reference collection, carefully curating a diverse range of fascinating Beatles recordings—from newly discovered, previously unheard tracks to unique sources. The series reconstructs the vast array of unreleased and newly unearthed material—ranging from the latest multi-track remixes and unreleased studio sessions to various alternate versions—by rigorously evaluating sound quality and editing. It is a noteworthy collector's edition series featuring the latest edits that delve deep into "alternate" recordings unavailable in standard official releases.
For the *Rubber Soul* entry in this "Alternate Album Collection" series, the release is split into two distinct three-CD editions: *Rubber Soul: Sessions* and *Rubber Soul: Versions*. *Rubber Soul: Versions* (a three-CD set) debuts "Anniversary Extended Versions" and "Elemental: Underdubbed Mixes." Additionally, it includes—via state-of-the-art restoration from original analog sources—the US East Coast Mix (never officially released on CD), the UK mono first-pressing audio (known as the "Loud Cut"), and various versions featured on post-1970s compilations.
CD1 : ANNIVERSARY EXTENDED VERSION / SINGLE
/ THE ELEMENTAL : UNDERDUBBED MIX
The "Anniversary Extended Version" is a unique remix album making its debut in 2025, marking the 60th anniversary of the album's release. Featuring edits distinct from the "Multitrack New Remixes" found in the *Rubber Soul: Sessions* entry of this series, most tracks here do not fade out. While building upon the style of the earlier "Rock Band" mixes, this version represents a completely new edit that replaces the original source material entirely—avoiding the inferior audio quality of the previous sources. The "Elemental: Underdubbed Mix" is a unique mix capturing the material in a pre-completion state; it essentially strips away overdubs, presenting raw vocal tracks and simplified instrumental backing. It stands out as an unprecedented "Naked" version of *Rubber Soul*.
CD2 : U.S. CAPITOL ORIGINAL ALBUM - EAST COAST MIX
/ U.K. PARLOPHONE ORIGINAL ALBUM - LOUD CUT MONO MIX
/ DEMOS AND OUTTAKES
The "US Capitol Original Album: East Coast Mix" features the "East Coast Mix" audio—sourced from the original analog master—of the US-compiled *Rubber Soul* album, released by Capitol Records on December 6, 1966 (almost simultaneously with the UK release). Like previous Capitol releases, this album featured a unique tracklist and sequencing; it added "I've Just Seen a Face" and "It's Only Love" (songs omitted from the US *Help!* soundtrack album) while moving four tracks—"Drive My Car," "Nowhere Man," "If I Needed Someone," and "What Goes On"—to the later *Yesterday and Today* album, resulting in a *Rubber Soul* with a distinct character compared to the UK version. Beyond the tracklist differences, the album became a sought-after collector's item due to unique audio elements resulting from Capitol requesting masters prior to the UK release: these include the "false start" at the beginning of "I'm Looking Through You"; "The Word," featuring vocal tracks and a mix completely different from the UK version; and "Michelle," which has a longer ending than the UK version (the US mono mix is included on CD 3). Furthermore, there were two stereo versions of the US *Rubber Soul* with different mixes for the entire album; the "East Coast Mix" included here represents the "Dexterized Stereo" version—distinct from the standard stereo release—in which producer Dave Dexter Jr. applied reverb to every track on the album. Although Dexter was notorious for arbitrarily altering recordings for the US market, his work on *Rubber Soul* avoided extreme modifications, and some even praised the improved sound quality in certain areas. This is an audio source that cannot be heard on current official CD releases. The "UK Parlophone Original Album – Loud Cut Mono Mix" features a direct transfer from the original analog master of the "Loud Cut"—the nickname given to the initial mono pressing of the original UK album. The first cut (Matrix No. 1), created on November 17, 1965, delivered high sound pressure and a powerful audio impact; however, pressing plants raised concerns about potential stylus skipping, leading to subsequent recuts. While "Matrix No. 4" became the standard version, a very small number of "Matrix No. 1" copies had already been pressed and distributed, making them rare and highly sought-after collector's items today. Although the mono mix has previously been released on CD, this edition utilizes a new direct transfer from the original analog master, perfectly reproducing the fresh, dynamic sound of the "Loud Cut." The "Demos and Outtakes" section includes album-related demos as well as outtakes from the "Christmas Message" recording sessions.
CD3 : THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
"Alternate Versions" compiles various mix variations and unique international releases that appeared on various compilations during the vinyl era—spanning the 1960s through the 1970s and beyond. Releases such as the 1973 US Capitol-compiled "Red" and "Blue" albums, the 1976 albums *Rock 'n' Roll Music* and *Love Songs*, and the UK-compiled *The Beatles Ballads* each featured unique remixes or remasters with distinct channel separation and stereo balances; consequently, there are many versions that differ from the digital remasters released in the CD era. These differences—ranging from channel reversals compared to the original stereo mixes to shifts in separation toward the center, as well as variations in balance and the actual texture of the sound—become even more apparent when comparing them using headphones. This collection gathers together these official recordings from the analog era that were never released on CD.
CD1
ANNIVERSARY EXTENDED VERSION
1. DRIVE MY CAR
2. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)
3. YOU WON'T SEE ME
4. NOWHERE MAN
5. THINK FOR YOURSELF
6. THE WORD
7. MICHELLE
8. WHAT GOES ON
9. GIRL
10. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU
11. IN MY LIFE
12. WAIT
13. IF I NEEDED SOMEONE
14. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
ANNIVERSARY EXTENDED VERSION SINGLE
15. WE CAN WORK IT OUT
16. DAY TRIPPER
THE ELEMENTAL : UNDERDUBBED MIX
17. DRIVE MY CAR
18. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)
19. YOU WON'T SEE ME
20. NOWHERE MAN
21. THINK FOR YOURSELF
22. THE WORD
23. MICHELLE
24. WHAT GOES ON
25. GIRL
26. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU
27. IN MY LIFE
28. WAIT
29. IF I NEEDED SOMEONE
30. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
CD2
U.S. CAPITOL ORIGINAL ALBUM - EAST COAST MIX
1. I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE
2. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)
3. YOU WON'T SEE ME
4. THINK FOR YOURSELF
5. THE WORD
6. MICHELLE
7. IT'S ONLY LOVE
8. GIRL
9. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU
10. IN MY LIFE
11. WAIT
12. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Capitol Records ST-2442 East Coast Mix (Dave Dexter Echo Enhanced Version)
U.K. PARLOPHONE ORIGINAL ALBUM - LOUD CUT MONO
13. DRIVE MY CAR
14. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)
15. YOU WON'T SEE ME
16. NOWHERE MAN
17. THINK FOR YOURSELF
18. THE WORD
19. MICHELLE
20. WHAT GOES ON
21. GIRL
22. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU
23. IN MY LIFE
24. WAIT
25. IF I NEEDED SOMEONE
26. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Parlophone PMC 1267 Mono Matrix : XEX 579-1/XEX 580-1 (Loud Cut Version)
DEMOS AND OUTTAKES
27. MICHELLE (Demo)
28. WHAT GOES ON (Demo)
29. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Demo)
30. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 1965 (Outtake)
31. YESTERDAY / AULD LANG SYNE (Christmas Message 1965)
CD3
THE ALTERNATE VERSIONS
1. DRIVE MY CAR (US 1962-1966 Remix)
2. DRIVE MY CAR (US Rock'N'Roll Music Remix)
3. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN) (US 1962-1966 Remix)
4. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN) (US Love Songs Remix)
5. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN) (UK Ballad Remix)
6. NOWHERE MAN (US 1962-1966 Remix)
7. NOWHERE MAN (UK Ballad Remix)
8. NOWHERE MAN (Yellow Submarine Songtrack Remix)
9. THINK FOR YOURSELF (Yellow Submarine Songtrack Remix)
10. MICHELLE (US First Mono Mix)
11. MICHELLE (US 1962-1966 Remix)
12. MICHELLE (US Love Songs Remix)
13. MICHELLE (UK Ballad Remix)
14. GIRL (US 1962-1966 Remix)
15. GIRL (US Love Songs Remix)
16. GIRL (LOVE Remix)
17. IN MY LIFE (US 1962-1966 Remix)
18. IN MY LIFE (US Love Songs Remix)
19. IN MY LIFE (Imagine The Movie Remix)
20. IN MY LIFE (Anthology Remix)
21. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (US Yesterday And Today Stereo Mix)
22. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (US 1962-1966 Remix)
23. WE CAN WORK IT OUT (Anthology Remix)
24. DAY TRIPPER (US Yesterday And Today Stereo Mix)
25. DAY TRIPPER (US 1962-1966 Remix)
26. DAY TRIPPER (Anthology Remix)
27. NORWEGIAN WOOD (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN)
(Take 1 - John Barrett Tapes)
28. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU (Take 1 - John Barrett Tapes)
29. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU (Take 1 - Early Sessions "1,2,3,4!" Mix)
30. I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU (Take 1 - 1985 Remix)
31. 12-BAR ORIGINAL (Anthology Remix)