The Beatles:  Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 [1965-1966]

“I don’t see too much difference myself in ‘Rubber Soul’ and ‘Revolver'.

To me, they could both be like Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. 

They both were very pleasant and enjoyable records for me. 

They 'fit in' and they seem like a part of 'the thing'. 

It doesn’t seem like [however]

, you know, it’s [just] the[m] 'giving me my slot'.”

- George Harrison

Being strictly from a Beatles' consumer viewpoint I initially couldn't understand where George was coming from, but when one follows the historical context of the events The Beatles experienced towards the end of 1965 through to the beginning of their final World Tour in 1966 it does make sense.  

"The Beatles' Christmas Show" of 1963 kicked off on December 21st with two preview shows [in concert form only] which concluded on the 22nd and then re-commenced on the 24th as a complete stage production containing comedy sketches, pantomime & The Beatles' music which consisted of nine songs from their repertoire.  While the two 'previews' took place in other venues, this Brian Epstein production landed at the Astoria Cinema playing until 

January 11, 1964.

This would be followed by "Another Beatles' Christmas Show" at the end of 1964.  It was the same formula with The Beatles' musical input expanded to eleven songs and it ran from the 24th of December through to January 16, 1965 at the Odeon Cinema in London.

Once more, for Christmas 1965, The Beatles had a new LP freshly released and they would make live appearances around the UK during this holiday season for what I would call a mini-Tour.  [Just nine venues in eight cities all in the space of ten days.]

It is essential Beatles' history because it marked the final time they'd 'tour' the U.K. and yet it winds up a bit of a footnote because it's, to this day, difficult to get an in-depth narrative of these events, but I'll make fun of it trying to find what I can.

What little of this 'Tour' is mentioned in "The Beatles Anthology" book comes from Ringo where he states:  "By the end of 1965 the touring started to hit everybody.  I remember we had a meeting during which we all talked about how the musicianship was going downhill, never mind the boredom of doing it; going away and hitting all those hotels.

Bands go on the road nowadays and do a press conference one day and shows for the next four days.  But, for The Beatles, it was always the press and those sorts of people:  there was so much pressure.  From the minute we opened our eyes people were trying to get at us.

3 December 1965 - The day The Beatles' new LP "Rubber Soul" and their new double-A sided single "Day Tripper" b/w "We Can Work It Out" is released.  The LP [although in a truncated form] & single would come to America on the 6th.

Also, this day The Beatles open at the Odeon Cinema in Glasgow and they are 'back' to just an eleven song show which consisted of:

I Feel Fine

She's A Woman

If I Needed Someone

Act Naturally

Nowhere Man

Baby's In Black

Help!

We Can Work It Out

Yesterday

Day Tripper

I'm Down

Mark Lewisohn states that "Yesterday" was played by Paul accompanying himself on electric organ.