The Beatles

"Revolver" is the Beatles' seventh studio album, released on August 5, 1966, along with the double A-side single "Eleanor Rigby" / "Yellow Submarine". It marked the band's final project before their retirement from live performances and showcased their most advanced use of studio technology to date, building on the sound of their previous release, "Rubber Soul". The album is considered a groundbreaking and innovative work in popular music, with its diverse range of styles, sounds, and lyrics.

"Revolver" was recorded after a three-month break in 1966, during a time when London was considered the cultural capital of the era. Some view it as the start of the Beatles' psychedelic period, with the songs reflecting their interest in LSD, Eastern philosophy, and the avant-garde, as well as themes such as death and transcendence. The band utilized studio techniques like double tracking, varispeed, reversed tapes, and close audio miking, as well as instruments outside of their standard live set-up.

The album features tracks such as "Tomorrow Never Knows" which incorporates Indian drone and tape loops, "Eleanor Rigby", a song about loneliness backed by a string octet, and "Love You To", which explores Hindustani classical music. The album cover, designed by Klaus Voormann, won the 1967 Grammy Award for Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts.

In the UK, the album's 14 tracks were gradually distributed to radio stations before its release, while in North America, it was reduced to 11 songs by Capitol Records. The album topped charts in both the UK and the US, but the band's outspokenness on contemporary issues caused controversy in the US.

"Revolver" expanded the boundaries of pop music, revolutionized standard studio recording practices, and inspired the development of psychedelic, electronica, progressive rock, and world music. It is regarded by many as the Beatles' best album and has been ranked highly on numerous all-time lists. A remixed and expanded edition was released in 2022.