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The Announcement Beatles Fans Have Been Waiting For
Today, UMG and Apple Corps Ltd confirmed what fans had suspected since a countdown clock appeared on The Beatles' official website: Rubber Soul is getting the Super Deluxe Edition treatment. The landmark 1965 album will be released in a major new Special Edition on 2nd October, newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell ā the same team behind the acclaimed revisions of Abbey Road, Revolver, and Let It Be.
It is the last of the classic-era Beatles albums to receive this treatment, and from everything revealed so far, it has been worth the wait.
'Michelle (Take 1)' is available to listen to now ā the first taste of the session recordings, and a remarkable glimpse into the making of one of The Beatles' most beloved songs.
Want to go deeper before the release? Read our Rubber Soul (1965) Complete Deep Dive or browse the Full UK Tracklist in Order.
What's In the Rubber Soul Special Edition?
This is not a simple remaster. The new Rubber Soul Special Edition is a full archival excavation, built around a new stereo mix sourced directly from the original four-track master tapes ā enhanced using cutting-edge de-mixing technology developed by Emile de la Rey at Peter Jackson's WingNut Films Productions Ltd., while remaining completely faithful to the spirit of the original recordings.
Across the Super Deluxe editions, the collection includes:
- New Stereo Mix ā all 14 tracks, sourced from the original four-track masters
- Dolby Atmos Mix ā immersive audio available on Blu-ray
- Original Mono Mix ā the album exactly as first heard in December 1965
- Original Capitol US Album version ā the American configuration, restored in full
- 24 early session recordings ā including 20 previously unreleased takes
- 3 previously unreleased home demos ā including early versions of Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out
- Little Girl ā a previously unheard John Lennon song outline, never before released or even rumoured
- The 1965 double A-side single: Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out in stereo single mix
The 4CD and 5LP Super Deluxe editions are accompanied by an 88-page hardbound book featuring a brand new written introduction by Paul McCartney, and a foreword compiled from John Lennon's own words ā reflections on Rubber Soul drawn from across his life, including the years after The Beatles' break-up. The 2CD and 2LP Special Editions feature a curated selection of session highlights, demos, and the single.
The Technical Achievement Behind the New Mix
The reason Rubber Soul took longer than the other Super Deluxe Editions is not a matter of archival will ā it is a matter of physics. By the time The Beatles recorded Revolver in 1966, they had enough track separation for modern tools to isolate instruments and vocals cleanly. Rubber Soul, recorded just months earlier in October and November 1965, was captured under tighter constraints, with instruments and vocals frequently combined permanently onto the same tracks.
The development of machine-assisted audio separation technology ā the same tools used on Now And Then and the reissued Red and Blue compilations ā has transformed what is now possible. The seven Rubber Soul tracks remixed for the 2023 1962ā1966 reissue were widely understood as a proof of concept. They were stunning. The full album treatment, applied to all 14 tracks for the first time, is the result of that work reaching its conclusion.
Why Rubber Soul Changed Everything
First released on 3rd December 1965, Rubber Soul arrived at a pivotal moment. The Beatles had just played to more than 55,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York ā a record-breaking concert that underlined their global dominance. Rather than coast on that success, they went straight into the studio and made something that would change music forever.
Recorded over just four weeks, the album saw The Beatles experiment with new instruments, unconventional sounds, and more sophisticated songwriting than anything they had attempted before. George Harrison's sitar on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) introduced Indian classical music to mainstream Western pop. In My Life ā written by Lennon at 25 ā remains one of the most lyrically sophisticated songs in the entire catalogue. Michelle won the Grammy for Song of the Year. Nowhere Man was the first Beatles single with no romantic content whatsoever.
Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Michelle, Girl, In My Life ā each one a landmark. Together, they form an album widely regarded as having pioneered the long-form pop album as an art form, and as the moment The Beatles stopped being a pop group and became something else entirely ā bridging Beatlemania and the studio experimentation that would define Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's, and everything that followed.
Available Formats
The new Rubber Soul Special Edition will be available across a wide range of formats, with pre-orders open now ahead of the 2nd October release:
- 1CD ā Standard edition with new stereo mix
- 1LP ā Standard vinyl edition
- 2CD Special Edition ā New stereo mix + curated session highlights, demos, and the single
- 2LP Special Edition ā Vinyl equivalent of the 2CD
- 4CD Super Deluxe ā Full expanded edition with all session recordings, demos, mono mix, Capitol version, and 88-page book
- 5LP Super Deluxe ā Vinyl Super Deluxe with 88-page book
- Blu-ray ā Dolby Atmos mix, high-resolution stereo audio, and promo films for Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out
- Limited-edition orange vinyl
- D2C exclusive Zoetrope vinyl
Shop Rubber Soul Merchandise
We don't stock the albums ā but we do carry the full range of official Rubber Soul merchandise. Celebrate the release with something to wear, display, or gift. Browse the complete Rubber Soul collection here.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Names T-Shirt | Black
The band's names in the iconic Rubber Soul lettering on a premium black tee.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Album T-Shirt | White
Clean, classic, and essential ā the full album cover on white.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Album T-Shirt | Green
The iconic cover art on a premium green colourway.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Sketch T-Shirt | Black
A bold sketch-style design for the dedicated collector.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Album T-Shirt | Sand | Sleeve Print
A premium sand colourway with sleeve detail ā a cut above.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Mug | Green
Start your morning the right way ā Rubber Soul on a premium green mug.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Album Patch
The album cover in embroidered form ā perfect for jackets and bags.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Patch
A classic patch for any collection.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Badge Large
A large-format badge for the dedicated fan.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Keychain
Carry a piece of 1965 with you every day.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Fridge Magnet
A small but essential piece for any Beatles kitchen.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Car Magnet
Take Rubber Soul on the road.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Postcard
Send a little Beatles history to someone who deserves it.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Greetings Card
For the Beatles fan in your life.
The Beatles: Rubber Soul Ukelele
A playable piece of Beatles history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rubber Soul Special Edition?
The Rubber Soul Special Edition is an expanded anniversary release of The Beatles' landmark 1965 album, featuring a new stereo mix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, previously unreleased session recordings and home demos, the original mono mix, the original Capitol US album version, a Dolby Atmos mix, and the 1965 double A-side single Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out.
When is the Rubber Soul Special Edition released?
The Rubber Soul Special Edition is released on 2nd October 2026. It is available to pre-order now across multiple LP, CD, and Blu-ray formats.
Who remixed the Rubber Soul Special Edition?
The new stereo mix was created by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell, using cutting-edge de-mixing technology developed by Emile de la Rey at Peter Jackson's WingNut Films Productions Ltd. The same team previously remixed Abbey Road, Revolver, and Let It Be.
What previously unreleased recordings are included?
The Super Deluxe editions include 24 early session recordings ā 20 of which are previously unreleased ā plus three previously unreleased home demos, including early versions of Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out. Also included is Little Girl, a previously unheard John Lennon song outline never before released or even rumoured.
What formats is the Rubber Soul Special Edition available in?
The Rubber Soul Special Edition is available on 1CD, 1LP, 2CD Special Edition, 2LP Special Edition, 4CD Super Deluxe, 5LP Super Deluxe, Blu-ray, limited-edition orange vinyl, and a D2C exclusive Zoetrope vinyl edition.
Is Rubber Soul the last Beatles album to get a Super Deluxe Edition?
Yes. Rubber Soul is the final Beatles studio album from the classic period to receive the Super Deluxe Edition treatment. Previous releases covered Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be, and Revolver.
What is Little Girl on the Rubber Soul Special Edition?
Little Girl is a previously unheard John Lennon song outline included in the Rubber Soul Super Deluxe editions. It has never been officially released before and was not previously known to exist ā making it one of the most significant archival discoveries in the set.
Where can I buy Rubber Soul merchandise?
Beatles Fabdom stocks the full range of official Rubber Soul merchandise, including T-shirts, mugs, patches, badges, keychains, magnets, postcards, greetings cards, and more. Browse the complete Rubber Soul collection at Beatles Fabdom today!
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