All the leaves are brown

The Beatles could never be accused of letting the grass grow beneath their feet; their sixth album was recorded in a four week window during October and November 1965 (less than three years since Please Please Me - their 1st.) and was released on 3 December. Talk about In Like Flynn. Rubber Soul's cover photograph was shot by Robert Freeman on 23 October in Lennon's back garden in Weybridge. It was also, you may or may not know, their first long player not to bear the group's name on the front.

Some albums just shout colours at me and this is one of them. The colour swatch above not only picks out the colours in Freeman's candid photo but also, for me (in a primitive, almost synesthetic, kind of way) are also the colours I hear whenever I play the album. I think it's a very autumnal* sounding collection of songs, even the obligatory Ringo track, What Goes On. George, however, steals the show (not for the first time).

The Beatles - If I Needed someone (1965)

* Maybe the next time I listen to RS I should be sitting under a tree as the leaves are starting to fall.

Pretty pointless

Spot the difference

I may be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time), but here's a new album (Beady Eye: Different Gear, Still Speeding) that I definitely don't need to hear before I pass judgment; Liam Gallagher has decided that he can make an Oasis record without his big brother. Oh dear. What was he thinking? Couldn't he have just channeled his efforts into being the (new) Man at C&A? And if there was any doubt before then look at the promo picture above to confirm that Gallagher really does think he's John Lennon. I can't wait for Noel's verdict: wrong gear, handbrake still on?

Spot the difference: Even when it comes to album art parody The Monkees wipe the floor with Beady Eyeasis

Legoland

In Legoland The Beatles have never split up. In Legoland John and Paul are still the best of friends wondering which album cover to parody next. In Legoland John doesn't get gunned down by a crazy stalker and Ringo has never heard of Thomas The Tank Engine. Lego Paul never recorded Mull Of Kintyre, nor did he marry a deranged Lego limpet called Heather.

I wonder if easyJet fly to Legoland? I think I'd like to take up residency there.

Oh, but hang on a minute. If The Beatles never split up, then who's this bunch of Lego scallies?Not content with ripping off the real Fab 4, Lego Noel has only gone and nicked the whole idea and put his own name to it. It appears nothing is sacred. Not even in Legoland.