Talk:Revolution (song)

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Article Grading: The following comments were left by the quality and importance raters: (edit · refresh) I was confused by this: "The song appeared in two distinctly different incarnations, a raucous electric "Revolution", and a slowed acoustic "Revolution 1" It was my understanding the raucous electric version is Revolution 1 No, Revolution is indeed the raucous electric version, and Revolution 1 is the slower and acoustic version, distinctly recognisable from the other. --Liamshaw 15:46, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
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[edit] Revolution 9

I'm not sure it's correct to say that Revolution 9 is unrelated to Revolution. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's downright incorrect. They were on the same album and recorded by the same guy in the same era. I think 9 is supposed to be the sound of revolution, whereas 1 is about revolution. Just because they sound different doesn't mean they are "unconnected". --kingboyk 20:54, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Just because they are on the same album and by the same person does not make them any more related than any other song on the white album. I also think it is supposed to be the 'sound' of revolution. However, I think that part of the article sounds fine. Could it be said that the are connected but not related? Wright123 19:48, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

It does if they're both called "Revolution"! Anyway, sure, go for it, see what you can do. --kingboyk 19:57, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

I dont think anything needs to be done. It doesnt say that they are unconnected it just says that they dont share any of the same music/lyrics, which is true. Wright123 20:21, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] B-side or Double A?

Thread moved from WT:TB:

Articles mentioning the song "Revolution" mention the song as a B-side with "Hey Jude". The song actually got equal treatment on the radio so it could be mentioned as a double A-side. What do you think? Steelbeard1 13:45, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

Hey Jude/Revolution is a Double-A side, and is listed as such in the Billboard charts. Brian.D 15:11, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane was a double A. Revolution was a B-side which the sands of time have distorted into the memory of a double A, as far as I can tell. The external link in the article, to a piece by Alan Pollock, lists Revolution as a B-side. If we're going to change that we need a good source. --kingboyk 15:37, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

There is no distinction between how Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane is listed and how Hey Jude/Revolution is listed in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Each 'side' charted individually during the same time span, and were on the same label/issue number. (Hey Jude/Revolution = Apple 2276; Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane = Capitol 5810) One difference between these two singles is that both Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane peaked in the Top 10, whereas Revolution peaked at 12. In fact, every Beatles singles release, from Yesterday/Act Naturally up to and including Get Back/Don't Let Me Down fared similarly on the charts (both sides charted on the Hot 100) and are depicted in the same manner. Obviously, not all of the 'B-sides' made it to #1... or even in the Top 10 -- some (The Inner Light) barely even made the Hot 100 chart. I contrast this denotation in the charts with the manner in which Queen's We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions is handled. We Will Rock You never charted in the initial release (10/22/77 on Elektra 45441), and the listing for the single shows "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions" on a single line with no indicated 'B-side'. This single is specifically called out as 'not a double a-side' in the text at the bottom of double A-side. So, the question really becomes, 'What is the official definition of a double a-side, from the point of view of the chart makers (Billboard)?' Clearly, the above-mentioned Queen single is treated differently than the other releases mentioned here, so it makes sense that it wouldn't be considered a double A-side. What evidence is used to declare one identically notated release a double A-side and another as an A-side/B-side?

Ref 'Top Pop Singles 1955-2002', published by Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-155-1

- Brian.D 17:01, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

I have read through the article you referenced in Alan Pollack's pages, as well as several others on his site. His listing Revolution as a B-side seems apocryphal at best. His series of articles on The Beatles singles tend to display an expertise in music versus an expertise in the music industry. As such, I would not consider the comment on his page about the song Revolution being a "B Single", nor the comment on the Wikipedia page as particularly authoritative on the matter. Brian.D 19:39, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

It's how the band/record label designated them that counts, I think. I don't know how chart makers decide these things, but they might consider a single to be a double "A" if both sides get a lot of airplay? What we're interested in is, was Revolution a B-side according to The Beatles and EMI? That's what the article is saying and how I remember it, but I'm easily persuaded that I'm wrong :)

I'm away from home at the moment so I don't have a reference book to check nor can I go pull an original British copy out (if I have one, which I think I do). Surely someone here has a Beatles discog from Record Collector, a reliable Beatles book, or a 1st-issue copy of the single? --kingboyk 19:42, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

I guess this is my point, as well. As far as the charts (Billboard's Top 100, in particular) are concerned, I would offer that Joel Whitburn's books (the above-referenced volume, as well as many others) are the authoritative source. I don't know (nor recall) any marketing differences between, say, Hey Jude/Revolution (Apple 2276) and Let It Be (Apple 2764). The labels on the records both have the same Granny Smith outside/inside as other Beatles singles -- as does Come Together/Something (Apple 2654), which might bolster the argument (from a marketing standpoint) that none of them are double A-sides. As you asked, who decides these things? Is it airplay (and/or chart position), or just an arbitrary decision made by A&R people at the label? If the former, then the Billboard (Cashbox, et al) data is valid in determining the answer(s). If the latter, then there's no verifiable source for the designation, save contacting the individual A&R reps directly and asking them.  ;) ...and this would hold true for every single specifically included or excluded from the Double A-sides page. --Brian.D 20:53, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Political meaning

More discussion should be added about the political meanings of the song and different interpretations of it. I think it's generally viewed as a reaction to either radicalism in general or certain Marxist/Leninist tendencies in particular which were in vogue at the time. ENpeeOHvee 04:26, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Count me in/out

Recently I read Bob Spitz' Beatles biography (appropriately titled "The Beatles"), and it talked about the song Revolution. Specifically, it talked about how he did debate between "count me in" and "count me out" in the lyrics, that he was undecided. So I think you no longer have to call it "folk lore" but can call it fact.

[edit] Separation

"Revolution" redirects to a page explicitly about Revolution 1. A separate page should be made for the single (faster) version to aviod confusion.