The Beatles' 'Rubber Soul' Re-release Eyes Chart Comeback 61 Years Later

The Beatles' 1965 album "Rubber Soul" is on track to reclaim the number one spot on the charts more than six decades after its initial release. The classic record, which originally spent eight weeks at number one, has been reissued with 24 early session recordings, including 20 previously unreleased takes, and three unheard home demos.

The Official Charts reported that the album had returned to number one, though it faces competition for the top spot this Friday from Blossoms' "Songs From The Wedding Cake." Johnny Marr's "The Age Of Everything" is currently in third place.

If "Rubber Soul" secures the top position, it would mark the first time since October 2019 that the band has achieved this feat on the Official Albums Chart, when "Abbey Road" rebounded to number one. "Rubber Soul" features eleven songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and two by George Harrison, including well-known tracks like "In My Life" and "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)."

The expanded special edition includes early versions of songs such as "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out," as well as John Lennon's previously unheard demo "Little Girl." The Beatles currently hold the record for the most albums on the Official Albums Charts, with 15 albums having spent a total of 176 weeks on the charts.

This resurgence in popularity coincides with ongoing production for a four-part Beatles biopic directed by Sam Mendes. The films, set to be released simultaneously in 2028, will each tell the story from the perspective of one of the band members. Paul Mescal will portray Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.

In August, the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing was temporarily closed to recreate the iconic album cover, originally photographed on August 8, 1969, by Iain Macmillan outside EMI Studios.