Not every band is fully formed from the start. Even for a group like The Beatles, with immense potential, there must be a foundation that holds them together and propels them to create their classic hits, even when they doubt their abilities. George Martin played a crucial role in giving The Beatles that initial push, but he didn’t always correct every mistake in their recordings—like the one in “Drive My Car” from Rubber Soul.
Throughout The Beatles’ career, Martin acted as the de facto disciplinarian in the studio. To the Fab Four, he was practically a grown-up, bringing a school teacher-like mentality to their recording sessions. His influence was significant, from guiding them on song endings to adding lavish orchestrations that were unconventional for pop music at the time.
By the time they reached Rubber Soul, The Beatles faced a new challenge. Up until then, their albums were essentially a collection of random songs put together in a decent order. However, with Rubber Soul, they began viewing the album as a complete statement, where each track complemented the others perfectly.
Given the concept behind Rubber Soul, opening the album with “Drive My Car” was the ideal way to introduce their new sound. While the group wasn’t aiming to emulate a Motown band, the groove in “Drive My Car” is evident from the moment Ringo Starr hits his snare drum.
Even though they took the album seriously, the recording process wasn’t without its flaws. The Beatles were under pressure to release the album by the holiday season, leading to some rushed moments. In one of the final verses of “Drive My Car,” John Lennon and Paul McCartney mistakenly sing different lyrics—one saying, “I told that girl,” while the other sings, “I told the girl.”
Reflecting on the mistake, George Martin admitted that he didn’t think it was necessary to correct it. He said, “That was never intended, but they did it that way. It was live, and things like that slipped my attention. Once it went through and I saw it was there, I didn’t think it was worthwhile calling them in again to replace a line; life’s too short!”
Rather than detract from the song, this small mistake adds a human touch to Rubber Soul. The Beatles were on the path to becoming one of the greatest bands in history, and this error gives listeners a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their recording process as they rushed to create an album they could be proud of.
In the end, Rubber Soul was not just another Beatles album; it was a landmark achievement for any band. With The Beach Boys hot on their heels with Pet Sounds, Rubber Soul marked the introduction of a new era for The Beatles—flaws and all.
