What Is Included in the New Rubber Soul Special Edition Mixes and Recordings?

The Rubber Soul Special Edition presents the 1965 album in a newly mixed stereo version by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, alongside the original mono mix, the Capitol US album version, and Dolby Atmos mixes. It also expands the album with previously unreleased session recordings and demos, plus the contemporary singles "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out." According to thebeatles.com, the collection spans 10 music formats and an exclusive merch range, with pre-orders open now.

The mixes

The Special Edition is built around four distinct ways of hearing the album:

• New stereo mix — a fresh stereo presentation by Giles Martin and Sam Okell.
• Original mono mix — the album as originally issued in mono.
• Capitol US album version — the American configuration of the record, which differed from the UK release.
• Dolby Atmos mixes — an immersive spatial audio presentation.

Which of these you can actually hear depends on the format you buy. A standard 1CD or 1LP will not carry every mix; the larger box sets are where the full spread of versions lives. Check the tracklist and format description before ordering if a specific mix matters to you.

The unreleased recordings and demos

Beyond the album itself, the Special Edition adds session material that had not been released before, including demos. The site highlights one example in detail: "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version – Take 2)."

The background, as described on thebeatles.com:

• The first version of the song — then titled "This Bird Has Flown" — was recorded on the opening day of the Rubber Soul sessions, with George Harrison introducing the sitar to the track.
• The band were not happy with that version, so nine days later they recorded three more performances.
• In this take, the arrangement opens with George's double-tracked sitar playing the tune of the bridge section, rather than the instrumental verse melody that opens the final recording.

That kind of detail is the point of the expanded material: it shows the song before the decisions that shaped the released version were made.

The contemporary singles

The set also includes "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out," the single released in the same period as the album. Separately, the site notes a rare release, "Day Tripper (Songwriting Work Tape)," which captures John Lennon and Paul McCartney working at John's home, Kenwood, in Weybridge, Surrey. At that stage the famous riff had not yet been written; the recording is based on an old folk song John had written the previous month, and the two can be heard laughing as they develop it.

Formats at a glance

The Special Edition is offered across multiple LP, CD, and Blu-ray configurations. The formats named on the page include:

All are listed as available to pre-order, with separate USA and UK stores.

How to decide

If you want the widest range of mixes and the unreleased session material, the Super Deluxe box sets are the ones that carry the full collection; the standard 1CD and 1LP are the album-focused options. If Dolby Atmos matters to you, confirm which format carries it before ordering, since it is not available on every edition. And if you are choosing between the 4CD and 5LP Super Deluxe sets, the difference is the physical medium and the inclusion of the 7" single and posters on the vinyl side — the underlying audio content is the same.