Rubber Soul (2026)

The Beatles

Lyn Quintana

I have been a fan of The Beatles for a handful of years now and consider myself a really big fan, but this new re-release gave me mixed feelings. Is it really necessary, and is it any good or worth your time?

The Beatles re-released “Rubber Soul” in two versions: Rubber Soul (2026 Mix) and Super Deluxe. The Mix version consists of the instrumental and vocal tracks being separated and modified so that the vocals are clearer and higher than the instruments. However, this causes the audio to feel more like a Mono track, which (hot take) I don’t enjoy.

The Super Deluxe version has a whopping 68 songs spanning across four “discs.” This includes mixes, mono audio, instrumentals, outtakes, first takes, and demos of many of the songs in the album. All of the outtakes and demos are really fun to listen to, as it gives an interesting look into behind the scenes and different possible recordings.

I think that the Mix 2026 version is a bit redundant and a waste of money; however, the Super Deluxe edition is worth it if you are a fan of the band and are interested in physical copies. They released some gorgeous zoetrope vinyls that I think are worth the price! Overall, it seems a bit unnecessary to re-release the album, but if you’re a super fan, I think it’s worth checking out! Listening to this made me want to get right back into the band, just as much as I used to be in middle school.