My iPod #287: The Beatles - Doctor Robert

Near the end of the album "Revolver" is "Doctor Robert", one of the more normal sounding songs on it. What I mean is, it's just the four guys playing their respective instruments. No violins, sitars, tambouras, backward guitar solos. It's a standard rock song. Now I know there's "Tomorrow Never Knows" or "Eleanor Rigby"...... "Here, There and Everywhere", those are usually the ones that people would say are their favourite tracks from "Revolver". "Doctor Robert" is mine... say what you wanna say.

Carried along by a durable rhythm section and a crackly, rough guitar by Lennon for the verses, "Doctor Robert" is the perfect advertisement for.... a doctor. Day or night, Doctor Robert will be there anytime. He does everything he can. The song's based on a real doctor. Actually, there are contradicting ideas on who Doctor Robert actually was. It is 'most likely' about a doctor who dosed some of the members with amphetamines in his Vitamin B injections. You didn't think this song was about the hard-working doctors who save most lives on a daily basis. Ohh no. What would be the fun in that.

Yeah, the track's a whole big nod to drugs and stuff. A really nice track, though. When the lead guitar rings in at the last moments in the second verse, the chorus begins with on-point, choir-like vocal melodies between John, Paul and George and a heavenly B chord provided by a harmonium, you feel like everything's going to be okay.

Surrounded by the other tracks, "Doctor Robert" seems like the least interesting one on "Revolver" but it is moments like that one which remind us that at the most unusual times the group could pull the rabbit out of the hat and amaze us with their magic.