As the cooler weather comes rolling in, the music of the season shifts from the carefree, upbeat rhythms of summer to the cozy, nostalgic melodies of autumn. I often circle through playlists based on seasons, so by the time summer came around this year, I had completely forgotten about my autumn playlist and some of my favorite fall albums.
I walked down to my local record store, and as I was flipping through vinyls, I caught sight of the Beatles’ giant “Rubber Soul” re-release box. Immediately, I pulled up Spotify and spent a good portion of my day exploring the album. As one of my personal top five fall albums, I truly felt like I was enjoying cold, foggy weather while the leaves changed colors (I was wearing a tank top and shorts in full sun).
“Rubber Soul” was originally released in 1965; The Beatles were no longer touring and had the opportunity to allow their creativity to thrive, signaling a turning point for the band. Shifting from catchy love songs, this album focuses on more complex and experimental lyrics, and its introspection reflects the season of autumn. “Rubber Soul” blends genres together: It was the first rock album to feature a sitar (featured in “Norwegian Wood” and played by George Harrison), and incorporates folk and Western-sounding music into rock/pop.
The re-release of The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” came out on Oct. 2, 2026, featuring new stereo mixes, outtakes, and demos, as well as the original album, redone with better sound quality. The audio is separated from the original four-track tapes, so that the instruments are spread out, giving a more immersive experience for listeners. Songs such as “We Can Work It Out” and “I’ve Just Seen A Face” are also included in the stereo mixes and home demos, providing a truly unique album that showcases The Beatles’ shift into more personal experimentation.
Whether you want to listen to one song or the entire album (totaling about three hours), I guarantee you will feel the cozy fall vibe as soon as you hit play. When I look outside, I see palm trees and sunshine, yet when I play “Rubber Soul,” I instantly feel like I’m surrounded by fog and trees with orange leaves.
You can’t say that the album cover alone doesn’t remind you of autumn, with its orange and green color scheme and nostalgic feel. Acoustic guitars and pianos take over the album, creating a warm, nostalgic feeling that rock albums often don’t include throughout the entire album. Unlike other rock albums with fast-paced tempos, “Rubber Soul” slows things down and provides a relaxed pace of music. To me, this reflects the autumn season when the days start getting shorter, and nature begins to rest.Â
With so much to choose from in the special edition, there are a few songs that always stand out to me and that I’ll have on repeat during this season:
“Nowhere Man” – John Lennon wrote this folk-rock song in his hometown in an introspective state. It contrasts earlier Beatles music with its melancholy but catchy tone.
“Wait” – This song was originally recorded for the album “Help!” but it was instead finished and recorded for “Rubber Soul.” It feels softer with the use of a tone pedal on the guitar, making it perfect for autumn.
“I’m Looking Through You” – This song explores self-doubt with love and loss, a big shift from The Beatles’ earlier songs about love. However, it’s still very catchy, and fits the autumn vibe well.
“I’ve Just Seen A Face (U.S. stereo version)” – While this song isn’t included in the original Rubber Soul, the acoustic guitar and folk melody make it perfect for autumn.
“Norwegian Wood” – The inclusion of the sitar in this song gives it a truly unique sound. Combined with the slower tempo, I can’t get enough of how relaxing this song feels!
There’s something about the album’s warm acoustics that makes it the perfect album for autumn and worth spending some time with. As the season continues on, I’ll be putting on the special edition of “Rubber Soul” more and more. I hope you consider giving it a listen!