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The Beatles’ Rubber Soul reissue to include unheard Lennon track
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
UMG and Apple Corps have released full details of their "super deluxe" reissue of The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul, due out on 2 October, with the standout revelation being a previously unheard John Lennon composition, described in promotional materials as a "song outline", titled "Little Girl". A remixed version of "Michelle" was released alongside the announcement to give fans an immediate taste of the unreleased material included in the set, which arrives four years after similar deluxe treatment was given to Revolver.
The flagship "Rubber Soul: Special Edition Super Deluxe" contains 68 tracks across five LPs or four CDs, including 24 session outtakes, new stereo mixes by Giles Martin and Sam Okell, a double-sided single of "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out", and both the original US Capitol running order and mono mix alongside the remixed British version. Unlike the 2022 Revolver reissue, the Dolby Atmos mix will be sold as a standalone physical release rather than bundled into the CD box, and an 88-page hardback book accompanies both the LP and CD super deluxe editions. Smaller two-LP and two-CD deluxe versions, with a 16-track disc of demos and sessions, and a Blu-ray edition with hi-res audio, Atmos mix and four videos, are also being released for fans who don't want the full set.
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In short
- Beatles' Rubber Soul gets super deluxe reissue on 2 October 2026
- Unreleased Lennon song outline "Little Girl" is the headline extra
- Set includes 68 tracks, new remixes, outtakes and standalone Atmos mix
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The final confirmation reiterated the "Little Girl" reveal and "Michelle" preview while consolidating the package specifics, including the standalone Atmos release, the "Day Tripper" single, the Blu-Ray, the 88-page book and the smaller bundle options.
- 4 months ago Full details emerged confirming the unreleased Lennon "song outline" is called "Little Girl", with a remixed "Michelle" issued as a preview and the release now framed as arriving four years after Revolver's own super deluxe treatment.
- 4 months ago The labels added fresh specifics, notably that the Atmos mix will be sold separately rather than folded into the CD box as it was with Revolver, and revealed a new "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out" double-sided single alongside the smaller two-LP and two-CD editions.
- 4 months ago UMG and Apple Corps announced a "super deluxe" reissue of The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul for 2 October, featuring new Giles Martin/Sam Okell stereo remixes, a Dolby Atmos mix, session outtakes and a previously unheard Lennon composition, mirroring the 2022 Revolver reissue.
- Rolling Stone Inside the Special Edition of the Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’
- Consequence The Beatles’ Rubber Soul Gets Expanded Reissue with New Mixes and Unreleased Demos
- Far Out Revulcanising ‘Rubber Soul’: What seven previous re-issues tell us about The Beatles’ enduring 1965 classic
- Pitchfork The Beatles Announce Rubber Soul Reissue
- Stereogum The Beatles Somehow Found More Unreleased Recordings For New Super Deluxe Rubber Soul
- Far Out The Beatles announce special expanded edition of ‘Rubber Soul’, featuring unheard John Lennon song
- Variety The Beatles’ Rubber Soul reissue to include unheard Lennon track
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Enthusiasts and collectors welcome these expanded reissues as a genuine act of musical archaeology, giving fans access to session outtakes, alternate mixes and previously unheard material like Lennon's "Little Girl" that would otherwise remain locked in a vault. For serious listeners, the new Atmos and hi-res mixes offer a legitimately different way to experience a landmark album, and the accompanying book and multiple formats reflect real curatorial effort rather than mere repackaging, letting both casual fans and completists choose the version that suits them.
The case against
Sceptics see these ever-more-elaborate box sets as a way of monetising the same catalogue repeatedly, splitting what was once a single album purchase into a costly array of standalone singles, deluxe editions and premium formats that especially burden dedicated fans who feel compelled to buy every variant. They argue that releasing session fragments and unfinished outlines, however historically interesting, risks diluting an artist's original creative intentions purely to sustain demand, and that the proliferation of formats amounts to commercial strategy dressed up as preservation.
Explained simply
The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul is getting a major reissue on 2 October, part of an ongoing series of remastered and expanded editions of the band's catalogue overseen by producer Giles Martin (son of original Beatles producer George Martin) with Sam Okell, released jointly by Universal Music Group and Apple Corps, the company that manages the band's affairs. These reissues typically combine a new stereo remix of the original album with previously unreleased studio outtakes, alternate mixes and packaging aimed at both casual listeners and dedicated collectors.
The Rubber Soul reissue follows a similar treatment given to the 1966 album Revolver in 2022, and comes in several formats, from a large "super deluxe" boxed set with dozens of extra tracks down to smaller two-disc editions for those who want less. Central to the interest around this release is previously unheard material, including studio session recordings and outtakes that give listeners insight into how the songs were originally put together.
Rubber Soul is widely regarded as a pivotal record in the Beatles' development, marking a shift towards more introspective songwriting and experimental studio techniques that influenced much of the music that followed. Reissues like this matter to fans and music historians because they offer a rare look at the creative process behind one of the most influential albums in popular music, while also representing a significant commercial release for the band's ongoing legacy.
Coverage · 7 sources
- VarietyThe Beatles’ Rubber Soul reissue to include unheard Lennon track
- Rolling StoneInside the Special Edition of the Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’
- ConsequenceThe Beatles’ Rubber Soul Gets Expanded Reissue with New Mixes and Unreleased Demos
- Far OutRevulcanising ‘Rubber Soul’: What seven previous re-issues tell us about The Beatles’ enduring 1965 classic
- PitchforkThe Beatles Announce Rubber Soul Reissue
- StereogumThe Beatles Somehow Found More Unreleased Recordings For New Super Deluxe Rubber Soul
- Far OutThe Beatles announce special expanded edition of ‘Rubber Soul’, featuring unheard John Lennon song
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Originally published by Variety as “The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ Due for Super Deluxe Treatment: Boxed Set Includes Stereo Remix, Session Outtakes and a Previously Unheard John Lennon Song”.