When I was a kid, and on through my late teens and early 20s, my exposure to the Beatles was almost entirely limited to the single-speaker stereo in my dad's work car or truck, always tuned to the oldies station in New York (WCBS? Funny how I can't remember for sure anymore). So I know a significant part of their catalog and know the songs and stuff, but I haven't really LISTENED to this album in particular, front to back, possibly ever. Songs here and there, but end to end? Nope.
So the first thing that really struck me is how HUGE it all sounds, even though it was probably done on an 8 track machine, and the drums are usually panned hard right, unlike the big stereo drum tracks of today that emulate the kit placement across the stereo spectrum. The second thing that hit me was Paul's bass. I know bass guitar was not especially common in pop music back then, and Paul was using it in ways it generally wasn't used (yet) and it's wonderful. People always bash on poor Ringo (and he probably deserves it for solo shit like "You're 16, you're beautiful and you're Mine" when he was in his 30s), but Ringo had a style all his own and he was the glue.
Something is otherworldly. From the leslie cabinet to the beautiful, haunting melodies, to... everything. Oh Darling and it's perfect 6/8 feel - and raspy, screaming Paul - how shocking that must have been to pop sensibilities back then? The opening lick in Octopus's Garden - I don't think I've ever fully heard it before, and I love it, and the tone is gorgeous. In fact, there are so many gorgeous and iconic and perfect guitar tones on this record. Listening to it on a real stereo is a treat I can't believe I've passed over for so long.
So much sonic and stylistic diversity all across the record, from one song to another. Is there really a "Beatles Sound" beyond just "The Beatles?" I mean, how do you really quantify it? They covered so much ground.
It's a shame these guys never caught on. They had talent, and could have BEEN something if only they'd stuck with it.