On Dec. 3, 1965, exactly 50 years ago today, The Beatles changed the world once again when Rubber Soul hit store shelves in the U.K. The album was released less than a month after recording sessions were completed and it only took a month to record all 14 songs.

Rubber Soul was the official beginning of another phase of the group’s career. While there were hints that the group was going in a new creative direction on HELP!, the new direction really kicks off here.

While the group had a knack for mixing musical genres during their entire career together, Rubber Soul has the widest variety found on all 13 of their main albums. The record kicks off with Paul McCartney’s “Drive My Car,” which might as well have come from Motown. George Harrison’s “Think For Yourself” and “If I Needed Someone” could have been recorded in Southern California by The Byrds. John Lennon’s “In My Life” is a song that should have been written by someone at the end of their lives, not by someone who was just 25 years old.

Rubber Soul might be one of the most beloved albums in music history, but there are still some underrated corners. “I’m Looking Through You” and “You Won’t See Me” are forgotten gems from McCartney. Even though “The Word” isn’t that great, it’s still an important stop on the road to “All You Need Is Love.” And “Girl” might be Lennon at his wittiest during the Beatles years.

If there’s one thing that keeps Rubber Soul from topping my personal favorite Beatles record, Revolver, it’s that there are still some weak points. Ringo Starr’s “What Goes On” is forgettable and “Run For Your Life” is the nastiest song they ever recorded. It certainly is a weird track to end such a beautiful album with.

But these songs can always be forgiven because of what surrounds it. “Michelle,” “In My Life” and “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” will be remembered forever as two of the great songs that transcend their genre.

You can’t talk about Rubber Soul without also mentioning the important American version. Easily the best and most unique of Capitol Records’ configurations, the executives turned Rubber Soul into a true folk album. “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” a minor track buried on the second side of the U.K. HELP! album, became the opening number. “It’s Only Love,” another minor HELP! song was used to open side two instead of “What Goes On.”

True, the Beatles never intended this line-up, but the American release is just as important. Brian Wilson has mentioned countless times that the American Rubber Soul was a major influence on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.

Rubber Soul shouldn’t be remembered. It should be listened to, because the freshness never fades.