The Beatles – Revolver (1966):  It is a tough choice, but Revolver is probably my favorite Beatles album, and I am certainly not alone in feeling this way.  While the Beatles had not officially retired from holding live concerts – a rare decision, since most rock bands cannot make a living solely on record sales – many of the songs on Revolver would be difficult if not impossible to satisfactorily perform live, due to the astounding experimentation and innovation that took place throughout its 11 songs.  The closing track, “Tomorrow Never Knows” was actually the first song that the Beatles worked on after taking several months off from recording and touring.  Even a half-century later, “Tomorrow Never Knows” is startling in its breadth and audacity – for my money, the equal of any of the songs on the Sgt. Pepper album or The Beatles (the so-called White Album).  Additionally, on Revolver, George Harrison began to emerge as a songwriter on par with his better-known bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney:  In addition to the cynical and rollicking “Taxman” that opens the album, “Love You To” is the first Beatles song to fully incorporate Indian musical forms.  “Eleanor Rigby” is as heartbreaking today as it was when it was first released, and there are also many sunny songs like, well, “Good Day Sunshine”.