Beatles album of the week: Magical Mystery Tour - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 04-25-2004, 02:18 AM

On November 27, 1967, the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album was released in the United States. Its UK counterpart was merely an EP containing the six songs heard here on side one, while the U.S. version added singles and b-sides released earlier in the year. It was for this reason that the three then-remaining Beatles decided in 1987 to deem the U.S. version of Magical Mystery Tour the "official" incarnation, making it the sole exception to our "British versions are always better" rule.

Magical Mystery Tour contained eleven tracks:

Side One:
Magical Mystery Tour (Lennon/McCartney)
The Fool On The Hill (Lennon/McCartney)
Flying (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey)
Blue Jay Way (Harrison)
Your Mother Should Know (Lennon/McCartney)
I Am The Walrus (Lennon/McCartney)

Side Two:
Hello, Goodbye (Lennon/McCartney)
Strawberry Fields Forever (Lennon/McCartney)
Penny Lane (Lennon/McCartney)
Baby, You're A Rich Man (Lennon/McCartney)
All You Need Is Love (Lennon/McCartney)

Magical Mystery Tour's first side consists of songs from the TV movie of the same name. These songs were also presented on the UK Magical Mystery Tour EP, in a slightly different running order.

Side two of Magical Mystery Tour consists of previously released tracks. These songs, however, were previously single-only releases and are presented here on an album for the first time. The "Hello, Goodbye" single, with "I Am The Walrus" as its b-side, was released just days prior to Magical Mystery Tour, while "Strawberry Fields Forever," with "Penny Lane" as its b-side, had been released as a single in February. "Baby You're A Rich Man" was previously heard as the b-side to the single "All You Need Is Love," released in July.

Here's Riche Unterberger's review from the All Music Guide:

Quote:

The U.S. version of the soundtrack for their ill-fated British television special embellished the six songs that were found on the British Magical Mystery Tour double EP with five other cuts from their 1967 singles. (The CD version of the record has now been standardized worldwide as the 11 tracks found on the American version.) The psychedelic sound is very much in the vein of Sgt. Pepper, and even spacier in parts (especially the sound collages of "I Am the Walrus"). Unlike Sgt. Pepper, there's no vague overall conceptual/thematic unity to the material, which has made Magical Mystery Tour suffer slightly in comparison. Still, the music is mostly great, and "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "All You Need Is Love," and "Hello Goodbye" were all huge, glorious, and innovative singles. The ballad "The Fool on the Hill," though only a part of the Magical Mystery Tour soundtrack, is also one of the most popular Beatle tunes from the era.

Previous albums:
Please Please Me (1963)
With The Beatles (1963)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
Beatles For Sale (1964)
Help! (1965)
Past Masters Volume One (1988)
Rubber Soul (1965)
Revolver (1966)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

See also:
Yellow Submarine (1969)
The Beatles (1968)
Let It Be (1970)
Past Masters Volume Two (1988)
Abbey Road (1969)

Beatle Facts

AKA · 04-25-2004, 02:28 AM

The UK Magical Mystery Tour EP (released December 8, 1967):

Side A:
Magical Mystery Tour (Lennon/McCartney)
Your Mother Should Know (Lennon/McCartney)

Side B:
I Am The Walrus (Lennon/McCartney)

Side C:
The Fool On The Hill (Lennon/McCartney)
Flying (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey)

Side D:
Blue Jay Way (Harrison)

dandelion wine · 04-25-2004, 02:34 AM

"All You Need Is Love"

Lady T · 04-25-2004, 02:39 AM

Strawberry Fields Forever (One of my favorite songs)....

AKA · 04-25-2004, 02:43 AM

The cover of a very used "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" single (released February 17, 1967):

AKA · 04-25-2004, 03:01 AM

Alternate versions of songs from Magical Mystery Tour:

Beatles:
"The Fool On The Hill"
-Demo version, 1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2
-Take 4, 1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"Your Mother Should Know"
-Take 27 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"I Am The Walrus"
-Take 16 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"Hello, Goodbye"
-Take 16 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"Strawberry Fields Forever"
-Home demo by John Lennon, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2
-Take 1, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2
-Take 7 & Edit Piece, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"Penny Lane"
-Edit of different studio takes, 1966-1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2

"Baby, You're A Rich Man"
-1999 remix - Yellow Submarine Songtrack

"All You Need Is Love"
-1999 remix - Yellow Submarine Songtrack

Solo:
"Magical Mystery Tour"
-Live; Sydney, 1993 - Paul McCartney - Paul Is Live

"The Fool On The Hill"
-Live; venue unknown, 2002 - Paul McCartney - Back In The U.S., Back In The World

"Hello, Goodbye"
-Live; venue unknown, 2002 - Paul McCartney - Back In The U.S., Back In The World

"Penny Lane"
-Live; Boulder, CO, 1993 - Paul McCartney - Paul Is Live

"All You Need Is Love"
-Live; House Of Windsor, 2002 - Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart - Party At The Palace: The Queen's Jubilee Concert

Jrnygrl · 04-25-2004, 11:59 AM

"All You Need Is Love." I also love "Fool On The Hill," there is a great video of this song.

Central Perk · 04-25-2004, 01:01 PM

Penny Lane.

Dean Winchester · 04-25-2004, 02:41 PM

once again, not a very big Beatles fan (I just am not a very big 60's fan, I prefer the solo stuff to the bulk of the Beatles), but this album, along with Sgt. Pepper are the two I really like..

I Am The Walrus definately, not a bad song on the second side either.

Penny Lane · 04-25-2004, 03:27 PM

Your Mother Should Know

sara · 04-25-2004, 04:11 PM

Quote:

By Penny Lane: Your Mother Should Know

I was sure you would've picked Penny LaneAKA, these polls keep getting thougher.

Penny Lane · 04-25-2004, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sara
I was sure you would've picked Penny LaneAKA, these polls keep getting thougher.

Oh I love that one too! But there are other songs that I like better!

jamier42 · 04-25-2004, 05:13 PM

1. Hello, Goodbye
2. Strawberry Fields Forever
3. Penny Lane
4. All You Need Is Love

Steve M. · 04-25-2004, 05:13 PM

I chose "The Fool On the Hill." It's a great ballad that John Lennon said was proof the Paul can write good lyrics "if's he's a good boy."

Steve M. · 04-25-2004, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
On November 27, 1967, the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album was released in the United States. Its UK counterpart was merely an EP containing the six songs heard here on side one, while the U.S. version added singles and b-sides released earlier in the year. It was for this reason that the three then-remaining Beatles decided in 1987 to deem the U.S. version of Magical Mystery Tour the "official" incarnation, making it the sole exception to our "British versions are always better" rule.

Making an album of the Magical Mystery Tour songs and the Beatles's other 1967 non-Pepper song releases proved to be a rather astute decision on Cpatiol's part, as it eliminated the need of future fans to be three singles and two EP's (and get "I Am The Walrus" twice) and instead buy a single LP with all these songs on it. In short, it simplified matters considerably. A Magical Mystery Tour album (with a different cover) was issued in Germany, and Parlophone issued the Capitol version in 1976 to satisfy public demand. The LP would become the global standard, as recording formats developed in the seventies and eighties - cassettes, CD's - favored long play recordings.

Truth be told, the Magical Mystery Tour LP holds up better than the double EP in part because it has five strong songs from the 1967 singles to support it.

View Poll Results: What is your favorite song from "Magical Mystery Tour?"
Magical Mystery Tour	1	6.25%
The Fool On The Hill	1	6.25%
Flying	0	0%
Blue Jay Way	0	0%
Your Mother Should Know	1	6.25%
I Am The Walrus	4	25.00%
Hello, Goodbye	0	0%
Strawberry Fields Forever	5	31.25%
Penny Lane	1	6.25%
Baby, You're A Rich Man	1	6.25%
All You Need Is Love	2	12.50%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

04-25-2004, 02:28 AM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The UK Magical Mystery Tour EP (released December 8, 1967): Side A: Magical Mystery Tour (Lennon/McCartney) Your Mother Should Know (Lennon/McCartney) Side B: I Am The Walrus (Lennon/McCartney) Side C: The Fool On The Hill (Lennon/McCartney) Flying (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey) Side D: Blue Jay Way (Harrison) Attached Images

04-25-2004, 02:43 AM	#5
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The cover of a very used "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" single (released February 17, 1967): Attached Images

04-25-2004, 03:01 AM	#6
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Alternate versions of songs from Magical Mystery Tour: Beatles: "The Fool On The Hill" -Demo version, 1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2 -Take 4, 1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "Your Mother Should Know" -Take 27 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "I Am The Walrus" -Take 16 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "Hello, Goodbye" -Take 16 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "Strawberry Fields Forever" -Home demo by John Lennon, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2 -Take 1, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2 -Take 7 & Edit Piece, 1966 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "Penny Lane" -Edit of different studio takes, 1966-1967 - The Beatles Anthology 2 "Baby, You're A Rich Man" -1999 remix - Yellow Submarine Songtrack "All You Need Is Love" -1999 remix - Yellow Submarine Songtrack Solo: "Magical Mystery Tour" -Live; Sydney, 1993 - Paul McCartney - Paul Is Live "The Fool On The Hill" -Live; venue unknown, 2002 - Paul McCartney - Back In The U.S., Back In The World "Hello, Goodbye" -Live; venue unknown, 2002 - Paul McCartney - Back In The U.S., Back In The World "Penny Lane" -Live; Boulder, CO, 1993 - Paul McCartney - Paul Is Live "All You Need Is Love" -Live; House Of Windsor, 2002 - Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart - Party At The Palace: The Queen's Jubilee Concert
	Last edited by AKA; 05-08-2004 at 03:30 AM.

04-25-2004, 03:27 PM	#10
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,019	Your Mother Should Know Attached Images
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

04-25-2004, 02:34 AM	#3
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	"All You Need Is Love"

04-25-2004, 02:39 AM	#4
Lady T Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Posts: 17,361	Strawberry Fields Forever (One of my favorite songs)....

04-25-2004, 11:59 AM	#7
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	"All You Need Is Love." I also love "Fool On The Hill," there is a great video of this song.

04-25-2004, 01:01 PM	#8
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	Penny Lane.

04-25-2004, 02:41 PM	#9
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	once again, not a very big Beatles fan (I just am not a very big 60's fan, I prefer the solo stuff to the bulk of the Beatles), but this album, along with Sgt. Pepper are the two I really like.. I Am The Walrus definately, not a bad song on the second side either.

04-25-2004, 05:13 PM	#13
jamier42 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 09, 2000 Posts: 1,263	1. Hello, Goodbye 2. Strawberry Fields Forever 3. Penny Lane 4. All You Need Is Love

04-25-2004, 05:13 PM	#14
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,274	I chose "The Fool On the Hill." It's a great ballad that John Lennon said was proof the Paul can write good lyrics "if's he's a good boy."
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.