Magical Mystery Tour - Beatles (The) (CD 1988)

Remember what John & Paul said! All You Need Is Love

Track listing
1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. Fool On The Hill, The
3. Flying
4. Blue Jay Way
5. Your Mother Should Know
6. I Am The Walrus
7. Hello Goodbye
8. Strawberry Fields Forever
9. Penny Lane
10. Baby You're A Rich Man
11. All You Need Is Love


Details
Playing time: 36 min.
Contributing artists: George Martin, Graham Nash, Keith Moon, Keith Richards, Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger
Producer: George Martin
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution
Recording type: Studio
Recording mode: Stereo
SPAR Code: n/a


Album notes
The Beatles: John Lennon (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, piano, harpsichord, organ, clavioline, Mellotron, maracas, tambourine, tape loops); George Harrison (vocals, guitar, violin, harmonica, Hammond organ, timpani, congas, firebell, tambourine, tabla); Paul McCartney (vocals, guitar, flute, recorder, piano, acoustic & electric basses, bongos, congas); Ringo Starr (vocals, drums, maracas, tambourine, finger cymbals, tape loops).
Additional personnel includes: Dave Mason (piccolo, trumpet); Philip Jones (trumpet); George Martin (piano); Mal Evans (tambourine); Mick Jagger, Gary Leeds, Keith Richards, Marianne Faithfull, Jane Asher, Patti Harrison, Keith Moon, Graham Nash (background vocals).
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Olympic Sound Studios, De Lane Lea and Chappell Recording Studios, London, England between November 24, 1966 and November 7, 1967.
The first six songs on MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR were the soundtrack to the Beatles' TV movie of the same name. The film was an experimental mess, but the experimental pop of the album included some of their most memorable productions. The soundtrack side was dominated by Paul McCartney pop tunes, including the bittersweet piano ballad "Fool On The Hill" and "Your Mother Should Know," an impossibly catchy bit of Vaudevillian pop. But it also featured George Harrison's mystical "Blue Jay Way" (about his house in Hollywood) and John Lennon's "I Am The Walrus," which wedded a stream-of-consciousness lyric to a fierce drum beat, layers of strings, odd voices and some dialogue from Shakespeare's "King Lear."
McCartney's "Hello Goodbye," which led off the assorted singles, featured some neatly arranged contrapuntal vocals, and may well have been about the dissolving partnerships (songwriting and otherwise) between McCartney and Lennon. Lennon's strangely arranged "Strawberry Fields Forever," whose two halves blend different takes of the same song, one slowed down to match the pitch of the other, was a trippy reverie; its bridges, orchestrated with horns, cellos, and backward cymbals, are sheer brilliance. "Penny Lane," a wistful fantasy featuring a beautiful trumpet solo, was McCartney at his melodic best, the AM foil to Lennon's FM headiness.

The first six songs of the CD are the only ones to appear in the film; in fact, in Europe, these six were released on an EP. The album starts with the rollocking title track, which you'll enjoy more if you look at not as the theme song of the movie and album, (there's little magic about this album, except how good some songs are), but as an easy-as-pie Beatles rocker. From there, the album pretty much works as an excellence showcase of each Beatle's developing songwriting skills (of course, Ringo doesn't have a song, but, [and I'm sorry to say this] few people will mind.) John tears it up the most here, especially on "I Am the Walrus" and "Strawberry Fields Forever." Paul's Penny Lane is also pretty amazing, indeed one of the best songs he's ever written. George even showbouts a little with "Blue Jay Way," a decent Eastern-influenced tune. All in all, MMT is short, and it does indeed feel like little more than a collection of singles (side B is all already-released singles), but it remains an underrated album that holds many of their best classics.

1. Magical Mystery Tour: A short, simple Beatles rocker with an awesome beat and truly dynamic sound. 9/10.

2. Fool On the Hill: One of McCartney's better-written songs, it presents a soothingness you won't mind after hearing the title track. 9/10

3. Flying: An instrumental that fits perfectly with the era, and with the movie itself. Of course, I wouldn't sit down and listen to it nonstop. 6/10

4. Blue Jay Way: A cool-sounding Harrison number, indeed one of the best of his songs that appear on Beatles albums. 9/10

5. Your Mother Should Know: I've never been crazy for this one, a jazzy dance hall number by McCartney, in the same style as "When I'm Sixty-Four." 7/10

6. I Am the Walrus: THIS is what I'm talking about! Excellent vocals, lyrics and studio effects. And, listen to the basslines-- damn groovy! 10/10.

7. Hello, Goodbye: A lyrically inferior song that is admittingly catchy. 8/10.

8. Strawberry Fields Forever: This is possibly my overall favorite Beatles song (not that I could really pick one), the studio effects, lyrics, and vocals got me again here. It's beautiful. 10/10

9. Penny Lane: An extremely uplifting and infectious piece. It has the power to make anyone recall their childhood memories! From someone who is much more of a Lennon fan, I'll admit that this song is great, possibly the best on this album under Strawberry Fields. 10/10

10. Baby You're A Rich Man: This one's always seemed like the odd song out, it seems to have a lot different sound than any of the other songs on here. Not bad. 8/10.

11. All You Need is Love: Ah, what a way to end the album. A pretty ditty that leaves some great insight on the listener. 10/10.............