MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

1967 MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR : I've never have this album during my younger days. When I finally got the CD, the songs were relatively 'new' to me other than the singles, of course. I once stumbled upon the EP in a record shop, a long way back. I should have grabbed it but during that time, a school boy's allowance is quite limited. If I have got my hand on that EP, what a collector's items it would be now. Sign.

Magical Mystery Tour ( Lennon / McCartney ) : It was this side of the album that I was not familiar with till years later. Quite a revelation for me. I guess I was one of the rare ones who don't quite get this title track. It was the title track and it was supposed to grab you by the throat like so many before it. But nope, I didn't feel the magic this time. Never like the song and never have.One of these rare Beatles' tracks that I pressed the skip button.

The Fool On The Hill ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The Beatles redeemed themselves somewhat with this Paul McCartney song. I say somewhat because I've mentioned somewhere, great as the song may be, it was better done by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66. I like the bass line which was practically invented by Paul and the melody. A classic nevertheless.

Flying ( Lennon / McCartney / Harrison / Starkey ) : The first time an instrumental track even to graced a Beatles album and the first time all Beatles were credited on a track. A throwaway though doesn't deem necessary to press the skip button.

Blue Jay Way ( Harrison ) : George's turn to shine but sadly he didn't. A boring tune if I could ever say that of a Beatles' song. This one just go on and on and on on the same note that makes you want to scream. Supposingly about his friend Derek Taylor being lost on his way to see the lads. The tune sounded lost too. Boring.

Your Mother Should Know ( Lennon / McCartney ) : It was up to Paul to save the day again with this delightful little song  which seems like a close cousin to 'When I'm Sixty Four', which Paul was so good at.. The type of 'Granny" music which John so detested but was usually well received else where. Me included.

I Am The Walrus ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Now I am back in familiar territory. Heard first on the flip side of 'Hello, Goodbye', I find this song weird on first listening.. Often hailed as John Lennon's masterpiece, the lyric is pure nonsensical and show John's admiration for the works of Lewis Carroll with his work play.This is one of those songs that can only be written by John Lennon. Not even Bob Dylan can come up with something close like this.

Hello, Goodbye ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The more radio friendly Beatles' song that is readily lapped up by the public in opposed to the more experimental and adventurous 'I Am The Walrus'. A No.1 no less. I like to sing this to my baby girl with me singing one verse and she singing the next.

Strawberry Fields Forever ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Coupled with 'Penny Lane', this was universally agreed by critics and fans alike to be the single most important single of all time. Incredibly, and to the eternal shame of the British, it was held off the No.1 spot by none other than Engelbert Humperdinck's 'Release Me' and it broke their long run of  No.1 hits. When I first heard this, I find it a vastly different kind of music. Initially, on first hearing, I couldn't believe it was The Beatles. It was meant as part of the Sgt. Pepper's album but The Beatles were pressured to released a single after their long hiatus in between albums. So they released this.

Penny Lane ( Lennon / McCartney ) : As usual, Paul's song is the more radio friendly type and this was the one that got to No. 1 while 'Strawberry Fields Forever' got to No.8. An irony actually when the DJs took the two songs on the the same record as separate singles. Truly, rock never got more adventurous than this. Two vastly separate individuals who are as alike as night and day, recording different songs on the same subject on the same disc.

Baby, You're A Rich Man ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A somewhat lesser song as compared to the first two titans. A mingle of two separate songs that was suppose to be about their manager, Brian Epstein. Still, any recordings by The Beatles warrant a listen and this one is no exception.

All You Need Is Love ( Lennon / McCartney ) : One of John simplest and grandest statement ever. A timeless love anthem for all the world to sing along. No one writes anthems better than John and he wrote a couple more if not greater ones in the years that follow.

DOP : 27th February 1993.