The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
|
List Price: Our Price: $13.97 You Save: $5.01 (26%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $7.41 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Magical Mystery Tour
Free Music Review: Strawberry Fields Forever
Hit: 5 Stars
As a progressive rock fan who happens to have an interest in the genre that extends beyond listening to albums by the major players themselves, e.g. Yes, Genesis, ELP, King Crimson etc., I have started exploring those psychedelic bands that gave rise to the progressive rock style, e.g. The Beatles. Although the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album (1967) is widely recognized to have laid the groundwork for prog, not to mention providing inspiration for English psychedelic/proto-prog bands such as the Moody Blues, Pink Floyd (debut album only), and even the Nice (debut album only), it is the Beatle's Magical Mystery Tour album (1967) that is a personal favorite.
As an editorial comment, my first exposure to the Beatles took place in the late 1970s when my parents bought me the "blue album" (1967-1970) - on blue vinyl no less. In fact, many of the songs off of Magical Mystery Tour appeared on that compilation. One other thing - Magical Mystery Tour was the album that had the famous car crash sound effect and the "I buried Paul" comment - both of which led the more gullible among us to believe that Paul McCartney had in fact died in a car crash. I guess it is worth noting that John Lennon in fact said "cranberry sauce" and not "I buried Paul", although what is heard on the album sounds a great deal like "I buried Paul". In addition to Magical Mystery Tour, various "clues" perpetuating the urban myth of Paul's death are scattered across several Beatles albums.
In terms of the overall feel of the album itself, all of the pieces flow together very nicely so there is a sense of a total "program". This was one of the hallmarks of the mature prog rock style in fact - a unifying thread or concept that linked all of the pieces together. On Magical Mystery Tour, there are instrumental interludes (Flying) and a number of very psychedelic numbers that give the whole album an overwhelmingly psychedelic feel. Of course, the very colorful and surrealist cover art speaks volumes too and meshes perfectly with the music - reinforcing the link between cover album art (back when it meant something) and the music. Not to forget the most important aspect however, the lyrics are also peppered with cryptic references and surrealist imagery, making this one of the more interesting total packages I have come across lately.
In terms of the music, keyboard instruments such as the mellotron are used on a few tracks and duplicate the sounds of flutes and a string section. Although real strings are used on this album, along with brass instruments, the mellotron had a very distinctive sound and became one of the main instruments in the progressive rock keyboard arsenal. Various sound effects and studio manipulations are also used, which lend the pieces a somewhat otherworldly feel. This is especially apparent on some of the electric guitar parts and the vocal sections. The Beatles of course were absolute masters when it came to melodies and especially vocal harmonies, and they are both used to best effect on tracks like "The Fool on the Hill", "Penny Lane", "Your Mother Should Know", and "Hello Goodbye" - snippets from these pieces have been bouncing around my head for the past few days. My favorite tracks include the dark and psychedelic "Blue Jay Way" and "Strawberry Fields Forever", although I do not feel there is a single weak track on this album.
Listening to this great music after so many years was a very pleasant experience and reminded me of the significant contribution the Beatles made to popular music in the 20th century and to this very day I suppose (even though I don't listen to current pop music). It was also very educational in the sense that I understand more about the influence the Beatles had on the progressive rock style that I hold so near and dear. Although Sgt. Pepper's is certainly the more famous and frequently cited example, I think Magical Mystery Tour certainly holds its own and is a wonderful piece of 1960's psychedelia. As such, Magical Mystery Tour is very highly recommended along with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967).
Free Music Review: The Magical Mystery Tour is coming to take you away...
Hit: 5 Stars
Not my personal favorite Beatle's album, but includes some of my favorite songs. The strongest tracks are "Strawberry Fields", "I am the Walrus","The Fool on the Hill", and "Hello Goodbye", but that's not saying that the others aren't any good. Even the weakest tracks like "Blue Jay Way" and "Flying" are still very acceptable. Fitting right in with the phscidelic era and "The Summer of Love", this album is a must for people who like good music. Free Music Review: goo goo goo joob
Hit: 4 Stars
not there best but i am the walrus is my favorite of therse, goo goo goo joob!!!!Free Music Review: Magical and Grossly Underated
Hit: 5 Stars
While not a favorite of critics, Magical Mystery Tour shows the Beatles during the height of psychedelia. Great songs, some awesome studio work and a nice follow up to Sgt. Pepper which was released the same year. My personal favorite Beatles song of all time is included, "Strawberry Fields Forever" and the album contains what in my opinion is Harrison's best guitar work. Buy it, You'll love it if you love the Beatles!Free Music Review: Magical, if not uneven, Journey
Hit: 4 Stars
'Magical Mystery Tour' is the most uneven of all the Beatles' albums. The familiar songs are magnificent, but while some of the originals are poor, they are always interesting. The American record company did a cut-and-paste on all of the Beatles' albums up to 'Sgt. Pepper', and, while it was to their great detriment, their intervention here was a masterstroke. Because EP's (extended plays, records with five to seven songs, like a half-album) are part and parcel of the UK and not the U.S., this c.d. contains a jackpot of the Beatles' accomplished singles of '67. Without them there wouldn't be a full album as we know it. Significantly, it was the only time the British record company later complied to the US format.
To start, the title track is a fun, carnival anthem. It is looser and less serious than 'Sgt. Pepper'. Then, Paul, subjectively matches himself with the perceptive and beautiful "Fool on the Hill," with its admonitions from yet another memorable character, meant to look at the conventional world differently at the expense of alienation. However, it is John's "I am the Walrus" that pours out surreal imagery (yet borrows a few references from Lewis Carroll) that is the album's highlight. From there the original songs are interesting, but substandard. "Flying" makes an interesting instrumental with vocals added without any discernible words, but it seems more like an exercise than a good song. Much in this vein, "Your Mother Should Know," is a shadow of Paul's best vaudevillian efforts, including "When I'm Sixty Four" and "Honey Pie". The echoing vocal effects don't do anything to contribute to the song, either. Also, George contributes what may be his poorest Beatles' song, "Blue Jay Way". While it is understandable that spiritual awakening is the heart of all major religions, this song is done with unremarkable lyrics and sung with effects that make it sound like he's a deep sea diver accompanied by drowzy cello patterns.
The remarkable second half almost needs no elaboration. "Hello/Goodbye" heralds the second half with one of their catchiest songs. "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" made what many believe to be one of the best singles ever. The former is glorious and the latter is Lennon at his philosophical best. "All You Need Is Love" may seem somewhat dated, but it needs a revival (and not just in credit card commercials!) It is still a remarkable and entertaining anthem and subjectively one of the Beatles' very best songs. "Baby You're a Rich Man," the song's B-side is no throw-away, either. Clever and funny, like Lennon, it is a catchy and mesmerizing piece.
Song for song, 'Magical Mystery Tour' is still essential. It represents their most uneven effort, but retains some of their best music. Either way it always remains interesting.