Magical Mystery Tour

[yerblues1968]

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR


Magical Mystery Tour is the name of the six-song double EP and 11-song album by the English rock band The Beatles, first released in late 1967. It is the soundtrack to a one-hour television film that was originally aired, in black and white, in the UK in 1967. Initially released as an EP in the UK, the recording was expanded to a full album on subsequent U.S. release, adding several recent singles to the B-side.

While the songs on the EP proved popular, critical and popular response to the television film proved negative. Plans to air it on ABC television in the U.S. were canceled, and Magical Mystery Tour didn't appear in the U.S. until 1976, as a theatrical release on the midnight movies and college circuits, both of which were mainly underground.

Magical Mystery Tour Film

After "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," Paul McCartney wanted to create a film based upon the Beatles and their music. The film was to be unscripted: various "ordinary" people (including John Lennon's uncle Charlie) were to travel on a charabanc bus and have unspecified "magical" adventures, in the manner of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters.



The "Magical Mystery Tour" movie was made, but the hoped-for "magical" adventures never happened. During the filming, an ever greater number of cars followed the hand-lettered bus, hoping to see what its passengers were up to, until a running traffic jam developed. The spectacle ended after Lennon angrily tore the lettering off the sides of the bus.

"Magical Mystery Tour" was the first Beatles film project following the death of manager Brian Epstein in August 1967, and there has been much speculation that the absence of Epstein's judgment contributed to its undisciplined production, as seen, for instance, in the absence of a screenplay and professional direction. The film originally appeared twice on BBC-TV over the 1967 Christmas holidays (primarily in black & white), but was savaged by critics on its release; it was, however, noted by Steven Spielberg in film school (according to McCartney in one of the interviews for The Beatles Anthology: "I've read that people like him have sort of said, 'When I was in school that was a film we really took notice of...' like an art film, you know, rather than a proper film.)



The movie's soundtrack was far more favourably received, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album and reached number 1 in the U.S for 8 weeks. It was released in the UK in December 1967 as a double EP. The American version was released in late November 1967 as an LP; its cover depicts the EP's artwork in an orange border, with a list of song titles above it. Capitol Records released MMT as full-length album because EPs were not as popular in the US as they were in the UK. The Magical Mystery Tour LP was divided into two halves: The first side was the film soundtrack, and the second side was a collection of A- and B-sides released in 1967.

LP Release

Side One

1. "Magical Mystery Tour" – 2:51

"Magical Mystery Tour." (2.42 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=h7pvA4EHi08

2. "The Fool on the Hill" – 3:00

"The Fool On The Hill." (2.53 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=zDJ-015ojec

3. "Flying" (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey) – 2:16

"Flying" (2.13 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=M419oEXdiiA

4. "Blue Jay Way" (Harrison) – 3:56

"Blue Jay Way." (3.45 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=yQ32e5vuWCc

5. "Your Mother Should Know" – 2:29

"Your Mother Should Know." (2.26 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=g_jpY6dVrzE

6. "I Am the Walrus" – 4:36

"I Am the Walrus." (4.44 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8

Side Two

1. "Hello Goodbye" – 3:31
* Featuring Ken Essex, Leo Birnbaum on violas.

"Hello Goodbye." (3.23 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=QShSmpI0r9k

2. "Strawberry Fields Forever" – 4:10
* Featuring Mal Evans on percussion, Tony Fisher, Greg Bowen, Derek Watkins and Stanley Roderick on trumpets and John Hall, Derek Simpson, Norman Jones on cellos.

"Strawberry Fields Forever." (4.15 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=Ywg-PdeGVL0

3. "Penny Lane" – 3:03 SAMPLE (192k)
* Ray Swinfield, P. Goody, Manny Winters and Dennis Walton on flutes, Leon Calvert, Freddy Clayton, Bert Courtley and Duncan Campbell on trumpets, Dick Morgan and Mike Winfield on English horns, Frank Clarke on double bass and David Mason on piccolo trumpet.

"Penny Lane." (3.01 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=YHBKAyn17vw

4. "Baby You're a Rich Man" – 3:03
* Featuring Eddie Kramer on vibraphone.

"Baby You're a Rich Man." (3.08 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=2UXNtizNWyI

5. "All You Need Is Love" – 3:48
* Featuring George Martin on piano, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Moon, Eric Clapton, Pattie Boyd Harrison, Jane Asher, Mike McCartney, Graham Nash and wife, Gary Leeds and Hunter Davies on backing vocals, Sidney Sax, Patrick Halling, Eric Bowie and Jack Holmes on violins, Rex Morris and Don Honeywill on sax, David Mason and Stanley Woods on trumpets, Evan Watkins and Henry Spain on horns, Jack Emblow on accordion and Brian Martin on cello.

"All You Need Is Love." (3.33 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=6l81PhEeSOs

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Mystery_Tour




Magical Mystery Tour - Part 1 Intro (3.07 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=I2qLjQbRv3w

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 2 (6.17 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=0AO9T6EHO4I

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 3 (8.53 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=SMc3sCemS0c

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 4 (6.36 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=wkJ1XX4i9Uw

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 5 (10.40 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=MnaivJMadJk

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 6 (5.50 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=XER78AlftJk

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 7 (5.45 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=ZZvYk-VEzOU

Magical Mystery Tour - Part 8 with credits. (4.24 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=k65ZXm6w3zo


The Magical Mystery Tour CD may be purchased here:
www.amazon.com/Magical-Mystery-Tour-Beatles/dp/B000002UDB/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214123045&sr=8-1

The Magical Mystery Tour DVD may be purchased here:
www.amazon.com/Magical-Mystery-Tour-Beatles/dp/B00005AG7K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1214123045&sr=8-2

[syelar108]

Thanks for the info about the album & film. I didn't realize that most US Beatle fans didn't see the movie until 1976. I own it on VHS, but I'm going to wait until Apple releases a 're-mastered' DVD; as they've done with "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!"

My dad owns the LP, which he probably purchased during the late '60s/early '70s. His copy is a bit beat-up, so I bought my own LP from a used record shop. It's worth it to purchase the record solely for the 24-page booklet & photos. You don't get that with the bare-bones CD. Like everyone else; I'm waiting for Sony (?) to re-master the whole Beatles catalog. Hopefully; we'll get 'Deluxe' editions of each CD?

"The Beatles: Illustrated Lyrics" by Alan Aldridge contains many images (all types of mediums) that were done by fans in the late '60s. It's a WONDERFUL book; each illustration relating to a Beatles song. For example; the tune "Martha My Dear" has a B&W photo of Paul with his sheepdog, Martha.

Also; every page has a quote from either the Beatles, or someone associated with them. Sorry; nothing relating to Brian, although I'm a bit puzzled by the book's dedication. There's an image (painting?) of someone in a business suit, with a tear falling from the left eye. The caption reads, "Dedicated to.... who didn't see it..." There is no name given with the picture, and I've been wondering all these years if the author IS referring to Brian???

For the lyrics to "Magical Mystery Tour," someone submitted a color painting, with a steamboat sinking into the sea. This is in reference to the result of the Boxing Day broadcast.

On the same page is a quote from Paul, " I suppose if you look at it from the point of view of good Boxing Day entertainment, we goofed really. My dad brought the bad news in to me this morning like the figure of doom. Perhaps the newspapers are right - perhaps we're right." Beneath his comment is the caption, "- Paul after almost universal criticism of their Magical Mystery Tour television film."

I was given a copy of "The Beatles: Illustrated Lyrics" as a high school graduation gift. 8 different teachers signed the inside cover of the book for me. Each left little messages of praise & encouragement. One comment reads, "Trust in yourself, and God. Remember to 'Let it Be,' and Give Peace a Chance." It's been a while since I graduated high school, and I tried to find the woman, who was originally responsible for this gift. I haven't been able to locate her, so I hope she'll discover Brian & the "5th Beatle" film on her own.

Amazon offers used copies of the book: some editions are selling for under $10. There's even a 1973 edition (with an awesome cover!) which is being offered for $100. I'd love to pick this up, if I were willing to spend the money. ;D Whoever buys this collectible won't be sorry. I tried to post the Amazon link here for everyone, but it isn't showing up. The next best thing is to visit Amazon, and type in 'Alan Aldridge' where you select books. Check It Out!!!

[yerblues1968]

UNSEEN FILM OF BEATLES IN PLYMOUTH - Rare 8mm Footage of Beatles Found


Uncut.co.uk
June 26, 2008


A rare film of The Beatles visiting Plymouth during the making of The Magical Mystery Tour, has been brought to light.

The footage, shot in colour on grainy 8mm film, shows John, Paul, George and Ringo alighting from their bright yellow tour bus and walking the coastline in 1967.



“They were quite happy to relax and talk to people; the days of ‘Beatlemania’ were long gone,” said David Lambert, film producer for Arthouse Pictures.

“I think it was George who said ‘As long as people don’t want to scream at us and pull our hair out and take our clothes off, we are quite happy to sit and talk to them.”



It is thought the footage was recorded by holiday makers. It will form part of a new documentary called, "Mystery Tour Memories."

Unseen film of the Beatles' visit to the South West of England in 1967 has been tracked down by a Cornwall-based film producer. View a portion of the film here:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/7474139.stm

Footage courtesy of Arthouse Pictures.

www.uncut.co.uk/news/the_beatles/news/11754