Magical Mystery Tour

If I had a choice of only two Beatles albums, they would be Revolver and MMT. In the 1960s, seldom did melodic pop hooks join with a spirit of restless innovation to reach such profound and inspiring heights. These two recordings amply demonstrate this.

Not to be overlooked, of course, is the self-effacing and genuinely humble "fifth Beatle," George Martin. His sense of good taste, along with his technical wizardry, knowledge of and enthusiasm for both popular and high culture, and curiosity for new sounds, no doubt inspired the Beatles themselves, resulting in such timeless works of art.

Very highly recommended.


Underrated!   November 3, 2001
P. Nicholas Keppler (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States)
8 out of 11 found this review helpful

Released between Sgt. Pepper's and the white album, The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour is largely overlooked and I don't understand why. It features John Lennon's inspired wit becoming truly baroque ("Strawberry Fields Forever" "I Am the Walrus"), the continuation of George Harrison's intriguing experimentation with Eastern culture ("Blue Jay Way"), George Martin's most breathtaking studio wizardry ("Strawberry Fields Forever," "All You Need Is Love"), some of Paul McCartney's brightest shining pop tunes ("Penny Lane," "The Fool on the Hill") and, of coarse, Ringo performed too. Maybe being basically collection of excellent songs rather than a cohesive experience (like Abbey Road or Sgt. Pepper's) hurt it or perhaps people can not forget that absurdly stupid TV movie it soundtracked. In any case, it is about time Magical Mystery Tour is counted among the Beatles' best work.


The Beatles at their psychadelic best (Goo Goo Goo Joob)   June 4, 2002
Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

There was a time when "I Am the Walrus" ("No you're not," said Little Nicole) was my favorite Beatles song (today it is probably "If I Fell") and I would try to cause trouble by arguing that "Magical Mystery Tour" was a better album than "Sgt. Pepper." Hey, I was a debater, trained to argue things I did not really believe with an overwhelming passion and sometimes even convincing rationality. Today I would just say that I think it is fairly obvious that "Magical Mystery Tour" represents the high point in terms of drug use by the group. Ironically, the two songs I can stand the least are the two "hits" from the album, "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane." I would rather hear the title track and "Walrus" again instead.

The album includes the lyrics for the first six songs with lyrics (that excludes the instrumental "Flying"), which were show songs from the Color Television Film, which was about four (or five) Magicians, who lived away in the sky, beyond the clouds, and who cast wonderful spells that turned the Most Ordinary Coach Trip into a Magical Mystery Tour. Nope. Nothing metaphorical or allegorical here. Besides, as a bonus you have all of those in the "Paul is Dead" mystery. Decide for yourself: "I buried Paul" or "Cranberry sauce"? Then move on to "Sgt. Pepper" and "Abbey Road" for further clues. Pop Culture Note: There was a Batman comic where Robin investigated the death of a rock group obviously inspired by the Beatles and discovered that it was not "Paul" who was dead, but rather the rest of the group. The fake clues were to divert attention away from the truth. Not a bad comic book story.


Underappreciated...   September 15, 2005
Ricky J. Perrotta II
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

It's hard to say that any Beatles album is underappreciated, but I believe this one is. It did not make the Rolling Stone top 500 albums of all time, and a lot of people may actually try and tell you it's not very good.

I could not disagree more. Despite the fact that it is "basically a soundtrack," it features not only some of the best songs in the Beatles catalogue, but some of the greatest songs ever written. "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Penny Lane," "All You need is Love," "Hello,"...pretty much the entire album.

The other thing about this album is that it is weird, and I think that turns a lot of people off. Sgt. Pepper's and Revolver were experimental, but Magical Mystery Tour is seriously psychadelic, and I don't think people were ready for the Beatles to sound this out there.

Another common arguement is that Magical Mystery Tour sounds like a collection of singles, rather than an "album," that all of the songs could be hits. To this day, I will never understand how you can criticize an album for being too good.


Great Drumming   December 11, 1999
Scott W. Reed (Carmel)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Ringo has always been accused of being less of a talent than the other three Beatles. As a hack drummer, I can tell you that Ringo practically invented the way that drums are tuned and recorded in the studio. He invented sounds and made the music better by his accuntuating the verses. No, he didn't have great technical ability, most rock drummers don't, but his attention to the tuning and sound of drums, while incorporating his own style, was very original. The Beatles would not have been as good without Ringo behind the kit.

Listen to "Flying" and "Blue Jay Way." Very innovative drum "space" fills, unique for 1967. In fact, "Flying" and "Blue Jay Way" are two of my favorite Beatle tracks, even though they're regarded by many as filler.

Magical Mystery Tour is one of my favorite Beatle records.