CRF citizens have been kind so far. Now, I am going into dangerous territory, and provide one that is more wildly accepted as iconic. I mean this one and Sargent Peppers have been so parsed, discussed, and studied, I am really treading on some dangerous turf here. So, if you think I am FOS, let me know. I've got my Asbestos suit on. 
Classic Rock Album of the Day- The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour (1967) *****
A while back, I watched the Movie, Yesterday. The flick that without much of a spoiler alert was a cinematic approximation of what the world would be like today, if the Beatles hadn't existed. The plot of the movie is the world has had some kind of dimensional blip, and a struggling singer/songwriter wakes up and finds that the Beatles, and a few other examples were things that never existed. After the shock, he recreates the songs from memory, and exploits it to his benefit. I'll leave it at that, but the thought itself, kind of gave me an inspiration to complete a review to augment their significant transition to this new phase of their historic musical career. It is crazy thinking how music would be different today, if the Beatles hadn't existed.
1967 was an amazing year for the Fab 4. Never had a group had a duo of two albums of the quality and impact ever been made in rock before or since. Sargent Peppers and this LP basically realigned rock in the space of 6 months. Rock had been transformed from Floppy Hair Beatlemania into Psychedelia almost instantly. Rubber Soul gave a slight taste, but these two iced it, Because, like none other, the Beatles were not only impactful, but they invented counterculture, Psychedelia, and basically redefined music of the era at their whim. These 2, like their earlier phases unleashed tsunamis of copy cats and a few others who masterfully furthered the genre.
Now for the hard part of the equation. Which was better? I actually could give a different answer in any given day. Style wise, they are pretty much interchangeable. The fact that these two albums were concieved, written, recorded in a matter of 6 months is utterly mind boggling. Never has any music act ever been "in the zone" than these four guys. Many years ago, I burnt a CD of these two in tandem, for road trips. They are so loved, because The Beatles are the epitome of "The No Filler Zone". Admitedly, there are a couple latter songs at the end that might be considered somewhat weak, these guys nailed it 98% of the time. Like on this album, not only is there no filler, there are no weaknesses. When i do these reviews, i enjoy a few zingers at the expense of band's product when they deserve it. The Beatles are unique in that is impossible to give any negative feedback. No one was as good at songwriting as them. No one even came close.
Of course I'd be amiss not mentioning that this is a psuedo-soundtrack to the incredible and incredibly bizarre movie by the same name. Any doubt around the band's dabbling with Hallucinogens were pretty much put to rest.
Fun Fact: The BBC banned "I am the Walrus" for the line in the lyric..... "you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down"
Side 1-
------------
Magical Mystery Tour- Desn't get much better. Throw the Title song in the mix at the onset, and tease the concept. Fantastic tune that uses an almost echo or bottom barrelled chorus. Takes twists and turns that highlight their mastery. 2
Fool on the Hill- A McCartney slanted number that has all his fine melodic exellence. An near child like nonsenical theme that has strangeness as it's delivery hits the mark as well as Paul's dozens and dozen of other classics. 8
Flying- Very unique Beatles song that outside a few "La La La"'s this is one of their rare instrumentals.. Also groundbreaking in some early keyboard wizardry, including Melotron. 7
Blue Jay Way- If you look at a per capita, pound per pound basis, George might have had the most songwriting talent in the band. Think aboout it.... he had the most successful solo career of the 4 in my opinion. But..... of his catalog this is not even in his Top 10. 9
Your Mother Should Know- Pleasant and airy, and the weakest of an absolutely great album- 11
I am the Walrus- Utterly Nonsensical, maybe the most famous of that variety in music. Fantastic use of not only lyrics but how the song ebbs and flows through meter changes and FX, and strings.... This song is well deserving of its status as a classic. Extra Fun Fact: Eric Burden (of the Animals) was the Egg Man, for what was found was for pretty scandalous reasons- 1
Side 2-
----------
Hello Goodbye- The most traditional sounding fare on this uber-wierd trip. 10+ on a scale of ten for pop sensibilities. Listen to Ringo's drumming. For someone who often was derided for his lack of technical skills, this is pretty good on a 1967 kit. 4
Strawberry Fields Forever- Another massive classic. You sure can notice the LSD kicking in. The bending and musical half step slurriing, is a poster child of psychedelia technique. The buzz like cello thrown, and other random musical add just adds to the equation- 3
Penny Lane- Much like on Hello Goodbye, this is a pop centric song. The Beatles were geniuses in the fact that they gave all their audiences what they wanted. You have pop, you have innovation, and you have what they added to establish new musical trends. 6
Baby You are a Rich Man- Doesn't it seem every song is a massive classic? Their incorporation of strange and alternative instrumentation just kills it. The Beatles were the gods of the trade that even while keeping the experimental hamster cage rolling, they were still cranking out hits and classics. 7
All You Need is Love- Almost as famous as this song, was the lineup who helped with the song and especially chorus. Hit after hit. This song almost single handed started the Peace and Love Hippy schtick. 5
Classic Rock Album of the Day- The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour (1967) *****
A while back, I watched the Movie, Yesterday. The flick that without much of a spoiler alert was a cinematic approximation of what the world would be like today, if the Beatles hadn't existed. The plot of the movie is the world has had some kind of dimensional blip, and a struggling singer/songwriter wakes up and finds that the Beatles, and a few other examples were things that never existed. After the shock, he recreates the songs from memory, and exploits it to his benefit. I'll leave it at that, but the thought itself, kind of gave me an inspiration to complete a review to augment their significant transition to this new phase of their historic musical career. It is crazy thinking how music would be different today, if the Beatles hadn't existed.
1967 was an amazing year for the Fab 4. Never had a group had a duo of two albums of the quality and impact ever been made in rock before or since. Sargent Peppers and this LP basically realigned rock in the space of 6 months. Rock had been transformed from Floppy Hair Beatlemania into Psychedelia almost instantly. Rubber Soul gave a slight taste, but these two iced it, Because, like none other, the Beatles were not only impactful, but they invented counterculture, Psychedelia, and basically redefined music of the era at their whim. These 2, like their earlier phases unleashed tsunamis of copy cats and a few others who masterfully furthered the genre.
Now for the hard part of the equation. Which was better? I actually could give a different answer in any given day. Style wise, they are pretty much interchangeable. The fact that these two albums were concieved, written, recorded in a matter of 6 months is utterly mind boggling. Never has any music act ever been "in the zone" than these four guys. Many years ago, I burnt a CD of these two in tandem, for road trips. They are so loved, because The Beatles are the epitome of "The No Filler Zone". Admitedly, there are a couple latter songs at the end that might be considered somewhat weak, these guys nailed it 98% of the time. Like on this album, not only is there no filler, there are no weaknesses. When i do these reviews, i enjoy a few zingers at the expense of band's product when they deserve it. The Beatles are unique in that is impossible to give any negative feedback. No one was as good at songwriting as them. No one even came close.
Of course I'd be amiss not mentioning that this is a psuedo-soundtrack to the incredible and incredibly bizarre movie by the same name. Any doubt around the band's dabbling with Hallucinogens were pretty much put to rest.
Fun Fact: The BBC banned "I am the Walrus" for the line in the lyric..... "you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down"
Side 1-
------------
Magical Mystery Tour- Desn't get much better. Throw the Title song in the mix at the onset, and tease the concept. Fantastic tune that uses an almost echo or bottom barrelled chorus. Takes twists and turns that highlight their mastery. 2
Fool on the Hill- A McCartney slanted number that has all his fine melodic exellence. An near child like nonsenical theme that has strangeness as it's delivery hits the mark as well as Paul's dozens and dozen of other classics. 8
Flying- Very unique Beatles song that outside a few "La La La"'s this is one of their rare instrumentals.. Also groundbreaking in some early keyboard wizardry, including Melotron. 7
Blue Jay Way- If you look at a per capita, pound per pound basis, George might have had the most songwriting talent in the band. Think aboout it.... he had the most successful solo career of the 4 in my opinion. But..... of his catalog this is not even in his Top 10. 9
Your Mother Should Know- Pleasant and airy, and the weakest of an absolutely great album- 11
I am the Walrus- Utterly Nonsensical, maybe the most famous of that variety in music. Fantastic use of not only lyrics but how the song ebbs and flows through meter changes and FX, and strings.... This song is well deserving of its status as a classic. Extra Fun Fact: Eric Burden (of the Animals) was the Egg Man, for what was found was for pretty scandalous reasons- 1
Side 2-
----------
Hello Goodbye- The most traditional sounding fare on this uber-wierd trip. 10+ on a scale of ten for pop sensibilities. Listen to Ringo's drumming. For someone who often was derided for his lack of technical skills, this is pretty good on a 1967 kit. 4
Strawberry Fields Forever- Another massive classic. You sure can notice the LSD kicking in. The bending and musical half step slurriing, is a poster child of psychedelia technique. The buzz like cello thrown, and other random musical add just adds to the equation- 3
Penny Lane- Much like on Hello Goodbye, this is a pop centric song. The Beatles were geniuses in the fact that they gave all their audiences what they wanted. You have pop, you have innovation, and you have what they added to establish new musical trends. 6
Baby You are a Rich Man- Doesn't it seem every song is a massive classic? Their incorporation of strange and alternative instrumentation just kills it. The Beatles were the gods of the trade that even while keeping the experimental hamster cage rolling, they were still cranking out hits and classics. 7
All You Need is Love- Almost as famous as this song, was the lineup who helped with the song and especially chorus. Hit after hit. This song almost single handed started the Peace and Love Hippy schtick. 5
