MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (UK VERSION)

A two EP set from THE BEATLES, which was released in November 1967. It was a bit unusual for a Rock band to release their songs in this way. But I have to say that I once saw and listened to a two EP set which had some of Beethoven's piano pieces (with "Moonlight Serenade", among them) in the house of a relative. That two EP set looked like it was released years before THE BEATLES released this two EP set with the songs they included in their "Magical Mystery Tour" film from 1967. So, maybe the idea was not very new, but the band released these songs this way because there were few songs to be released in a LP, and too many to be released in just one EP. So, they took the decision to release the six songs from the film in this 2 EP set, also including a booklet with photos from the film. (The Beethoven's 2 EP set also had a gatefold cover with notes about the musical pieces, but not a full booklet). This two EP set was available in the U.K. until 1976, I think, when EMI finally decided to release in the U.K. the U.S. version of the "Magical Mystery Tour" album (which for a time also included the booklet), which in Side One included the six songs from the film, but in the Side Two included other songs that the band released on singles during 1967, making that LP a very good collection of songs from that period of time. I don't know if this two EP set is still available in the U.K. to purchase, but I doubt it. So, this two EP set is now more a collector's item, a rarity. I never have seen a copy of this two EP set in my country. I only have seen scans of it in some websites like discogs.com and others. The two EP set was also available in Mono and Stereo versions. I only have listened to the Mono version of the U.S. "Magical Mystery Tour" LP, and it obviously has some mixing and editing differences in the songs, but not other significant differences.

The film was very criticized when it was shown on British TV (first in Black and White, on Boxing Day 1967, and then in Colour, in early 1968) due to the lack of a proper script and due to their very "surrealistic" and "psychedelic" nature. After all, it was one of the first projects that the band did without their manager Brian Epstein (who died in August 1967), with Paul McCartney having the idea to do the film, and also with him and the other members of the band trying to direct a film without being film directors. So, the film (which was done in September 1967) was mostly an amateur project that with the passing of time has been better appreciated by some people. At least I consider it as a film done with the idea to be not taken very seriously. In fact, I think that the film has some very funny moments.

The music which was included in the film is in fact very good, even if by late 1967 it was becoming clear that the quality of the music was not as good as before. Maybe 1967 was the peak of THE BEATLES as an unified band. By 1968 the band started to have some personal problems among the members and also some bussiness problems which finally led them to split in 1970. Anyway, the band say farewell in 1970 when they still were producing good albums. Anyway, the whole "Magical Mystery Tour" project, despite having some "flaws", is still very good.

Now, a song by song review from the songs included in the film and in this 2 EP set:

"Magical Mystery Tour": a good song with some orchestral arrangments which worked as the first song in the film. Composed by McCartney, it has been played in concert by him in some of his tours since the nineties.

"Your Mother Should Know": another song composed by McCartney, with him on piano and with John Lennon on organ. A song which sounds a bit similar in style (an "oldie" from previous decades, maybe from the Forties!) to "When I'm Sixty Four" from the "Sgt. Pepper's..." album. This is the last song the band included in the film (apart from a very brief reprise of the title track in the closing credits of the film) with the band appearing in the film dancing and "singing" with dancers in a very outdated way. (It even was "outdated" for 1967, I think!).

"I Am The Walrus": a song composed by Lennon which also was previously released on the Side "B" of their "Hello, Goodbye" single, but which maybe was considered as "too good" to be left out of the film. This song is maybe the best part of the two EP set and maybe the best part of the film.

"The Fool On The Hill": a very good song composed by McCartney, with recorders and harmonicas, and very good lyrics. It is also a highlight from the film. It also has been played by McCartney in his concerts since the late eighties using some videos and speeches of Martin Luther King.

"Flying": an instrumental musical piece (apart from some wordless vocals sung as chorus) credited to all the members of the band. It also has some very good images in the film.

"Blue Jay Way": a song composed by George Harrison, with a "mysterious" organ part played by him. This song has some clear differences between the Stereo and Mono mixes. It also has some very good psychedelic scenes in the film.

There were other incidental instrumental musical pieces which only were included in the film, also being psychedelic in sound, and that were not released on vinyl or in any other format.

1967. A very psychedelic year for THE BEATLES and other bands. A time when psychedelia was a fad, and maybe when it was at its peak.