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Overview
Magical Mystery Tour is a record by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a double EP in the United Kingdom and an LP in the United States. It includes the soundtrack to the 1967 television film of the same title. The EP was issued in the UK on 8 December 1967 on the Parlophone label, while the Capitol Records LP release in the US and Canada occurred on 27 November and features an additional five songs that were originally released as singles that year. [Wikipedia]
Background
Magical Mystery Tour is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon–McCartney and led on vocal by Paul McCartney. Brass-band bombast and trumpet fanfare; theme of the BBC film. Within the catalogue, its brass thread connects it to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Good Morning Good Morning, Martha My Dear. The album appearedand consolidated the post-Pepper experimental direction with its instrumental 'Flying' credited to all four members (Kozinn 1995, p.231).
What's distinctive
One of 65 songs led primarily by Paul. Recorded approximately 3 of 11 into the Magical Mystery Tour (late 1967) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'fanfare' — no other song shares it. Take count: 52 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Magical Mystery Tour (late 1967) period, recorded 25 Apr 1967 at EMI Studios + Olympic Sound Studios (Barnes) for some MMT/All You Need Is Love work. George Martin produced; Geoff Emerick engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.110 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). By the time Magical Mystery Tour was recorded, the Beatles and the engineering team had grown weary after the exhausting Sgt. Pepper sessions, requiring creative rejuvenation for the project (Emerick 2006, p.501). A complex multitrack production that employed brass overdubs and surreal soundscapes orchestrated by George Martin and captured with precision by engineer Geoff Emerick at Abbey Road's Studio Two (MacDonald 1994, p.109).
| Studio | EMI Studios + Olympic Sound Studios (Barnes) for some MMT/All You Need Is Love work |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Synced J37 four-tracks; first Beatles 8-track session (Trident's Ampex AG-440) imminent — Hey Jude, July 1968 |
| Console | REDD.51 + Helios at Olympic |
| Microphones | U47/U48, AKG C12, ribbon mics (4038) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140, Fairchild 660, ADT, tape phasing, Leslie cabinet |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Fender Stratocaster (Harrison — psychedelic 'Rocky' Strat), Mellotron, clavioline |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC100, Vox UL730, Fender Showman, Fender Bassman |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Geoff Emerick • Ken Scott on some sessions |
| Estimated takes | 52 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it on the EP Magical Mystery Tour. Documented alternate versions include 2009 Stereo Remasters. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. Master tape consisted of 4-track 3rd generation; releases included mono (28 Sep 1967, EP, Parlophone MMT 1) and stereo (7 Nov 1967, edited) editions.
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
- 2009 Stereo Remasters — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
Released on
- Magical Mystery Tour — EP, 8 December 1967
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (brass, fanfare, film-theme, opener)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
brassfanfarefilm-themeopener
References & external databases
Awards & recognition
- Grammy: nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1969
- Grammy: nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1969
Recognition mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. Verify against the linked source before quoting.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Magical Mystery Tour?
“Magical Mystery Tour” was written by Lennon–McCartney.
Who sings lead on Magical Mystery Tour?
The lead vocal on “Magical Mystery Tour” is by Paul McCartney.
When was Magical Mystery Tour recorded?
“Magical Mystery Tour” was recorded 25 Apr 1967 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Magical Mystery Tour require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 52 numbered takes for “Magical Mystery Tour”.