Ranking The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (Beatles Week 206 Day 6)

Ranking The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (Beatles Week 206 Day 6)

Please see my introduction and explanation about this project here.

This might be my 2nd favorite Beatles album. The band had already stretched the concept of what a rock and roll album could be and what was possible in the studio, so what to do next? While there are a couple of weaker numbers on here overall this is a solid release that often gets overshadowed by the bizarre television special the band produced which served as the impetus for some of the songs here. Initially double E.P. (I have a version of this which has the Magical Mystery Tour songs on one 45 and the extra songs on the other) It has since been amended to be the full L.P. we now know as the band’s U.S. label had released it.

Presented in order from least to most favorite, in a highly subjective (and subject to change) manner:

“Blue Jay Way”
Some days this song with its droning and complaining just grates on me
“The Fool on the Hill”
How relevant is this song still?
“Flying”
I kind of wish they did more of these instrumentals
“Strawberry Fields Forever”
Kind of a wierd tune, really
“Your Mother Should Know”
A fun throowback style tune
“I Am the Walrus”
I wonder what Dr. Seuss thought of this one
“Magical Mystery Tour”
A wonderful invitation
“Penny Lane”
A great snapshot of their hometown
“Hello, Goodbye”
I love the dychotemy here
“All You Need Is Love”
Probably the best song they every recorded
“Baby, You’re a Rich Man”
My favorite Beatles song, and I love it more and more the older I get