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Magical Mystery Tour (1990)

The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1990) Audio CD

A fair review of the The Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour (1990)" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Beatles reviews here, or go back to the The Beatles tabs.

Band: The Beatles
Title: Magical Mystery Tour (1990)
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Underrated and brilliant
It was released right in between Sgt. Magical Mystery Tour is one Beatles record that is too often passed over. Pepper and the white album, and it was the soundtrack to a TV movie (which I've never seen, but I hear it's not that great). Sandwiched between two masterpieces, it's easy to overlook Magical Mystery Tour, but that's a mistake.

This is a record full of great songs with some incredible arrangements. Side one has a lot of fun little songs - Magical Mystery Tour, Your Mother Should Know, Flying. But it also gets pretty trippy, in that special Beatle way. Songs like Blue Jay Way are disorienting and completely engrossing at the same time. And of course, Fool on the Hill and I Am the Walrus are unforgettable.

The second side is where the album really shines. These songs weren't part of the soundtrack, but were singles released in the UK in 1967, and collected here for the American release. These are some of the Beatles' best songs, period. They're arranged beautifully, with plenty of strings, horns, and psychedelic sound effects. Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane show off the Beatles' (and George Martin's) skills at their absolute peak. And Baby, You're a Rich Man is a really, really undderrated song - I'd love to hear Prince do a cover!

The new remaster really brings them to life. I've bought 6 of the Beatles remasters, and of those half dozen, this is the one that benefits the most from the improved sound quality. You can hear instruments that were previously buried. The strings and horns have a new clarity. Paul's bass and especially Ringo's drums have a new punch to them - I never appreciated Ringo so much until I heard these remasters.

This album doesn't have the cohesiveness of Revolver or Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road, because it wasn't originally conceived as a full-length album. But each song is a masterpiece in its own right, and the album is one that I'll be listening to a lot more in the coming months. .

Pretty close mix to previous 2 albums
If ever there was a person to earn the title of "5th Beatle". . . it would surely have been George Martin and Brian Epstein. . . . and NOT New York radio DJ, Murray the K.

Martins invaluable knowledge of musical theory and arrangement, as well as his vast overall familiarity with each of the instruments and vocalizing; plus his willingness to bet on a longshot and take risks.

It was Brian Epsteins original interest in the band that convinced them to change their appeance/image and got them in the doors at Parlophone in the first place.

When you listen back to 1962 to the Decca Tapes, the Tony Sheridan recordings and the Star Club in Hamburg,Germany. . . . . It doesn't take a genius to figure out that NOBODY transcends from being a barely competent musician to the Beatle level in only 14 or 15 months. Also keep in mind that short of Paul McCartney, no one in the band had any formal musical training.

I believe this is where George Martin and Brian Epstein come into the picture. . . . Their guidance and vision took a group of 4 very ambitious young men who were extremely talented; yet raw and and transformed them into the biggest band of the century. In very short order, they became better than any of their peers. The bands appearance took on a new look. . . . as well as their sound. .

In the studio. . . . Martin undoubtedly helped them to polish their vocal and musical skills. . . showing them the tips and secrets only the pros were familiar with. It was Martin who helped them accelerate their prowess of the piano and organ. . . as well as giving them tips on how to accentuate their playing style on guitar, bass and drums. . This is the job of a good producer. . . . to get the most out of the performer and to capture it all on tape.

So. . . . . If there ever was ANYBODY who deserved to be referred to as a "5th Beatle". . . . It would have to be George Martin and Brian Epstein. These 2 men were every much a Beatle as the 4 who you saw on all the records and cd's.

When I think back to all the hoopla that was associated with Beatlemania. . . . I am really convinced that it wasn't all hype at all. . . . These guys (with the help of Brian and George) really deserved all that attention and they truly were a phenomenon and destined to be the BAND OF THE CENTURY.

If you doubt me. . . . just listen to the music.
***************************************

All I can really say is. . . . If you like this stereo mix. . . . You will probably like SGT PEPPER and REVOLVER as well. . . . it isn't that hokey "music-left/vocals-right" wannabe stereo that I have been ragging about. . . . This is actually listenable and enjoyable. . . . The remastering job is pretty good. . . . The packaging is a real treat. . .

The last so-called remastering they did of this album. . . was pretty tinny sounding and lacked some bass in various spots. . . . . They corrected that issue on this series. . . and got it right. . . .

As with all the remaster CD's in this series. . . the packaging is a treat and a delight for Beatle fans.

I would say. . . . All in all. . . it's worth the investment. .

Not the sonic difference I was expecting...
There is not a lot of difference in these "remastered" albums than the ones previously available. Let's not get too excited here, folks.
These reviews should be primarily about what the sound difference is in these newly released albums, not the album itself. I bought Magical Mystery Tour and The Beatles Past Masters and I am disappointed in both. Can you hear things in Magical Mystery Tour that you couldn't hear before? A bit, but nothing remarkable. They are also bass deficient on some cuts which I thought would be eliminated. And I'm not listening to these on a Mickey Mouse stereo either- a Bryston amp & preamp, Snell speakers & a Meridian cd player.
Who are these people absolutely gushing over these remastered albums?????? There is very little difference in these newly reissued albums. Always take a review, any review, with a grain of salt.

Great songs to sing to
I do miss the old scratchy sound since they really adjusted the quality of the songs. I forgot how enjoyable it was to sing to these songs since you don't hear them on the radio anymore. My mind still remembers the way they used to sound. I like the photo booklet that comes with the CD and the cute little movie of the Beatles that appeared on my computer when I inserted the CD. Very nice!.

MagMysTou rev
Even though my hope and anticipation - key anticipation - was that "I'm the Walrus" was to receive the type of dynamic work that was demonstrated in the hybrid "Tomorrow Never Knows/Within You Without You" from the "Love" package release, of a couple of years ago. It's hard to say why I'm rating this with 5-stars also. I guess, even with that annoying minute or so of mono in this song, the cleanup work on "Walrus" and the rest of the package is enough to keep a fan like me satisfied. I think the reason for that is that the bad-[. . . ] groove of the track is just too powerful and undeniably good. I know that Geoff Emerick thinks of this song as more or less fluff nonsense rhymes, but as far as I'm concerned the groove and the vagueness of the lyrical imagery is valid and strong enough - just like "Sexyback," which should be a nothing of a song, but if you're not moved by the power of its funk and groove, you might just be pulse-less.
And like other reviewers have pointed out, in the US, Capitol records usually made a horrid mess of issuing album versions of Beatles product. But in the case of "Magical Mystery Tour" the cosmic forces of song, drug culture euphoria, "Alice in Wonderland" type weirdness, and actual songwriting brilliance, the American label hit on a happy accident of fate, force, and fab. It is an awesome collection of songs, and recording experimentations.
The bonus documentary however, is only for the younger, newer fans, which might be barely discovering the Beatles. Older fanatics like me, will be acquainted with the documentary material, inside and out, backward and forward, over, under, sideways, down, and any other which way by now.
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You can see a complete list of all The Beatles discography, or go back to the The Beatles tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.