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Editing of “Magical Mystery Tour”

September 25 to early December 1967

























What happened for Paul in 1967

In 1966, The Beatles resolved to cease touring. Liberated from the rigours of touring, the band wholeheartedly adopted an increasingly inventive approach while recording their seminal work, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“, starting in late November 1966. According to the album’s sound engineer, Geoff Emerick, the recording process consumed over 700 hours. Emerick remembered the band’s determination that “everything on Sgt. Pepper had to be different,” leading to unconventional recording methods, including microphones positioned within brass instruments and headphones converted into microphones attached to violins. Moreover, they manipulated primitive oscillators to alter the speed of instruments and vocals, and painstakingly edited tapes by cutting and reversing them. The iconic “A Day in the Life” even featured a 40-piece orchestra.

The non-album double A-side single “Strawberry Fields Forever”/”Penny Lane” was released in February 1967, preceding the “Sgt. Pepper” LP, which was released in May. The record’s musical complexity, crafted using the relatively basic four-track recording technology of the time, left contemporary artists in awe. Critics universally acclaimed the album, and in the aftermath of “Sgt. Pepper“, the Beatles were widely hailed as both leaders of youth culture and “lifestyle revolutionaries” by both underground and mainstream media.

Significantly, the album was the first major pop/rock LP to include its full lyrics, appearing on the back cover, which incited critical analysis. The elaborate album cover, a collage designed by pop artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth, also piqued considerable interest. It portrayed the band as the fictional group from the album’s title track, standing before a crowd of notable figures. The Beatles’ heavy moustaches epitomised the burgeoning influence of hippie style, while their brightly coloured parodies of military uniforms were deemed a knowingly “anti-authoritarian and anti-establishment” display by cultural historian Jonathan Harris.

Sgt. Pepper” held the top spot on the UK charts for 23 consecutive weeks, with an additional four weeks at number one through to February 1968. With an impressive 2.5 million copies sold within the first three months of its release, “Sgt. Pepper“‘s initial commercial success surpassed that of all previous Beatles albums. Its immense popularity persisted into the 21st century, breaking numerous sales records. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked “Sgt. Pepper” as the greatest album of all time.

The Beatles initiated two film projects shortly after completing “Sgt. Pepper“: “Magical Mystery Tour“, a one-hour television film, and “Yellow Submarine“, an animated feature-length film produced by United Artists. The band started recording music for the former in late April 1967, but the project was momentarily shelved as they concentrated on recording songs for the latter. On June 25, they performed their forthcoming single “All You Need Is Love” to an estimated global audience of 350 million viewers on Our World, the first live global television link. Released a week later, during the Summer of Love, the song became synonymous with the flower power movement. The Beatles’ use of psychedelic drugs was at its peak during that summer, and in the subsequent months, they explored interests related to similar utopian ideologies, including a week-long investigation into starting an island-based commune off the coast of Greece.

On August 24, the group met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in London, and the next day, they travelled to his Transcendental Meditation retreat in Bangor. However, on August 27, their manager’s assistant, Peter Brown, called to inform them of Brian Epstein’s death. The cause of death was ruled an accidental carbitol overdose, but rumours circulated that it was a suicide. His death left the group in a state of disorientation and apprehension about their future. McCartney suggested that they proceed with Magical Mystery Tour during a band meeting in September, in an attempt to regain their footing.

The “Magical Mystery Tour” soundtrack was released in the UK as a six-track double extended play (EP) in early December 1967, marking the first instance of a double EP in the UK. The record continued the psychedelic vein of “Sgt. Pepper“; however, in accordance with the band’s wishes, the packaging reinforced the perception that the release was a film soundtrack rather than a follow-up to “Sgt. Pepper“. In the US, the soundtrack was released as an identically titled LP that also incorporated five tracks from the band’s recent singles. The album established a record for the highest initial sales of any Capitol LP within its first three weeks and is the only Capitol compilation later to be adopted in the band’s official discography.

Magical Mystery Tour” premiered on Boxing Day to an audience of roughly 15 million. Despite its considerable viewership, the film, which was largely directed by Paul McCartney, marked the band’s first critical failure in the UK. It was deemed “blatant rubbish” by the Daily Express, a “colossal conceit” by the Daily Mail, and The Guardian characterised the film as “a kind of fantasy morality play about the grossness and warmth and stupidity of the audience.” The film’s negative reception in the press dissuaded US television networks from broadcasting it.

Last updated on May 17, 2023

Films released in 1967


All You Need Is Love

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Derek Burrell Davis


Hello, Goodbye (Version 1)

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Paul McCartney


Hello, Goodbye (Version 2)

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Paul McCartney


Hello, Goodbye (Version 3)

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Paul McCartney


Hello, Goodbye (Version 4)

1967 • For The Beatles


Magical Mystery Tour (TV Special)

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by The Beatles


Penny Lane

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Peter Goldmann


Strawberry Fields Forever

1967 • For The Beatles • Directed by Peter Goldmann

Recording sessions in 1967



Recording "Penny Lane" #3

Jan 04, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane", "Carnival Of Light"

Jan 05, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane" #5

Jan 06, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane" #6

Jan 09, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane" #7

Jan 10, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane" #8

Jan 12, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "Penny Lane" #9

Jan 17, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Recording "A Day In The Life" #1

Jan 19, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "A Day In The Life" #2

Jan 20, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Mixing "Penny Lane"

Jan 25, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane


Mixing "A Day In The Life"

Jan 30, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (50th anniversary boxset)


Recording "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Feb 01, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Love In The Open Air"

Early February 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Love In The Open Air / Bahama Sound (US)


Recording "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Feb 02, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "A Day In The Life" #3

Feb 03, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Good Morning Good Morning"

Feb 08, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Fixing A Hole"

Feb 09, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "A Day In The Life" #4

Feb 10, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Mixing "A Day In The Life", recording "Only A Northern Song"

Feb 13, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)


Recording and mixing "Only A Northern Song"

Feb 14, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)


Recording and mixing "Good morning good morning"

Feb 16, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!"

Feb 17, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)



Recording "Fixing A Hole"

Feb 21, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "A Day In The Life"

Feb 22, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)



Recording "Lovely Rita"

Feb 24, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"

Feb 28, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)






Recording "Lovely Rita"

Mar 07, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Getting Better"

Mar 09, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Getting Better"

Mar 10, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Good Morning Good Morning"

Mar 13, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "Within You Without You"

Mar 15, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording "She's Leaving Home"

Mar 17, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "She's Leaving Home"

Mar 20, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)



Recording and mixing "Within You Without You"

Mar 22, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Recording and mixing "Getting Better"

Mar 23, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)




Recording "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Mar 30, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)




Recording and mixing "Within You Without You"

Apr 03, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Mixing "Within You Without You"

Apr 04, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)


Mixing "Good Morning Good Morning"

Apr 06, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (UK Mono)








Mixing "Only A Northern Song", recording "Sgt. Pepper Inner Groove"

Apr 21, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)


Recording "Magical Mystery Tour" #1

Apr 25, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording the "Magical Mystery Tour" soundtrack

Apr 25 - May 3 and Aug 22 - Nov 17, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Magical Mystery Tour" #2

Apr 26, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Magical Mystery Tour" #3

Apr 27, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Magical Mystery Tour" #4

May 03, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Mixing "Magical Mystery Tour"

May 04, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Jamming

May 09, 1967


Recording "Baby, You're A Rich Man"

May 11, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Recording and mixing "All Together Now"

May 12, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)




Recording "It's All Too Much"

May 25, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)


Recording "It's All Too Much"

May 31, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)


Jamming

Jun 01, 1967


Recording "It's All Too Much"

Jun 02, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Yellow Submarine (Mono)




Mixing "You Know My Name (Look Up That Number)"

Jun 09, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Let It Be / You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)


Recording "All You Need Is Love" #1

Jun 14, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Recording "McGough & McGear"

From June 18, 1967 to ? • Songs recorded during this session appear on McGough & McGear (Mono)


Recording "All You Need Is Love" #2

Jun 19, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Mixing "All You Need Is Love"

Jun 21, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Recording "All You Need Is Love" #3

Jun 23, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Recording "All You Need Is Love" #4

Jun 24, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)



Mixing "All You Need Is Love"

Jun 26, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (UK)


Recording "We Love You"

Jul 19, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on We Love You / Dandelion


Recording "Catcall"

Jul 20, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Catcall


Recording "Your Mother Should Know"

Aug 22, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Your Mother Should Know"

Aug 23, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "I'm The Walrus"

Sep 05, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)



Recording "Blue Jay Way"

Sep 07, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording and mixing "Flying"

Sep 08, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Your Mother Should Know", mixing "Blue Jay Way"

Sep 16, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording and mixing "The Fool On The Hill"

Sep 25, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "The Fool On The Hill"

Sep 26, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)



Recording and mixing "I Am The Walrus", "Flying"

Sep 28, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)



Home recording of "Step Inside Love"

Circa October / November 1967


Mixing "Your Mother Should Know", recording "Hello, Goodbye"

Oct 02, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Blue Jay Way"

Oct 06, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Mixing "It's All Too Much", "Blue Jay Way"

Oct 12, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Hello, Goodbye"

Oct 19, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "The Fool On The Hill", "Hello, Goodbye"

Oct 20, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Mixing "The Fool On The Hill", recording "Hello, Goodbye"

Oct 25, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)



Recording and mixing "Hello, Goodbye"

Nov 02, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)




Mixing "Hello, Goodbye"

Nov 15, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Mixing "I Am The Walrus"

Nov 17, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Magical Mystery Tour (US LP - Mono)


Recording "Step Inside Love"

Nov 21, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on 1963-1973 The Abbey Road Decade



Recording and mixing "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)"

Nov 28, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Christmas Time Is Here Again!


Editing "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)"

Nov 29, 1967 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Christmas Time Is Here Again!

Songs written in 1967


1967 interviews


Interview for Time Magazine

1967 • From Time Magazine


Beatles Talk - January 1967

January 1967 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Miles Interviews Paul McCartney

Jan 16, 1967 • From International Times


Interview with Derek Jewel

Jan 22, 1967 • From The Sunday Times


Beatles Talk - February 1967

February 1967 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


BEATLES win 2 awards - and talk of problems...

Feb 18, 1967 • From Disc And Music Echo


Paul McCartney reviews the new pop singles

Feb 25, 1967 • From Melody Maker


Beatles Talk - March 1967

March 1967 • From The Beatles Monthly Book


Un Beatle à lunettes? Oui mais aussi...

March 1967 • From Salut Les Copains


Interview for "It's So Far Out It's Straight Down"

Mar 07, 1967 • From Granada Television



Interview for Top Of The Pops

Mar 20, 1967 • From BBC Radio 1


Paul: Why The Beatles Wanted Out?

May 1967 • From Hit Parader



Interview for Where It's At

May 20, 1967 • From BBC Light Programme



Dinner with The Beatles

May 27, 1967 • From New Musical Express


The New Far-Out Beatles

Jun 16, 1967 • From Life Magazine


Interview with ITN

Jun 19, 1967 • From ITN



Launching a new Beatles hit: all you need is speed

Jul 15, 1967 • From Disc And Music Echo


Paul McCartney talks about love

Jul 22, 1967 • From New Musical Express



The Epstein interviews

Aug 19, 1967 • From Melody Maker



Interview with Liverpool Echo

Aug 28, 1967 • From Liverpool Echo


Paul Is Still Seeking, But George Has Found A Great Faith

Sep 09, 1967 • From New Musical Express


Interview for BBC Spotlight South West

Sep 13, 1967 • From BBC Spotlight South West


Interview for Music Life

November 1967 • From Music Life


Norrie Drummond Lunches With John, Paul And Ringo

Nov 25, 1967 • From New Musical Express


Paul McCartney: What do The Beatles Mean ?

Nov 26, 1967 • From The Observer



What a groove it is growing older, says John Lennon

Dec 16, 1967 • From Disc And Music Echo


Interview with The Frost Programme

Dec 27, 1967 • From ITV


Maybe we goofed, says Beatle Paul

Dec 27, 1967 • From Evening Standard


So we boobed, says Beatle Paul

Dec 28, 1967 • From Daily Mirror


Interview with Daily Mail

Dec 28, 1967 • From Daily Mail

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