06. Penny Lane (1967) / Magical Mystery Tour

5/17 votes

 

Just missing out on a place in the top 5 is 'Penny Lane'. This is the third eliminated single in a row to be taken from the U.S. album version of 'Magical Mystery Tour'! 'Penny Lane' was originally intended for the 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album, but the group were under pressure to release a new single to keep momentum going now that they had stopped touring. The Beatles usually preferred to keep songs that had already been released as singles off their albums, so that's exactly what happened here. They would later be pressured to include 'Penny Lane' on the U.S. album version of 'Magical Mystery Tour' to bulk up the original EP though. 'Penny Lane' was released as a double A-side with 'Strawberry Fields Forever' (also originally intended for Sgt. Pepper's) in the U.K. and was the first Beatles release in 4 years to not top top the chart here, settling for #2. 'Penny Lane' did top the chart over in the States though. It was the first Beatles single to be sold with a picture sleeve in the UK - this was rare at the time. 'Penny Lane' was primarily written by Paul McCartney as a nostalgic piece about his childhood in Liverpool. The concept is brought to life with colourful phrases and psychedelic concepts - such as it supposedly being both summer and winter at the same time. The piccolo trumpet adds a lot of personality to the production too. An accompanying promotional film was released which featured a lot of walking and also some horse-riding. This video was the first time that The Beatles were seen with moustaches and psychedelic clothing, a look that was scrutinised as this wasn't a conventional look for pop acts and showed signs of maturing. Only 5 songs remain now!

 

06. Penny Lane | 5/17 votes

07. Hello, Goodbye | 8/17 votes

08. All You Need Is Love | 6/19 votes

09. Day Tripper | 5/16 votes

10. Help! | 5/18 votes

 

11. I Want To Hold Your Hand | 3/20 votes (original vote) / 6/15 votes (tie-break round)

12. Paperback Writer | 9/22 votes

13. We Can Work It Out | 5/17 votes

14. I Feel Fine | 8/18 votes

15. A Hard Day's Night | 5/20 votes

16. Can't Buy Me Love | 5/22 votes

17. Come Together | 4/19 votes

18. Something | 4/19 votes

19. Love Me Do | 4/18 votes

20. Yellow Submarine | 5/20 votes

 

21. Eight Days A Week | 5/17 votes

22. From Me To You | 4/21 votes (original vote) / 10/16 votes (tie-break round)

23. Get Back | 5/17 votes

24. The Long And Winding Road | 4/20 votes

25. She Loves You | 6/21 votes

26. Lady Madonna | 6/21 votes

27. The Ballad Of John And Yoko | 7/25 votes

 

Please vote for your least favourite single from the 5 above!

I love 'Penny Lane' although 'Strawberry Fields Forever' is my favourite from that double A-side!

 

Voted for 'Let It Be' again.

Let It Be again.

Hey Jude is probably my least favourite left, but I'm being tactical and going with Ticket to Ride as going by last round, I fear the rightful winners here are in danger of going! :x

Let It Be again.

Ticket to Ride is my least favourite now - although I'm pleased that something from the first half of their career made it this far

Aw at 'Penny Lane' missing the top 5 </3

 

Continuing to go for 'Ticket To Ride' ~

Let It Be.

Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride next, what a stellar top 5 tho *_* well done peeps!