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Why Wasn't MMT Released as a UK Album
29 May 2015
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Wigwam
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Gave mine to the fruit of my loins a few years back…….along with everything else except the Christmas discs and Beatles monthlies. I don’t think he plays them he’s 16 ………but he will.

 

I felt just as excited when i bought and brought the set of EPs home………It was all the new music in the film and therefore all we wanted.

Nowadays I have an android TV box……..I can find everything I want on it. There’s even a Beatles channel. It’s got all the films except LIB …..even the cartoons which we didn’t see in the UK. I watched MMT a few weeks ago…….It’s still the thing you’d show a potential fan last…….

Watching it again brought back that Christmas at home…….and the whole families’ disappointment.

For some reason  a story my old mum told me came to mind……About when she was a girl they would buy a bundle of jumble wrapped into a ball for a penny. You didn’t know what clothes were tangled up in that ball until you got them home but she would dive excitedly into it…….because right in the centre there would be something shiny……. a cheap bracelet, or ring, or a colored marble……

MMT is still a jumble of oddments but there’s some genuine jewels and well worth a delve.  

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Bongo, Zig
9 August 2016
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Hopeful one
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mccannon said

Linde said

Elmore James said
MMT may just be a collection of songs, but what a collection. It is easily one of my favourite Beatles Albums. I prefer it to SPLHCB (too much boring granny music in the middle of that album). 

Not fully understanding what you mean with ”boring granny music in the middle of that album”, but MMT is one of my faves too. Easily beats Pepper for me. To me there isn’t a single song that’s bad on MMT.

Probably with reference to Your Mother Should Know . I tend to agree that Your Mother Should Know is one of the weak points, together with the title track and All You Need Is Love , in my opinion the latter is one of their most overrated songs. That being said, I think Magical Mystery Tour is a very strong collection of songs, maybe the strongest of theirs, although it’s not an album.   

I highly disagree regarding all three songs you mentioned.  They are all very strong.  “Your Mother Should Know ” is charming and infectious, with a wonderful melody and vocal from Paul.  One of his best attempts at 1920’s-style music hall songs, and one hell of a lot better than “When I’m Sixty-Four “.  “All You Need Is Love ” makes me cry everytime I hear it — it was such a plea for understanding and unity at a time when the world was in chaos.  John’s vocal is one of his most sincere.  And the title track is a great, driving rocker with terrific drumming from Ringo.

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pepperland
9 August 2016
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Mr. Kite said
I love Magical Mystery Tour , and there are so many great songs on it, an amazing album. I started thinking about it, and instead of researching, I thought I’d start a post…

Why wasn’t it released as a UK album?  

You see, The Beatles chose not to put their singles on their albums except for soundtracks. However, Capitol made the right move by adding them onto their reworked albums for the US and Canadian market. Since the songs on the B-side of the US/1976 Magical Mystery Tour were both already released as singles and were not in the movie (although I think Hello, Goodbye was in the end credits), they were not in the UK album. However, Capitol decided to screw around with the tracklisting, as usual, and add some more tracks (the exact opposite of Revolver ), therefore giving us the Magical Mystery Tour we know and love, eventually Parlaphone decided to label this version canon and release it in 1976 for the UK market, hence why songs like All You Need Is Love and Hello, Goodbye aren’t in Past Masters .

9 August 2016
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@sgtpepper63 said

Mr. Kite said
I love Magical Mystery Tour , and there are so many great songs on it, an amazing album. I started thinking about it, and instead of researching, I thought I’d start a post…

Why wasn’t it released as a UK album?  

You see, The Beatles chose not to put their singles on their albums except for soundtracks. However, Capitol made the right move by adding them onto their reworked albums for the US and Canadian market. Since the songs on the B-side of the US/1976 Magical Mystery Tour were both already released as singles and were not in the movie (although I think Hello, Goodbye was in the end credits), they were not in the UK album. However, Capitol decided to screw around with the tracklisting, as usual, and add some more tracks (the exact opposite of Revolver ), therefore giving us the Magical Mystery Tour we know and love, eventually Parlaphone decided to label this version canon and release it in 1976 for the UK market, hence why songs like All You Need Is Love and Hello, Goodbye aren’t in Past Masters .  

I’m afraid you misunderstand events here.

In January 1967 The Beatles signed a new contract with EMI. Clause 17 of the new contract forbade Capitol from releasing The Beatles music in any way other than it was presented to them, from the sleeve to the track-listing. Which is why, with two exceptions, the Capitol-cobbled together albums ended.

The first of these two exceptions was MMT. The Beatles were well aware that EPs had never really taken off in the States, and the idea of a double-EP seemed especially risky. The Beatles were, therefore, open to the idea of the US release being an album – seeing it become the first Capitol album which legally had to be approved by The Beatles themselves.

It wasn’t released as an album in the UK because they didn’t like adding singles to albums, and the UK had a healthy enough EP market (though it was dying out). It was released as an album in the US because The Beatles understood that market didn’t do EPs.

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11 August 2016
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Ron Nasty said

I’m afraid you misunderstand events here.

In January 1967 The Beatles signed a new contract with EMI. Clause 17 of the new contract forbade Capitol from releasing The Beatles music in any way other than it was presented to them, from the sleeve to the track-listing. Which is why, with two exceptions, the Capitol-cobbled together albums ended.

The first of these two exceptions was MMT. The Beatles were well aware that EPs had never really taken off in the States, and the idea of a double-EP seemed especially risky. The Beatles were, therefore, open to the idea of the US release being an album – seeing it become the first Capitol album which legally had to be approved by The Beatles themselves.

It wasn’t released as an album in the UK because they didn’t like adding singles to albums, and the UK had a healthy enough EP market (though it was dying out). It was released as an album in the US because The Beatles understood that market didn’t do EPs.  

1. I don’t why they made such a fuss about it, but at least they put out this contract in time for Sgt. Pepper because it pisses me off when they scramble around the tracklisting around for that album, it’s also why I hate 8 tracks.

2. I never got why The Beatles chose the path of a double EP instead of a 12 inch EP. Also, I never knew that Hey Jude was legally approved by The Beatles themselves.

3. EP’s are for underground bands or album outtakes, whereas singles are for popular artists, and LP’s are for both, though there are some exceptions. If I were British and old enough to buy records back in the 60’s, I would’ve gone for their albums and singles and forgot about the EP’s, except for Long Tall Sally and Magical Mystery Tour .

Also, your claim about not putting singles on albums is only half true. You see, they chose not to put singles on albums unless it was a soundtrack, hence why Can’t Buy Me Love , Help !, Let It Be , and Ticket To Ride were all released as singles and were on albums.

11 August 2016
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sgtpepper63 said

Ron Nasty said

I’m afraid you misunderstand events here.

In January 1967 The Beatles signed a new contract with EMI. Clause 17 of the new contract forbade Capitol from releasing The Beatles music in any way other than it was presented to them, from the sleeve to the track-listing. Which is why, with two exceptions, the Capitol-cobbled together albums ended.

The first of these two exceptions was MMT. The Beatles were well aware that EPs had never really taken off in the States, and the idea of a double-EP seemed especially risky. The Beatles were, therefore, open to the idea of the US release being an album – seeing it become the first Capitol album which legally had to be approved by The Beatles themselves.

It wasn’t released as an album in the UK because they didn’t like adding singles to albums, and the UK had a healthy enough EP market (though it was dying out). It was released as an album in the US because The Beatles understood that market didn’t do EPs.  

1. I don’t why they made such a fuss about it, but at least they put out this contract in time for Sgt. Pepper because it pisses me off when they scramble around the tracklisting around for that album, it’s also why I hate 8 tracks.

They hated their albums being cut up, altered and whatever else, the contract was up for renewal, and they had the power to negotiate an obvious clause being added. Official cassettes were issued that did significantly alter the track listing however; that ‘Help !’ was the second Beatles album i ever bought.

2. I never got why The Beatles chose the path of a double EP instead of a 12 inch EP. Also, I never knew that Hey Jude was legally approved by The Beatles themselves.

Was the 12″ EP popular in 1967?

3. EP’s are for underground bands or album outtakes, whereas singles are for popular artists, and LP’s are for both, though there are some exceptions. If I were British and old enough to buy records back in the 60’s, I would’ve gone for their albums and singles and forgot about the EP’s, except for Long Tall Sally and Magical Mystery Tour .

EPs were hugely popular for kids and teenagers who couldn’t afford the LP’s of their favourite stars. If I remember correctly LPs were generally bought by the parents.

Also, your claim about not putting singles on albums is only half true. You see, they chose not to put singles on albums unless it was a soundtrack, hence why Can’t Buy Me Love , Help !, Let It Be , and Ticket To Ride were all released as singles and were on albums.  

They couldn’t leave off the title tracks of the movies on the Lps or not release them as singles so that leaves ‘Ticket To Ride ‘,  ‘Can’t Buy Me Love ‘  ‘Yellow Submarine ‘ and ‘Eleanor Rigby ‘ (and that was a double a-side with nothing else in the can), ‘Love Me Do ‘ and ‘Please Please Me ‘ (common practice then to sell the album on the back of hit single or two, there was no option available to not include them – and even then ‘LMD’ is a different version). 

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11 August 2016
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@meanmistermustard 

1. Thanks for telling me that. As for cassettes and 8 tracks, that’s what I hate about them, although I do find reel to reels amusing.

2. First of all, how the bloody name of hell am I supposed to know that. I was born in 1963 and all I cared about in 1967 was Spider Man, Batman, saturday morning cartoons, toys, and was just starting to learn about LP’s from my mother, who was a mere 18 herself at the time. I’m guessing your even younger than me, I’m taking an in the air guess of you being born in 1979, but I can’t be sure and could be 12 years off for all I know, so I doubt you were even alive in 1967. Also, just because something is failing or hasn’t kicked off yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it in the market. For example, back in the day there were these things called Laserdiscs, which were essentially movies on vinyl records and although VHS kicked it’s ass when it came to sales, there were so many movies released on it. Another example is the game Splatterhouse, which was released on the Turbografx 16, but not the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis.

3. I always thought that LP’s were E2 compared to E1 for singles in the UK or something. I remember buying LP’s for $3-$5 back in the mid to late 70’s.

4. You forgot Come Together , Something , I Am The Walrus , and Revolution . In the sense of popular songs, they should’ve released Twist And Shout , All My Loving , Eight Days A Week , Yesterday , Drive My Car , Nowhere Man , Got To Get You Into My Life , Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends , and Here Comes The Sun as singles as well.

12 August 2016
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sgtpepper63 said
@meanmistermustard 

1. Thanks for telling me that. As for cassettes and 8 tracks, that’s what I hate about them, although I do find reel to reels amusing.

2. First of all, how the bloody name of hell am I supposed to know that. I was born in 1963 and all I cared about in 1967 was Spider Man, Batman, saturday morning cartoons, toys, and was just starting to learn about LP’s from my mother, who was a mere 18 herself at the time. I’m guessing your even younger than me, I’m taking an in the air guess of you being born in 1979, but I can’t be sure and could be 12 years off for all I know, so I doubt you were even alive in 1967. Also, just because something is failing or hasn’t kicked off yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it in the market. For example, back in the day there were these things called Laserdiscs, which were essentially movies on vinyl records and although VHS kicked it’s ass when it came to sales, there were so many movies released on it. Another example is the game Splatterhouse, which was released on the Turbografx 16, but not the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis.

You asked why the didn’t put out a 12″ EP. Bloody hard if there was no market for it or it doesn’t even exist in the UK in 1967.

3. I always thought that LP’s were E2 compared to E1 for singles in the UK or something. I remember buying LP’s for $3-$5 back in the mid to late 70’s.

4. You forgot Come Together , Something , I Am The Walrus , and Revolution . In the sense of popular songs, they should’ve released Twist And Shout , All My Loving , Eight Days A Week , Yesterday , Drive My Car , Nowhere Man , Got To Get You Into My Life , Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends , and Here Comes The Sun as singles as well.  

I Am The Walrus ‘ was a b-side, included in the ‘MMT’ film, and wasn’t on a UK album. ‘Revolution ‘ wasn’t on any UK album until 1973. 

Twist And Shout ‘, ‘All My Loving ‘, ‘Yesterday ‘ and ‘Nowhere Man ‘ (which included ‘Drive My Car ‘) were all the title tracks on UK EP’s; The Beatles highly disliked ‘Eight Days A Week ‘, tho they did mime to it on TV. 

Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band’/’With A Little Help From My Friends ‘ b/w ‘A Day In The Life ‘ was a single whenever the flayed alive Robert Stigwood movie came out in the 70’s to cash in/tie in. 

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12 August 2016
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meanmistermustard said

sgtpepper63 said
@meanmistermustard 

1. Thanks for telling me that. As for cassettes and 8 tracks, that’s what I hate about them, although I do find reel to reels amusing.

2. First of all, how the bloody name of hell am I supposed to know that. I was born in 1963 and all I cared about in 1967 was Spider Man, Batman, saturday morning cartoons, toys, and was just starting to learn about LP’s from my mother, who was a mere 18 herself at the time. I’m guessing your even younger than me, I’m taking an in the air guess of you being born in 1979, but I can’t be sure and could be 12 years off for all I know, so I doubt you were even alive in 1967. Also, just because something is failing or hasn’t kicked off yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it in the market. For example, back in the day there were these things called Laserdiscs, which were essentially movies on vinyl records and although VHS kicked it’s ass when it came to sales, there were so many movies released on it. Another example is the game Splatterhouse, which was released on the Turbografx 16, but not the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis.

You asked why the didn’t put out a 12″ EP. Bloody hard if there was no market for it or it doesn’t even exist in the UK in 1967.

They could’ve always tried something new and invented/popularized the 12″ EP in the process.

I Am The Walrus ‘ was a b-side, included in the ‘MMT’ film, and wasn’t on a UK album. ‘Revolution ‘ wasn’t on any UK album until 1973. 

Twist And Shout ‘, ‘All My Loving ‘, ‘Yesterday ‘ and ‘Nowhere Man ‘ (which included ‘Drive My Car ‘) were all the title tracks on UK EP’s; The Beatles highly disliked ‘Eight Days A Week ‘, tho they did mime to it on TV. 

Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band’/’With A Little Help From My Friends ‘ b/w ‘A Day In The Life ‘ was a single whenever the flayed alive Robert Stigwood movie came out in the 70’s to cash in/tie in.   

Revolution  1 was on The Beatles in 1968 and is the basis for Revolution .

You mean that horrible abombination of cinema, Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band. That movie sucked balls then and it still does. I remember seeing it in the theatre with my older brother and getting pissed off for several reasons, mainly The Bee Gees. Never watch that or Across The Universe unless you want to be depressed or have your childhood raped.

12 August 2016
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sgtpepper63 said

They could’ve always tried something new and invented/popularized the 12″ EP in the process.

You mean the Beatles should have revolutionised the music industry by releasing a format that no one in the UK had ever thougth had any point. 

Revolution  1 was on The Beatles in 1968 and is the basis for Revolution

Its a completely different arrangement of a song. You cannot say that ‘Revolution ‘ was also an album track because ‘Revolution 1 ‘ was. Well you can but you’d be talking garbage.

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I really like the US MMT, however in my Beatles chronological playlist, I have the songs in correct order.  (i.e.; SFF/PL before SPLHCB )

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7 February 2018
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I would say they chose to release it as 2 EPs because it was more of a collection of singles than an album that was conceived as a whole. At this stage they wanted their albums to be nothing other than a complete piece of art so releasing it as 2 EPs took away the pressure of having to follow up Pepper.

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sgtpepper63 said at least they put out this contract in time for Sgt. Pepper because it pisses me off when they scramble around the tracklisting around for that album, it’s also why I hate 8 tracks.

As annoying as altering the sequence of songs for 8-Tracks was, it’s the splitting up of a song into 2 halves that really gets me…  On my ‘Hey Jude ‘ 8-Track, ‘Rain (Part 1)’ fades out halfway through the song before the stereo changes over to Program 4 as ‘Rain (Part 2)’ commences…  This was unforgiveable…  The second best song on the album (only because ‘Hey Jude ‘ is present) and it’s given to us in pieces…  yikes…:-)

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