Following the ultra-success of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band, The Fab Four released an album (in the same year) that had some psychedelic/pop songs as a soundtrack to a short film of the same name. Forget the film; it wasn't that interesting, but the album became a classic. From the opening horns of Magical Mystery Tour, this album was an experiment that would take the Beatles to the next level.

The music from this record is extremely familiar. "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Hello Goodbye" and "Penny Lane" are a few of the standards on this album that had a somewhat upbeat theme to them. Yet it seems there was a contemplative way in which the songs were sequenced. "Flying," a rare instrumental written by all four members, chills us out, before sending us into the trippy "Blue Jay Way" and the Paul McCartney and Wings-sounding "Your Mother Should Know." The enigmatic "I Am The Walrus," a song I never really understood, took us on a little journey of confusion and feedback, and all of a sudden we are back to the pop of "Hello Goodbye."

The 11 songs on this album are arranged in a tight little package.

The production is first-class and very progressive for 1967. It's not my favorite Beatle's album, (as if I could choose), but it is certainly an album I would recommend to someone who is not into the Beatles. "Strawberry Fields" is such a great song, and I think the fact that an area in New York City's Central Park was named after it following the 1980 murder of John Lennon nearby makes it that much more surreal. The last song, "All You Need is Love," is pure John Lennon. It's a shame he isn't with us anymore ... all together now!

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