# Best of the Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2014, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067 "2014-03-07T01:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/61 "2014-03-11T15:30:48Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > As much as I’m a big fan of John Lennon, Penny Lane is McCartney at his best, so that gets my vote. Also love the title song. It’s also McCartney at his worst. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/62 "2014-03-11T15:33:17Z")
♫♬ _Come on… The Vaginal Mysery Tour!_ ♫♬ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/63 "2014-03-11T20:27:46Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > I think it’s simpler than that… Well put. I especially like your last paragraph, where you point out the difference between “production sheen” and a lack of “dissonant or non-musical flourishes.” ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/64 "2014-03-11T21:15:45Z")
> [@Subterraneanus](#): > > It’s also McCartney at his worst. In what way? And what is “it” — “Penny Lane” or “Magical Mystery Tour” (the song)? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/65 "2014-03-12T03:26:06Z")
You people have disappointingly insipid tastes. No wonder Paul McCartney still has a career. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/66 "2014-03-12T04:59:14Z")
For me, “Strawberry Fields Forever” edged “I Am the Walrus” by a whisker. Honorable mention: “Fool on the Hill” and “All You Need Is Love.” ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/67 "2014-03-12T05:24:27Z")
Strawberry Fields Forever. I like the music that they played and recorded in the track that goes by that title. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/68 "2014-03-12T15:34:15Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You people have disappointingly insipid tastes. No wonder Paul McCartney still has a career. ☹ Speaking generally, and not on behalf of anyone in particular, I’ll offer a general apology that others have not achieved the rarefied appreciation of music that you’ve apparently attained. :rolleyes::rolleyes: No wonder no one wants to talk about music with you. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/69 "2014-03-12T19:36:31Z")
> [@Subterraneanus](#): > > It’s also McCartney at his worst. > [@DChord568](#): > > In what way? And what is “it” — “Penny Lane” or “Magical Mystery Tour” (the song)? My two questions exactly.😕 ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/70 "2014-03-13T01:16:29Z")
I’m telling you, the Walrus has staying power! 4 days left, and it’s only 8 behind SFF! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/71 "2014-03-13T02:08:50Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Speaking generally, and not on behalf of anyone in particular, I’ll offer a general apology that others have not achieved the rarefied appreciation of music that you’ve apparently attained. :rolleyes::rolleyes: No apology needed. I realized that I’m cooler than the rest of you a long time ago, and have accepted it. :rolleyes: Still, you gotta admit that #3 and #4 on the list (_Penny Lane_ and _The Fool on the Hill_) are among the schmatziest dreck, the instantest Muzak, the lowest lowest-common-denominator swill they ever put out as a group. Not that I really believe you will admit it, being that you, as a board, are so blind to your lack of taste that you need a white cane and a dog to upgrade to pedestrian. Note: 1. Any personal insults in this post are intended as jokes, not personally. Please don’t take them personally. 2. Though I was always the coolest guy in the room when it came to music, I bought Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first album solely because cute girls kept requesting _Free Bird._ I’m not proud of that. 3. I really don’t like _Penny Lane_ and _The Fool on the Hill_ for the reasons given. I voted for _Baby, You’re a Rich Man_ because it’s loud and stupid, as Rock should be. _Blue Jay Way_ almost got my vote, not because it’s mellow and evocative, but because it’s been stuck in my head the past couple weeks. And I will admit that I ran out and bought the _Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane_ single the day after Dick Clark played the videos in prime time. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/72 "2014-03-13T03:37:14Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > No apology needed. I realized that I’m cooler than the rest of you a long time ago, and have accepted it. :rolleyes: > > Still, you gotta admit that #3 and #4 on the list (_Penny Lane_ and _The Fool on the Hill_) are among the schmatziest dreck, the instantest Muzak, the lowest lowest-common-denominator swill they ever put out as a group. Not that I really believe you will admit it, being that you, as a board, are so blind to your lack of taste that you need a white cane and a dog to upgrade to pedestrian. > Note: > > 1. Any personal insults in this post are intended as jokes, not personally. Please don’t take them personally. My definition of “joke” is “something that’s funny.” Fail. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/73 "2014-03-13T03:45:42Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Still, you gotta admit that #3 and #4 on the list (_Penny Lane_ and _The Fool on the Hill_) are among the schmatziest dreck, the instantest Muzak, the lowest lowest-common-denominator swill they ever put out as a group. > … > 3. I really don’t like _Penny Lane_ and _The Fool on the Hill_ for the reasons given. I voted for _Baby, You’re a Rich Man_ because it’s loud and stupid, as Rock should be. Oh, I get it now! You’re coming from the “Beavis & Butt-head” school of music criticism. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/74 "2014-03-13T04:02:43Z")
I learned from the best, Lester Bangs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/75 "2014-03-13T04:14:02Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > My definition of “joke” is “something that’s funny.” Fail. 😕 That’s a very limiting view of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/76 "2014-03-13T05:03:19Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I learned from the best, Lester Bangs. 😃 Too bad you didn’t learn something from him _besides_ “take a lot of drugs.” ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/77 "2014-03-13T05:30:58Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > 1. Though I was always the coolest guy in the room when it came to music, you really weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/78 "2014-03-13T12:02:14Z")
Well, I _know_ that. Nerdy, cranky, and elitist only equal cool in ones own mind, but it was all I have. That doesn’t change that “Fool on the Hill” is a really crappy song. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/79 "2014-03-13T13:23:49Z")
Yeah, you know, I actually like Paul McCartney and am one of millions “responsible for him having a career”, but I still think **Fool On a Hill** is a pretty crappy song. It has some nice parts to it, but as a whole it doesn’t work at all. It’s easily my least favorite of the “Paul” Beatle songs. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067/80 "2014-03-13T13:56:08Z")
Agreed, JohnT. What’s wrong with that? I’d like to know! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-magical-mystery-tour/683067.md?page=5)