Magical Mystery Tour, Parlophone PCTC 255

Magical Mystery Tour album was issued in U.S. on 27 November 1967 as Capitol MAL 2835 (mono) and SMAL 2835 (stereo). The package was a huge hit with the public, generating the highest level of initial sales of any album to date, and netting the label more than $8 million in just three weeks. Realising the Capitol had created a product too popular to ignore, EMI imported a number of copies to the United Kingdom. This U.S. version of  Magical Mystery Tour officially was released in the United Kingdom on 19 November 1976. When the album was issued in Britain, EMI did a straight pressing from the American album, The left much to be desired as three of the tracks, “Penny Lane”, “Baby You’re A Rich Man” and “All You Need Is Love”, are in fake stereo.

Interesting facts: In 1973 EMI decided to issue a cassette version of the Magical Mystery Tour album. This cassette contained stereo versions of all the tracks included on the album, including a stereo version of “Baby You’re A Rich Man” that had previously been unavalaiblein Britain, although it was included on European pressingsof the album. The cassette also includes the re-recorded version of “All You Need Is Love”, although the album contains the original single version of the song. The album has the catalogue number PCTC 255 but the cassette, in addition to the usual cassette prefix TC, has the confusing number PCS 3077, that places it between theRubber Soul (PCS 3075) and Revolver (PCS 7009) albums.

British version of the Magical Mystery Tour album has a gatefold sleeve and with 28-page full color booklet stapled in gatefold inside. Include white paper EMI custom inner sleeve.

Booklet.

Page 1 and gatefold 1:

Pages 2 & 3:

Pages 4 & 5:

Pages 6 & 7:

Pages 8 & 9:

Pages 10 & 11:

Pages 12 & 13:

Pages 14 & 15:

Pages 16 & 17:

Pages 18 & 19:

Pages 20 & 21:

Pages 22 & 23:

Page 24 and gatefold 2:

1. First pressing, November 19, 1976. Black label with two white-black EMI logos and silver print. “The EMI Records Ltd…” printed at the start perimeter print and “Made In GT. Britain” printed at the end of the perimeter print. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 959-1, Side Two: YEX 960-1.

Parlophone PCTC 255 - MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (gatefold sleeve with 24-page stamped insert)...£ 30.00 / $ 44.00

2. Second pressing, October 1980 until October 1982. Black label with two white-black EMI logos and silver print. “ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER…” printed at the start perimeter print. Importantly, around the 11 ‘o’ clock position in the rimtext the wording is: “…UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING, COPYING AND HIRING…”. Instead, added “MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED” text at the end of the perimeter print. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 959-1, Side Two: YEX 960-1.

3. Third pressing, end of 1982 until 1987. Black label with two white-black EMIlogos and silver print. “ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER…” printed at the start perimeter print. Importantly, around the 11 ‘o’ clock position in the rimtext the wording is: “UNAUTHORISED COPYIN, HIRING, RENTING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING…”. “MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED” text at the end of the perimeter print. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 959-2, Side Two: YEX 960-1.

Variation 1:

Variation 2. Later pressing with large print. Gatefold sleeve with barcode on the back side:

4. Fourth pressing, 1987 – 1991. Black label with two silver EMI logos and silver print. “ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER…” printed at the start perimeter print. Importantly, around the 11 ‘o’ clock position in the rimtext the wording is:“UNAUTHORISED COPYING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING, HIRING AND RENTAL…”. “MADE IN ENGLAND” text at the end of the perimeter print. Gatefold sleeve with barcode on the back side. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 959-1-1-1, Side Two: YEX 960-2-1-1.

On 8th December 1967 the "Magical Mystery Tour" soundtrack was released in the U.K. as a double E.P. package (see The M.M.T. E.P.) but in the United States they had a full L.P. released 11 days earlier on 27th November 1967. Admittedly it was padded out with the singles that had been released in 1967, but, Capitol certainly got their sums right, because with this release (as up to that time) they had the biggest initial sale of ANY album, passing sales of 8 million dollars worth in just three weeks. And by January 1968 they had a number 1 where it stayed for eight weeks. But it should be noted that some of tracks were in mono, as stereo masters had NOT been created at this time.EMI did give it an official IMPORT release. Through the usual E.M.I. ordering procedures British record shops could order it using the U.S. catalogue number of SMAL 2835 and it became the biggest selling import for E.M.I. selling over 50,000 copies, which even took it into the official charts reaching number 31. But, Even more bizarre, this release DID emerge in the U.K. at the time on tape ! The E.M.I. record catalogue reveals a unique catalogue number never to appear on vinyl and a slightly changed title, "Magical Mystery Tour and Other Titles". The album was released on cassette tape (1⅞ ips) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3077 The album was also released on 8-track stereo continuous play cartridges (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X-PCS 3077 During the big Beatles sales push by E.M.I. in 1976 after their contract expired, this L.P. was given a proper official release on the Parlophone label with a catalogue number of PCTC 255 (although the cassette was TC-PCS 3077 !) BUT inexplicably this first official OFFICIAL release was NOT advertised in any way. Consequently, the only U.K. issue of this album failed to chart. It should also be noted that this 1976 edition used the same masters as the original U.S. release, and therefore some tracks were still in mono ... BUT ... another bizarre E.M.I. move ... the cassette DID have "Baby. You're A Rich Man" in stereo. In 1978 a "gold" vinyl edition was released. The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set. On 21st September 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in full stereo, with a catalogue number of CDP 7 48062 2 (although, in the U.K. this WAS released as CD-PCTC 255 !) ... and at this time almost 20 years after it should have been released it did make a fleeting appearance in the charts at number 52 in October 1987. And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered CD Box Set Comprising: The C.D. of "Magical Mystery Tour" + An "It was twenty years ago today" badge + Informative notes in a booklet + A poster This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25/6, and was in a limited edition of 8,000 copies. The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set. 09/09/09 (Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine) - the album was re-released as part of the Beatles In Stereo Remasters collection. 13th September 2009 it re-entered the chart again at number 33 in the ninth highest position of SEVENTEEN chart positions The Beatles captured in one amazing week.          (see the box set detail for the chart position of all 17 titles together) 20th September 2009 - dropped sixteen places down to number 49. 27th September 2009 - dropped twenty-nine places down to number 78 (which is outside the chart for longevity purposes). 4th October 2009 - No longer listed in the Top 100.

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Side 1

Track	Composer	Recording Information	Time
Magical Mystery Tour	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 25th April 1967 - 8 takes Overdubs 26th April 1967 onto take 8 creating take 9 Overdubs 27th April 1967 onto take 9 Brass overdubs 3rd May 1967 onto take 9 Final mix - take 9.	2:48
The Fool On The Hill	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 6th September 1967 - 1 take (solo demo) Group recording 25th September 1967 - 4 takes Overdubs 26th September 1967, take 4 onto take 5 onto take 6 Vocal overdub 27th September 1967 onto take 6 Flute overdubs 20th October 1967 onto take 6 Final mix - take 6.	2:57
Flying	Harrison	Recorded 8th September 1967 - 8 takes   (Initially known as "Aerial Tour Instrumental") Overdubs 28th September 1967 onto take 8 Final mix - take 8.	2:14
Blue Jay way	Harrison	Recorded 6th September 1967 - 1 take (backing track only) Overdubs 7th September 1967, take 1 onto take 2 onto take 3 Overdubs 6th October 1967 onto take 3 Final mix - take 3.	3:54
Your Mother Should Know	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 22nd August 1967 - 8 takes Overdubs 23rd August 1967 onto take 8 creating take 9 A remake 16th September 1967 11 takes (takes 10-20) Overdubs 29th September 1967 onto take 9 (!) - 3 takes (numbered 50-52) Final mix - take 52.	2:26
I Am The Walrus	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 5th September 1967 - 16 takes Overdubs 6th September 1967 onto take 16 creating take 17 Overdubs 27th September 1967 onto take 17, 3 takes (18-20) + Edit pieces called takes 21-24 + take 20 mixed down to create take 25 Mixing 28th September 1967, take 25 back in to take 17 King Lear overdubs 29th September 1967 onto new take 17   (I do have the ACTUAL King Lear BBC broadcast somewhere) Final mix - the new take 17.	4:34

Side 2

Track	Composer	Recording Information	Time
Hello Goodbye	Lennon-McCartney	See single detail Hello Goodbye	3:27
Strawberry Fields Forever	Lennon-McCartney	See single detail Strawberry Fields Forever	4:06
Penny Lane	Lennon-McCartney	See single detail for Strawberry Fields Forever	3:00
Baby You're A Rich Man	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 11th May 1967 12 takes Final mix - take 12.	3:01
All You Need Is Love	Lennon-McCartney	Recorded 14th June 1967 - 33 takes Overdubs 19th June onto take 10 Orchestral overdubs 23rd June 1967 takes 34-43 onto take 10 More orchestral overdubs 24th June 1967 takes 44-47 onto take 10 Rehearsal takes 25th June 48-57, the live take being take 58 Final mix - take 58.	3:47

Released Versions

First pressings (1968)

Import Version on SMAL 2835 - Capitol Records - black label with colourband.

Second Pressings (1976)

Normal and only standard issue.

Third Pressings (1978)

Yellow vinyl edition.

Magical Mystery Tour - Yellow Vinyl Set	Magical Mystery Tour - Label Detail

At this time a Yellow vinyl version was pressed here by Parlophone/EMI in the UK for EXPORT purposes only.
This album was not supposed to be available to purchase in UK record stores.
The Yellow album is on the black and silver Parlophone Label with 'EMI Records Ltd' label rim and 'Made in UK' label text.
The catalogue number, PCTC 255 is stamped in the trail out groove, together with the matrix YEX 959.
The album comes in a plain white inner sleeve and is housed in a GATEFOLD Picture Sleeve, incorporating a 24 Page Colour Booklet stapled within it.
The booklet features scenes from the film Magical Mystery Tour, together with the lyrics to the songs.

Fourth Pressings (1995)

Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label.
The sleeve has a printed statement which reads:
"This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.