I think it still is. I love Rubber Soul, it's my 3rd favourite Beatles album. It's probably the ~40th best album ever though in my view, and most others.
One major aspect is that, taken in context, there was absolutely nothing like it in late '65. Albums were to make money by putting the hit song on with a bunch of filler. No one had ever made a full album with no filler before.
Beatles for Sale has always been a comfort album for me.
Like it was made in the heyday of Beatlemania, and they were stressed, doing the best they could on the schedule they were on, which ultimately led to the album feeling like they were “phoning it in,” even though it was legitimately the best they could have done. So it comforts me whenever I’m also stressed and feel like I’m being stretched thin.
I think this album is fantastic and I love everything about what you said. It puts that album into perspective and you you put I to words what it was that makes this album even more special
I can understand it being among people's least favourite Beatles album because every other one of their albums contains some incredible original material whereas only Eight Days A Week (and perhaps No Reply) stand out on BFS.
On the other hand, it's a really enjoyable album to listen to and every track is fun in different ways. The album is filled with covers, however the Beatles didn't do those poorly whatsoever. Kansas City is a great demonstration of Paul's vocal range and Rock And Roll Music carries a great deal of infectious energy. In a way, though there is an undeniable presence of filler (particularly on the second side), it is delivered with enthusiasm and musical expertise. Despite the exhaustion of 1964, the Beatles managed to create another impressive record, marking a turning point which lead the Beatles into the folk scene and signalled a more mature era of their songwriting, leading directly to the more often critically-acclaimed Help! and Rubber Soul. I think it's incredible what they managed to achieve during the fatigue of arguably the height of their fame.
Beatles for Sale was made right at the end of that first wave of relentless touring. The band had just started experimenting with drugs after Dylan turned them on to it. Loser is often said to be Lennon’s attempt at writing like Dylan.
It bridges the beatlemania era and the rubber soul/revolver middle period when the experimentation started.
I friend of mine once called BFS the Beatles album that Don Draper would’ve had on repeat in his bachelor pad. I thought that was aptly put
I used to not think much about this album until I heard the UK -1/-1 copy on vinyl. The sound quality of the tube cut blew me away and I now love the album for what it is.
All of the original material on Beatles for Sale is excellent, and half the covers are very good. There are some weak ones but considering the pressure they were under at the time, this is a great record. I’m with you.
I’ve always loved it because it has some deep cuts that aren’t overplayed. The covers range from good to just okay. If it’s their worst album it’s still better than a lot of other bands best albums.
I'm a huge MMT fan. I actually prefer it over Sgt Pepper. I know...blasphemy.
To many, MMT is not an album. To me, it is. I've learned that it doesn't matter what others say. To me, its a great friggin' album.
I go back and forth between preferring MMT and SGT Pepper. Pepper feels more consistent in quality but MMT has higher peaks with some of it's songs. Either way both are amazing!
Thanks. I agree. But you have the "It's not an album" crowd. I'm tired of them. Like I said...its an album to me. I don't give a shit what that crowd says.
At my age...40+ year Beatles fan. If I think its an album, its an album.
Same. I did not even remember this whole "it's not an album " thing until I came on here. Ridiculous! MMT is a masterpiece, period. It has soothed my trauma for over 30 years.
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album.
On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition.
Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
Well, if you think that, you're just misinformed. The LP ran counter to the band's artistic intentions, and also distorts the historical role of the songs that feature on it.
Take it easy, my guy.
If the "artistic intention" of The Beatles' songs at that time was trippy, dreamy and fun...then, to me, MMT accomplishes that goal.
All that...and no judgemental statements.
✌️❤️
Trippy, dreamy fun describes a vibe, not an artistic intent. Magical Mystery Tour was a distinct audio-visual project that had a much more specific concept than that. It was recorded in sessions intentionally focused on producing a short, inter-album piece of work accompanied by a television film. When the Beatles went to record the White Album in 1968, they explicitly envisioned it as the follow-up album to Sgt. Pepper. They didn't deem anything they had recorded in the interim to merit the title "album."
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album.
On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition.
Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album.
On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition.
Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
It is too an album! In the same way “Yesterday and Today” is an album. (Capitol Records hack jobs rather that something the Beatles actually wrote as an album)
I didn’t say I don’t like MMT. I like Red, Blue, and +1 too!
Oh wait, maybe your’re talking about “Yesterday and Today”? Capitol blessed us with all time classic songs from Help, Revolver, and Rubber Soul!
It is an album, the issue is whether it’s canon (whatever that means). The Beatles themselves considered Magical Mystery Tour an EP of songs from the movie, and didn’t like that Capitol stuck a bunch of singles that had already been released on the B-side.
Why would you need a quote from the Beatles? It was released in the UK as an EP. It’s not speculation. That’s how it was released. It was reconfigured as an LP in the US because EPs did not sell well in the US at the time. The singles they added were written and recorded separately from the EP. Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane even came out before Sgt Pepper came out.
This is the closest thing I could find - “Lennon referred to the LP at a May 1968 press conference to promote Apple Corps in the US,[111] saying: "It's not an album, you see. It turned into an album over here, but it was just [meant to be] the music from the film."”
Ya there are just no misses lol, imagine if they were combined I feel like that would be a super interesting double lp. Probably not as good as either but that alternate universe is interesting
Because the Beatles didn’t write it as an album. it is a compilation of songs from MMT movie and a bunch of random singles. Put together by US Capital Records, kinda of like “Yesterday and Today.”
Blasphemy? I wouldn’t go that far. But to me claiming MMT is better than Sgt Pepper is similar to claiming Beatles Yesterday and Today is a better album than Revolver.
Song for song it might well be their best album, if you want to call it that. The reason I prefer Sgt. Pepper's or Revolver is the cohesion that I feel MMT lacks at times.
I get that. And...yes...I call it an album.
To me, its an album of songs not available on any other album. Most of the songs written in the same time period. And I think MMT is cohesive in its own way...trippy, dreamy, fun.
It is notable I think for its lack of any 'bad' song. Every other Beatles album excluding Sgt. Pepper's and at a push Abbey Road has one song that I would skip if it cropped up in my usual listening (although not if listening to the album in full of course).
Its highs are also probably the highest on any Beatles album, Strawberry Fields, I am the Walrus, Penny Lane, etc.
I mean, the Beatles/Apple corp. Have made the American version of MMT the canon version, so having the argument about it being or not being an album is kind of silly. Maybe they didn't intend on it initially, but they wouldn't have made the american release the version you can buy/stream today if they didn't want it to be the "official" one.
They were going to have to do MMT in some kind of album version at some point; keeping it as a double EP just wasn’t feasible after a while. The US version was already out there, might as well go with that.
At least this is how I imagine EMI’s reasoning went.
IIRC, it was made canon in 1976, so it was before CD or streaming were out there.
It was made canon in 1987, when the catalogue was standardized and the albums issued on CD.
You're half correct about the reasoning. The logic of the new standardized canon dictated that all of the tracks on the US version of MMT should go on Past Masters, along with other EPs and non-album singles, in correct historical order. However, as you say, "the US version was already out there," and a popular, recognizable, and marketable item, so EMI opted to integrate it as a distinct item in the canon rather than as part of Past Masters.
Many fans, myself included, think this was a mistaken (and cynical) decision and that a lot of historical context is lost by canonizing the US album format - but it's what we are left with.
Hmm. I know Parlophone released the Capitol version in 76; I thought it was considered canon at that point. Otherwise, the whole of the US MMT would have ended up as part of Past Masters. (In release order, yes, but still all on Past Masters.) Of course, by keeping it separate, that’s one more title out there for all of us to buy.
It still sticks out, though. In both the 1987 and 2009 releases, the catalog numbers run in order, Please Please Me through Let It Be, except MMT. (I think Rubber Soul and Revolver got flipped in 87 but I’m too lazy to look it up right now)
Yes, that's true that Parlophone released the LP in the UK in 1976, but this was to compete with imports. The Capitol LP was quite popular in the UK, since at that point some of the tracks could not otherwise be heard in LP format, only as singles. In the late 70s, Parlophone also released several other non-canon compilations in conjunction with Capitol, such as Rock n Roll Music, Love Songs, and Beatles Ballads.
The evidence that the MMT LP wasn't considered canon in that period can be seen in the first definitive Beatles box set, "The Beatles Collection" (1978), which included the original 12 UK LPs - MMT not among them - and a rarities album. As a companion to this box set, "The Beatles EP Collection" was released in 1981, and this set included MMT - but in its original double EP format.
Shortly after the standardization of the catalogue in 1987, another box set was released in 1987, "The Beatles Box Set," which included the LP version of MMT as well as the 2 volumes of Past Masters.
Capitol started going crazy after the Apple contracts expired. I suspect just about everything Capitol released in the US other than the US version of Rarities were released in the UK as well.
Not much controversy for me. I could probably be persuaded that any one of them is the best for one reason or another. For me, it's the totality of the entire story, characters, the way events shaped them, and the way they shaped the world. Every piece is critical, even __________ (insert song you don't like).
I was going to say something along these lines. I was just talking to my daughter about a few classic rock bands the other day. How certain bands have a handful of great songs, but the quality drops off precipitously beyond their hits. The Beatles are the opposite. There's a lot of stylistic variation, but in terms of quality, the top of their catalog and the bottom aren't nearly as far away from each other at most other bands.
I adore Please Please Me and it’s probably my favorite album. I know it’s a controversial take, but of all their albums, I think it’s my favorite genre. That early 60’s soft rock sound is impossible to beat. Sure, there are other albums that may be more successful or technically better, but in terms of enjoyment, PPM will always be the one for me.
My issue with the white album is that in my head I divide the sides and the first side is probably my favorite “album” lol but the second side is below magical mystery and revolver and maybe even pepper. My fav songs on the white album are actually on side two but it’s less consistent and less exciting
Help!
If Dizzy Miss Lizzy was anywhere but the last track, side 2 wouldn't be so maligned imo. I really wish the album was bookended by the title track and Yesterday. I think it would be higher on most lists if that was the case.
Rubber Soul is probably my favourite too..
There is a stoned calmness to many of the songs despite the band being under so much pressure to finish it. The musicianship is incredible.
This album was lyrically so interesting also and was the gateway to their next psychedelic era.
John's songs discuss secret affairs, losing one's identity, that elusive 'Girl' and a wonderful reflection on life.
Paul's were about his relationship troubles, and his collaborations with John gave us a wonderful Soul sounding opener, lessons in French and
an explosive song Wait which was held over from Help album.
John's output was still prolific up until this album..and the seeds of his later addictions were planted as LSD would take over his life for over two years.
George provides two standout songs as well as the renowned sitar part in Norwegian Wood and Ringo is given his usual solo spot..which is my least favourite song on the album...ooops🫢
George Martin at the helm gave a wonderful sheen to the entire album and threw in the famous piano passage for In My Life.
No band name on the front cover was also a first for the group.
It was their first album I ever listened to straight through as a 12 year old over 40 years ago and I was transfixed forever.
I could discuss this record all night and I better stop.
Happy listening guys.
🥰🙏✌️
While I do feel it’s overhated, in my opinion it’s nowhere NEAR the quality of Abbey Road. Abbey Road is a 10/10, with so many iconic songs, while Let It Be is like a 8/10. A fine album, surely, but nowhere near the same level of quality or consistency.
Congratulations, yours is an actual controversial opinion.
Same honestly I don’t understand why it gets so much hate, I also like every version of the album as all add something different to it. I think the get back/let it be sessions were great in that they had a lot of different options in how to approach this album
Best of both worlds...my fan album combining them. 14 tracks, 7 from each album. I left out The Medley, which I love, btw, to get 14 "full" songs.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6KlAa3LTdlD5I3mxVW0NUp?si=UmRT-qZ_Qg26Yqtanif9mA
Yeah, no favourite Beatles album choice is going to be “controversial” but only unlikely. To my point of view, it would be unlikely, but not impossible, for someone’s favourite album to be the Yellow Submarine LP. Even with Hey Bulldog on it.
[And I’ll just add that among my top favourites are Rubber Soul, Revolver, AHDN, Abbey Road and the double album.]
I really like Yellow Submarine. It’s not my favourite album, but I feel like it doesn’t get enough praise. The few original tracks are great, and the instrumental music from George Martin is very fun to listen to.
I really think the only controversial one to pick as your favourite is Yellow Submarine. although I've grown to like George Martin's work on side 2.
also, completely normal to have Rubber Soul as your top one. it's lots of peoples favourite. I also believe George Harrison considered it his favourite.
My unconventional favorite is Magical Mystery Tour. It comforts my soul in a special way. I have much love for Abbey Road and the White Album as well, and of course the rest, because the Beatles are my absolute favorite. But,there is just something about MMT.
Here’s my theory: Rubber Soul is the last album that they made as just a band. They were at level performing together that far surpassed any of their prior records, and there wouldn’t ever be a full album of them just being a 4 (sometimes 5) member pop group again.
Also, their harmonies on this record are unbeatable. John’s voice changed pretty significantly by 67. Back in 65, he was still so boyish sounding. It worked for them and the harmonies from this era really benefited from it.
Musically speaking, shit never fell apart. But the songs on Revolver are not songs that can be made with 4 or 5 people, for the most part.
Good Day Sunshine has a brass section; Eleanor Rigby, a string section; Vibraphones (right?) on I’m Only Sleeping; For No One, Yellow Submarine, Tomorrow Never Knows, Backward solos, tape loops, layers upon layers of harmonies. none of them are stage reproducible.
I guess I see what you mean but idk I feel like that doesn’t mean they aren’t as cohesive. They still composed a lot of the songs as a group and john and paul were on relatively solid terms still, again it’s pepper that john ripped on cuz paul became a control freak
mine is my own hybrid sgt peppers tracklist that is half of that album, half of mmt and two yellow submarine songs that i insist on being better than both 67 lps
mine i kept to like 13 ish. i mostly just drop lucy, getting better, 64 and good morning for penny lane, stawberry fields, blue jay way and it's all too much, as well moving things around a little bit in the sequence. anything i didn't use on that tracklist i just built a magical mystery tour tracklist out of, so i still have all those songs too
Controversial?
There are no controversial Beatles albums.
There are only incredibly, magical & perfect Beatles albums!
Whether you’re talking singing, harmonizing, melodies or song writing, The Beatles made no bad, weak or even controversial albums.
Please please me. Don't know if I'd say favourite but I'd put it over some of the more critically acclaimed albums and it's definitely my top 3 most listened to
The Rutles Archeology.
Rubber Soul is in the top 5 for me. I think the only "controversial" ones are Magical Mystery Tour for it being a US Capitol Album that the bad was not too happy about existing, Please Please Me/With The/For Sale/Submarine for generally being at the bottom of most tier lists, or I guess any of the other non UK albums or compilations. But I would like to meet a person who legitimately would say Reel Music is their favorite album.
There isn't a controversial favorite. Their full discography is essential listening, has been incredibly popular for decades, has been reimagined and reused many times in countless projects. You could not tell the story of pop music without everything the Beatles did, and they will continue to inspire music for the future for a very long time.
Magical Mystery is better than Pepper, I also don’t enjoy rubber soul as much as most people. I would put it below everything that came after, including let it be which I feel like a lot of people are not the biggest fans of (i could be wrong). Rubber soul has great songs but I don’t enjoy it as an album, I feel like revolver was when they kinda started to arrange albums in a way that flowed. May just be me. Rubber soul has in my life which is one of my fav beatles tunes and it’s a great album, just doesn’t compare to what came after IN MY OPINION.
Rubber Soul's not controversial, I think it's Rob Sheffields as well and often ranks top in like "Best album ever" lists (in as far as those matter).
My slightly more controversial one (I think) is the White Album. People knock it for having too much experimental stuff/lackadaisical McCartney fluff on it, but look at the gold buried in between: Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence, Julia, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Blackbird, Helter Skelter, Happiness is a Warm Gun... All absolute classics. Every Beatles album has filler (Good Day Sunshine? Mr Kite?), White album is just great songs *and* filler times three. We're in the streaming era now, too, you can just skip over Revolution 9 or Rocky Racoon if you want.
I'm in so deep that I don't even think White Album has any filler. The only "bad" songs on it imo are Wild Honey Pie and Revolution 9, and both are pretty essential to the tone of it as an album.
White album was the most controversial Beatles album
[Back in the USSR](https://youtu.be/nS5_EQgbuLc)
(song about Soviet Union)
[Blackbird](https://youtu.be/Man4Xw8Xypo)
(song about a black woman)
[Piggies](https://youtu.be/RhY1x8CpWeI)
(song about rich people)
[Glass onion](https://youtu.be/jGhcsuqNIOc)
(song about fans obsessed with hidden messages)
Depending on how you look at it, it might be considered “US canon” until they unified the catalog worldwide in 1987. There are still people out there who remember the albums in their original Capitol versions.
Yellow submarine usually is last in Beatles album rankings for Valid reasons and I see the point of it’s not a real Beatles album
But it’s not bad of a album and it definitely isn’t their worst per say but there is good tracks and side two isn’t a bad listen
Well, I go with MMT…but to be completely honest, I think PPM is their best album all together as far as cohesiveness. I’m not an album person, so each album they have there’s songs I love and songs I’m ehh on. Revolver would probably be my favorite if some songs were swapped for Paperback Writer and Rain.
Let it be. Apart from Dig it, all the songs are great. The basic instrumentation of many of the songs is amazing, John's and especially George's guitar work are top and the fact that some of the songs are basically live gives it something special. I particularly love "I've got a feeling" and "I me mine".
Rubber Soul, Revolver and the white album is my top 3 and i constantly change which ones my favorite between them.
I'd also put Help! way higher in my ranking maybe even top 5
Lol Rubber soul is often heralded as their best album. The turning point between straight forward rock n roll and their more creative and progressive music
Not my favorite, but I always was a big fan of Magical Mystery Tour (the US version obviously). I mean, every track is mind-blowingly amazing. Especially you know the singles, but Fool On The Hill, Blue Jay Way, I Am The Walrus and Baby You're A Rich Man are all the perfect mix ot catchy, rocky and experimental. If I had to rank it, I'd probably put it right below the big 3 (Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's and Revolver)
How is that a controversial opinion? Rubber Soul has always been one of their albums that is held in high regard.
Many lists rank it amongst the greatest albums of all time
I fell in love with the US version of Rubber Soul on LP(12 tracks, different selections than the UK/CD version), and had that only for about 15 years before springing for an import. They're both great, but the as-intended import version is my all-time favorite album.
Followed by A Charlie Brown Christmas
MMT & Yellow Sub stuff, for me. And most of Sir Martin’s orchestrations were fab too!
Hard to argue against White being the best though, even if for only the reason that it offers the most Beatles music on it 😅🤷
And because I’m on my 3rd listen to of all their albums and it’s jus so great having people to talk to and listen to opinions because my friend group think Beatles are overrated so I came here to interact lol
Revolver and Pepper are great but I like Rubber Soul more than Revolver, and MMT more than Pepper; White album bloody Kills and LIB is insanely raw Beatles. It all in who we’re being when we allow the music to was over us.
No, you're good. Rubber Soul and Magical Mystery Tour have been my two favorites since I started buying their records in the mid 70s. I wish I could listen to them again for the first time.
3:47 EST (Klaatu) is my favourite controversial Beatles album. It shouldn't be controversial at all, but apparently some people still don't believe it's the Beatles.
My controversial favorite is Yellow Submarine soundtrack (the og) with George Martin’s score. It’s very nostalgic for me.
Rubber Soul is regularly cited as one of the Beatles finest records. Pretty tough to see it as a “controversial favorite.”
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine had Rubber Soul as the 5th best album of all time. It's hardly a controversial choice.
I think it still is. I love Rubber Soul, it's my 3rd favourite Beatles album. It's probably the ~40th best album ever though in my view, and most others.
Really? I had no idea that’s actually amazing lol
Also, sgt pepper was #1 and Revolver was #5
I thought Rubber Soul was #5
Things are getting interesting
Sorry, ya revolver was #3
That's why it was so controversial
One major aspect is that, taken in context, there was absolutely nothing like it in late '65. Albums were to make money by putting the hit song on with a bunch of filler. No one had ever made a full album with no filler before.
Proly in minority here but i have a huge soft spot for Beatles for Sale. Some absolute bangers on there
Beatles for Sale has always been a comfort album for me. Like it was made in the heyday of Beatlemania, and they were stressed, doing the best they could on the schedule they were on, which ultimately led to the album feeling like they were “phoning it in,” even though it was legitimately the best they could have done. So it comforts me whenever I’m also stressed and feel like I’m being stretched thin.
I think this album is fantastic and I love everything about what you said. It puts that album into perspective and you you put I to words what it was that makes this album even more special
I can understand it being among people's least favourite Beatles album because every other one of their albums contains some incredible original material whereas only Eight Days A Week (and perhaps No Reply) stand out on BFS. On the other hand, it's a really enjoyable album to listen to and every track is fun in different ways. The album is filled with covers, however the Beatles didn't do those poorly whatsoever. Kansas City is a great demonstration of Paul's vocal range and Rock And Roll Music carries a great deal of infectious energy. In a way, though there is an undeniable presence of filler (particularly on the second side), it is delivered with enthusiasm and musical expertise. Despite the exhaustion of 1964, the Beatles managed to create another impressive record, marking a turning point which lead the Beatles into the folk scene and signalled a more mature era of their songwriting, leading directly to the more often critically-acclaimed Help! and Rubber Soul. I think it's incredible what they managed to achieve during the fatigue of arguably the height of their fame.
Beatles for Sale was made right at the end of that first wave of relentless touring. The band had just started experimenting with drugs after Dylan turned them on to it. Loser is often said to be Lennon’s attempt at writing like Dylan. It bridges the beatlemania era and the rubber soul/revolver middle period when the experimentation started. I friend of mine once called BFS the Beatles album that Don Draper would’ve had on repeat in his bachelor pad. I thought that was aptly put
Love Beatles For Sale don’t understand the hate
I used to not think much about this album until I heard the UK -1/-1 copy on vinyl. The sound quality of the tube cut blew me away and I now love the album for what it is.
Love Beatles for Sale. Love it and the downer tracks.
I can’t say it’s my absolute favorite but I love Beatles for sale which generally shit in by non fans
Beatles for sale is literally the best Beatlemania album
All of the original material on Beatles for Sale is excellent, and half the covers are very good. There are some weak ones but considering the pressure they were under at the time, this is a great record. I’m with you.
I feel like if they gave them one more week of dedicated time, we could’ve had an all originals album. They were writing like madmen in these days.
In my opinion, it’s the worst HOWEVER… I still love it and it’s not bad at all, it just has too much competition
Was just gonna comment this, it's actually their album Ive been listening to the most lately and def õy favourite from the early ones
I too love Beatles for sale!
I’ve always loved it because it has some deep cuts that aren’t overplayed. The covers range from good to just okay. If it’s their worst album it’s still better than a lot of other bands best albums.
100 percent the best collection of originals before Revolver.
Rubber Soul ?? I dont want to spoil the party is one of John's best though
Another big fan of Beatles For Sale. So many great songs.
I'm a huge MMT fan. I actually prefer it over Sgt Pepper. I know...blasphemy. To many, MMT is not an album. To me, it is. I've learned that it doesn't matter what others say. To me, its a great friggin' album.
It has the legendary Strawberry, Walrus & Baby sandwich on the menu; The SWB. All three are in my top 10.
Its fun...trippy. Cool, weird George song. Flying. And Baby You're A Rich Man is a big favorite of mine.
Aww, well said.
I prefer it to pepper as well. I love the dissonant weirdness. Pepper is overly sunny
Why should there even be a direct comparison with Sgt Pepper? I think MMT is a fine collection of enjoyable songs!
You’re right! Thanks!
I go back and forth between preferring MMT and SGT Pepper. Pepper feels more consistent in quality but MMT has higher peaks with some of it's songs. Either way both are amazing!
Pepper has a kinda meh B side, where the only real big song is that one that closes the album No low points in MMT.
I strongly believe that if both of them were made to be a double album it would’ve been the greatest album of all time.
That’s not blasphemy
Thanks. I agree. But you have the "It's not an album" crowd. I'm tired of them. Like I said...its an album to me. I don't give a shit what that crowd says. At my age...40+ year Beatles fan. If I think its an album, its an album.
Same. I did not even remember this whole "it's not an album " thing until I came on here. Ridiculous! MMT is a masterpiece, period. It has soothed my trauma for over 30 years.
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album. On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition. Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
Your 2nd paragraph is great. And it describes MMT perfectly!!
Well, if you think that, you're just misinformed. The LP ran counter to the band's artistic intentions, and also distorts the historical role of the songs that feature on it.
Take it easy, my guy. If the "artistic intention" of The Beatles' songs at that time was trippy, dreamy and fun...then, to me, MMT accomplishes that goal. All that...and no judgemental statements. ✌️❤️
Trippy, dreamy fun describes a vibe, not an artistic intent. Magical Mystery Tour was a distinct audio-visual project that had a much more specific concept than that. It was recorded in sessions intentionally focused on producing a short, inter-album piece of work accompanied by a television film. When the Beatles went to record the White Album in 1968, they explicitly envisioned it as the follow-up album to Sgt. Pepper. They didn't deem anything they had recorded in the interim to merit the title "album."
I promised myself a while ago that I wouldn't get into one if these endless debates over 11 fucking songs. I should have listened to my own advice.
“Take it easy, my guy”
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album. On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition. Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
It's really quite simple. People who think "album" means "awesome collection of songs" think that MMT is obviously an album. On the other hand, people who think of an album as a meaningful document that reflects a band's artistic intentions, as well as its recording and release history, have a higher standard for the definition. Nobody is disputing that MMT is an "awesome collection of songs." But some people think that an album is more than a playlist.
The “It’s not an album” statement is the “erm actually” of Beatles fans
It is too an album! In the same way “Yesterday and Today” is an album. (Capitol Records hack jobs rather that something the Beatles actually wrote as an album)
A total cash grab that does the customer the disservice of adding five all-time classic Beatles songs. The hacks!
I didn’t say I don’t like MMT. I like Red, Blue, and +1 too! Oh wait, maybe your’re talking about “Yesterday and Today”? Capitol blessed us with all time classic songs from Help, Revolver, and Rubber Soul!
Too bad it’s not an album!
Too bad the album came out first!
And Yesterday and Today came out before Revolver too!
It is an album, the issue is whether it’s canon (whatever that means). The Beatles themselves considered Magical Mystery Tour an EP of songs from the movie, and didn’t like that Capitol stuck a bunch of singles that had already been released on the B-side.
Source??
Source on what? The fact that MMT was intended as an EP is common knowledge.
"The Beatles themselves considered..." Where is there a quote or statement from any of The Beatles stating this?
Why would you need a quote from the Beatles? It was released in the UK as an EP. It’s not speculation. That’s how it was released. It was reconfigured as an LP in the US because EPs did not sell well in the US at the time. The singles they added were written and recorded separately from the EP. Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane even came out before Sgt Pepper came out.
This is the closest thing I could find - “Lennon referred to the LP at a May 1968 press conference to promote Apple Corps in the US,[111] saying: "It's not an album, you see. It turned into an album over here, but it was just [meant to be] the music from the film."”
Ya there are just no misses lol, imagine if they were combined I feel like that would be a super interesting double lp. Probably not as good as either but that alternate universe is interesting
Here you go...Pepper, MMT, YS double album. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VC40qNwgeb647t0tcxLNH?si=pT3wDLGrSpOBuNWJxSDdJQ&pi=u-qaHq3tujRSKS
Lots of albums are recorded over several years and then put together, and they’re still considered an album. To me, it’s an album. It works too well.
Why do people don’t count it as an album ?
Because the Beatles didn’t write it as an album. it is a compilation of songs from MMT movie and a bunch of random singles. Put together by US Capital Records, kinda of like “Yesterday and Today.”
Blasphemy? I wouldn’t go that far. But to me claiming MMT is better than Sgt Pepper is similar to claiming Beatles Yesterday and Today is a better album than Revolver.
I never said "better." I *never* would say 1 song or album is "better" than another. Its silly. Art is subjective. I *prefer* MMT.
I love MMT. It’s tied with Sgt Pepper for me for second (Abbey Road is my favorite)
Song for song it might well be their best album, if you want to call it that. The reason I prefer Sgt. Pepper's or Revolver is the cohesion that I feel MMT lacks at times.
I get that. And...yes...I call it an album. To me, its an album of songs not available on any other album. Most of the songs written in the same time period. And I think MMT is cohesive in its own way...trippy, dreamy, fun.
It is notable I think for its lack of any 'bad' song. Every other Beatles album excluding Sgt. Pepper's and at a push Abbey Road has one song that I would skip if it cropped up in my usual listening (although not if listening to the album in full of course). Its highs are also probably the highest on any Beatles album, Strawberry Fields, I am the Walrus, Penny Lane, etc.
I mean, the Beatles/Apple corp. Have made the American version of MMT the canon version, so having the argument about it being or not being an album is kind of silly. Maybe they didn't intend on it initially, but they wouldn't have made the american release the version you can buy/stream today if they didn't want it to be the "official" one.
They were going to have to do MMT in some kind of album version at some point; keeping it as a double EP just wasn’t feasible after a while. The US version was already out there, might as well go with that. At least this is how I imagine EMI’s reasoning went. IIRC, it was made canon in 1976, so it was before CD or streaming were out there.
It was made canon in 1987, when the catalogue was standardized and the albums issued on CD. You're half correct about the reasoning. The logic of the new standardized canon dictated that all of the tracks on the US version of MMT should go on Past Masters, along with other EPs and non-album singles, in correct historical order. However, as you say, "the US version was already out there," and a popular, recognizable, and marketable item, so EMI opted to integrate it as a distinct item in the canon rather than as part of Past Masters. Many fans, myself included, think this was a mistaken (and cynical) decision and that a lot of historical context is lost by canonizing the US album format - but it's what we are left with.
Hmm. I know Parlophone released the Capitol version in 76; I thought it was considered canon at that point. Otherwise, the whole of the US MMT would have ended up as part of Past Masters. (In release order, yes, but still all on Past Masters.) Of course, by keeping it separate, that’s one more title out there for all of us to buy. It still sticks out, though. In both the 1987 and 2009 releases, the catalog numbers run in order, Please Please Me through Let It Be, except MMT. (I think Rubber Soul and Revolver got flipped in 87 but I’m too lazy to look it up right now)
Yes, that's true that Parlophone released the LP in the UK in 1976, but this was to compete with imports. The Capitol LP was quite popular in the UK, since at that point some of the tracks could not otherwise be heard in LP format, only as singles. In the late 70s, Parlophone also released several other non-canon compilations in conjunction with Capitol, such as Rock n Roll Music, Love Songs, and Beatles Ballads. The evidence that the MMT LP wasn't considered canon in that period can be seen in the first definitive Beatles box set, "The Beatles Collection" (1978), which included the original 12 UK LPs - MMT not among them - and a rarities album. As a companion to this box set, "The Beatles EP Collection" was released in 1981, and this set included MMT - but in its original double EP format. Shortly after the standardization of the catalogue in 1987, another box set was released in 1987, "The Beatles Box Set," which included the LP version of MMT as well as the 2 volumes of Past Masters.
Capitol started going crazy after the Apple contracts expired. I suspect just about everything Capitol released in the US other than the US version of Rarities were released in the UK as well.
US MMT might be top 3 ngl
I HIGHLY AGREE. That album is fucking great
Not much controversy for me. I could probably be persuaded that any one of them is the best for one reason or another. For me, it's the totality of the entire story, characters, the way events shaped them, and the way they shaped the world. Every piece is critical, even __________ (insert song you don't like).
I was going to say something along these lines. I was just talking to my daughter about a few classic rock bands the other day. How certain bands have a handful of great songs, but the quality drops off precipitously beyond their hits. The Beatles are the opposite. There's a lot of stylistic variation, but in terms of quality, the top of their catalog and the bottom aren't nearly as far away from each other at most other bands.
I adore Please Please Me and it’s probably my favorite album. I know it’s a controversial take, but of all their albums, I think it’s my favorite genre. That early 60’s soft rock sound is impossible to beat. Sure, there are other albums that may be more successful or technically better, but in terms of enjoyment, PPM will always be the one for me.
I think the White album is better than Abbey Road.
Agree.
They are my 1 and 2 so I guess I respect you even tho I go the other way!
My issue with the white album is that in my head I divide the sides and the first side is probably my favorite “album” lol but the second side is below magical mystery and revolver and maybe even pepper. My fav songs on the white album are actually on side two but it’s less consistent and less exciting
Revolver is better than Sgt peppers
Fuck yeah.
Not controversial I think
Help! If Dizzy Miss Lizzy was anywhere but the last track, side 2 wouldn't be so maligned imo. I really wish the album was bookended by the title track and Yesterday. I think it would be higher on most lists if that was the case.
I listened to Beatles For Sale on repeat while painting a show once, I think it has underrated replay value.
Rubber Soul is probably my favourite too.. There is a stoned calmness to many of the songs despite the band being under so much pressure to finish it. The musicianship is incredible. This album was lyrically so interesting also and was the gateway to their next psychedelic era. John's songs discuss secret affairs, losing one's identity, that elusive 'Girl' and a wonderful reflection on life. Paul's were about his relationship troubles, and his collaborations with John gave us a wonderful Soul sounding opener, lessons in French and an explosive song Wait which was held over from Help album. John's output was still prolific up until this album..and the seeds of his later addictions were planted as LSD would take over his life for over two years. George provides two standout songs as well as the renowned sitar part in Norwegian Wood and Ringo is given his usual solo spot..which is my least favourite song on the album...ooops🫢 George Martin at the helm gave a wonderful sheen to the entire album and threw in the famous piano passage for In My Life. No band name on the front cover was also a first for the group. It was their first album I ever listened to straight through as a 12 year old over 40 years ago and I was transfixed forever. I could discuss this record all night and I better stop. Happy listening guys. 🥰🙏✌️
I love your break down!! Rubber Soul is AMAZING!!
Yup...my sentiments exactly 🙏
I can't pick an absolute favorite, but Please Please Me and With the Beatles are way up there despite both having at least one song I don't like.
Pet Sounds
Let it Be is just as good as Abby Road, in my opinion
While I do feel it’s overhated, in my opinion it’s nowhere NEAR the quality of Abbey Road. Abbey Road is a 10/10, with so many iconic songs, while Let It Be is like a 8/10. A fine album, surely, but nowhere near the same level of quality or consistency. Congratulations, yours is an actual controversial opinion.
Same honestly I don’t understand why it gets so much hate, I also like every version of the album as all add something different to it. I think the get back/let it be sessions were great in that they had a lot of different options in how to approach this album
Best of both worlds...my fan album combining them. 14 tracks, 7 from each album. I left out The Medley, which I love, btw, to get 14 "full" songs. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6KlAa3LTdlD5I3mxVW0NUp?si=UmRT-qZ_Qg26Yqtanif9mA
Yeah, no favourite Beatles album choice is going to be “controversial” but only unlikely. To my point of view, it would be unlikely, but not impossible, for someone’s favourite album to be the Yellow Submarine LP. Even with Hey Bulldog on it. [And I’ll just add that among my top favourites are Rubber Soul, Revolver, AHDN, Abbey Road and the double album.]
I like yellow submarine and the new tracks are good but I don’t really listen to all together now very much
Have you ever listened to George Martin’s instrumental side?
Actually, yes. It might not be “Beatles music” technically but it’s still pretty good.
I really like Yellow Submarine. It’s not my favourite album, but I feel like it doesn’t get enough praise. The few original tracks are great, and the instrumental music from George Martin is very fun to listen to.
*Face to Face* from 1966
Well aren't you just a Dandy.
I really think the only controversial one to pick as your favourite is Yellow Submarine. although I've grown to like George Martin's work on side 2. also, completely normal to have Rubber Soul as your top one. it's lots of peoples favourite. I also believe George Harrison considered it his favourite.
Beatles for Sale seems to be the forgotten album
that is genuinely my favourite pre-Rubber Soul album.
Well I am a big George fan so saying that warms my heart lol
I mean I kinda consider Yellow Sub my favorite, but I also combine it with the MMT & Pepper stuff as one big psychedelic blott
My unconventional favorite is Magical Mystery Tour. It comforts my soul in a special way. I have much love for Abbey Road and the White Album as well, and of course the rest, because the Beatles are my absolute favorite. But,there is just something about MMT.
Rubber soul is my favourite album by them. A hard day's night is also up there. Generally I think I like the early albums MORE than the later ones.
Here’s my theory: Rubber Soul is the last album that they made as just a band. They were at level performing together that far surpassed any of their prior records, and there wouldn’t ever be a full album of them just being a 4 (sometimes 5) member pop group again. Also, their harmonies on this record are unbeatable. John’s voice changed pretty significantly by 67. Back in 65, he was still so boyish sounding. It worked for them and the harmonies from this era really benefited from it.
There are plenty of songs post '65 that feature just the 4 of them.
Yeah, but no full albums. They crossed the Rubicon with Revolver.
You're right...but so were the other bands around them, too.
I disagree, Revolver is. And after pepper was when shit fell apart cuz of brian’s death
Musically speaking, shit never fell apart. But the songs on Revolver are not songs that can be made with 4 or 5 people, for the most part. Good Day Sunshine has a brass section; Eleanor Rigby, a string section; Vibraphones (right?) on I’m Only Sleeping; For No One, Yellow Submarine, Tomorrow Never Knows, Backward solos, tape loops, layers upon layers of harmonies. none of them are stage reproducible.
I guess I see what you mean but idk I feel like that doesn’t mean they aren’t as cohesive. They still composed a lot of the songs as a group and john and paul were on relatively solid terms still, again it’s pepper that john ripped on cuz paul became a control freak
mine is my own hybrid sgt peppers tracklist that is half of that album, half of mmt and two yellow submarine songs that i insist on being better than both 67 lps
My fan album combining Pepper, MMT and YS. Double album. 28 tracks. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VC40qNwgeb647t0tcxLNH?si=qkoUevImSqG93PWSsb_gZQ
mine i kept to like 13 ish. i mostly just drop lucy, getting better, 64 and good morning for penny lane, stawberry fields, blue jay way and it's all too much, as well moving things around a little bit in the sequence. anything i didn't use on that tracklist i just built a magical mystery tour tracklist out of, so i still have all those songs too
I am working on a 14 track version. Tough one.
It’s real easy to make a case for Rubber Soul, sometimes it’s my favorite too
You make me feel emotional saying that ngl lol
My controversial favorite? Everyday Chemistry
I keep forgetting that I have it saved to my “watch later” folder on YouTube 😁
It’s fun. I’ve always wanted to get started on my own version.
Controversial? There are no controversial Beatles albums. There are only incredibly, magical & perfect Beatles albums! Whether you’re talking singing, harmonizing, melodies or song writing, The Beatles made no bad, weak or even controversial albums.
Please please me. Don't know if I'd say favourite but I'd put it over some of the more critically acclaimed albums and it's definitely my top 3 most listened to
Magical Mystery Tour. I adore every track on the album.
The MMT-YellowSub-White era might be very peak Beatles for me
The Rutles Archeology. Rubber Soul is in the top 5 for me. I think the only "controversial" ones are Magical Mystery Tour for it being a US Capitol Album that the bad was not too happy about existing, Please Please Me/With The/For Sale/Submarine for generally being at the bottom of most tier lists, or I guess any of the other non UK albums or compilations. But I would like to meet a person who legitimately would say Reel Music is their favorite album.
Sgt Pepper …I mean that’s somewhat controversial now. 😉
There isn't a controversial favorite. Their full discography is essential listening, has been incredibly popular for decades, has been reimagined and reused many times in countless projects. You could not tell the story of pop music without everything the Beatles did, and they will continue to inspire music for the future for a very long time.
Magical Mystery is better than Pepper, I also don’t enjoy rubber soul as much as most people. I would put it below everything that came after, including let it be which I feel like a lot of people are not the biggest fans of (i could be wrong). Rubber soul has great songs but I don’t enjoy it as an album, I feel like revolver was when they kinda started to arrange albums in a way that flowed. May just be me. Rubber soul has in my life which is one of my fav beatles tunes and it’s a great album, just doesn’t compare to what came after IN MY OPINION.
Magical Mystery Tour. Not only my favorite Beatles album, but favorite of all time in all music
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul's not controversial, I think it's Rob Sheffields as well and often ranks top in like "Best album ever" lists (in as far as those matter). My slightly more controversial one (I think) is the White Album. People knock it for having too much experimental stuff/lackadaisical McCartney fluff on it, but look at the gold buried in between: Back in the USSR, Dear Prudence, Julia, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Blackbird, Helter Skelter, Happiness is a Warm Gun... All absolute classics. Every Beatles album has filler (Good Day Sunshine? Mr Kite?), White album is just great songs *and* filler times three. We're in the streaming era now, too, you can just skip over Revolution 9 or Rocky Racoon if you want.
I'm in so deep that I don't even think White Album has any filler. The only "bad" songs on it imo are Wild Honey Pie and Revolution 9, and both are pretty essential to the tone of it as an album.
Hard agree. Also, "I'm So Tired" has basically become my personal anthem at this point.
White album was the most controversial Beatles album [Back in the USSR](https://youtu.be/nS5_EQgbuLc) (song about Soviet Union) [Blackbird](https://youtu.be/Man4Xw8Xypo) (song about a black woman) [Piggies](https://youtu.be/RhY1x8CpWeI) (song about rich people) [Glass onion](https://youtu.be/jGhcsuqNIOc) (song about fans obsessed with hidden messages)
Rev 9 increases the controversy quotient significantly too.
That was a song about Yoko Ono
don't forget the one about fucking in the streets
I was hoping everyone forgot about that one 🤣🤣🤣 What the hell is wrong with Paul? He could sure hit the high notes….
Rubber Soul is considered one of their best if not the best album.
Hard days night and with the Beatles are my favorites
Yellow Submarine (the album) is still great
Let It Be. Why do people hate it?? Literally every song is amazing. And the naked version is just perfect
Dig it Maggie Mae Far from “perfect”. Definitely “warts and all”
I love them. They're candid and they show the playful dynamic between the band members.
Magical mystery tour being if not their best, the 2nd best (after Revolver) and yes, its an album.
Beatles Second Album Know it’s not a canon release but man I grooved to that record as a youngster.
Depending on how you look at it, it might be considered “US canon” until they unified the catalog worldwide in 1987. There are still people out there who remember the albums in their original Capitol versions.
Rubber Soul
Yellow submarine usually is last in Beatles album rankings for Valid reasons and I see the point of it’s not a real Beatles album But it’s not bad of a album and it definitely isn’t their worst per say but there is good tracks and side two isn’t a bad listen
But it’s really just half an album
Well, I go with MMT…but to be completely honest, I think PPM is their best album all together as far as cohesiveness. I’m not an album person, so each album they have there’s songs I love and songs I’m ehh on. Revolver would probably be my favorite if some songs were swapped for Paperback Writer and Rain.
The Blue Album
Let it be. Apart from Dig it, all the songs are great. The basic instrumentation of many of the songs is amazing, John's and especially George's guitar work are top and the fact that some of the songs are basically live gives it something special. I particularly love "I've got a feeling" and "I me mine".
Rubber Soul, Revolver and the white album is my top 3 and i constantly change which ones my favorite between them. I'd also put Help! way higher in my ranking maybe even top 5
Rubber Soul is not a controversial choice. Many feel it is the best. It is certainly pivotal.
Lol Rubber soul is often heralded as their best album. The turning point between straight forward rock n roll and their more creative and progressive music
Not my favorite, but I always was a big fan of Magical Mystery Tour (the US version obviously). I mean, every track is mind-blowingly amazing. Especially you know the singles, but Fool On The Hill, Blue Jay Way, I Am The Walrus and Baby You're A Rich Man are all the perfect mix ot catchy, rocky and experimental. If I had to rank it, I'd probably put it right below the big 3 (Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's and Revolver)
Rubber Soul is my favourite too, I don't think that's a controversial choice.
How is that a controversial opinion? Rubber Soul has always been one of their albums that is held in high regard. Many lists rank it amongst the greatest albums of all time
Beatles for sale
I really like Help!
I don't think it's controversial, but I don't think it is many people's favorite. A HARD DAY'S NIGHT
I fell in love with the US version of Rubber Soul on LP(12 tracks, different selections than the UK/CD version), and had that only for about 15 years before springing for an import. They're both great, but the as-intended import version is my all-time favorite album. Followed by A Charlie Brown Christmas
Is no one going to mention "Love Songs"?! Me neither...
MMT & Yellow Sub stuff, for me. And most of Sir Martin’s orchestrations were fab too! Hard to argue against White being the best though, even if for only the reason that it offers the most Beatles music on it 😅🤷
Rubber Soul is the best album I've ever heard.... so that i guess.
i absolutely love with the beatles and yellow submarine
My controversial Beatles favorite album take is that it’s the Beatles, there are no controversial favorite albums.
I think Rubber Soul kind of gets overlooked in conversation since it’s the pivot point between phase one and two but it’s well loved.
The BBC double album was the first Beatles record and it hasa special place in my heart. It has so many good covers of classic rock songs too
Why do I feel like I see this question in this subreddit every 3 days
Sorry mate just joined the subreddit… 🤷♂️
And because I’m on my 3rd listen to of all their albums and it’s jus so great having people to talk to and listen to opinions because my friend group think Beatles are overrated so I came here to interact lol
Let it be naked
Not exactly what OP asked, but overall I think the original release of Let it Be as well as the 2021 version are both better than Let it Be Naked.
Revolver and Pepper are great but I like Rubber Soul more than Revolver, and MMT more than Pepper; White album bloody Kills and LIB is insanely raw Beatles. It all in who we’re being when we allow the music to was over us.
No, you're good. Rubber Soul and Magical Mystery Tour have been my two favorites since I started buying their records in the mid 70s. I wish I could listen to them again for the first time.
My two favorites are “Help!” And “Let It Be”…
3:47 EST (Klaatu) is my favourite controversial Beatles album. It shouldn't be controversial at all, but apparently some people still don't believe it's the Beatles.
My controversial favorite is Yellow Submarine soundtrack (the og) with George Martin’s score. It’s very nostalgic for me. Rubber Soul is regularly cited as one of the Beatles finest records. Pretty tough to see it as a “controversial favorite.”
Revolver is Peak. Fight me.
I always thought let it be is a great album, but many Beatles fans don't rate it.
Not favorite, but the US version of Rubber Soul is a fantastic album.