It must be remembered that there was no easy access to this video in 1967.

I am 73. I was in High School. I grew up enjoying The Beatles's evolution. Every album or single was different fron the previous!!!! I wouldn't be who I am without The Beatles.

The beatles weren't just music visionaries,they also lend the way with music videos

Everything began with the Beatles. Ringo was an integral part of their sound. No one else could have taken his place.

This is some of Ringo's best work.

Ringo's weird off beat fills on this song fascinate me. He's such an atypical drummer.

Not everyone loved the Beatles. They were too 'out there' for many and scared the older generation, but the Beatles moved music forward and affected everyone. They brought real ideas into pop music and were unafraid to blow people's minds......sailing into uncharted waters. We are all blessed for that.

Critics always say each band gets the drummer they deserve. Ringo was their bonus

Your instincts are on point. It was a TREMENDOUS time to grow up. Imagine going from pop to psychedelic in middle school! The world opened like a flower bloom ...

I think it's so beautiful how familiar you're getting with this generation and their music... much mad respect for you

We didn't confuse our listening experience with these videos we just put albums on the turntable and sat back and absorbed the greatness

The weird thing was; at the time, there was really nowhere to watch this video. As I recall, it played once on one of the three networks. There was literally no other infrastructure for videos to be seen. That said, I watched because it was kind of a big deal in Beatle fan world. Mind blowing. It was all we were talking about at school the next day

Living is easy with eyes closed

No longer wanting to risk touring, they decided to send images of themselves out instead.

I'm not a drummer, but I'm a 71yo lifelong Beatles fan, and I really appreciate your very insightful comments on Ringo's skills and creativity. He really is a master artist. Keep up the great work you're doing!

😄That "low" lyric you heard at the end of the song was John saying, "Cranberry Sauce", but some people thought he was saying, "I buried Paul". What a time!!☮️

I feel so lucky to have had a Dad that listened to The Beatles, Blood Sweat And Tears, The Who and Cream on his reel-to-reel. And a Mom who loved The Carpenters, Simon And Garfunkel and Led Zeppelin. Being introduced to great music at an early age truly does shape one's belief and character. I wish you could have been around at that time too. It was a magical time, great music everywhere, of all genres.

On a side note, the sheepdog that appears in the final shot belongs to Paul, Martha, who would be the subject for a later McCartney song "Martha My Dear". Strawberry Fields was a very real place in John's early life..

When the Beatles stopped touring, they created the "music video"

This is first time I’d heard this in at least 15 years. Such a treat. I’d forgotten how alternative this was to what was happening in music at the time. Ringo’s drumming sublime.

Their use of discordant harmonics and classical instrumentation was wildly innovative on mid-1960s pop music.

I believe that the first music video was by The Beatles in 1966 for their song “Rain”.

The best Beatles look.

This song is very appropriate for 2024....the lyrics fit perfectly.

Lee, this is when music on the radio became colorful from black and white. "Strawberry Fields Forever" was supposed to be on the Sgt. Pepper album but the label needed a single to release, George Martin would later regret not keeping it on it. Mel Evans was a longtime assistant to The Beatles.

Strawberry fields was a childrens home near where john lived.

Perhaps the best way to explain things is that The Beatles were simply enlightened.

George's outfit and sunglasses at the end is one of the greatest Beatle moments.

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from this song, "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see"

No other had ever done music videos before them. They invented them. MTV should praise the Beatles at least once a day.☺

Another first: The Beatles basically invented the music video. They couldn't keep going to TV shows to promote their singles, so they made music videos that were sent to the shows to be played.

A little Beatle trivia about this song. Strawberry Fields was the first song recorded for the Sgt. Pepper album, followed by Penny Lane. Because they were released as a single, they weren't included on the album. Can you imagine that album with those two songs included? John liked two different takes of this song, but each one was recorded in a different key. He told George Martin that he liked the first half of one the takes, and the second half of another take, They were in different keys and tempos,, so George Martin told John he couldn't put them together. John told him to figure it out. And he did, He altered the speeds on the tapes until they matched, that's why the song has its own incredible sound. The rumor was that the last words John said at the end of the song was "Paul is Dead", but he what he actually said is "Cranberry Sauce."

As a fully-fledged, 16 year old, beatnik/hippie, (we called ourselves "Heads"), the year this was released, I can tell you that the Beatles were, without doubt, the trailblazers. They didn't invent Psychedelia, but they did pick it up by it's pants and turn it into the real deal. Without them, and Dylan, we would have just carried on listening to two-and-a-half minute, bubble-gum pop. God-forbid!

I was eleven years old and a massive Beatles fan when this came out and they showed this on some tv show. It was like whoa, six months ago they were touring the US on stage in matching suits and haircuts. They just kept knocking over boundaries. It really was kind of supernatural watching them in real time just steer history into another direction. I’ve never seen anything like it.

George Martin and the Beatles what a match!

I lived thru this. “Help” got me hooked, “Strawberry Fields” took it to the next level for me.

The quality of this video is stunning, like it was just taken yesterday.

The Beatles shot just about everything on film, making it easier to cleanup and present in HD. The Paperback Writer and Rain videos, released before this, are pretty great too.

I was twelve years old back then, a great time to be an Earthling!

The national music show American Bandstand showed the vid and a teen girl started crying. Dick Clark asked why. She cried, "they look so old!" The kids weren't quite ready yet. Pepper was released shortly after, the teens got hip to the new stuff and the rest is history. Music and the world were never the same. Great reaction vid.

Eleanor Rigby and Strawberry Fields introduced me to a little thing called British melancholy

Double A-side single, meaning that both songs were intended for radio and the charts. (Like releasing 2 singles on one disc.)

I know that KZfaq is a nightmare of copyright bullshit but I'm glad that you persevere. This is some amazing stuff and you have the experience and the acumen and the curiosity to actually kind of understand it from a chronological distance, which I find not only impressive but enjoyable.

Ringo is the glue that held the band together both musically and relationship-wise. His light-heartedness softened the sometimes tense relationships between John and Paul. Google what Strawberry fields actually was and what the tree had to do with it. Real not make up places in John's youth.

This song was played on the car radio of one Brian Wilson, who wept bitterly upon hearing it and lost all faith in finishing working on the Beach Boys' "SMiLE" album. He only returned to it 35 years later, after everyone had given up on it. Yes, the Beatles changed everything.

I was nearly 16 when this was released and it blew my mind. I'd never heard anything like it. It was revolutionary. So different from the mainstream 'pop' music of the time and fitted perfectly with the spirit of rebellion that was growing in young people of the time. The amazing thing is that, if it were released today, I suspect it would have the same impact, as is true of many of the Beatles' songs.

Lee always enjoy the sixties psychedelia such as this and others they did such as I Am The Walrus , I'm Only Sleeping , Glass Onion , Flying , Being For The Benerit Of Mr Kite , Across The Universe -yes the Beatles were quite exceptional ! I'd like to offer an aussie one too by the Master's Apprentices known as Living In A Child's Dream Lee. Yer a suvivor so am I ! 🐨

At the end, what was actually said is "cranberry sauce," but people mistook it as "I buried Paul" which became "evidence" to support the Paul Is Dead theory.

My love affair with the Beatles started when I was 15 years old, 30 years ago. AOL just started and I picked my handle to be StwBryFld...and has been the same all these years. It's brilliant and unique as hell.

I Don't think I saw the video until the 80s or 90s, but definitely not when it was released. Doing Xmas shopping in a Dallas mall in 1967 & hearing John singing "Nothing is real" just a few years after I Want To Hold Your Hand was mind-blowing. Excellent analysis,! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

This video in USA was released and played in PRIME TIME television at 8pm. I remember the day I saw it.

"What a time to be alive..." It was. I was a child so I only remember the last couple of albums coming out. There was nothing like waiting for the next Beatles album.

There are several youtube videos of people trying to find the the precise location where this video was shot. The tree , the landscape. All good fun.

This was groundbreaking, as all their new stuff was. “Did you hear?” “Whaddaya think?”

Late 1960s as a child this was my favorite Beatles song. Of course more fantastic Fab Four music was still ahead in my future.

Been my favorite Beatles song since I was 10 in '81. So trppilly groovy🎶🎶🎵🎶✌️

Strawberry Fields Forever: recorded on November 24, 28, 29 & December 8, 9, 15, 21, 22 and it's based on both Takes 7 and 26!! Check out the Sgt Pepper's 50th Anniversary Edition on KZfaq too.

Ringo is unpredictable. I listen to his drumming now more than ever. Very instinctive, one-off experimental. Could change with every take. Very solid jazz-rock.

The Beatles had been making films for TV for a few years. That way Top of the Pops had somethng to show when they were on tour. This was just another step forward.

I love your reactions! I watched this video played on American bandstand. The audience was pretty shocked by the change in The Beatles. A couple of people said they liked them the way they were before in their suits and playing their fun music. I remember one young woman in her early 20s saying, “they used to be so cute. “ But then there was a young man. Dressed in a black turtleneck, and looking a lot like Bruce Lee, who smiled and said. “That was great.” he got it immediately. The Beatles lead the way. Some could not follow. Most followed in time. Some followed immediately. It was a great time to be alive. You never knew what you were going to hear on the radio. The top 10 could consist of anything from instrumentals like Telstar to country crossover hits like Harper Valley PTA to hard rock like Born to be Wild to psychedelia like Strawberry Fields. It was great.

Thanks for your perceptive appreciation of this classic song…and with regards to your comment ‘what a time to be alive’…trust me , man it was….keep on rocking 👍🎶

To me, some of their vids from this era look like homemade amateur fun, whereas the music is sublime and complex and better listened to with eyes shut and giving full attention. You said a mouthful praising George Martin. It’s rare when things work out so well with just the right people. It was a miracle that lasted six or seven years, which I guess is amazing and I should have been happy instead of mourning my whole life lol

In high school when this came out. They had not put out a record in a while and then this mystical imagery of video and sound came out. Quite unique at the time

There was a before and an after the Beatles musically and culturally. Only takes a closer look to understand why the Beatles are held in such esteem.

Magical Mystery Tour was the first album I bought as a 15 year old kid. Never saw the video before. Just imagine a late 60s housewife listening to those lyrics while preparing dinner for her family. What a time to be alive.

So much pre-Beatles was about trying to capture the perfect “live” performance feeling on a recording. So a great recording was great musicians and vocals melding to the best performance. The Beatles (and G.Martin) opened people’s ears and eyes to the broader potential of the recording studio. Layers and instruments combined with studio tricks and processing to achieve unique sounds and experiences. They threw out the restrictions of capturing what could be done live on stage and re-invented what could be achieved in a studio. Revolutionary! Bands, musicians, and artists after the Beatles were challenged to find ways to play live what they’d achieved in the studio instead of the reverse. The Beatles blew up the old restrictive mentality of performance capturing and opened up the music world to imaginative realization through technology and innovation.

They played this on Dick Clark's American Bandstand when it came out and the kids in the audience, including Dick Clark, were absolutely stunned. They didn't know what to think or say. It was funny.

Sweetie you represent yourself just awesome, I wouldn't come back to your channel every morning to watch you if you weren't💖✌️🥰

There's an awesome video from American Bandstand where Dick Clark talks to the teenagers in the crowd about their reaction to the video -- it's fun seeing the different reactions, from "that was weird!" to "I loved that!" to "Those mustaches make them look old!" It's hilarious.

Strawberry Field is a real place in Liverpool England where John used to play as a child. You can see the gates today.

Feb 1967 a few months before Sgt Pepper album. Almost every artist at the time thought What the .....Glad you "got it" and well said.

It’s written in history, the Beatles changed the world forever. Absolutely iconic and I was one of the luckiest people to be around from the very beginning right through to the end. The sixties were awesome and Ringo remember, was a left handed drummer playing right hand drums 😊👍❤️

Once they stop touring they had lots of time in the studio and used videos to connect with people. And as you said it’s only 4 years from their 1st album!!! This song (orphan home) and penny lane (Main Street) are both memories from their youth. Long story but these songs appeared on magical mystery tour album. A great album!!

The thing John mumbles during the fadeout is “cranberry sauce”. This was misheard by some as “I buried Paul” which was one of the key pieces of “evidence” in the Paul is dead theory.

Just getting started but so glad you are doing this. Yeah it wasn't their first steps in this incredibly creative and groundbreaking direction, because you could easily go back to the album Rubber Soul at least on a couple songs to see that this was kind of a direction. And then of course the iconic Revolver album after that, leading ultimately to this.

I do sincerely believe that the music videos made to Sledgehammer (and other songs by Peter Gabriel) in the '80s still look pristinely amazing.

So much talent. And mostly radio play. They pioneered the video production but it was records and radio back then. Martin's production skills helped a lot. Genius on everyone's part. The leaders in the day. Look at the advancement from late 65 to 67. Pretty amazing. Thanks for the comments on Ringo, he played in a lot of different timings.

I consider this the greatest song ever made for lots of reasons. It is really it's own genre of one song.

You are so right re. Ringo. Everyone is underrated to someone on KZfaq but in Ringo's case it's actually true.

That's considered the first music video. Strawberry Fields was where John's mother took him. John said it was one of best Beatles songs.

I think that many would agree that The Beatles broke the mold when they did Strawberry Fields. I encourage you to learn about the accomplishments and the innovations they came up with during the recording session for this song. What they did was truly a remarkable feat that showed others what could be done in the studio. While George Martin gets (and rightly deserves) much of the credit, their recording engineer, Geoff Emerick, also deserves a lot of recognition. As you noted, this is what they called a 'promotional video' back in their day. They figured that distributing these videos was the perfect alternative to giving live performances to showcase their new songs. They didn't realize they were, yet again, creating a new trend in the music industry. At the time this was released, the critics were heavy-handed on the Beatles, claiming they had run dry and they were finally at the end of the road with respect to their creative streak. The Beatles typically released new songs every five to six months and there was some concern that they had been quiet for too long. As it were, they were working on Sgt Pepper and still had a long way to go, so they were pressured to come out with something to satisfy the demand. Being that both this, and Penny Lane, were near completion and intended to be on Sgt Pepper, they reluctantly gave in and released them together. It was tough decision on which song was better and which one deserved the honor of being on the A-side. It was a fitting that both songs were given equal recognition because they are both fantastic songs in their own way. They are essentially polar opposites of one another. Each song was unique and reflective of its author. John's song, Strawberry Fields, was eerily dreamlike and surreal while Penny Lane, written by Paul, was bright and cheerful. Releasing them together was an ideal decision that kept the wide spectrum of Beatles fans feeling wholly satisfied. Love your Beatles reactions, dude. I'm anxiously ready for more.

Lee, thanks for the reaction. As multiple people have said in the comments here, SFF was made from two takes. The Beatles released a full version of take 7 (the quieter first minute of the final recording) on the Beatles Anthology, vol. 2. There is an edit piece at the end of that version that includes Ringo going a little bit nuts on the drums for a minute. Very cool.

When you said you wished you had been there to see this stuff happen, it struck a cord. I was a third grader when the Beatles hit in the US. I loved them immediately like seemingly everyone else did, (except for the parents). I was 13-14 years old in 1967 for Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery tour. At that point, I wasn’t quite old enough to participate in what was happening societally but I watched it intently and it all made a huge impression. Clearly I’m biased and every generation can make a case for being part of something special. Born in 1954, I feel like my generation hit the sweet spot. We just missed World War II, saw man walk on the Moon and during the Viet Nam war, they repealed the draft a few days before I turned 18. Meanwhile, as the Beatles were winding down, progressive rock was on the way up. I saw Zappa, Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and Gentle Giant multiple times. Also saw Paul McCartney & Wings, George Harrison, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, ELP, David Bowie, Jethro Tull, Steely Dan, UK, 10CC, Triumvirat… I’d say that the stuff I’ve witnessed has been pretty special by any objective standard. I feel fortunate to have been born when and where I was. I certainly didn’t do anything to deserve it. Pure luck. I might even die of natural causes before our global society collapses and I won’t have to see it happen. Sweet!

Aaah!! The album of my Summer 1967… at 9 years old… simply ‘Magical Mystery tour! ❤…( still have the Original Japanese import Vinyl and DVD) Fantastic timeless Beatles!!

Talk about being glad they did all these videos, man , am I glad

They invented music videos

A masterpiece…revolutionary indeed! You got it..

When the Beatles had a new song it was usually promoted on the Ed Sullivan Show. That's what the video was for. To remotely promote it since the Beatles gave up touring. Ed was always happy to have them even remotely. I first saw it on his show. Loved it!! Good review! 😀 Thanks!

Ringo is the most understood drummer of all time Just perfect for a band

Music videos weren't a thing back in the late 60s, I don't remember ever seeing this, maybe shown in movie theaters

I was 19 and loving it. An art student at college. I thought the Piano was on the cover of the 45 record. but I guess not, quite a few years back,

Even though you weren't alive back then you can relive it through the music and videos and through those of us who DID live through it and were immersed in that magical experience.

This was so different from anything else I had ever heard. Strange but ubercool!

My goodness. Been busy with ongoing life management. This is so good to come back to. Man you’ll be blown away. Starting it now ❤❤❤❤

Music Television came along in 1981. Before the late 70s nobody thought of filming anything in conjunction with the song, because it was all radio. There was no channel or platform to see videos.

Your analysis of the Beatles is always very good. Those of us who have been around for a while appreciate the insight you have. Yes, the Beatles made several of the very first ever music videos. It was because they were so enormously popular, and of course they had stopped performing live, that the world was starved of seeing them live and I can remember that anything at all that had videos or especially live performance was excitedly anticipated by fans all over the world. These days you can see videos of current music stars virtually at will, but back then there was so little available. L33, you may have already covered this, but I think the first ever world-wide LIVE performance was of All You Need is Love which was beamed live around the world in an historical landmark (1967). Would be great to have your reaction (if you haven't already). A true milestone and also we get to see the group together actually performing. Cheers L33

They had no one to reference. They just created. Awesome stuff.

Even after listening to this song countless times in my life, I still find Strawberry Fields Forever tremendously moving and mysterious. Two of my favorite podcast episodes that discuss this song, which I think you might enjoy, are the All You Need Is Love episode from A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs (ep. 150) and the Strawberry Fields episode from Producing the Beatles (a podcast predominantly focused on George Martin).

Ii had just turned 12 a few months before, and this was the first 45 record I ever bought. The two songs blew my young mind. 😮

How is it possible to be that good!