If you enjoy this video, then please consider checking out my ongoing White Album series where I take a in-depth look into each track on the album: kzfaq.info/sun/PLmlgynYCJ-Yx5jYiQjAUHojz60bW53g4Q&si=5WrkAMtTEvtoJs20

I was in college in Ohio when Magical Mystery Tour came out. Someone on the street held the record above his head and said "I've got the new Beatles record." A crowd of total strangers began following him, like the Pied Piper. We all ended up in a totally darkened room, sitting in a circle. We listened to both sides without a sound, several pipes circulating in the darkness. The Sixties were magical, and the Beatles were a big part of that magic.

The single may not have reached number one in Britain, but Penny Lane became number one in America.

The childhood theme, the videos, the advancement in technology, the creative jump, the double A sided, makes this masterpiece the greatest single of all time.

I was twelve years old when the single came out and Strawberry Fields Forever changed my musical tastes for the rest of my life. I must have listened to the single hundreds of times over the next few months. I became an instant superfan of the Beatles. It led me to become a lover of all avant-garde music which I am still to this day. I've always thought SFF/P: was by far the greatest single ever. It's wonderful that younger generations can still appreciate how mind-blowing and ground-breaking it was.

You’ve really upped the game when it comes to production value here! Great video and you make a very good case for this being the greatest single, it’s very difficult to argue anything otherwise, only other contenders for me would be something like Waterloo Sunset or This Charming Man but they don’t have great/iconic b sides

Bravo. My sentiments exactly. This single is like when Dorothy opens the door to the colorful land of Oz in the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. An interesting side note, I was exposed to SFF early as it was first released on one of the very first American bootlegs. Entitled : “The Beatles Original Greatest Hits” on Suta Records here in the US. Interestingly, besides SFF, that LP contained only early Beatles songs from the first year (including the Ringo drums version of Love Me Do) but plugged Strawberry Fields Forever” on the front cover. I’m pretty sure that release was mob backed and an early pirated tape was smuggled from the UK before its official release here in the US. My grandad picked up the LP in Grand Central Station in NYC on the way to a visit to see my family in 1967.

Ps I just saw Paul at the “ Hollywood F____ing Bowl!” He was a performer at Jimmy Buffet memorial concert . I had to restrain myself a little from SCREAMING , as I was 9 when the Beatles hit , and I was screaming then and now ! Now and Then ,,, MEATLESS MONDAYS !

I agree. I loved these two songs.

You're right on here. That much music power on a "single" record? Can't be topped. Both of those songs will be being played and known to people for hundreds of years to come I would think.

An excellent review of the greatest single of all-time!

I have to admit when this single came out, I was't really over keen on it . But it grew on me, and it is one of the best singles of time. I do think Strawberry fields could have slotted into SGT Pepper, somewhere, and it was a crime it did't reach number one ,I guess the public were not quite ready ,but the fans were hence the success of SGT Pepper.

Great video. Got the feeling the channel is about to explode.

Yes it is the greatest single ever released along with the two promo films made for each song.

This was in a period where the between albums singles would have fit right into the next album. These two could be right at home in Sgt. Pepper.

You couldn't be more right, mate. SFF is my favorite all time song, and PL is easily in my top 50 - if not 20. EASILY the greatest single in the history of recorded humanity.

It has to be said young fella , that you are absolutely correct .

Paperback Writer/ Rain, is another perfect 🥰 single

Paperback Writer/Rain. The single that finished their transition, unbeatable.

George Martin challenged John and Paul to each write a song about their childhood, so they had a single to release to tide over the fans while they spent extra time on Pepper. Sadly both were not included on Pepper

Hello Oliver, I agree with you 100% that this is the best single ever. I was 11 when I went to the record store to buy Strawberry Fields/ Penny Lane in mid-February 67. I remembered just staring at the front and back cover of the single. I would play one side and then play the other side and then again and again and again. When Penny Lane first came out here in the states we got the little extra piccolo at the end of Penny Lane. Then after a couple weeks it was gone and then we just had the version that's out now. I have a cassette of George Martin talking about Strawberry Fields forever and it's at 59 seconds where you hear takes 7 go to take 26. George Martin went on to say that he cringed every time he heard that but in my opinion it works. When I hear Strawberry Fields I hear the cut but so what. They did a fantastic job putting it together and it's a damn good song. Now you see what you did now I got to go play both those songs right now on my stereo. Okay Oliver great video man.Take Care Then

I can't believe that there's not even a mention of the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry, Baby" b.w. "I Get Around". That was a pretty d---n strong double A-side as well!

You're right!

This was a year after Wouldn't It Be Nice/God Only Knows. Another fantastic 2 sided single.

I would personally consider the double A single "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" to be the best single ever; after all, it was #1 for eleven straight weeks back in '56. But "Strawberry Fields"/"Penny Lane" though is right up there with the best, along with "Wouldn't It Be Nice"/"God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys, and "Hey Jude"/"Revolution" also by the Fab Four.

Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane would not have made Sgt Pepper any better. That album is perfect.

Love your insights! Also love how much you look like young Paul ! You’re so SMART !

Engelbert Humperdinck (the singer) was actually named Arnold George Dorsey. The REAL Engelbert Humperdinck was a 19th century German composer. I say 19th century, but he actually died in 1921. He's mostly known for his opera, Hansel and Gretel, written around 1893. Here's a link to the overture (prelude) to the opera (it's actually rather good!): kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bpt9lZqftNKdpIU.html

You are completely wright in your analyses. The best single ever made.

Yeah, on vinyl there is no room for Penny Lane/SFF on Pepper without dumping other tracks, but the vinyl era is over. In this digital age it is very easy to insert PL/SFF onto a playlist of Pepper without sacrificing any other songs - and it works. It works extremely well. (And to make up for losing those tracks from MMT, get rid of the Yellow Sub album and add the four unique YS tracks to MMT, plus the WWF version of Across The Universe. That works very well too!).

"please release me let me go" might well have been the catchcry from the Beatles et al. I can't believe that a gooey old EB song somehow trumped Starwberry Fields in the charts. Not sure if it reached No.1 in New Zealand. I thnk Penny Lane did but to me, Strawberry Fields was IT.😊 Psychedlia? Maybe but I thought Dear Prudence off the White album was the ultimate head song.

I think consideration also should be given Rain/Paperback Writer and Something/Come Together

"Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" were part of an album by the Beatles tentatively titled "Liverpool Stories". The album was abandoned when Paul McCartney crashed his Austin Healey into a tree killing himself and the female passenger beside him. The Beatles were faced with a dilemma and decided to use their Beatle double for Paul as a stand in. The rest is history. I agree this was a high point for the Beatles and we seriously miss the original and true Paul McCartney.

Dear Oliver, have you measure the time you have devoted to the six weeks John Lennon spent to write and compose this song? You did not even mention Almería,Spain, which John always recalled on several intervews until his last days. Thanks for the video. My best regards.

Confusion why you have a button that says hidden and then the one that says thumbs down. That being said, I totally agree with you that strawberry Fields forever was a game changer. And obviously Penny Lane was masterful as well and in a completely different way. I'm surprised that you didn't talk about its inclusion on the eventual album called magical mystery tour. Which started out as the English version with five songs I think and then George Martin on the other half of the album I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. But in my opinion, the American release which was the one I grew up with was the best Beatles album maybe ever. Besides revolver. I like magical mystery tour much better than Sergeant pepper. I'm actually glad that strawberry Fields forever and Penny Lane landed on the magical mystery tour album. So more information of why you didn't cover the magical mystery tour album unless there's some videos that I don't know about that you've made. Thank you for all your wonderful information. Side note, I posted a creation I made on Instagram, and I tagged it Peter Max cuz it had a Peter Max look. Geoff Emerick give me a like. I thought I had have died and gone to heaven! Keep up the good work. I really enjoyed this.

The best double A side with a mellotron of all time. Until Little By Little and She Is Love of course 😉

Excellent choice.

Lol! I think you meant "Good Vibrations."

Agreed. #2 Paperback Writer/Rain.

Why ? Its a question that doesn't need an answer. Because it is.

The first concept 45? (Greil Marcus)

Strawberry Fields goes at the end of side one and Penny Lane starts side 2.

Paul my favorite forever.❤

Paul still so dang handsome !

Second place goes to "Good Vibrations."

It is

Considering Strawberry Fields forever is the best song ever, it only makes sense

The Greatest Single in the Pepper era for the band and honestly if either Strawberry fields or Penny lane was on Sgt pepper then it would be a better listen but pepper is still a great album

Agree this is the greatest single of all time. But a very, very close second is The Beach Boys Wouldn’t It Be Nice / God only Knows. And that perfect record barely cracked the top ten in the US. Go figure. I bought both when they were released and at 85 cents apiece the greatest bang for the buck ever.

How to get a way better song that you originally wrote: George Martin but if you are in a year after 2016 then Gliles Martin

TAKE JUDE by APOLOGETIX a great BEATLES PARODY on KZfaq

Baffling that Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane is the only Beatles single to break their Number One streak. What is the explanation for this?

Hi Oliver - nice video! Even though I’m born and bred in Liverpool and like the Beatles the greatest single from the 1960s is Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys!

Eight Days A Week b/w I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party is far superior for me. I Feel Fine b/w She’s A Woman is close.

Get rid of ‘she’s leaving home’ and ‘When I’m 64’ (2 wrist songs they’ve wrote in my opinion) … throw Strawberry and penny in their place

But the Beatles are a guitar based band so they couldn't reproduce this stuff on stage. I have a lack of integrity feeling about this - like pretending to play live on tv when it's really a recording.

Why do you look like Jon Lennon?

Meh. Harrison's sitar song is weak and doesn't fit. It could have been removed and the single squeezed in, since it frees up 5 minutes no problem.

Just absurd. Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane are both silly, arguably entirely childish, throwaway tunes (like so much of Sgt. Pepper).

You're overdoing the accent. I'm not buyin' it.

Nice! I was looking to be turned on to new (to me) dead men! What a snappy little european beat combo with vocal! (Hops in my zephyr zodiac and burns rubber sole outta the Jacaranda's car park) brilliant sunnies, m8 Macca and Lennono and Rin Gogh and that bitchy Jort Harrisongs

George R.R. Martin is the shadow G.O.A.T. behind the boldest experiment eras of the boys. #paul 's #brok'n #a #glass #broknaglass