The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour

I have many pressings of MMT and the MFSL is one of the best sounding versions I've heard - right up to the last 3 songs, which sound like total crap, sadly!!

Ok, so I've listened to this now (box set version).

I have an embarrassing amount of MMTs... Stereos as well as Monos. Among them being the famed Hörzu.

Side one of this is good, actually very good. If the Hörzu is a 10/10 this is at least an 8/10. There is some tape noise however (or at least that's what I assume it is). The hiss isn't extreme, but is probably the result of a later generation tape copy being used. The hiss isn't too noticeable other than between tracks because this is cut quite loud (not unreasonably loud however). If this was the only MMT you had for side one, you wouldn't be missing out.

Side two then, is indeed a different beast.

Hello Goodbye and Strawberry Fields are of course true stereo and are of the same fine standard as side one is. No complaints really. Again, you'd be set if this was your only version of these tracks.

Then we reach the strange and horrifying land of Duophonia (population 0).

First up is Penny Lane. Poor Penny you were so beautiful once! To my (ittedly aging) ears she's the worst of the trilogy that finishes off side two. It's so weird and unpleasant. I'd grade it 1.2/10. This generosity on my part is due to the fact that, if nothing else, I am able to make out that it is in fact Penny Lane. Listening to this won't kill you (repeated plays might), but there is no reason to do so. However, if nothing else, it is a part of Beatle history, and interesting in that sense.

The following tracks are, weirdly, better. Not by miles, but to a degree. I'd rank Rich man a 2 and All you need a 2.5. The plague of Duophonia seems milder on these tracks.

The take away is this; this pressing is better than rumoured when it comes to all but the three last tracks, and frankly worse than what has been claimed when it comes to the final trilogy of suffering.

Tip:

If you want a really good Stereo version of this on the cheap, and you aren't too fundamentalist with regard to analog vs. digital, seek out the German DMM cut from the early nineties.

Equipment used:

Kuzma Stabi M TT, 4 point arm (11"), ZYX MC Cart, McIntosh MP1100 phono stage.

I bought this trying to find a clean, good sounding copy (EX/NM- or better). I'm not a huge Beatles buff, so I'm not up to speed on the last three songs of the B side. I have a mono copy also. I'm about to do a comparison.
Of the three songs in question, the music is in the left channel and bass on the right, sound is compressed. Otherwise, I would say my copy sounds great. so, yeah, my mono copy actually sounds better on those last three songs, other than the background noise as it is at best VG+

I have the German MMT full stereo...the drums on Strawberry Fields Forever and the bass on Baby You're A Rich Man are what make the Horzu truly special...but it costs about as twice as much as this one.

This MFSL has the best version of Flying.

The thing is that the Capitol tape was THE original master tape of the US album.

Before the internet no one really gave a rat's a$$ about the false stereo on side two anyway...I certainly didn't.

From "Magical Mystery Tour" (A/1) thru "Strawberry Fields Forever" (B/2) this is one of the best sounding Beatles Mofis of them all. It's a tragedy that the wrong masters were used and the last 3 songs don't sound good at all. That doesn't stop me from really enjoying 2/3 of one of my favorite Beatles albums at it's absolute best. A/1-B/2 sounds amazing

I’ve owned a mono reissue for a while now; that came in my “Beatles in Mono” box set. About a week ago though I scored this pressing at a local thrift store (in EX/VG+ condition with all inserts). It was quite a thrill considering I got it by bartering $10 in glass bottles for it; honestly felt like I was robbing the guy, but he has certainly overcharged me in the past so whatever. Seems some people are not overly found of this pressing. All I can say is I enjoy it just as much as my mono reissue. Never had the privilege of spinning an OG that was better than VG; but I can’t complain even a little when this one is spinning; grab yourself a copy for some sure!

I grew up with the Capitol US version and cherish this, as it will likely be the best quality version of that master ever released. Great release!

Picked this up at a reasonable price ($60) and I’m quite pleased. I get the mess up but I’ve got side two playing now and it’s a treat to hear such clarity in their voices. Loving it.

Sadly this needless disaster and accident that should never have happened is an absolute waste of vinyl time and your money
It's only minimal value is as a limited edition curio.

Sonically sadly it is flawed. MF used Capitol's 1967 master tapes and these included 3 vile and needless Duophonic (Fake Stereo) tracks Capitol created in-house from the Mono singles tapes that George Martin had previously sent. (Capitol in their ha$te to make a few extra dollar$ could not wait for Martin to ship the proper and full stereo mixes that had been done by his team in 1971 for EMI-Electrola for their own release of this compiled album on Apple-Hor Zu.

Who so ever at MF clearly did not do through research or did the people at the tower why? Instead we are left with a very expensive but seriously flawed and waste of money album with I am The Walrus ( part of): Penny Lane,: All You Need Is Love: and Baby I'm A Rich Man in Duophonic (ie Fake Stereo and additional reverb and compression)
Buyer beware!

It's not that bad! It's not as amazingly good as some of the others MoFi records. But when comparing to the other made up stereo record (the old Capitol), it's much more details and the instruments operating in their own sphere and not mixed together. But knowing what Groovemaster over here tells us, it just hints of a realy amazing record we could have had. I have especialy enjoyed "Baby you're a rich man". It's a totaly other song on this record. Worth the money (£50,-)? Offcause!