STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

This Psychedelic single is maybe one of the most important singles in THE BEATLES's musical career, one of their best singles, and one of the most influential singles in the later development of Progressive Rock music, in my opinion.

Both songs of this single (which was released in February 1967) were recorded in late 1966, during the early recording sessions for their "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", which was released until June 1967. If their "Revolver" album from 1966 gave some indications about some changes in their music, which became more elaborated, this single also gave more indications for a new and more influential musical style from the band which was going to appear more in their "Sgt. Pepper's..." album. Both songs are "Nostalgical Psychedelic musical trips" to two places in Liverpool.

"Strawberry Fields Forever", composed by John Lennon, has a Mellotron part played by Paul McCartney, plus some use of backwards tapes and effects and an orchestral arrangement by Producer George Martin. As it is very known today, the song has two parts of two different recording takes put together in edition later by Martin, because Lennon liked a part from one take and another part from another take. This caused that the second part of the song has a bit of changes to Lennon's vocals, due to the slowing of the speed of the second part to match both parts because both parts had different tempos. This gave to the song an additional "psychedelic" effect. The song also has a "false ending" after which the "real ending" happens after a brief silence. The lyrics are not very clear to understand or to make some sense. Only the words "...living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." could have some sense, at least for me.

"Penny Lane", composed by McCartney, is a more melodic Pop Rock song and it is also more accessible than "Strawberry Fields Forever", but also being very Psychedelic. I like this song a bit more than "Strawberry Fields Forever". It has a very good bass guitar part played by McCartney plus a very good orchestral arrangement (also done by Martin) which has some trumpet melodies apparently inspired by one of J.S. Bach's "Bradenburg Concertos" which McCartney watched to on TV one night (as he said in the "The Beatles Anthology" TV documentary in 1995). The lyrics are a description of some places and persons in Liverpool and make more sense than the lyrics of "Strawberry Fields Forever", in my opinion.

Having a very good Producer like George Martin really helped THE BEATLES's as a band to have more freedom to make experiments in the studio. His more formal musical knowledge and trainning also helped them to "translate" their musical ideas to very good orchestral arrangements.

One of the best and most influential singles of the Sixties.