| 1.
Magical Mystery Tour |
SOUND
A- |
MELODY
B+ |
RHYTHM
B+ |
ARRANGE
A |
|
IMPRESSION
A- |
PROFUNDITY
B+ |
ORIGINALITY
A- |
PLAYABILITY
A- |
This is a noisy song but its brass arrangement is cool. So
many brass sounds are used effectively here and there. Especially
from "waiting to take you away...", many short notes
performed by brass section make great passages. Moreover, from
the last chorus "The magical mystery tour...", the
time signature changes to 3/4 but the brass part is along 2/4
time signature, so it makes a kind of poly-rhythm style. At last,
the piano sound in the ending remains magical atmosphere.
|
| 2. The Fool
On The Hill |
SOUND
B+ |
MELODY
A- |
RHYTHM
B- |
ARRANGE
A |
|
IMPRESSION
B+ |
PROFUNDITY
A- |
ORIGINALITY
A |
PLAYABILITY
A- |
The simple tones of flute, recorder, and harmonica are impressive.
The phrases by these instruments are added to the piano backing
pattern, so this has cool arrangement. It is also hard to perform
this song just like the previous song Magical Mystery Tour. The
key signature is D major and it begins with a major scale, but
changes to D minor from the chorus "But the fool on the...",
the atmosphere also changes as if fitting to lyrics. After that,
it changes to D major again after "spinning round...".
The contrast major key between minor key with same tonic note
is so cool.
|
| 3. Flying |
SOUND
B- |
MELODY
C+ |
RHYTHM
C |
ARRANGE
B- |
|
IMPRESSION
C |
PROFUNDITY
C |
ORIGINALITY
B- |
PLAYABILITY
A++ |
The only song that has no vocal track among their songs. However,
a harmonized choir is in it. The chord progression is almost
the three chords of C major. So it is not so unique but may have
a meaning that is the first song they had composed together.
However, I suppose that they might have a kind of frustration
from the reverse sound at the ending.
|
| 4.
Blue Jay Way |
SOUND
A- |
MELODY
B+ |
RHYTHM
B |
ARRANGE
B+ |
|
IMPRESSION
B- |
PROFUNDITY
A |
ORIGINALITY
A- |
PLAYABILITY
A- |
This song has eccentric atmosphere. I wonder how the idea
of melody line in the verse come out. But the arrangement is
so cool because of the reverse sound used here and there, the
effects for vocal, and flanging effects for drums. So many drums
fill-in pattern is used, especially I think the timing of fill-in
in the latter half of the chorus might be pushed a beat. The
vocal line in the chorus is melodious, and is also the part that
feels the unity or coolness as a music.
|
| 5.
Your Mother Should Know |
SOUND
B+ |
MELODY
B+ |
RHYTHM
C+ |
ARRANGE
B |
|
IMPRESSION
B+ |
PROFUNDITY
B- |
ORIGINALITY
B+ |
PLAYABILITY
A+ |
This song has cool introduction by three parts harmonized
vocal that begins with
up stroke bass note. And its length of two measures do not feel
so dull. The used chords are almost A minor diatonic, so it is
not complex arrangement particularly. At a glance, this song
so simple but the rhythmical vocal looks nice. At the piano solo,
only the second measure has 2/4 time signature, it is not so
conspicuous but gives this song a spice. BTW, the panning of
the vocal changes when the each chorus ends. I wonder why they
did such a operation.
|
| 6.
I Am The Walrus |
SOUND
A+ |
MELODY
A |
RHYTHM
B |
ARRANGE
A+ |
|
IMPRESSION
B- |
PROFUNDITY
A++ |
ORIGINALITY
A+ |
PLAYABILITY
B |
My favorite song. This song has very strong personality, avant-garde
feelings, and perfection. So to tell the truth, it is hard to
me to make a comment on this song. The coolest point should be
the skillful arrangement of the violin, cello, and horn. It is
not to much to say that they are the essence of arrangement.
Also it is characterized by a lot of backing vocal lines such
as a pitch bend down vocal after "I am the eggman...",
laugh voices " Ho-ho-ho, Hee-hee-hee, Ha-ha-ha", a
long pitch bend up vocal behind "goo goo g'joob...",
and a meaningless choir in the ending. There are many backing
vocals that are hard to be hit upon. The lyric is very cool,
and finish as art too. It is very hard to play this song, but
I will try it someday.
|
| 7.
Hello Goodbye |
SOUND
B+ |
MELODY
B+ |
RHYTHM
B+ |
ARRANGE
B+ |
|
IMPRESSION
A- |
PROFUNDITY
B |
ORIGINALITY
B+ |
PLAYABILITY
A |
This is a rhythmical song changing from the previous grave
one. The phrases by country western violin are cheerful. After
the last part of the verse "You say Good-by and I say Hello...",
the guitar or backing vocal play diatonic major scale, and are
so cool arrangement. Moreover, at the last verse, the backing
vocal has fine passage along the main vocal. The vocal melody
line itself is not so characteristic but the violin solo or the
scat "Wah wah wah wah ... do you say ..." after the
drum fill in gives variety in the structure of this song. BTW,
all of them might have a wild party in the ending.
|
| 8.
Strawberry Fields Forever |
SOUND
A |
MELODY
A- |
RHYTHM
A- |
ARRANGE
A+ |
|
IMPRESSION
A- |
PROFUNDITY
A- |
ORIGINALITY
A |
PLAYABILITY
B+ |
This tune should be a masterpiece by the Beatles. It is well
known that this song is made by joining two takes with different
recording tape speed. About one minute after the top of song,
you can find the joint in "Let me take you down...".
Because the recorded tape speed gets down as soon as the cello
comes, the vocal tone changes to heavy slightly by pitch down.
Regarding arrangement, the first block is so light with the melotron
or the arpeggio pattern by guitar, but the second block is heavier
with the cello or brass sound. Moreover, the reverse sound of
cymbals or sound effects comes, then so many percussion are used
such as tambourine, maracas, and timpani. There is not the three
harmonized vocal part but the backing is so busy. At the ending,
it seemed to finish with fade-out, however it fade in again,
then playing the melotron, at long last it is over.
|
| 9.
Penny Lane |
SOUND
B |
MELODY
B+ |
RHYTHM
B- |
ARRANGE
A- |
|
IMPRESSION
A- |
PROFUNDITY
B |
ORIGINALITY
B+ |
PLAYABILITY
A |
This is a "ordinary" song just like Hello Goodbye
in this album. The lyric like a story by Paul's speciality expresses
the scene at Penny Lane well. This song begins with vocal suddenly,
and has no introduction after a long time. It is a cool idea
that the quarter notes with high strings tone changes to piano
tone. The key signature is B major but it has varied vocal line
because the non-diatonic chord of Bm, Abm-5, or GM7 is used in
the verse. After changing key, it goes to the chorus, then the
brass sound is used as obbligato, so it makes the atmosphere
change to another feelings. BTW, the fine passage should be the
piccolo trumpet solo. Such a phrase has never used before, so
it livens up this song more. This piccolo trumpet phrase is used
in the ending again, and has nice effect with vocal line.
|
| 10.
Baby You're Rich Man |
SOUND
B- |
MELODY
C+ |
RHYTHM
C+ |
ARRANGE
B- |
|
IMPRESSION
B- |
PROFUNDITY
C+ |
ORIGINALITY
B- |
PLAYABILITY
A+ |
The melody line by main vocal is impressive. John sings with
his soft voice in the verse, but Paul and George add harmony
vocal from the chorus, so it sounds so strong. They say that
the verse was composed by John and the chorus by Paul, then they
have been combined. The chord progression is not so complex but
the verse has strange length of eleven measures. In this song,
the motion of bass line is dynamic. Especially in the chorus,
Paul plays his bass with eighth note just like an arpeggio, and
it is very rhythmical. And the finest passage should be the bagpipes
sound played here and there. It seems to be played by the synthesizer
but it sounds as if the bagpipes itself is played in those days.
|
| 11.
All You Need Is Love |
SOUND
B |
MELODY
B |
RHYTHM
B- |
ARRANGE
B+ |
|
IMPRESSION
B |
PROFUNDITY
B- |
ORIGINALITY
B |
PLAYABILITY
A+ |
The brass sound with the introduction of the national anthem
of French is impressive. A complex musical method is not used,
but the vocal phrase by singing like talking should be characteristic.
The measure of 3/4 time signature is used in this 4/4 song here
and there, so it gives song a moderate tension. The main feature
of this song should be the arrangement of brass and strings,
and also be triple harmonized vocal in the verse "Love,
love, love...". To listen very carefully, you can find so
many other song's phrases in the ending such as In The Mood,
Green Sleeves, She Loves You, and so on.
|
