[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
The Beatles — Penny Lane
Album: 1
Avg rating:
8.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1135









Released: 1969
Length: 2:58
Plays (last 30 days): 0
In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he's had the pleasure to know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
The little children laugh at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a mac
In the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back

In Penny Lane, there is a fireman with an hour glass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It's a clean machine

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Four of fish and finger pies in summer
Meanwhile back

Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout
A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she's in a play
She is anyway

In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And then the fireman rushes in
From the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Penny Lane
Comments (112)add comment
 thewiseking wrote:

Sure, I was obsessed with this at age 5. This McCartney stuff sounds so dated now.


This song was made to sound dated when released. It's about nostalgia. Your criticism is actually a praise in this particular case.
 jagdriver wrote:
Hmmmm.... fish and finger pie......


Do you know the pun behind the line?
Four of fish = four pennies of fish and chips
Finger pie = slang for fingering
A naughty reference, but so well put.
The Beatles were musical geniuses, no doubt, but fantastic lyricists too! 
 (anonymous) wrote:

We'll keep your seat warm. You'll be back.

 
Will he (almost certainly a he) be missed?
 Aghori wrote:
way too much Beatles here

 
Sure what about some Taylor Swift instead ! 😁 
way too much Beatles here
Sure, I was obsessed with this at age 5. This McCartney stuff sounds so dated now.
 jagdriver wrote:
Hmmmm.... fish and finger pie......

 
Yeah, they snuck in a lot of things that went unnoticed while everyone was going on about Lucy in the Sky, Fixing a Hole.
Hmmmm.... fish and finger pie......
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of homeless camps loves this classic song...
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Paul's ability to churn out catchy, hook-laden pop gems was truly phenomenal.

 
Absolutely.   His ability to communicate to a broad audience -- not just cool, counter-culture types -- was indeed phenomenal.
 Rick_V wrote:
Just another phenomenal Beatles track.
 
Paul's ability to churn out catchy, hook-laden pop gems was truly phenomenal.
Just another phenomenal Beatles track.

The release date listed at the top is wrong on both accounts. 

This single was released in Feb. of '67, and The Beatles 1 compilation album came out in Nov. of 2000.

Not sure where 1969 fits into all this...as Paul sings in the lyrics, "very strange".  


fun stuff....{#Sunny}
 Proclivities wrote:
At the end of the day, we're thinking outside the box, and going forward, with a grassroots movement that should bring about a paradigm shift, that will maximize leverage to 110%. 
 
Thanks for opening the kimono on this. You're a team player.

Everybody in my church loves this classic song...
 
Brilliant and beautiful....10
 LucidDreamer wrote:
At the risk of being stoned to death...
You've heard of a 'game changer'? This is a 'station changer'... SO done with the Beatles...
 
Thanks for originating your phrase from that horribly tiresome cliché.  At the end of the day, we're thinking outside the box, and going forward, with a grassroots movement that should bring about a paradigm shift, that will maximize leverage to 110%.  I guess a lot of folks are "done with The Beatles" but I don't think you'll be put to death for it.
 LucidDreamer wrote:
At the risk of being stoned to death...
You've heard of a 'game changer'? This is a 'station changer'... SO done with the Beatles...
 
So apparently you love Bad Company and hate the Beatles.  That is hilarious.
 d48m02h1918 wrote:
Just beautiful!!  {#Cheers}  

But c'mon Bill, get the album and year correct {#Stop} ........I guess with the quality service of RP, I hold you to a higher standard!!  
 
Kinda depends on which album is in your (their) database, doesn't it..
Sure, it has some brilliant elements in it (such as the bass-line, but hey.. that's pretty standard for TB isn't it.. ;) but Penny Lane is so silly, that it is far from my favorite Beatles song. 7/10
Just beautiful!!  {#Cheers}  

But c'mon Bill, get the album and year correct {#Stop} ........I guess with the quality service of RP, I hold you to a higher standard!!  
 Stratocaster wrote:
The melodic bass line on this song was groundbreaking for 1967, a time when bass was just used to fill out the bottom end.  

Still awesome.  It's impossible to dislike this song.
 
False.  I love the Beatles, but this is not one of my favourites.

The melodic bass line on this song was groundbreaking for 1967, a time when bass was just used to fill out the bottom end.  

Still awesome.  It's impossible to dislike this song.
Thanks to you both for the story and the YouTube link to the video! Fabulous!  {#Clap}
apd wrote:

Terrific story - and here he is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxO4nODCGD0

 ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}

 


The "stoned to death" thing made me laugh right out loud.

If you want biblical, slag Radiohead here —- the self appointed musos turn into a bunch if mental cases.

I personally love the majority of the stuff the Beatles did, but I'm not gonna throw any rocks.

:p

 Shimmer wrote:

I stand corrected. Ringo was a Beatle on the final trips to Hamburg in the fall of 1962. Here are two photos from that time:
Ringo rocks


 


The right song at the right time... {#Dance}
One of my favorite McCartney songs!!    {#Yes}
At the risk of being stoned to death...
You've heard of a 'game changer'? This is a 'station changer'... SO done with the Beatles...
 ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}
 
Terrific story - and here he is: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxO4nODCGD0 
ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}
Best association story ever, thank you!

 calypsus_1 wrote:


"In Liverpool, the Merseybeat movement was gathering force. The band had its first recording session under Martin's direction at EMI Studios in London in June 1962. Martin complained to Epstein about Best's drumming and suggested the band use a session drummer in the studio. Instead, Best was replaced by Ringo Starr. Starr, who left Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to join the Beatles, had already performed with them in Best's occasional absence. Martin still hired session drummer Andy White for one session. White played on the single "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You". Released in October, "Love Me Do" was a top twenty UK hit, peaking at number seventeen on the chart. After a November studio session that yielded what would be their second single, "Please Please Me", they made their TV debut with a live performance on the regional news programme People and Places.

The band concluded their last Hamburg stint in December 1962.By now it had become the pattern that all four members contributed vocals, although Starr's restricted range meant he sang lead only rarely. "  (in Wikipedia)


 
I stand corrected. Ringo was a Beatle on the final trips to Hamburg in the fall of 1962. Here are two photos from that time:



 Shimmer wrote:

calypsus_1 wrote:
Beatles "Star Club" by ~JSaurer
©2008-2010 ~JSaurer

The Beatles at the "Star Club" Hamburg
Airbrush, water colours, coloured pencils, 1998

————————————————————————————————
 
That image is anachronistic (not to mention just plain horrible). Ringo never played with them in Hamburg, for example.

 

"In Liverpool, the Merseybeat movement was gathering force. The band had its first recording session under Martin's direction at EMI Studios in London in June 1962. Martin complained to Epstein about Best's drumming and suggested the band use a session drummer in the studio. Instead, Best was replaced by Ringo Starr. Starr, who left Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to join the Beatles, had already performed with them in Best's occasional absence. Martin still hired session drummer Andy White for one session. White played on the single "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You". Released in October, "Love Me Do" was a top twenty UK hit, peaking at number seventeen on the chart. After a November studio session that yielded what would be their second single, "Please Please Me", they made their TV debut with a live performance on the regional news programme People and Places.

The band concluded their last Hamburg stint in December 1962.By now it had become the pattern that all four members contributed vocals, although Starr's restricted range meant he sang lead only rarely. "  (in Wikipedia)




happy bday John !! {#Smile}
Not one of my Beatle favs, only gets an 8.
MAKES ME WANT TO VISIT LIVERPOOL!

penny2 jpg  PENNY LANE!
 nagsheadlocal wrote:
I've always preferred "Magical Mystery Tour" to "Sgt Peppers" because of the double whammy of "Penny Lane" b/w "Strawberry Fields" and "I Am The Walrus" backed with "Hello Goodbye" on their respective 45s.

Adventurous music backed with perfect pop, two magical 45s in a row. I have my original 45s framed on the wall of my home music room as proof they were the peak of the rock era.
 
Not to mess with your memories too much, but "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields" were actually recorded during the Sgt. Pepper's sessions. They ended up on the Magical Mystery Tour LP in America against the Beatles' wishes. (Magical Mystery Tour was a double-EP in the UK.)

 calypsus_1 wrote:

Beatles "Star Club" by ~JSaurer
©2008-2010 ~JSaurer

The Beatles at the "Star Club" Hamburg
Airbrush, water colours, coloured pencils, 1998
 
That image is anachronistic (not to mention just plain horrible). Ringo never played with them in Hamburg, for example.

Here's what they actually looked like in Hamburg:




Wow! This is a pretty good group.

Beatles "Star Club" by ~JSaurer
©2008-2010 ~JSaurer

The Beatles at the "Star Club" Hamburg
Airbrush, water colours, coloured pencils, 1998


 rtb wrote:
It seems to me that the sound quality of this song is too good because I grew up listening to this on 8 track.
Where's the bleed through from the other track in the background? 
 
Good ear.  I think I read that the production of this "1" album involved cleaning up some of that (remastering?), but I don't know that for fact.  What say the Beatologists out there?

I agree with the suggestions that this song was pop magic.  This sort of song is what distinguished McCartney as a songwriter, IMHO.


 ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}

 
Very cool. Thanks for relating the story. I'll think of it every time I hear Penny Lane now,

I've always preferred "Magical Mystery Tour" to "Sgt Peppers" because of the double whammy of "Penny Lane" b/w "Strawberry Fields" and "I Am The Walrus" backed with "Hello Goodbye" on their respective 45s.

Adventurous music backed with perfect pop, two magical 45s in a row. I have my original 45s framed on the wall of my home music room as proof they were the peak of the rock era.
My anthemn.
 Hannio wrote:

Pop perfection.


{#High-five} Yes, perfectly true!

Pop perfection.


It never ceases to amaze me how much music these got put on in such a short period of time. 
It seems to me that the sound quality of this song is too good because I grew up listening to this on 8 track.
Where's the bleed through from the other track in the background? 

This and 'Strawberry Fields' were the first two songs recorded during what became the sessions for Sgt. Pepper. EMI asked for a new single from the boys and they handed over those two songs. How fantastic would the Sgt. Pepper album have been if it had included those 2 songs as originally intended?


Album:1 < more >

if only that where possible... sigh...
{#Cry}

 dmax wrote:
A good friend with very different, but very broad, musical tastes asked me once, defiantly, argumentatively:

"What's the best Beatles song, ever?"

it took me only a second.

Penny Lane.

"You know," he said after thinking for another second, "You're right."
 

I would have to agree. 
 ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}

 
Anybody who loves this song has to see this video featuring David Mason, who played the trumpet part, as mentioned by brother ntoll (click on the clapping smiley): {#Clap}.
Always was,  always will be,  a feel good song....{#Sunny}
 ntoll wrote:
The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}

 
Very cool! Thanks for the post.
 ProgFusion wrote:

I agree, except that it's more than just pop.

Back in the late 60's/early 70's, given their use of orchestral instruments, and experimental recording techniques (both evident on this song), the Beatles were considered to be a Progressive Rock group. In fact, though some disagree, many cite the Sgt. Pepper album as being the start of the Progressive Rock genre.
 

Hey, we all claim the same progenitors, I guess. When I think of Prog rock, it ain't The Beatles who come to mind, though.

Macca is on record as saying that The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" influenced their direction with "Sgt. Pepper".

Who knew that Prog. rock had such a pedigree? {#Stupid} 


Jungle_Jim wrote:
About as perfect a pop song as you could imagine.

I agree, except that it's more than just pop.

Back in the late 60's/early 70's, given their use of orchestral instruments, and experimental recording techniques (both evident on this song), the Beatles were considered to be a Progressive Rock group. In fact, though some disagree, many cite the Sgt. Pepper album as being the start of the Progressive Rock genre.


The Trumpet player on this, David Mason, was one of my professors at the Royal College of Music when I was a student there in the 1990s.

He told us that he'd been called to do the recording because the Beatles had seen him on TV as a soloist in the 2nd Brandenberg Concerto. In later years he said he'd sold the old battered pic-trumpet used on this recording for a tidy sum - something which seemed to amaze him.

I remember him as a very polite and quietly spoken old English gentleman, an inspiring teacher and an excellent musician.

I always turn this track up out of respect for him... {#Notworthy}

About as perfect a pop song as you could imagine.
BRILLIANT !!    {#Whistle}
This sounds great!   {#Jump}


 ihategrapejuice wrote:
really abrupt and awkward transition after Rufus Wainwright's take on Across the Universe....
 

I would prefer the original to Rufus, myself!
really abrupt and awkward transition after Rufus Wainwright's take on Across the Universe....
Wasn't this on Magical Mystery Tour?
HA! After a John Lennon song. A sneaky plan. Very good.
It looks like Bill plays this once a month, but I can't remember the last time I heard it. I guess I should listen to my iPod more often, since I have this CD on it.
How refreshing after Rufus's cover of "Across The Universe."
At least there is some redemption after Rufus Wainwright distroyed across the universe.
This, to me, is the iconic Beatles song. This encapsulates for me everything that was good about them. Pop perfection.
Cruithne3753 wrote:
If your're tired of The Beatles, you're tired of music. Simple as that.
kalkin84 wrote:
this is the stupidest thing i have heard in a fairly long time. please remove your head from your rectum. i do not like the beattles one bit, this song isn't too bad, but i think the vast majority of their profile is shit. Does that mean i don't like music? no, not all. It just means you have an arrogance issue that needs sorting.
As a very good friend of mine once said, The Beatles is the route music had to take to get to where it is today.
kalkin84 wrote:
i do not like the beattles one bit, this song isn't too bad, but i think the vast majority of their profile is shit. Does that mean i don't like music?
No, it just means you're an idiot.
Cruithne3753 wrote:
If your're tired of The Beatles, you're tired of music. Simple as that.
this is the stupidest thing i have heard in a fairly long time. please remove your head from your rectum. i do not like the beattles one bit, this song isn't too bad, but i think the vast majority of their profile is shit. Does that mean i don't like music? no, not all. It just means you have an arrogance issue that needs sorting.
eman wrote:
...sorry, can't do the Beatles anymore...
If your're tired of The Beatles, you're tired of music. Simple as that.
From one who was in college during the Beatles heyday, I like their songs more now than ever -- I appreciate them more then ever.
Something different about the trumpets? the mix or instrumentation sounds different from what i'd become used to. Or, maybe i learned the sound of this one from the 33 1/3 LP?
One of the most enjoyable parts of this timeless song is the use of the piccolo trumpet.
Just perfect.
...sorry, can't do the Beatles anymore...
DoctorHooey wrote:
John hated this song, but I love it, so John's wrong.
And dead to boot. Bad combination.
The Beatles were one of the few groups that were simultaneously the best at what they did and the most popular. Awesome track.
John hated this song, but I love it, so John's wrong.
what a relief after that Wainwright debacle!
Nice to hear a scouse accent
I think the Beatles' true genius was writing songs of which people never tire . . . I've heard this a gazillion and two times, and it's still as fresh and new as the first time. Or perhaps I speak only for myself.
I think this may very well be my favorite Beatles song. But I think that about whatever Beatles song I happen to be hearing at the time. Still, this is in the top 3.
ah, the original. Indeed it does not get much better. I can think of only one cover that is better than the original and that is Phil Collins groovy kinda love. Not a fan of collins but he did a great job on that song.
ThePoose wrote:
I feel as if I am in a play--Bill's play. I am anyway.
laramieu wrote:
A very happy Beatles tune
Notice that even though the song is upbeat in tone, it is just barely undercut with the faintest tinge of melancholy... until the final refrain of the chorus, when it goes totally "up". Just one of those brilliant Beatles touches.
laramieu wrote:
A very happy Beatles tune
My thoughts exactly and just how I remember this tune. I would hear it running through my head as I passed newspapers while I was in high school on a clear blue spring day in 1967(?) I believe.
Thank you for playing this classic tune. It doesn't get much better than this.
Would have rated the version with the added 5-6 seconds of coronet a full ten.
I feel as if I am in a play--Bill's play.
A very happy Beatles tune
Bill! Play this song! Please! It\'s my all-time favorite Beatles song and probably my all-time favorite pop song.