Recorded around the same time as Sgt. Pepper’s but not included on the album, this double A-side is arguably one of the greatest singles ever made. But somehow the groundbreaking Psychedelic Strawberry Fields and the perfect musical and lyrical Pop that was Penny Lane missed out on the No.1 spot in the UK due to the success of Englebert Humperdink’s Release Me, one of the biggest selling UK singles of all time. A country song written in 1946 by Eddie Miller, Robert Yount, and James Pebworth, it held Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields off the top spot staying at No.1 for 6 weeks, remaining in the chart for a record 56 weeks  and selling over a million records.

In the US Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields reached No.1 (knocked off the top by The Turtles, Happy Together). The Beatles’ singles didn’t generally appear on their respective albums. In the US the double 7 inch UK release Magical Mystery Tour came out as an album with Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields added. Apparently George Martin regretted not including the two songs on Sgt. Pepper’s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Lane

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_Forever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Mystery_Tour

Penny Lane Official Video

Fan Video for Strawberry Fields