After the Beatles decided to stop touring in 1966, they decided to make records the way they wanted to really do, with no timelines or concert dates sandwiched in-between studio time.

Thus, the first single of 1967 would be considered one of their finest singles to date. Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane were supposed to be on the future Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, but manager Brian Epstein, sensing that the group needed be out there on the record racks, convinced producer George Martin to release these two songs as the next Beatles single.

In addition to the new sounds, the Beatles were also growing up as evidenced by the moustaches and clothing they were wearing at the time. The songs Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane are places John and Paul respectively have visited as children. Chart-wise, though, Penny Lane was delegated as the A-side and reached number one on all three charts. The equally good B-side Strawberry Fields Forever reached as high as number eight on Billboard, number nine on Record World, and number eleven on Cash Box.