McCartney and Lennon had recorded ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’, intending the two songs to be on Sgt. Peppers. The record company pressured them into releasing the two songs on a 45 early. Company executives didn’t want to wait for Sgt. Peppers.
At the time, English record companies had a policy of not putting songs on albums if the songs had been released separate from the album. So, the two songs never made it on the Sgt. Peppers. Too bad. Sgt. Peppers was a good album, but having ‘Strawberry Fields’ & ‘Penny Lane’ would have launched it to infinity and beyond.
RE: McCartney and Lennon had recorded ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and ‘Penny Lane’, intending the two songs to be on Sgt. Peppers. The record company pressured them....
Absurd to follow meaningless rules they made up at the label.
Saw a George Martin interview where he said he always regretted not having the two songs on the album where they belonged.