Daniel, Penny Lane did very well on the charts reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Canada's CHUM Chart. It peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Both Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever were released on February 13, 1967 in the U.S. and on February 17, 1967 in the UK. Strawberry Fields Forever peaked at #2 on the UK singles Chart. Yes, it was Engelbert Humperdinck's Release Me which kept Strawberry fields Forever from reaching #1. It was the first time since Love Me Do in 1962 that a single by The Beatles failed to reach #1 in the UK charts. Strawberry Fields Forever only reached #8 in the U.S.