Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at
12:54 pm
I hope this article is successful in turning the conversation on The Beatles’ classic Sgt Pepper album from all of the “other stuff” to the really important stuff: the songs. What follows is a song by song look at this amazing album. #1 “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” is the album’s opener and arguably the heaviest song the band had done to that point (they would definitely surpass it with some songs on The White Album though, in particular “Helter Skelter.”) But as usual with The Beatles, there is a lot more to the song than just that. Sure there are the heavy rhythm guitars and the Jimi Hendrix inspired guitar solos but there’s also the horns and of course the crowd chatter and orchestral “tuning up” which really sets the mood for the song and the entire album. #2 “With A Little Help From My Friends” may be one of the few Beatles songs where a cover version is more well known than their original. Joe Cocker’s cover version was really seared into the public consciousness as it was used in the opening credits of The Wonder Years. While Cocker’s version is cool (and totally different than The Beatles) I still greatly prefer this one. #3 “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” was one of the most overtly “psychedelic” songs The Beatles recorded. Everything about the song from it’s imaginative lyrics to it’s phased out sound is tripped out to the extreme. #4 “Getting Better” is where I really start enjoying the album as an album. The first three songs of the album have become so well known that I have a hard time appreciating them in the same way I do the rest of the songs on the album. #5 “Fixing A Hole” contains some of Paul McCartney’s greatest lyrics and some of his most imaginative music. This is one of the coolest Beatles songs that is not so well known (as much as any Beatles song is “not so well known” that is.) #6 “She’s Leaving Home” is a song the people tend to either hate or love. Except for me. I guess for me it’s somewhere in between those extremes. I do enjoy it but I can see why people would find it a bit distasteful too. The song was actually not arranged by George Martin because he was not available so McCartney had Mike Leander help him instead. Another bit of trivia: The harp was played by a woman named Sheila Bromberg. She was the first female to appear on any Beatles recording. #7 “Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!” is one of The Beatles most bizarre and surreal songs and for that I love it. #8 “Within You Without You” is a song that has caused a fair share of arguments among Beatles fans over the years. Many think it doesn’t fit with the other songs but I disagree. To me it’s meditative center of the album. It’s perfectly placed right in the middle. #9 “When I’m 64″ is another tune that people seem to like to fight about. Again, I love it. I get it. I know what McCartney was going for with songs like this (see “Honey Pie” and “Your Mother Should Know”) and I totally dig it. It’s important to realize how firmly his tongue is in his cheek with these tunes. That is definitely not to say they are “joke” songs. No. And Ween is not a “joke” band either. That’s not it at all. I guess it’s one of those things you either get or you don’t get. But if you are a fan of Ween then I definitely recommend taking a second listen to McCartney’s Beatles stuff. I see it as the seed for Ween’s approach. #10 “Lovely Rita” is one of the songs I tend to always really enjoy when I listen to this album, I think that’s partly because it’s a song that’s not included on any other Beatles release. #11 “Good Morning Good Morning” is probably the song I had the hardest time getting into and if I had to choose my least favorite, it’s probably this one. But that being said, I still like the song and enjoy listening to it which says a lot about how great I think this album is, doesn’t it? Also the rooster sound morphing into the guitar sound at the end of the song is awesome. #12 “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” actually rocks harder than the opening track. It’s like a looser funkier version and I always love hearing it. It’s because it rocks and also because of the amazing song that I know is coming next. #13 “A Day In The Life” is the greatest song ever. Pretty sweet way to end the album, eh?
Friday, November 6th, 2009 at
3:47 am

Album Description
One of the most famous and influential albums ever recorded, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band had a huge impact on the music world, signaling the beginning of a new era of sophistication and maturity in rock. The musical experimentation was dynamic and fresh, several tracks were edited to create seamless transitions, and even the visual design was more elaborate than anything previously attempted. Producer George Martin and The Beatles searched for new sounds and studio effects. They added crowd sounds and animal cries from sound-effects recordings, sped up Paul McCartney’s vocals in “When I’m Sixty-Four” (to make him sound younger), and sustained a single piano chord for 40 seconds to end “A Day In The Life.” The orchestrations, scored by Martin, were hailed by critics as bridging the gap between pop and classical music, and many people who had never bought a rock record bought Sgt. Pepper’s. EMI. 2005.Amazon.com essential recording
Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with “A Little Help” from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon’s evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” the carnival-like “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”) and McCartney’s music hall-styled “When I’m 64,” to Harrison’s Eastern-leaning “Within You Without You,” and the avant-garde mini-suite, “A Day in the Life,” Sgt. Pepper was a milestone for both ’60s music and popular culture. –Billy Altman
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at
3:08 am

Album Description
Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. Within the CD’s new packaging, the booklet includes detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. A newly produced mini-documentary on the making of the album is included as a QuickTime file on each album. The documentary contains archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere. Capitol.Amazon.com essential recording
Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with “A Little Help” from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon’s evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” the carnival-like “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”) and McCartney’s music hall-styled “When I’m 64,” to Harrison’s Eastern-leaning “Within You Without You,” and the avant-garde mini-suite, “A Day in the Life,” Sgt. Pepper was a milestone for both ’60s music and popular culture. –Billy Altman
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at
10:15 pm

Product Description
The classic original Beatles studio albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the Beatles catalogue has seen since its original release.
Within each CD’s new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. The newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.Amazon.com essential recording
Before Sgt. Pepper, no one seriously thought of rock music as actual art. That all changed in 1967, though, when John, Paul, George and Ringo (with “A Little Help” from their friend, producer George Martin) created an undeniable work of art which remains, after 30-plus years, one of the most influential albums of all time. From Lennon’s evocative word/sound pictures (the trippy “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” the carnival-like “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”) and McCartney’s music hall-styled “When I’m 64,” to Harrison’s Eastern-leaning “Within You Without You,” and the avant-garde mini-suite, “A Day in the Life,” Sgt. Pepper was a milestone for both ’60s music and popular culture. –Billy Altman
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at
4:47 am

Product Description
This is an original “Yellow Palophone” Release! It comes with cutout insert! Also hard to find! Jacket is in great condition. The disc is a “C” rating…. More >>
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at
3:51 am

Album Description
Special edition packaged in a crate and includes a Large sized WhiteT-shirt. Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully ma… More >>
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Collector’s
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at
12:55 am

Album Description
Special edition packaged in a crate and includes a Large sized WhiteT-shirt. Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully ma… More >>
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Collector’s
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at
4:43 pm

Album Description
Special edition packaged in a crate and includes a Large sized WhiteT-shirt. Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully ma… More >>
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Collector’s
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at
2:47 am

Album Description
Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings…. More >>
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 at
1:43 am

Album Description
Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1967 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Lucy In The Sky WIth Diamonds’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Getting Better, ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings…. More >>
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band