So much is said about The Beatles legendary 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but I think too much of what is said is about it's historical significance and the like. Not enough attention is paid to the music itself. And that's why with this article I'm focusing entirely on the music, one song at a time.
01. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - This opening track really sets the mood for the entire album. The song shifts styles abruptly just like the album does from song to song. And of course the crowd noise and the entire "Sgt. Pepper" concept are introduced here.
02. "With a Little Help from my Friends" - The perfect song for Ringo Starr to sing. John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote this song together specifically for Ringo to sing which I think makes the great lyrics all that much greater (think of them in that context.)
03. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" - Now that the original mono version is available easily (with the release of The Beatles in Mono Box Set) it's great to be able to hear what this album sounds like in mono (how it was "meant to be heard" originally.) And the heavy vocal effects on this song is probably one of the more interesting things about the mono mixes for me.
04. "Getting Better" - The "it couldn't get much worse" lyric that Lennon added to this McCartney song is such a great example of the way that Lennon and McCartney made each others songs better even when they weren't righting them "eyeball to eyeball" like in the early days.
05. "Fixing a Hole" - Tracks 4 through 6 are a beautiful slice of McCartney magic and I think this is actually my favorite of that great trio of songs.
06. "She's Leaving Home" - Another great reason to get The Beatles in Mono Box Set. This song sounds faster and higher (by a semitone) in the mono version. It's a treat to hear!
07. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" - I think my favorite part of this song is the cut up tape section where it sounds like sort of insane random carnival music.
08. "Within You Without You" - I know a lot of people just can't get down with this kind of music but I certainly can. It's a really tripped out journey into the center of your own mind or is that your own heart? Or perhaps it's India!
09. "When I'm 64" - Check out this song sequencing. We went from a 1800s circus to India to do some meditating and now we're enjoying ourselves this very tongue in cheek music hall number. So many differnet styles of music are explored on this album, and they are all done brilliantly.
11. "Lovely Rita" - I have to admit that tracks #10 and #11 are probably my least favorites on the album. But considering I quite like both of those tracks, that says a lot about how much I love this album.
11. "Good Morning Good Morning" - My least favorite song on the album. Yet I still think it's pretty great at times and it has some very interesting elements. I think that says a lot about how much I love this album.
12. "Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)" - This one is even better than the album opener. It rocks something fierce!
13. "A Day in the Life" - This is the best example of John & Paul combining their ideas to be something greater than they were on their own. This is also the best song ever recorded by anyone. It's just pure brilliance.
01. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - This opening track really sets the mood for the entire album. The song shifts styles abruptly just like the album does from song to song. And of course the crowd noise and the entire "Sgt. Pepper" concept are introduced here.
02. "With a Little Help from my Friends" - The perfect song for Ringo Starr to sing. John Lennon & Paul McCartney wrote this song together specifically for Ringo to sing which I think makes the great lyrics all that much greater (think of them in that context.)
03. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" - Now that the original mono version is available easily (with the release of The Beatles in Mono Box Set) it's great to be able to hear what this album sounds like in mono (how it was "meant to be heard" originally.) And the heavy vocal effects on this song is probably one of the more interesting things about the mono mixes for me.
04. "Getting Better" - The "it couldn't get much worse" lyric that Lennon added to this McCartney song is such a great example of the way that Lennon and McCartney made each others songs better even when they weren't righting them "eyeball to eyeball" like in the early days.
05. "Fixing a Hole" - Tracks 4 through 6 are a beautiful slice of McCartney magic and I think this is actually my favorite of that great trio of songs.
06. "She's Leaving Home" - Another great reason to get The Beatles in Mono Box Set. This song sounds faster and higher (by a semitone) in the mono version. It's a treat to hear!
07. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" - I think my favorite part of this song is the cut up tape section where it sounds like sort of insane random carnival music.
08. "Within You Without You" - I know a lot of people just can't get down with this kind of music but I certainly can. It's a really tripped out journey into the center of your own mind or is that your own heart? Or perhaps it's India!
09. "When I'm 64" - Check out this song sequencing. We went from a 1800s circus to India to do some meditating and now we're enjoying ourselves this very tongue in cheek music hall number. So many differnet styles of music are explored on this album, and they are all done brilliantly.
11. "Lovely Rita" - I have to admit that tracks #10 and #11 are probably my least favorites on the album. But considering I quite like both of those tracks, that says a lot about how much I love this album.
11. "Good Morning Good Morning" - My least favorite song on the album. Yet I still think it's pretty great at times and it has some very interesting elements. I think that says a lot about how much I love this album.
12. "Sgt. Pepper's (Reprise)" - This one is even better than the album opener. It rocks something fierce!
13. "A Day in the Life" - This is the best example of John & Paul combining their ideas to be something greater than they were on their own. This is also the best song ever recorded by anyone. It's just pure brilliance.
About the Author:
The Beatles Mono Box Set includes the mono version of this amazing album. The Beatles Stereo Box Set includes every album The Beatles released in the UK in amazing remastered stereo.
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