|
Post by Steve Austin on Jun 3, 2017 22:29:23 GMT
This week The Beatles returned to the top of the UK Album charts with a re-release of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 50 years to the week since it was first released.
Some achievement.
I first purchased this album for my 13th Birthday back in 1982. I say first because I now have 5 copies. 2 x LP's (including the one previously mentioned), and an original 60's pressing, a CD from when they were first released in the late 80's, a copy from the stereo box set collection released in 2009 and the re-released version this week.
I'll be the first to admit it's not their best album, for me it's Rubber Soul or Revolver, but it is one of the most iconic albums ever released. When you consider that Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane were cut from the album, it gives you some idea of just how creative they were around this time.
Songs ranging from music hall to kitchen sink drama to Indian mysticism as well as notes so high pitched only dogs could hear. They created a truly aural landscape.
Not just musically either. The sleeve design we know much about but this was also the first cover to incorporate the song lyrics and the original also included artwork by The Fool who also painted the Apple Building and George's Mini.
It always makes me laugh when groups of today such as One Direction (please) are likened to The Beatles. I don't think anyone has or will come close.
Paul McCartney has the most lead vocal's on the album but I much prefer John's contributions, especially Good Morning Good Morning and A Day In The Life although Lennon himself said that the former was a "throwaway, piece of garbage" and the album was "the biggest load of shit we've ever done", so what do I know.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of fellow members (you all seem to have good taste) will also have at least one copy (it has sold over 5 million copies in the UK so a fairly safe bet) and so with a little help from my friends, would like to know your thoughts too.
|
|
|
Post by Arthur Pringle on Jun 3, 2017 23:07:53 GMT
I don't own a copy, or any other Beatles album come to that, though my mum did just buy one of the 50th anniversary vinyl releases for my brother's 50th birthday. The Beatles stand alone & don't bear comparison with any other artist & it seems everything came together with Sgt Pepper. As you say Steve, not considered their best album by fans, but in terms of its cultural significance it has endured as a defining work for all the reasons you've stated. Often the case that a band ( or actor, director, etc. ) is not remembered for what they consider their 'best' work.
|
|
Bojan Scores
Cameraman
Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
Posts: 448
Online Status:
|
Post by Bojan Scores on Jun 4, 2017 0:42:57 GMT
My favourite Beatles album is Abbey Road. An absolute blinding record to finish on.
|
|
Bojan Scores
Cameraman
Terry you’re very devious when a bird’s involved...
Posts: 448
Online Status:
|
Post by Bojan Scores on Jun 4, 2017 0:45:56 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Windy Miller on Jun 4, 2017 9:06:34 GMT
Yep. I also have multiple copies of Sgt. Pepper on different formats. For an album that is under-rated by many, it has to be the best under-rated album in the world. Maybe if "Within You, Without You", which was groundbreaking for its use of the Indian music style wasn't on the album, folks may rate it higher. Beatles fact: The audience laugh on the title track came from Beyond the Fringe. The playout groove has, apparently, a whistling sound that only dogs can hear, and gibberish that, when played backwards, is still gibberish.
|
|
|
Post by John Steed on Jun 4, 2017 12:17:15 GMT
I also have several copies of Sgt. Pepper on different formats and it is actually one of my favourite Beatles albums. My wife bought me the 50th Anniversary Boxset Deluxe edition last week Steed
|
|
Cartman
Producer
Posts: 4,027
Online Status:
|
Post by Cartman on Jun 5, 2017 8:48:19 GMT
I am going to be controversial. I have never really "got" The Beatles at all, I'm afraid. They were a bit before my time, as the 70s was my era, but I do remember them a bit from the very tail end of their career as a group. They did a couple I liked from about the mid point of their career, 1966 ish, Lady Madonna, Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane, but those are the only three of their single releases I like.
To me, they were Ok ish when they started, did a bit of good stuff in the mid point, then went weird. Of 60s groups, I preferred the Stones
(goes and hides!)
|
|
Del Boy
Moderator
Posts: 9,904
Online Status:
|
Post by Del Boy on Jun 15, 2017 21:30:23 GMT
I have this album on CD 1987 version and a 2009 remastered vinyl. I'm going to add to to Cartman's controversy and say that the modern stereo remasters sound far better than the original mono's from the 60's. I have a Rubber Soul Mono pressing from the 60's and a 09 remaster, and the sound quality is far greater on the 09 version by a long way. I think this is down to it being Stereo over Mono rather than it being 'remastered' but to check for sure i would need an original stereo version. I believe these stereo versions of the album were in print from the 70's. Any one got one of these ? Is it better than the Mono?
Sgt Pepper is fantastic for lots of reasons. The art work on a gate fold sleeve with pull outs to make, the concept of a fake band, the way the first two tracks are seamless and how its bookended with the Sgt Pepper tracks. The fact the album is supposed to be taken as a show/performance. These things were indeed firsts in many respects. This album is Paul's baby who came up with the Sgt Pepper concept. He is on record as saying he was inspired to better the very good Pet Sounds- Beach Boys album and that The Beatles were moving to a new direction. They were by then a band done with touring and were honing their craft and mastering studio effects. Ringo says its a fine album but he learnt to play Chess while making it as it took so long. Paul's concept it may be but for me the track that steals the show is John's- Day In The Life. Who doesn't love that building crescendo ending with the longest note in out there (surely). Jeff Lynne certainly likes it as there's a similar ending on Turn To Stone bar the long last note (See Below)
All the above make Sgt Pepper 'The best concept album'. Track for track though I dont believe its the best Beatles album.
Why are the Beatles revered so much as the best? I think that The Beatles Albums are packed with great songs, more so than any other band i know from any era. There are some classic albums from artists/bands that have quite a few hits, but no one gets near the Beatles who did it with most of theirs and at a production crazy rate. 12 albums and 22 singles in 7 years. As Steve said the best of the album recording sessions ended up as the singles, so for their albums to be so strong with the best removed from them is the real watermark of why this band is numero uno.
To skip to the ending go to 4.00
If you want to skip to similar ending as A Day In The Life go to 3.42
|
|
|
Post by Superclassic on Nov 7, 2017 21:58:10 GMT
A belated post from me here,being a huge Beatles fan.Peppers is a bit of a standout album in The Beatle cannon for me,not because it was so ground-breaking (although it undoubtably was),but because it sounds like nothing else that they had done before,or they ever did afterwards.It's a little strange in that respect.I did read an article with a well known music journalist who said that there are sounds created on Peppers that you simply couldn't re-create today,and I think I know what he meant....at the time this album took an absolute age for the band to record.George certainly didn't enjoy the process (large parts of the album don't feature him a lot-Paul plays lots of lead on Peppers),and as Del Boy has already stated,Ringo was very much bored after his parts were down,learning to play chess whilst John and Paul tinkered.Johns' songs are from another planet:Lucy,Benefit Of Mr.Kite,Day In The Life....even Good Morning for me is exceptional.Pauls' songs are superb,Fixing A Hole and Getting Better always seem to belong together for me.When I'm 64 was written way back in 58/59' I think,held back on purpose,Paul released it on Peppers to coincide with the year his Dad turned 64 which was 1967.For anybody that's interested,there is a great section in the Hunter Davies book about Peppers and the recording of,Hunter Davies was researching the band at the time and spent lots of time with each member and the band as a whole during the Peppers period.Lots of nice little stories in there.
Paul was the real driving force around this time....John was still very active but perhaps this was the start of his retreat into himself,he was inherently lazy and after Peppers (and with the death of Brian Epstein)he let Paul sort of 'take over', his marriage fizzling out and Yoko on the scene more and more.He was really only interested in the things that piqued his interests,and more frequently that wasn't the band.I feel Pepper was Lennons' finest album with The Beatles.How can you knock his songs on there?I also feel that Georges' song is also vital to the album,and even Ringo sings a good one.
It's not my favourite Beatle album...not even close,really.But I do love it.I have 3 copies,all on CD.I did have the vinyl,I had an original 67' copy where She's Leaving Home is a very different mix.It's quite strange that I've noticed this thread,I had a local gig on Sunday where I got talking to two ladies who were sharing a bottle of wine,perhpas in their mid 60s.They asked me a few questions and I told them I played in a Beatle tribute,and they started chatting about the 60s and The Beatles and one of them said that Peppers absolutely blew her mind when it was released.
|
|
Del Boy
Moderator
Posts: 9,904
Online Status:
|
Post by Del Boy on Nov 10, 2017 22:41:36 GMT
These threads are a living thing Super so feel free to add your contribution at any time. The great thing about this place is that if hasn't got a thread about your favourite TV ,Film ,music ,motor etc then feel free to start the ball rolling This place has grown from humble beginnings into an informative great looking forum and we haven't really scratched the surface yet of all the great old classics out there. I found this today.. A limited edition brand new vinyl jukebox. Its an Apple corps official licensed product. Sound Leisure Beatles Jukebox
What do you all think of this? I quite like it although at 9 grand its a bit out of my league.
|
|