It was 60 years ago today...

[cartman]

..that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.

It was 40 years ago that Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in the US, one day after being release in the UK.

[ThunderingHERD]

I've got nothing to say but it's OK.

[JediKooter]

One of the best albums ever.

[Grammaticus]

It is a really good album, but not even the best in the year it was released.

I'd rank it behind at least:

The Doors by The Doors
Disraeli Gears by Cream
Are you Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

[cthomer5000]

it's gettin' better all the time

[albionmoonlight]

. . . well it certainly can't get no worse

As of this particular instant in time, I am liking Abbey Road better.

But Sgt. Peppers is probably the only album that I don't go more than a month or two without listening to. Something always seems to remind me of one song or another, and then it gets in my head. And then, the whole album being so short, I just decide to listen to the whole thing.

And, speaking of albums being release around the same time, one piece of trivia that blew me away was learning that Pet Sounds and Blonde on Blonde were released on the same day.

[tanglewood]

It is a really good album, but not even the best in the year it was released.

I'd rank it behind at least:

The Doors by The Doors No
Disraeli Gears by Cream No
Are you Experienced by Jimi Hendrix Close.... but no

Here to help. :)

[Toddzilla]

I got into the Beatles in High School (NO, they weren't still together) and since have grown away from them and into other artists and tastes (The Clash, Bob Marley, old-skool rap being my favorites).

But once in a while I'll throw SPLHCB on the turntable and I never ceased to be amazed what an incredible, wonderful, magical album it is - every note from start to finish, to me, is absolute perfection.

If I were to put together a top-10 albums of all time list, I wouldn't include Sgt. Pepper because it is so far ahead of everything else it's not even fair.

[Ksyrup]

This one ranks second to Revolver for me among Beatles albums. But it goes without saying that when you look at the overall picture - music, technological advances, artwork, etc. - that it is far and away the greatest achievement in rock and roll history.

[cthomer5000]

As of this particular instant in time, I am liking Abbey Road better.

Side 2 of that album is certainly my favorite Beatles anything. And frankly, if I was on my death bed, I think it would be the last thing I'd want to hear. I think it's the best finish to any album ever.

[Kodos]

Have I ever mentioned that I don't particularly like the Beatles? :)

[primelord]

It is a really good album, but not even the best in the year it was released.

I'd rank it behind at least:

The Doors by The Doors
Disraeli Gears by Cream
Are you Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

QFT

[cthomer5000]

Have I ever mentioned that I don't particularly like the Beatles? :)

Honestly, it just makes me feel a bit sad for you.

[albionmoonlight]

Side 2 of that album is certainly my favorite Beatles anything. And frankly, if I was on my death bed, I think it would be the last thing I'd want to hear. I think it's the best finish to any album ever.

Yes yes yes.

I might be talking out of my ass here, but it seems to me that one of the downsides of radio being the main method of music distribution is that artists feel compelled to produce individual songs that work as independent 3-5 minute radio bits. It seems harder to make an album--like Abbey Road--that operates as an interconnected work. A lack of self-contained singles would seem to doom an album to commercial obscurity.

But, I know less about the business than most people on here, so take that for whatever it is worth.

[Ksyrup]

There aren't that many albums that do what Abbey Road did. Even when you look at the broader spectrum of "concept albums," most of the time you'll get a number of self-contained songs that might relate to others in content, but can stand alone, perhaps tied together with a few shorter segue pieces on the album.

I think probably what you see, more often than not, is a coupling of songs - Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight, for instance, I've heard played together on the radio. Or, We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions.

[Kodos]

Honestly, it just makes me feel a bit sad for you.


No need, sir. Different strokes for different folks. I am completely happy in a world devoid of Beatles worship. :cool:

[Ksyrup]

Beatles pity is the worst!

[cthomer5000]

No need, sir. Different strokes for different folks. I am completely happy in a world devoid of Beatles worship. :cool:

Understood, and i didn't mean it in a dickish way. I just mean, i think they had a profound effect on music, and made a lifetimes worth of musical transition in just 6 1/2 years (yes, they went just 6.5 years from 1st album release to last recorded album release). They helped make the album relevant as a format and were incredibly innovative in production as well. For my money there is just no comparison in terms of a group's impact on modern music.

[Passacaglia]

Pretty weird regional bias -- in Chicago on Friday, I saw an article about Sgt. Pepper being released 40 years ago, then in Detroit this weekend, I saw an article about "Respect" coming out 40 years ago.

[ThunderingHERD]

Side 2 of that album is certainly my favorite Beatles anything. And frankly, if I was on my death bed, I think it would be the last thing I'd want to hear. I think it's the best finish to any album ever.

Absolutely, 100% agree. When Golden Slumbers bursts into Carry That Weight--that's the single greatest moment in the history of popular music recordings. Just thinking of it can still give me goosebumps.

[Kodos]

Understood, and i didn't mean it in a dickish way.


No problem. :)

[rkmsuf]

Let it go, people.

[Grammaticus]

When it comes to the Beatles,

The White Album rules all of their others.

If you want a kickin concept album try Frank Zappa's "Joes's Garage".

[ThunderingHERD]

When it comes to the Beatles,

The White Album rules all of their others.

If you want a kickin concept album try Frank Zappa's "Joes's Garage".

The White Album is not only the most overrated Beatles album, but easily one of the most overrated albums ever. There's maybe 35 minutes of classic material--unfortunately, it runs for 95 minutes.

[cthomer5000]

The White Album is not only the most overrated Beatles album, but easily one of the most overrated albums ever. There's maybe 35 minutes of classic material--unfortunately, it runs for 95 minutes.

Im closer to your side. I put the Beatles a full level above any band ever, and there is just way too much filler on that album. Could have been their best single album, but instead it's a bloated double (especially the 2nd LP).

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I don't really like the White Album much, either.

I pretty much only listen to Rubber Soul/Revolver/Sgt. Pepper's/Magical Mystery Tour, and occasionally Abby Road. Those 4 albums between the boy band stuff and the final few albums are about 90% of why I love the Beatles.