Recorded: 6 December 1966 - 21 April 1967
Producer: George Martin
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Adrian Ibbetson, Malcolm Addey, Ken Townsend, Peter Vince
Released: 1 June 1967 (UK), 2 June 1967 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, Hammond organ, cowbell
Paul McCartney: vocals, electric guitar, bass, piano, Lowery organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano
George Harrison: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, tambura, sitar, maracas
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, harmonica, tambourine, maracas, congas, bongos, chimes
George Martin: Hammond organ, Lowery organ, piano, pianette, harpsichord, harmonium, glockenspiel
Mal Evans: harmonica, Hammond organ, piano
Neil Aspinall: harmonica, tambura
Erich Gruenberg, Derek Jacobs, Trevor Williams, José Luis Garcia, Alan Loveday, Julien Gaillard, Paul Scherman, Ralph Elman, David Wolfsthal, Jack Rothstein, Jack Greene, Granville Jones, Bill Monro, Jurgen Hess, Hans Geiger, D Bradley, Lionel Bentley, David McCallum, Donald Weekes, Henry Datyner, Sidney Sax, Ernest Scott: violin
John Underwood, Stephen Shingles, Gwynne Edwards, Bernard Davis, John Meek: viola
Dennis Vigay, Alan Dalziel, Reginald Kilbey, Allen Ford, Peter Beavan, Francisco Gabarro, Alex Nifosi: cello
Cyril MacArthur, Gordon Pearce: double bass
Sheila Bromberg, John Marston: harp
Robert Burns, Henry MacKenzie, Frank Reidy, Basil Tschaikov, Jack Brymer: clarinet
Roger Lord: oboe
N Fawcett, Alfred Waters: bassoon
Clifford Seville, David Sanderman: flute
Barrie Cameron, David Glyde, Alan Holmes: saxophone
David Mason, Monty Montgomery, Harold Jackson: trumpet
Raymond Brown, Raymond Premru, T Moore, John Lee: trombone
Alan Civil, Neil Sanders, James W Buck, Tony Randall, John Burden, Tom (surname unknown): French horn
Michael Barnes: tuba
Tristan Fry: timpani, percussion
Marijke Koger: tambourine
Unknown musicians: dilruba, svarmandal, tabla, tambura
Tracklisting:
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing A Hole
She's Leaving Home
Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!
Within You Without You
When I'm Sixty-Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning Good Morning
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
A Day In The Life
The Beatles' eighth UK album caused a seismic shift in popular music. Recorded in 700 hours during a 129-day period, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band helped define the 1967 Summer of Love, and was instantly recognised as a major leap forward for modern music.
The mood of the album was in the spirit of the age, because we ourselves were fitting into the mood of the time. The idea wasn't to do anything to cater for that mood - we happened to be in that mood anyway. And it wasn't just the general mood of the time that influenced us; I was searching for references that were more on the fringe of things. The actual mood of the time was more likely to be The Move, or Status Quo or whatever - whereas outside all of that there was this avant-garde mode, which I think was coming into Pepper.
There was definitely a movement of people. All I am saying is: we weren't really trying to cater for that movement - we were just being part of it, as we always had been. I maintain The Beatles weren't the leaders of the generation, but the spokesmen. We were only doing what the kids in the art schools were all doing. It was a wild time, and it feels to me like a time warp - there we were in a magical wizard-land with velvet patchwork clothes and burning joss sticks, and here we are now soberly dressed.
Anthology
Even more so than its predecessor, Revolver, Sgt Pepper saw The Beatles pushing boundaries within the studio, creating sounds which had never before been heard. They made extensive use of orchestras and other hired musicians, and combined a variety of musical styles including rock, music hall, psychedelia, traditional Indian and Western classical.
From the fairground swirls of Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! to the animal stampede that closes Good Morning Good Morning, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band signalled to the world that The Beatles were no longer the loveable moptops of old, unwilling to sing simple love songs and perform for crowds who were more interested in screaming than listening.
The album was always going to have Sgt Pepper at the beginning; and if you listen to the first two tracks, you can hear it was going to be a show album. It was Sgt Pepper and his Lonely Hearts Club Band with all these other acts, and it was going to run like a rock opera. It had started out with a feeling that it was going to be something totally different, but we only got as far as Sgt Pepper and Billy Shears (singing With A Little Help From My Friends), and then we thought: 'Sod it! it's just two tracks.' It still kept the title and the feel that it's all connected, although in the end we didn't actually connect all the songs up.
Anthology
At the core of Sgt Pepper is the sound of The Beatles' English background, with tales of runaway girls, circus attractions, Isle of Wight cottages, domestic violence, home improvements, Daily Mail news stories, memories of school days and favourite childhood literature - far from the riches they enjoyed as the most famous foursome on the planet, but remembering times past and wondering what the future would hold.
Prior to the release of Sgt Pepper, however, many commentators believed The Beatles to be over as a group. They had ceased touring and largely retreated from public view, and Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever had failed to top the UK singles chart after its February 1967 release.
After the record was finished, I thought it was great. I thought it was a huge advance, and I was very pleased because a month or two earlier the press and the music papers had been saying, 'What are The Beatles up to? Drying up, I suppose.' So it was nice, making an album like Pepper and thinking, 'Yeah, drying up, I suppose. That's right.' It was lovely to have them on that when it came out. I loved it. I had a party to celebrate - that whole weekend was a bit of a party, as far as I recall. I remember getting telegrams saying: 'Long live Sgt Pepper.' People would come round and say, 'Great album, man.'
Anthology
Related articles:
- US LP: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
- Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- UK LP: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Rare Capitol Records staff-only pressing of Sgt Pepper discovered
If you think about it, Pepper is the beginning of the end. They are not playing or working together as group. Paul's solo album, although the minimal contributions from John are what give the album weight and soul. George contributes very little to this album except for of course his masterpiece "within and within out you." Paul plays most of the led guitar. Let it be ,which is always seen as the band falling apart actually has them playing as a unit.It is nice to seem them play on the roof.
Now Sgt.Pepper is Paul's solo album?
Give me a break.
Yes, Paul's solo album. He wrote the majority of the songs and contributed greatly to Jonn's 4 songs. It was Paul who came up with the great intro melody to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, instructed John on the vocal phrasing, wrote half of the lyrics, plays great the melodic base throughout. WIthout Paul, Lucy just does not work. His contributions to Day in the Life are well documented, conducted orchestra, plays the ever essential piano and base part, not to mention the middle eight, and instructed Ringo's great drum fills. He plays all of the lead guitar solos with exception of fixing a hole. Pepper was Paul's dream, that is why the others hate it so much. John was jealous for the attention it got, George was never really involved (his heart was in India) and Ringo was bore out of his mind (learned how to play chess).
What are the sources for your claims?
For starters read Emmerick's book, and Barry Miles' book. If you are not a reader just watch anthology and listen to how john, george, ringo do not speak very fondly about pepper but paul loves it.
It is obvious in your comments you attempt to take away from the efforts of John, George and Ringo and claim them for Paul.
The comments you made about Ringo on the I Feel Fine page calling him "clumsy" and on Day In The Life here (Ringo needed to be "instructed") proves that you disrespect Ringo as a drummer.
Read response In I feel Fine section.
According to Paul Ringo didn't want to play "lead drums", so together the other ones convinced him and "coached" him through it.
You forget to precise that Ringo said concerning Sgt.Pepper's : " We done a great album"
(he never said: it's a great album of Paul)
Because one day Ringo said, he learned how to play chess, some people tries to pretend to be experts. So, they said : "Hey, i'm a specialist, I discovered something. Sgt.Pepper's, it's not an album of The Beatles, it's an album of Paul McCartney. Do you want a evidence? Ringo said he learned how to play chess.
So it's the evidence that he didn't participate to the sessions of Sgt.Pepper's"
(lol)
I think you're wrong. Yes, Paul wrote the majority of the song but John also contributed something to his songs ("Getting Better" and "She's Leaving Home"). And who wrote the intro of Lucy in the Sky? It was John. Doesn't matter if Paul played it. I don't think he has anything to do with this song. He is the only one who says that he wrote it together with John.
Sgt. Pepper was a time of cooperation from everyone in the group.
There were no walkouts, or bickering for Pepper as there was in the Get Back/Let It Be sessions.
Paul's quantity of songs doesn't equal John (and George's) quality of songs.
As for Paul playing most of the lead guitar, according to you, check each guitar track for each song on this site!
1 - " They are not playing or working together as group."
REVISIONISM!!!
Totally wrong : Every days together (except Sundays) for 4 consecutive months!
George contributes very little to this album except for of course his masterpiece "within and within out you."
REVISIONISM!!!
GEORGE HARRISON
1 - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band : Vocals, Guitar
2- With A Little Help From My Friends : Lead Guitar
3 - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds : Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Tambura
4 - Getting Better : Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Tambura
5 - Fixing A Hole : Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
6 - Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! : Harmonica
7 - Within You Without You : Vocals, Sitar, Acoustic Guitar, Tambura
8 - When I'm Sixty-Four : Backing Vocals
9 - Lovely Rita : Backing Vocals, Electric Slide Guitar, Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Comb and Paper
10 - Good Morning Good Morning : Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
11 - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) : Vocals, Lead guitar
12 - A Day In The Life : Maracas
Like you see, George played on 11 songs and he sing on 9 songs
He composed only one songs?
If you listen Led Zeppelin, all the songs was credited " Jimmy Page/Robert Plant"
So, if you consider " George contributes very little to this album " because he composed one song, so we can say that John Bonham and John Paul Jones was absent on albums of Led Zeppelin.
Like "Led Zeppelin IV" is an album of Led Zeppelin (and not an album of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant), Sgt.Pepper's is an album of The Beatles ( and not an album of Lennon/McCartney)
Sgt.Pepper's is an album of The Beatles.
Love those maracas! If you don't agree that Paul completely dominates the Pepper sessions so be it.
I've heard people say that same bull about Abbey Road..."Paul's album". I would remind you that these are both Beatles albums! Just because Paul cared more towards the end and put forth greater effort in the recording and production of said albums does not make them his albums. To state that as fact you downplay the importance of songs like "Lucy in the Sky..." and "For the Benefit.." on Sgt. Pepper's and songs like "Come Together" and "I Wany You (She's So Heavy)" on Abbey Road. I know that that second side of Abbey Road was Paul's conception and really was his creation, but it would not have been worth s#!t without the "Sun King"/Mr.Mustard"/"Pam" section...all songs by Lennon.
p.s. I do think they should have included "Only a Northern Song" on Sgt. Pepper!
When did it become fashionable to downplay Sgt. Pepper? I agree with the common belief these days that Revolver is a better group effort and their best album overall but that doesn't take away from the greatness of Pepper. It's still a stunning masterpiece...
I love the album too. I just think that it is interesting to view it as such a pinnacle for the group when it is more of a Mccartney solo album. I prefer the white album, Revolver, Rubber Soul, Abbey Road over Pepper. But don't get me wrong I love em all, I am a Beatle nut!
The mystery to me is, on "A Day In The Life" after the ...went into a dream section, who is singing the melodic scat phrases? Sounds like Paul but others have stated that it was John.
Please visit the forum for a discussion on this.
Barry Miles has been close to Paul since mid-1960's.
Many Years From Now gives Paul credit for every innovation by the Beatles.
This McCartney-acolyte labels John as a "manoeuvring swine".
It reads more like a press kit than an objective book.
McCartney's idea...Lennon's album.
How can you call Pepper "John's album"??
According to people working with the Beatles in the studio Lennon was extremely little interested in working on the songs, even his own!
Paul's bass lines in all of Lennon's (few) songs are amazing, as is his guitar solo in "Good morning", as is the intro to "Lucy", as is his incredible piano part in "A day in the life". Many great aspects about John's song were accomplished by the arrangements of George Martin (animals, Mr. Kite's crazy organ, orchestra on "A day in the life, supported by Paul etc.)
He was the driving force behind the album. I still wouldn't call it his "solo" album, since it was the four of them that made The Beatles so legendary. And of course the others contributed greatly. Imagine George Harrison NOT bringing up his sworde-mandel or the tambura! Imagine Ringo NOT doing "With a little help" and all this wonderful drums. Imagine John doing NOT those fantastic vocals on "A day in the life" or the greece choir part on "She's leaving home". It was still an excellent group effort.
But it should be still obvious that Paul was the major force, writing most of the songs, playing all those essential musical parts, being involved and interested in the production the most.
The animal sounds on "Good Morning" were Johns idea. And the orchestral arrangement on "A Day in the Life" was created collaboratively by George Martin, John Lennon and Paul McCarntey.
Probably the most overrated album in history!
Sgt Pepper/Reprise
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
A Day In The Life
Shes Leaving Home
Lovely Rita
Are the best songs on that album, Is it better than Rubber Soul/Revolver/The White Album for Me it isn't, It made a large impact because of the feel of it within the physchedelic era of the 60's plus it soothes alot of ego's for the McCartney fanbase (By the way Im a fan of Paul its just some people try to take away credit from the John, George, Ringo on this album even though A Day In The Life is probably the greatest Beatle's song of all time and its mainly a Lennon composition)
This is a really good album. But it's not the best Beatles album. There are a lot of good songs on it but there is just one real masterpiece: "A Day in the Life".
Paul may have written the majority of the songs but the most famous songs on this album are "A Day in the Life" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". And both are generally seen as Lennon compositions.
Yes indeed, Pepper is not the best Beatles album!
My favourite feature of Pepper are the backing vocals and/or the responses (Greek chorus if you will).
As well as the two tracks mentioned above I still enjoy:
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite, She's Leaving Home, Good Morning, Good Morning and Within You, Without You.
The rest I skip over most of the time I play Pepper.
It was John and Paul's album mainly, George wasnt very interested in it,nor Ringo. AND Paul did play most of the lead guitar parts. BUT ITS STILL THE BEATLES
clearly Pepper is Ringo's album - I mean c'mon