I have no trouble understanding the whole album. What I understand is that every sound on every single one of Pepper's multitracks is pre-planned and precise, excluding the slightest hint of improvisation or 'accidental' occurences like John playing a tape of Rain backwards or Paul discovering a 'seagull'- like sound in one of his tapes used in ...]]> Sun, 21 Oct 2012 07:03:53 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59426 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59426 Re Ringos drumming; listen to the isolated drum tracks of all the songs and you'll be blown away. They might not be down right ear catching immediecy but its an incredible experience. Truth be told i grew a better understanding of the whole album by listening to the multitracks and the songs dismantled and reconstructed.

But it's no secret that Ringo was bored out of ...]]> Sat, 20 Oct 2012 05:46:10 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59407 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59407 Sorry, but, tried as I have, no matter how many times I've listened to Sgt. Pepper (and not my preferred alternate version) - mono or stereo - it remains a second-tier Beatles album in my mind; it just cannot touch Rubber Soul, Revolver, the White Album, or Abbey Road (or Magical Mystery Tour, if counted as a full album) in terms of overall greatness.  "She's Leaving Home" still sounds like Paul trying to recapture "Eleanor Rigby" - albeit in a more maudlin manner - and failing.  "Getting Better," "Fixing a Hole" and "Lovely Rita" still mostly sound like dressed-up Revolver rejects.  ...]]> Sat, 20 Oct 2012 03:52:53 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59377 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59377 BluemeanAl and others including me bring up good points about "the whole being greater than the sum of its parts". Whenever I rank this album (I've ranked it as low as sixth somewhere in these pages), I do so based on the songs contained in the album.

Then I listen to it the whole album again and think, "I'm an idiot."

unknown said
I used to have doubts about the quality of the individual songs on the album. Then I listened to the album and changed my mind.

And that's the way they work best, no doubt.

There's a certain kind of magic, of atmosphere that springs from this collection if you really fully listen to it, instead of skipping through single snippets on an ipod.

It's an age thing, I know, but sometimes it's annoying when some teenagers think they are up to the task to decide wether this is a great album or not, or some songs are weak or not...

I ...]]> Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:10:11 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59367 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59367 I used to have doubts about the quality of the individual songs on the album. Then I listened to the album and changed my mind.

Going back to the songs being weak, I've never felt anything much towards With A Little Help, I find it repetitive and for once, I don't think Ringo's voice suits the song, I find it boring. Though I do ...]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:21:21 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59279 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59279 I'm sort of glad to hear that many have 'issues' with SP as I really do struggle with it sometimes, and can't quite understand what all the fuss is about! MAybe at the time is was agreat breakthrough, major turn around for the band and all that but .. are the songs really that good?

The only masterpiece as fas as I'm concerned is A Day in the Life, plus Lucy in the Sky .. but With A Little Help From My Friends??? Please!

Someone mentioned that PM's contributiosn are a little weak and I think there's something in that.

PS I bought ...]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:08:12 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59270 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/page-2/#p59270

Zig said
I listened to it over the weekend and enjoyed it. I now have a playlist in my iPod named "Duke's Pepper".

This is a "concept album" I comprised a while back, along with a story...it is about halfway down the page I just linked you to. The songs actually flow together well.

My playlist has been dubbed, Sgt. Ziggers, Homely Art Thou Band.

Ah, Zig, you flatter me.    Nice to know I actually managed to have some impact on someone else's life.  I like your concept album -- has ...]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 04:25:53 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/#p59268 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/#p59268 It's very hard for me to realize what was going on during the 60's.  I know there are tons of sources out there detailing endlessly the culture of the "Summer of Love" and so on.  But, to be there and hear this work when it came out is probably indescribable.  Even the weakest tracks on Pepper are leaps and bounds beyond anything people had heard before.  I actually am trying to write an essay for my english class about the significance of The Beatles post Pepper and it's next to impossible due to how long the essay becomes.

Its a strange thought just how people would have reacted to this album with the built in audiences, indian musicians dueling with the familiar westeners, fairground rides, images never dreamed off before, animals clucking, barking and roaring, and orchestras going somewhere but who knows where.

Now everyones read about it before they're first hearing, every song been ...]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 01:33:26 +0100 http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/#p59255 The songs http://www.beatlesbible.com/forum/the-songs/in-defence-of-sgt-peppers-weakest/#p59255 I noticed on that thread most of the lists had no George song on the lists.. I found that a bit odd, so I thought I may add that they did record It's All Too Much in 1967; had they been recording it earlier than May and June they could have fit that on one of the '67 albums.

This is a "concept album" I comprised a while back, along with a story...it is about halfway down the page I just linked you to. The songs actually flow together well.

My playlist has been dubbed, Sgt. Ziggers, Homely Art Thou Band.