Post by henryj on Aug 8, 2014 1:43:04 GMT
Really, there’s not too much, if anything, that can be said about Sgt. Pepper that has not already been said or written. I hope many of my fellow posters can participate in this thread, even if they have nothing new to say. The great thing about this forum is that we can say how album affected us, personally. I won’t pretend to be a professional journalist/critic.
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
A loudly rocking number featuring Paul’s characteristic blues screaming starts off the album. The band is augmented by French horns, of all things. This is the first of several Paul songs dominating this album; there are six songs with Paul singing lead without also featuring John’s solo vocals (there are two featuring both men on solo vocals). With a song each featuring George and Ringo, this leaves only three lead vocals by John.
“With a Little Help from My Friends”
The Ringo song for the album. A rather charming song.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
Supposedly, John was wanting to write a song with the initials “LSD,” but other stories tell of a pre-kindergarten Julian drawing a picture and telling his dad it was “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.” I suspect John’s little boy may have drawn a lot of other pictures, but none of them had “LSD” as initials, so John didn’t make songs from them . Just my suspicion.
Lucy Vodden, whose picture Julian had drawn in the picture, died in 2009 at age 46.
"Getting Better”
One of the characteristics of Sergeant Pepper is that, since the Beatles had given up touring, they could make an album without regard to how they were going to perform the songs live; hence all the orchestral and unconventional instruments. However, this one features just the Beatles instruments. Paul song.
“Fixing a Hole”
There is something mystical about this tune, yet another one of Paul’s.
“She’s Leaving Home”
No Beatle plays an instrument on this one. After “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby” in 1965 amd 1966, 1967 gives us “She’s Leaving Home.” At least, this one does have John singing with Paul and the string-and-harp arrangement. John does some solo backing vocals, singing the part of the parents whose daughter has become a runaway.
Classical composer Ned Rorem said that “She’s Leaving Home” was as good as any of Franz Peter Schubert’s songs, and Schubert was known for his songs, more so than his symphonies, sonatas, etc. And it’s a beautiful song, as beautiful as “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby.” It was not released as a single as were the other two string-arranged songs, else would be just as well-known.
“Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”
This is pretty much “psychedelic,” with its assembly of cut-up tape pastings. A John song, inspired by a poster for a circus. This is just me, but the part about “Henry the Horse dances the waltz” almost suggests a cut from the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album the from the year before, “Here Today.”
“Within You Without You”
The leadoff cut for side two of the vinyl. Because this was possibly the least accessible song on the album, did they put it at the beginning of the side for the convenience of listeners who would choose to start the side on the second cut? Just a speculative question on my part, or “just askin’“ as they say. “Free Form Guitar” and “Rhumba Mama” began sides on, respectively, the Chicago Transit Authority Album and Weather Report’s Heavy Weather.
George is the only Beatle appearing on this cut. It was part of that series of less-than-accessible George songs that began on Revolver with “Love You To” and ended with the B-side “The Inner Light” (the reverse of “Lady Madonna”). Actually, after a few open-minded listens, it actually grows on you. There is a dynamic arc that works rather effectively. One of the lyrical lines appears in Christian scripture, the part about gaining the world and losing your soul.
After Rubber Soul and Revolver had had more than one George song, Sgt. Pepper returns to the practice of just one.
On the Love album, this cut appears with the drum part to Revolver’s “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which in my opinion rather spruces up the song.
“When I’m Sixty-Four”
Sweet song by Paul. Paul supposedly had written the song (or at least started it) many years earlier, but, since Paul’s father James was born in 1903 and this was 1967, it would seem a rather appropriate song for Paul to contribute to the album. The actor who played Paul’s grandfather in A Hard Day’s Night was younger that James McCartney.
Personal note: When my son and his wife invited us to their house for cake and ice cream on my 64th birthday, this was playing as I walked in the door. From the vinyl Sgt. Pepper, even.
“Lovely Rita”
Some of their better background vocal harmony.
“Good Morning Good Morning”
The sizzling guitar solo doesn’t sound particularly as being in George’s style. When it was disclosed that Eric Clapton had played the guitar solo on the white album’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” I began to wonder if perhaps Jeff Beck, recently booted from the Yardbirds, had played on “Good Morning Good Morning.” It was actually Paul, playing the same make and model of guitar Beck played in the Yardbirds, a Fender Esquire (a Telecaster with a bridge pickup only).
The Paul-Is-Dead bunch really picked up on the “Nothing to do to save his life...” line.
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
Supposedly, the closer, but played in a different style and tempo than the opener.
Followed by an encore…
“A Day in the Life”
The first time I heard this was on an AM car radio one night when the signal was fading in and out, which sort of enhanced the atonal part of the l orchestral accompaniment.
I’ve often wondered if the cycle of 5ths section was not influences by “Hey Joe,” as it appears on the Byrds 5D album from 1966. Their version of the song was double the tempo that Hendrix played it. On the title cut of the Byrds album, McGuinn sings a long, high “Ohhhh” that makes me wonder if Lennon thought it might be a good idea to combine that “Ohhh” with the cycle of 5ths progression, except turn it into some sort of melody.
It has been said that some of the orchestra members balked at playing that atonal crescendo. I have a hard time believing it. If they were professional classical musicians, they would have been exposed to 20th century music and harmonies (or lack thereof) and would have gladly cooperated. That sort of thing should not have been unfamiliar to them.
The Paul-Is-Dead crew also picked up on the line “he blew his mind out in a car.”
The CD version shows a hidden track that may or may not have appeared on the American Capitol release. I don’t know if Dave Dexter omitted this or if all the turntables I played this on had auto-shutoff that picked up the tonearm before playing the inner-groom hidden track. First time I heard this clowning around I was in my car; a more jumpy driver may have wrecked the car, startling as it was.
______________________________________________________________
Overall, it was considered not only the best Beatle album to date at the time of its release, but the best album ever recorded. There was an eclecticism that has more or less vanished from 21st century popular music.
Question: Why is the Paul to John ratio so unbalanced in favor of Paul? Had John become lazy? Tired, as he would sing of in the White Album? Was he weary from the more-popular –than-Jesus controversy? Or from that final tour in which they became perilously close to extremely dire consequences in the Philippines, when and where they were separated from their stash?
Despite what same may think , I believe this album has stood the test of time and has aged rather well.
Packaging—-gatefold which opens up to show the Beatles in silk-looking marching band uniforms, John in yellow, Paul in light blue, George in red-orange, and Ringo in pink, Paul can be seen with an “OPD” armpatch, which supposedly stands for Ottawa Police Department, though conspiracy theorists claim it stands for “Officially Pronounced Dead.”
But I don’t think Paul died. I hope not. I paid a lot for those tickets to his October concert in Dallas!
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
A loudly rocking number featuring Paul’s characteristic blues screaming starts off the album. The band is augmented by French horns, of all things. This is the first of several Paul songs dominating this album; there are six songs with Paul singing lead without also featuring John’s solo vocals (there are two featuring both men on solo vocals). With a song each featuring George and Ringo, this leaves only three lead vocals by John.
“With a Little Help from My Friends”
The Ringo song for the album. A rather charming song.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
Supposedly, John was wanting to write a song with the initials “LSD,” but other stories tell of a pre-kindergarten Julian drawing a picture and telling his dad it was “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.” I suspect John’s little boy may have drawn a lot of other pictures, but none of them had “LSD” as initials, so John didn’t make songs from them . Just my suspicion.
Lucy Vodden, whose picture Julian had drawn in the picture, died in 2009 at age 46.
"Getting Better”
One of the characteristics of Sergeant Pepper is that, since the Beatles had given up touring, they could make an album without regard to how they were going to perform the songs live; hence all the orchestral and unconventional instruments. However, this one features just the Beatles instruments. Paul song.
“Fixing a Hole”
There is something mystical about this tune, yet another one of Paul’s.
“She’s Leaving Home”
No Beatle plays an instrument on this one. After “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby” in 1965 amd 1966, 1967 gives us “She’s Leaving Home.” At least, this one does have John singing with Paul and the string-and-harp arrangement. John does some solo backing vocals, singing the part of the parents whose daughter has become a runaway.
Classical composer Ned Rorem said that “She’s Leaving Home” was as good as any of Franz Peter Schubert’s songs, and Schubert was known for his songs, more so than his symphonies, sonatas, etc. And it’s a beautiful song, as beautiful as “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby.” It was not released as a single as were the other two string-arranged songs, else would be just as well-known.
“Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite”
This is pretty much “psychedelic,” with its assembly of cut-up tape pastings. A John song, inspired by a poster for a circus. This is just me, but the part about “Henry the Horse dances the waltz” almost suggests a cut from the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album the from the year before, “Here Today.”
“Within You Without You”
The leadoff cut for side two of the vinyl. Because this was possibly the least accessible song on the album, did they put it at the beginning of the side for the convenience of listeners who would choose to start the side on the second cut? Just a speculative question on my part, or “just askin’“ as they say. “Free Form Guitar” and “Rhumba Mama” began sides on, respectively, the Chicago Transit Authority Album and Weather Report’s Heavy Weather.
George is the only Beatle appearing on this cut. It was part of that series of less-than-accessible George songs that began on Revolver with “Love You To” and ended with the B-side “The Inner Light” (the reverse of “Lady Madonna”). Actually, after a few open-minded listens, it actually grows on you. There is a dynamic arc that works rather effectively. One of the lyrical lines appears in Christian scripture, the part about gaining the world and losing your soul.
After Rubber Soul and Revolver had had more than one George song, Sgt. Pepper returns to the practice of just one.
On the Love album, this cut appears with the drum part to Revolver’s “Tomorrow Never Knows,” which in my opinion rather spruces up the song.
“When I’m Sixty-Four”
Sweet song by Paul. Paul supposedly had written the song (or at least started it) many years earlier, but, since Paul’s father James was born in 1903 and this was 1967, it would seem a rather appropriate song for Paul to contribute to the album. The actor who played Paul’s grandfather in A Hard Day’s Night was younger that James McCartney.
Personal note: When my son and his wife invited us to their house for cake and ice cream on my 64th birthday, this was playing as I walked in the door. From the vinyl Sgt. Pepper, even.
“Lovely Rita”
Some of their better background vocal harmony.
“Good Morning Good Morning”
The sizzling guitar solo doesn’t sound particularly as being in George’s style. When it was disclosed that Eric Clapton had played the guitar solo on the white album’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” I began to wonder if perhaps Jeff Beck, recently booted from the Yardbirds, had played on “Good Morning Good Morning.” It was actually Paul, playing the same make and model of guitar Beck played in the Yardbirds, a Fender Esquire (a Telecaster with a bridge pickup only).
The Paul-Is-Dead bunch really picked up on the “Nothing to do to save his life...” line.
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
Supposedly, the closer, but played in a different style and tempo than the opener.
Followed by an encore…
“A Day in the Life”
The first time I heard this was on an AM car radio one night when the signal was fading in and out, which sort of enhanced the atonal part of the l orchestral accompaniment.
I’ve often wondered if the cycle of 5ths section was not influences by “Hey Joe,” as it appears on the Byrds 5D album from 1966. Their version of the song was double the tempo that Hendrix played it. On the title cut of the Byrds album, McGuinn sings a long, high “Ohhhh” that makes me wonder if Lennon thought it might be a good idea to combine that “Ohhh” with the cycle of 5ths progression, except turn it into some sort of melody.
It has been said that some of the orchestra members balked at playing that atonal crescendo. I have a hard time believing it. If they were professional classical musicians, they would have been exposed to 20th century music and harmonies (or lack thereof) and would have gladly cooperated. That sort of thing should not have been unfamiliar to them.
The Paul-Is-Dead crew also picked up on the line “he blew his mind out in a car.”
The CD version shows a hidden track that may or may not have appeared on the American Capitol release. I don’t know if Dave Dexter omitted this or if all the turntables I played this on had auto-shutoff that picked up the tonearm before playing the inner-groom hidden track. First time I heard this clowning around I was in my car; a more jumpy driver may have wrecked the car, startling as it was.
______________________________________________________________
Overall, it was considered not only the best Beatle album to date at the time of its release, but the best album ever recorded. There was an eclecticism that has more or less vanished from 21st century popular music.
Question: Why is the Paul to John ratio so unbalanced in favor of Paul? Had John become lazy? Tired, as he would sing of in the White Album? Was he weary from the more-popular –than-Jesus controversy? Or from that final tour in which they became perilously close to extremely dire consequences in the Philippines, when and where they were separated from their stash?
Despite what same may think , I believe this album has stood the test of time and has aged rather well.
Packaging—-gatefold which opens up to show the Beatles in silk-looking marching band uniforms, John in yellow, Paul in light blue, George in red-orange, and Ringo in pink, Paul can be seen with an “OPD” armpatch, which supposedly stands for Ottawa Police Department, though conspiracy theorists claim it stands for “Officially Pronounced Dead.”
But I don’t think Paul died. I hope not. I paid a lot for those tickets to his October concert in Dallas!