Sergeant Pepper

[LeadBelly]

Hoping a music thread will be some alternative to a thread about an airhead attached to a famous derriere getting wed.
Someone on here mentioned earlier how good a music year 1967 was and how 2017 would see a few anniversary re-releases. I've just read a review of a new 50th anniversary 6-disc box set of Sergeant Pepper - original launched 1/6/1967.

A few points of interest for me:
The original album comes high up (often top) in polls of "best album ever". Is it? Is it even the best Beatles album?
How many people buy these multi-disc box sets when they already have the original, as-released album?

I really admire the creativity of the 4 Beatles at their peak (+ the great input of G martin) on Sgt Pepper and still enjoy listening to the album but slightly prefer the songs on Revolver. Both would definitely be in my top 20.

It's of some interest to listen to prior versions/alt versions of well known songs to see how they develop to the end product in the studio but Ive never sen fit to buy one of these types of re-issues. The Sgt Pepper one is on sale at £109.99. I'd much rather attend 7-8 live gigs over the next couple of months with that money, especially when I already have the original on vinyl and cd. Obviously, though, there's a market.

[Dyched]

I don't think I own a re-release of anything. I used to really love that album but haven't listened to it for a long, long time. I spent many hours on youtube listening to endless Beatles outtakes. There is some fantastic stuff about. Particularly A Day In The Life and Strawberry Fields. I love John Lennons raw voice.

[Hipper]

Sgt Pepper passed me by in 1967 as I was 14 and only really interested in Top of the Pops type music. I've since listened to it but mostly it does nothing for me, just like The Beatles don't. I do understand its (and The Beatles') place in pop music though - they broke barriers that others, including those that I like, were able to follow.

On this type of box set, I got one of The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, even though there are only a few songs on that album I like. It is indeed interesting to hear different versions of favourite songs, but they are rarely better versions. For that reasons you might play them once and never return. It seems to me they are for completists.

I would think a good quality production of the original album is worth the money. There's a two CD set released soon which seems more reasonably priced:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sgt-Peppers-Lo ... B06WGVMLJY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stevie2112]

I love Revolver,the songs just seem more intuitive .

[Caernarfon_Claret]

For Me.
Abbey Road
Revolver
Sergeant Pepper
Rubber Soul
The White Album
A Hard Days Night

[Caernarfon_Claret]

As for 1967
Love - Forever Changes
The Doors - The Doors
Pink Floyd - Piper at The Gates of Dawn
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A man...

[starting_11]

I would have to say.... The Best of the Beatles

[BabylonClaret]

It's a funny one Sergeant Pepper. It's become such an iconic piece of music history it's easy to listen and be underwhelmed. And although it's a hailed as a psychedelic album not all the songs are in that space at all which can disappoint if someone comes to it expecting a "Doors-type" experience. The songs are utter quality though and totally stand the test of time - from the quirky Englishness of McCartney's stuff to the more trippy Lennon driven tracks and George's introspective and spiritual noodlings.

It's not my favourite Beatles album - I'd probably plump for Revolver - but it's part of that brilliant period where the four of them (plus Martin) raised the bar stupendously for popular music. Rubber Soul through to Abbey Road, there isn't a bad album there - and so much diversity in the music they put out - five albums (including one double) - six if you include Let it Be although that's a bit of a grower and harder to "like" - it's hard to believe it's only 4 years. These days a band would have to take 15 years to churn out that amount of quality.

[LeadBelly]

I agree with your last para Babylon - the thing about the Beatles is how fast they developed & how much diversity there was.
I've often got really into other artists for 2, maybe 3 (at most 4) albums and then began to think- "this one's too much like the previous" & stopped following. Never had that with the Beatles.
Maybe The Beatles would've gotten into a rut soon if they'd kept going- who knows.

[Silkyskills1]

1967 for me saw the release of two of my favourite songs ever. Poles apart in presentation but 'Groovin', a single by The Young Rascals and 'White Rabbit', by Jefferson Airplane, written by Grace Slick prior to her joining them remain iconic for me even 50 years on.

[LeadBelly]

Silky- I was listening (via youtube) to Grace doing White Rabbit a few days ago. Great voice she had. I think "Somebody to Love" dates from 1967 too (Surrealistic Pillow). Both still very very listenable.

[BabylonClaret]

That late 60s hard psych rock sound was terrific. It's part doom laden and part hopeful - reaching out. White Rabbit is an awesome reminder of Grace Slick's uncanny presence.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

In terms of singles.

The Box Tops - The Letter is one of my favorites from 1967

[claretabroad]

It was an astonishing year for music.

The Velvet Undergournd & Nico - self titled
Are You Experienced and Axis Bold as Love by Jimi Hendrix
Disraeli Gears by Cream
Piper at the gates of dawn by Pink Floyd
The Doors - self titled

[ClaretTony]

The one thing about Sgt Peppers was that it allowed me to find out how many holes there were in Blackburn, Lancashire.

[LeadBelly]

Enough to fill The Albert Hall?

[boiledclaret]

I'm glad I didn't have to count them all.

Some more great albums from that year.

After Bathing at Baxters (Jefferson Airplane)
Between The Buttons (The Rolling Stones)
Safe As Milk (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band)
The Who Sell Out (The Who)
Mr Fantasy (Traffic)
Easter Everywhere (The 13th Floor Elevators)

Can't really imagine a nostagic 50 year anniversary thread for Katy Perry.

[RingoMcCartney]

Listened to an interview on bbc 6 music with George Martins son , who's done the remixing .

He said the name Sgt Pepper comes from when the Beatles were sat down to eat breakfast (I think) and one of the party asked for the salt n pepper . McCartney jokingly said "Sgt pepper!?"

And the legend was born.

[South West Claret.]

The Beatles?...far far to many compositions to choose from and can honestly say I can't remember a bad one off hand.

[mikeS]

Did anybody on here see them live at The Imp?

[RingoMcCartney]

For what it's worth my 2 favourite Beatles songs are "She said she said" and the b-side "Rain"

[Clarets4me]

50 years since this timeless classic from Van the man, still sounds fresh as a daisy.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfmkgQRmmeE