The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

It's not a `concept album,' but it is a plucky concept

Though groundbreaking and influential in many respects, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is far from the conceptual, free-flowing image it may project. In fact, it could be argued that the Beatles' eighth studio album is a bit choppy in spots, with little rhyme or reason in terms of subject and sound. Nonetheless, the band should be commended for its studio experimentation and range of diverse noises within each unique song. What started as a potentially gimmicky idea by Paul McCartney, in the eyes of his three band mates, ended up being a critically acclaimed and monumental release by an already larger-than-life band from the 1960s.

Paul's idea was to record music as the Beatles but release the new album under the band name Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Accompanying the slaved-over music -- which would take five months to perfect in the studio -- was a splashy album cover and bonus Beatles paraphernalia that was included with the record to satiate salivating Beatles fans, many of whom felt the band had become way too isolated for its own good by the time the Summer of Love rolled around in 1967.

The first three songs on "Sgt. Pepper's" are alone worth the price of admission, and at the start, it does indeed feel like a concept album. True to the album's intent, the enthusiastic title-track opener, sung with gusto by McCartney, feels like the beginning of something fresh, spunky and experimental. In some ways, it IS like listening to a band other than the Beatles. Far from being farcical, as some of the other Beatles may have feared, McCartney's infectiousness is contagious at the start. Interestingly, the following song, "With a Little Help from My Friends," sung mournfully by John Lennon, is an entirely different entity; it stands as a perfect come-down, a warning that not all is bliss on the record.

The hazy atmosphere of drugs abounds on this album, starting with the eerie, isolated and high-pitched keyboard on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." Though the song eventually emerges into a tuneful sing-along, Lennon's equally filtered and unnatural voice and lyrics are in lock step with the trippy images he dreamily sings about. Though his contributions to "Sgt. Pepper's" were invaluable, Lennon was said to be drugged to the max during its creation, at times nearly catatonic in nature. By contrast, his cohort McCartney, though also partaking heavily in his share of "downers," warmed up for numerous "Sgt. Pepper's" sessions with cocaine, paving the way for a remarkable contrast in moods, singing styles and attitudes throughout the record's journey.

Some of this stuff is pure Beatles pop, conventional and safe. "Getting Better," for instance, was at one time featured in TV commercials (for a TV brand, I think). Though the lyrics on "Getting Better" are surprisingly introspective and frank ("I used to be cruel to my woman/I'd beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved"), the sound is upbeat, familiar and friendly. Elsewhere, McCartney is positively stately sounding on such gems as the beautiful "She's Leaving Home," the upbeat "Lovely Rita" and the innocent-sounding "When I'm Sixty-Four."

A few laborious swerves on the record include Lennon's somewhat contrived-sounding "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" and George Harrison's droning, sitar-laced "Within You Without You," which, to its credit, does include a pertinent message about the ultimate unimportance and mortality of humans. Though Harrison's tune strives for a never-ending deepness, a far more interesting and trippy time occurs on the epic Lennon/McCartney closer, "A Day in the Life," which smoothly veers from Lennon's faraway annunciations ("I read the news today, oh boy") to McCartney's snappy dialogue ("Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head).

Undoubtedly, from top to bottom, "Sgt. Pepper's" boasts innovative sounds from the Beatles that helped change the musical landscape. Trumpets and piano usurp Harrison's feisty guitar licks; Lennon shows up in a fog; Ringo obediently lends his hand; and much of the project has a movielike feel, thanks to McCartney's bountiful energy and producer George Martin's studio mastery. January 1, 2009

Classic

This is an absolute classic. If you're a Beatles fan, or even if you're not -- this is album is essential to any music lover's collection. (NOT available on iTune$, so if you want it... Amazon.com is the way to go!) December 28, 2008

A Day In The Life

Before this album was released, nobody took rock music very seriously. Before this album was released, rock music was just something that you could dance to (although it still made a point but nevertheless, just dance music). When this was released however, the face of rock & roll would change. Yes my friends, this album can never be overstated. Sgt. Pepper's is definitely one the best albums the Beatles ever made (just the White Album or Abbey Road can be defined at their magnum opus). If your a classic rock fan, add this on top of your shopping list. December 24, 2008

Fun listening

If you love the Beatles, this is a fun cd that will take you back December 22, 2008

WOW!

As one of the original "concept albums," Sgt. Pepper's cannot be touched. It's creativity and musicality is amazing. If you like the Beatles even a little bit, this is the album to have in your collection! December 21, 2008

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