It was forty years ago today. . .On 1 June 1967 what many consider the Beatles seminal work, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was released. My primary memory of the album was established that autumn, when my Sophomore English Teacher, Miss Myers, played the music for a week during class and we discussed the possible meaning of the lyrics. Little did I know that the experiences in Miss Myer's English Class would prepare me for the hermeneutical pursuits that would follow at United Theological Seminary. The BBC World Service is devoting much airtime today to the album with interviews and opinion pieces. And from today's Guardian editorial page:
In praise of... Sgt Pepper LeaderFriday June 1, 2007The Guardian
It was not 20 but 40 years ago today that Sgt Pepper taught the band to play, and the album that defined the 1960s was released. From touching ballads (She's Leaving Home) to dreamy psychedelia (A Day in the Life) to music-hall wit (When I'm 64), the record confirmed the breadth of Lennon and McCartney's songwriting. Track for track, the LP may not be the Beatles' best; not least because 1967 hits such as Strawberry Fields and All You Need is Love were omitted. It stood out, however, for the sweep of its ambition. Adopting the alter ego of a marching band, the fab four donned colourful uniforms, and they top and tail proceedings with a song performed in role, giving the collection a sense of theatre, if not a coherent concept. The transformation of cheeky mop-tops into artists was also marked by the lyrics being printed on the sleeve, so that they might be read as poetry. George Martin's production exploited classical instruments and eight-track technology alike, making for a sound the world had never heard before. And there is still no icon in pop history to match Peter Blake's inspired cover, which shows the band with stars, writers and their younger selves. Even where it falters, the album innovates. Within You Without You may be a dirge, but it exposed the west to the sitar and provided the prototype for many a hippy sermon. Like no other record, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ushered in a new age- one with long hair, dope and time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday.
It was not 20 but 40 years ago today that Sgt Pepper taught the band to play, and the album that defined the 1960s was released. From touching ballads (She's Leaving Home) to dreamy psychedelia (A Day in the Life) to music-hall wit (When I'm 64), the record confirmed the breadth of Lennon and McCartney's songwriting. Track for track, the LP may not be the Beatles' best; not least because 1967 hits such as Strawberry Fields and All You Need is Love were omitted. It stood out, however, for the sweep of its ambition. Adopting the alter ego of a marching band, the fab four donned colourful uniforms, and they top and tail proceedings with a song performed in role, giving the collection a sense of theatre, if not a coherent concept. The transformation of cheeky mop-tops into artists was also marked by the lyrics being printed on the sleeve, so that they might be read as poetry. George Martin's production exploited classical instruments and eight-track technology alike, making for a sound the world had never heard before. And there is still no icon in pop history to match Peter Blake's inspired cover, which shows the band with stars, writers and their younger selves. Even where it falters, the album innovates. Within You Without You may be a dirge, but it exposed the west to the sitar and provided the prototype for many a hippy sermon. Like no other record, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ushered in a new age- one with long hair, dope and time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday.
1 comment:
What a great album. There is even a high-frequency whistle at the end (instigated by Mr. Lennon) to entertain your canine friends. Something for everyone. For some interesting cover versions of the Sgt. Pepper songs, see the following link. The final selection is well worth waiting for.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10621802
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