50 years and 13 days

[Nearly Sane]

Finally caught up with the programme on Sergeant Pepper, finestkind


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08tb97f

[Shaker]

I remain unconvinced that it was/is the greatest rock album ever made - the Beatles were never a rock band as such and on that score I'm still torn (and happy to remain torn) between Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and Sticky Fingers. (And not, as everybody else says, Exile on Main Street - a great album, just not Sticky Fingers, the vastly superior masterpiece IMHO).

As a standalone more-or-less concept album by the world's greatest band ... yes, OK. Obviously.

[Anchorman]

Brilliant prog and well worth a look. I only started really appreciating the Beatles in the '80's - but since then I've been in awe of their work. Still prefer Revolver, though (but the ' Magical Mystery Tour comp runs a close second alongside Sgt Pepper)

[jeremyp]

I remain unconvinced that it was/is the greatest rock album ever made - the Beatles were never a rock band as such and on that score I'm still torn (and happy to remain torn) between Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and Sticky Fingers. (And not, as everybody else says, Exile on Main Street - a great album, just not Sticky Fingers, the vastly superior masterpiece IMHO).

As a standalone more-or-less concept album by the world's greatest band ... yes, OK. Obviously.

It wasn't even the greatest rock album of 1967, not when the Velvet Underground and Nico was released in the same year.

It's also not even the best Beatles album. That's either Revolver or Abbey Road.

However, it is definitely a historic album, perhaps the historic album.

[Aruntraveller]

As Anchorman said it is not even The Beatles finest album, and I concur with him that Revolver is altogether more superior. Better songwriting, tighter production and less indulgence.

And like Jeremy I think Abbey Road is considerably better too.

As an icon of it's time however, Sgt. Pepper remains remarkable, even unique. I think maybe that is why it is remembered and considered influential.

[john]

I was a teenager at the time of the Beatles but I was never really a fan then or now. I remember having a few LP's at that time but no Beatles ones in that period I spent my money instead on; Mose Allison, Bob Dylan, The Jacques Lousier Trio, Oscar Peterson, Maura Lympany's version of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto, etc.

But I did watch that programme and was inspired to buy the new re-engineered CD of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. My first ever Beatles record. After playing it several times I am still not a fan but what it does show up to me is, in comparison how lacking in originality modern pop music is.

[Shaker]

I did watch that programme and was inspired to buy the new re-engineered CD of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. My first ever Beatles record. After playing it several times I am still not a fan but what it does show up to me is, in comparison how lacking in originality modern pop music is.

Very true. In today's music world especially it seems to me just about impossible that there'll ever again be that degree of inspiration and that fever-pitch of innovation, of breaking genuinely new ground and treading paths in music itself and in recording technology never trodden before. Somebody had to get there first and it happened to be them; but now that it's done, I can't see that there's any further to go in that direction.

[Shaker]

It's also not even the best Beatles album. That's either Revolver or Abbey Road.

Subjective opinion of course but for me The Beatles aka The White Album has to be on the shortlist. Some call it patchy and fragmentary but as a double album I think that its if-you-don't-like-that-one-there'll-be-another-one-in-a-minute is a strength.

[Nearly Sane]

I would agree with a lot if what is written here. It is an accident of time and place, and it is far from my favourite album but it is hugely interesting. I thought though the programme was excellent at contextualising its importance. The idea that using the higher pitch was to hint at the childhood memories that formed so much of the lyrics was fascinating, as was the idea that you include Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane as effectively a promo.

[Anchorman]

Number nine, Shaker? Seriously,  though, I'm with you on the White album.

[ad_orientem]

I wasn't born until a few years after the Beatles split up but I became a fan as a young adult. I like Sergent Pepper's. I used to spend hours listening to it on headphones with bass turned up and working out the bass guitar whilst playing along. My friends and I used to spend our evenings getting stoned and listening to the Beatles.

[Sebastian Toe]

My friends and I used to spend our evenings getting stoned and listening to the Beatles.

We used to get beetled and listen to the Stones!

[jeremyp]

Subjective opinion of course but for me The Beatles aka The White Album has to be on the shortlist. Some call it patchy and fragmentary but as a double album I think that its if-you-don't-like-that-one-there'll-be-another-one-in-a-minute is a strength.

The White Album will be forever hobbled with Revolution 9.

There's definitely a very good normal length album in there somewhere. A bit more discipline would have resulted in a great album.

[Shaker]

I could have done without their experimental Stockhausen/Berio phase too but I don't think that one track is enough to damn an entire album - a double album at that. R9 aside, it can often - not always, but often - be fun to see a band throw the kitchen sink into a project.