SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND - LP, 1967
"the most important rock & roll album ever made ... by the greatest rock & roll group of all time." Rolling Stone
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (often referred to simply as Sgt. Pepper) is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles. Released in June 1967, Rolling Stone called it "the most important rock & roll album ever made ... by the greatest rock & roll group of all time."
Sgt. Pepper was a worldwide critical and commercial success, spending a total of 27 weeks at the top of the UK Album Chart. A seminal work in the emerging psychedelic rock style, the album was critically acclaimed upon release and won four Grammy Awards in 1968. In 1994, it was ranked number one in the book All Time Top 1000 Albums. In 2005, the album was placed at number one on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (often referred to simply as Sgt. Pepper) is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles. Released in June 1967, Rolling Stone called it "the most important rock & roll album ever made ... by the greatest rock & roll group of all time."
Sgt. Pepper was a worldwide critical and commercial success, spending a total of 27 weeks at the top of the UK Album Chart. A seminal work in the emerging psychedelic rock style, the album was critically acclaimed upon release and won four Grammy Awards in 1968. In 1994, it was ranked number one in the book All Time Top 1000 Albums. In 2005, the album was placed at number one on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Recordings
"We were fed up with being Beatles," McCartney has said, referring to the matching suits and screaming girls they left behind after retiring from live concerts, at the end of August 1966. "We were not boys, we were men. . . artists, not performers."
The Beatles recorded almost every note of Sgt. Pepper in one room, Abbey Road's Studio Two. (The orchestral session for "A Day in the Life" was a rare exception, held in cavernous Studio One, typically reserved for symphonic dates.) Number 3 Abbey Road was built in 1830 as a lavish private residence, with nine bedrooms, servants' quarters and a wine cellar. By 1967, it hosted the EMI's studios, drab and aging if compared to the rapidly evolving needs of the Beatles' principal composers, Lennon and McCartney.
The Beatles recorded almost every note of Sgt. Pepper in one room, Abbey Road's Studio Two. (The orchestral session for "A Day in the Life" was a rare exception, held in cavernous Studio One, typically reserved for symphonic dates.) Number 3 Abbey Road was built in 1830 as a lavish private residence, with nine bedrooms, servants' quarters and a wine cellar. By 1967, it hosted the EMI's studios, drab and aging if compared to the rapidly evolving needs of the Beatles' principal composers, Lennon and McCartney.
Cover artwork
For this album, George Martin suggested the collaboration with a professional artist to created the cover and so it was. The Grammy Award-winning album packaging was designed by Peter Blake and Jann Haworth, his wife and artistic partner, and photographed by Michael Cooper. It featured a colorful collage of life-sized cardboard models of famous people on the front of the album cover and the lyrics printed in full on the back cover. The characters were chosen by a list proposed by the Beatles themselves. To avoid exposing themselves too unnecessary criticism, they avoided to include some historical figures such as Jesus and Hitler, both requested by John Lennon. The Beatles themselves, in the guise of the Sgt. Pepper band, were dressed in custom-made military-style outfits made of satin dyed in day-glo colours. The suits were designed by Manuel Cuevas. Among the insignia on their uniforms are: MBE medals on McCartney's and Harrison's jackets, the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom on Lennon's right sleeve and an Ontario Provincial Police flash on McCartney's sleeve.
For a complete list of the people who appear on the front of the cover check out this web page.
For a complete list of the people who appear on the front of the cover check out this web page.
Tracks
Side one
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (McCartney)
2. With a Little Help from My Friends (Starr)
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Lennon)
4. Getting Better (McCartney)
5. Fixing a Hole (McCartney)
6. She's Leaving Home (McCartney and Lennon)
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Lennon)
Side two
1. Within You Without You (Harrison)
2. When I'm Sixty-Four (McCartney)
3. Lovely Rita (McCartney)
4. Good Morning Good Morning (Lennon)
5. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Lennon, McCartney and Harrison)
6. A Day in the LifeMcCartney)
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (McCartney)
2. With a Little Help from My Friends (Starr)
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Lennon)
4. Getting Better (McCartney)
5. Fixing a Hole (McCartney)
6. She's Leaving Home (McCartney and Lennon)
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Lennon)
Side two
1. Within You Without You (Harrison)
2. When I'm Sixty-Four (McCartney)
3. Lovely Rita (McCartney)
4. Good Morning Good Morning (Lennon)
5. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Lennon, McCartney and Harrison)
6. A Day in the LifeMcCartney)
Released pressings
To any Beatles collector, of critical importance is the label. Before you buy any Beatles record, you must examine the label to ensure it's authenticity. It has to have the right credentials. And of course, the condition is also all important.
First pressings (1967)
The first pressing of Sgt. Pepper's was released in 1967 in both mono and stereo version with catalogue numbers PMC 7027 and PCS 7027 respectively. The records have the standard yellow block writing Parlophone label and the "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd.". The label displays the "Sold in the U.K." statement.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 7027 : 80 £
Stereo - PCS 7027 : 90 £
* data from the Rare Record Price Guide 2006
First pressings (1967)
The first pressing of Sgt. Pepper's was released in 1967 in both mono and stereo version with catalogue numbers PMC 7027 and PCS 7027 respectively. The records have the standard yellow block writing Parlophone label and the "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd.". The label displays the "Sold in the U.K." statement.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 7027 : 80 £
Stereo - PCS 7027 : 90 £
* data from the Rare Record Price Guide 2006
Second pressings - 1969
The second pressing of this LP took place in 1969 for both the mono and stereo version. It displays "the Gramophone & Co. Ltd." but no "sold in UK".
Mint value*:
mono - PMC 7027 : 60 £
stereo - PCS 7027 : 50 £
LP Repressing - 1969
A series of re-pressings came out in 1969, among which a new edition of Sgt. Pepper's with silver/black labels and one EMI boxed logo.
Mint value*:
mono - PMC 7072 : 40 £
stereo - PCS 7072 : 20 £
The second pressing of this LP took place in 1969 for both the mono and stereo version. It displays "the Gramophone & Co. Ltd." but no "sold in UK".
Mint value*:
mono - PMC 7027 : 60 £
stereo - PCS 7027 : 50 £
LP Repressing - 1969
A series of re-pressings came out in 1969, among which a new edition of Sgt. Pepper's with silver/black labels and one EMI boxed logo.
Mint value*:
mono - PMC 7072 : 40 £
stereo - PCS 7072 : 20 £