Customer Reviews

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Picture Disc)

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One of three LP/CDs by the Beatles among my all-time top ten, along with "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver". Though not my personal favorite, this recording is essential in any collection of pop/rock recordings. It has been, since its release, a standard by which others are measured. It also marks the high-water mark of the Beatles creativity as a band. After "Sgt. Pepper..." came a directionless time during which the "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine" records were released, followed by the period the band's breakdown, as chronicled in the "White Album", "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road". Though these latter efforts contained plenty of great music, it was clear that the Beatles were increasingly unable to function together as a unit. Individual tracks almost always spotlighted one of the band members while the others worked essentially as a backing group.

During a recent TV special, it wa said that, during the time the Beatles were in the studio making "Sgt. Pepper...", there was a lot of doubt about what they would come out with and many fans were giving up on them. As someone who was around at the time, I certainly don't remember much of that. Of course, the Beatles always had a few doubters and detractors, but most of us were looking forward to their next record. Stories of how much time and effort were going into it only fueled our anticipation. It was like the release of the fourth Harry Potter book when "Sgt. Pepper..." finally came out. Some stores opened early and huge numbers were sold the first day of it's release. I bought a copy that day like many others. Nor was I disappointed. Since then, I have spent many hours listening to "Sgt. Pepper..." and I expect I'll spend many more.

To appreciate the significance of "Sgt. Pepper..." you have to understand the pivotal place of the Beatles in the culture of the time. Quite simply, they changed everything. Before the Beatles, the primary medium of pop/rock music was the 45 rpm single. The Beatles released a flood of good quality songs, many original, so that "albums" became more than just a couple of hit singles packaged with a bunch of throwaway tracks. All of the tracks were good and people began to buy albums because it was the best way to get all the music. "Sgt. Pepper..." took this a step further by making the album a more unified whole. It elevated pop/rock music to the level of art, implying an expressiveness and timelessness beyond anything rock had previously aspired to. But the impact of the Beatles went far beyond music. It entered into fashion, modes of behavior, and popular attitudes in a variety of areas. We were even fed a constant stream of news reports about what the Beatles were doing from day to day or week to week. London became, for a time, THE cultural center of the world.

"Sgt. Pepper..." itself has a timeless quality. Songs such as With A Little Help From My Friends, Getting Better, Within You Without You, When I'm Sixty-four and others have themes that people can relate to just as well today as when they were first released. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and A Day In The Life, while perhaps mored dated lyrically, are among the most interesting pieces in other respects.

For those of us who were around and listening when "Sgt. Pepper..." came out, it is more than just a record or CD. It marks the peak of a time of incredible energy and change. The decline and dissolution of the Beatles is something many of us still feel in a very personal way. Even today, we mourn the end of the Beatles and the death of John Lennon. Those events represent the passing and final end of something we treasured.

"Sgt. Pepper..." is a great record by a great band. Even more, it is a central landmark of its period and of its genre. If you think you like rock music, but you don't have a copy of "Sgt. Pepper...", sorry but you've missed it. Get a copy. You can't really appreciate the Beatles without it. Definitely a favorite of mine, and I expect it will be a favorite of yours, too.

I feel like a monumental jackass reviewing this album: should I review the Q'uran and Coka Cola Classic next? Is there any more fundamentally unassailable album in the history of music? Is anything more impervious to criticism?

I just feel like recording the joy [I am not exagerating] I'm feeling right now as my 11-year-old daughter is discovering this album. She is spurning Christina Aguilera and I don't know what other one-dimensional rot for the complex, multi-layered, polyphonic wonders of the peak album of the most musical foursome of all time. This feels like a great victory for me. Parenthood hath its rewards.

Just had to type that out.

[I originally wrote a seperate review, called "A magical world that has never better", posted August 23, 1998, on Amazon.com. Because it is marked as a private review it is not listed under my profile. As this is the original review, of which the second one from 2000 is modelled after (hence the 2.0 in the review title), I thought I would include it here.

Mike London, October 18, 2007]
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Review I.
"A magical world that has never been bettered" August 23, 1998

This whole album is a masterpiece. Nothing has been done before or since that can equal this one. Of course its been said a zillion times, but its really true. I bought it in Christmas last year (1997), and as I listened to it, it got better and better. For me, The Beatles (at first) took some time getting used too. Then they got stronger and stronger. On this record, they do almost the impossible. They create an entire magical fantasy. Its delishisouly (spelling?) sweet. The First Concept Album was indeed the finest. Everything works well with the concept. The album sleeve works better with the music than any I have seen. They help endear us to this wonderful world The Beatles are taking us too. At first I thought it was a bunch of hype, and the reason I bought it was because I was rapidly sinking (regressing, some of the younger people I know say) into the older music. I wanted Sgt Pepper cause everyone talked about it and had never heard it. This record will never be equalled, I fear. I wish it would, because I would love to do some more exploring. They took us on a Magical Mystery Tour on this one. Ironic, they did exactly that on this record, and though it was a concept album I don't think it was their intention, and then they made a concept movie with this in mind, and they didn't do that well (for The Beatles). If you want a record like no other, go out and buy this right now.

Another great record that came out the same year is The Doors (debut). If it weren't for this, that would easily be the best for that year. But Sgt Pepper has surpassed all others. The Beatles never were able to do it again. They did get it in isolated moments, but never for the whole record like on this. No one else has ever come close. This deserves all the acclaim it gets.

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Review II
"A Magical World Never Bettered: V 2.0" January 14, 2000

This whole album is a masterpiece. Nothing has been done before or since that can equal this one. Of course its been said a zillion times, but its really true. I bought it in Christmas back a few years ago (1997), and as I listened to it, it got better and better. For me, The Beatles (at first) took some time getting used too. Then they got stronger and stronger. On this record, they do almost the impossible. They create an entire magical fantasy. Its delishisouly (spelling?) sweet. The First Concept Album was indeed the finest. Everything works well with the concept. The album sleeve works better with the music than any I have seen. They help endear us to this wonderful world The Beatles are taking us too. At first I thought it was a bunch of hype, and the reason I bought it was because I was rapidly sinking (regressing, some of the younger people I know say) into the older music. I wanted Sgt Pepper cause everyone talked about it and had never heard it. This record will never be equalled, I fear. I wish it would, because I would love to do some more exploring. They took us on a Magical Mystery Tour on this one. Ironic, they did exactly that on this record, and though it was a concept album I don't think it was their intention, and then they made a concept movie with this in mind, and they didn't do that well (for The Beatles). If you want a record like no other, go out and buy this right now. Another great record that came out the same year is The Doors (debut). If it weren't for this, that would easily be the best for that year. But Sgt Pepper has surpassed all others. The Beatles never were able to do it again. They did get it in isolated moments, but never for the whole record like on this. No one else has ever come close. This deserves all the acclaim it gets.

As far as personal favorites go, however, I still enjoy the White Album the most. Rubber Soul and Revolver are good also (Rubber Soul is better than Revolver, tho' Revolver is more of a break thru). YOu could see the dircetion they were going with a few of the songs off Help! Some of that material is on level with Rubber Soul. Abbey Road, which I didn't care much for now, I really enjoy now. Sgt Pepper, however, is the cultural milestone to end all cultural milestones.

I've always been a casual Beatles fan, but over the past 5 years, they've truly become one of my all-time favorite
bands. So when the remastered catalog was announced to arrive on 9/9/09, I decided to buy them all!
The first one I want to review is my favorite Beatles album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Before I get to the sound quality, I want to address the packaging. The packaging is near perfection. I have
a friend that proudly owns all the original vinyl releases and these packages reproduce all the great album
art, along with new photos and expanded liner notes. The insert booklets are printed on heavy stock, uv coated
paper that are top-shelf! The digi paks are also printed on heavy stock uv coated paper. Unfortunately, where
they fall short is that instead of using a plastic clear tray to place the disc in, they slide into paper sleeves.
I know everyone wants to go green, and ditch using plastic, but every time you remove the disc from the sleeve,
you risk scratching the disc. This is my only complaint with all the remasters. I've solved the problem by storing
each disc in a separate paper CD-R sleeve to preserve the disc. Use the paper sleeve insert at your own risk!

Now, for the sound quality. Some folks will love it, some will be indifferent and some will hate it, but I love
the new sound of the recordings. I don't have much to compare them too, because I only owned
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour (1990)
and Let It Be (1990), but to me they sound brighter and more vibrant than before.
The biggest change is that the recordings are noticeably louder than previous releases. And, to me, they
sound like they were recorded today, with still retaining their vintage 1960s sound, if that makes sense.
I've picked up on little things and sounds that I never noticed before. The cleaner sound also reveals more
of the live feel that these recordings had - as compared to the computer driven quest for perfection that
all of today's music sound likes. You'll hear the sounds of fingers making chord changes, the little sounds
that a live drummer will make, etc.. The music, to me sounds more alive and vibrant than it ever has. Bottom line:
the recordings retain their vintage sound, but have been polished using 21st century digital audio technology.
Guy Massey & Steve Rooke did an excellent job of preserving the integrity of the original 4 track recording of
Sgt. Pepper. On Sgt. Pepper, I thought "A Day in the Life" really benefitted from the remastering process. That
song sounded completely new to me thanks to the clearer sound. I'm hearing all kinds of little details in that song
I've never heard before!

Overall, if your a vinyl purist (nothing wrong with that) or someone that frowns down on remasters, than chances
are, the remasters are not for you, but for a new generation of listeners that are discovering the Beatles for the
first time (thanks to these remasters & The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle)
this is an excellent starting point for what many regard as the world's greatest band. And for my money, there's no better
album to start your Beatles education with than Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This was one of the first Beatle albums I ever owned. And I think it's gotta be one of my absolute favorites out of all my collection. It's trippy, it's joyful, it's a PERFECT reflection of the era in which it was written! And it doesn't get much better than that infamous chord at the end of "A Day In The Life"! Truly one for the books! :-)

First off, I am considerably younger than the majority of the reviewers of this album. I was born almost 15 years after its release. While I will obviously never be able to understand the full cultural impact of the Beatles because I wasn't there, the album still has something about it that separates it from all others.

Everything heard in any music today and anything I grew up listening to owes EVRYTHING to the Beatles, and this is where they really pushed the envelope. The amazing thing about the Beatles was that they remained on the cutting edge throughout their entire career. The only group that comes close to that nowadays is Radiohead.

With Sgt. Pepper, the Beatles single handedly reinvented rock n' roll. They took the best simple musicianship and songwriting skills and combined them with what "you couldn't do" on a rock album. Nothing since its release has changed music more.

Although I am young, I recognize a classic when I hear one, and when it comes to rock n' roll, this is THE classic among classics.

Sgt. Pepper was the first CD I ever bought (along with Never Mind The Bollocks). I always preferred the "other" songs on SP, like Fixing A Hole and Within You Without You to the "masterpieces."

But my favorite memory of Sgt. Pepper is from when I lived in Nepal for two years (Peace Corps): one of my Nepalese neighbors had rooster that crowded EXACTLY LIKE the rooster than opens the Good Morning track (until they ate him).

And yes, Pet Sounds was good, I admit; but Pet Sounds never said anything when you played it backwards.

What an amazing masterpiece. Coming off their minor masterpiece Revolver, The Beatles turn to their major and created a revolutionary flame that could never be extinguished. It was Dylan mixed with Mozart and of course John, Paul, George, and Ringo added for extra flavor. Not only would the music influence a generation but the artwork was a statement in itself. It was literally the passing of the torch. If you look closly at the cover, it depicts the young beatles on the sidelines and the more mature wiser beatles standing in the middle. It was the first rays of a new rising sun. Many of my favorite beatle songs like "Lucy in the sky with dimonds", "With a little help from my friends"," A day in the life", and the title track are included in this LP. This album represents a different age and time captured forever by The Beatles who were simply the greatest artists of this generation. Isn't that what makes someone great, capturing the moment in time and being able to influence the world over and over again. This music will remain ageless and will never died as long as we shall lived.

This is one of my favorite albums by The Beatles. And now that it was remastered, it is a great pleasure to rediscover this old friend. SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND is not just an album: it is a legendary fragment of the 60's... and The Beatles in peak form.

I got this remastered version from the THE BEATLES STEREO BOX SET and it was with lots of care and attention that I listened to it from start to end. And I must say EMI made an amazing job. The music sounds brighter, sharper, clearer and much more exciting. Now, it is also clear to me that it all will depend on your stereo. Most people who claim there is no difference perhaps are listening to it in small underpowered stereo equipment that really does not do justice to these remasters. Personally, I doubt anyone won't see any positive difference here... but that's me. With my stereo, these new remasters are shining every second of it.

I'm playing it as I write this... and I cannot get tired of it.

SGT. PEPPER is an album full of subtleties and many hidden treasures. BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE is one of those songs so rich and multi-layered that it is amazing to be able to listen to everything that is there. And now it is all there brighter and clearer. A DAY IN THE LIFE is absolutely astonishing because the voices of Paul and John were treated so differently that now we can appreciate even more the job done. LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMOND has a spatial depth I couldn't find on the previous CD. SHE'S LEAVING HOME, for me, is the star of this remaster: call me crazy, but I think the whole song got a dimension I never felt before. WHEN I'M SIXTY FOUR has Ringo's drums with an delicate extra oomp.

I loved it. This is one of my favorite Beatles albums.
Thanks EMI for such a great job.

This was the first Beatles disc I ever heard, just a few months ago, around my 13 birthday, and it blew me away! The disc is just so perfect, nothing can describe it. No album before or since has been so influencial as Sgt Peppers, and the only band that could recapture the magic of it was The Beatles themselves.

Starting off with the amazing title track, which leads into the classic 'A little help from my friends' Sgt. Peppers proves, at once, that it will not be silenced.

From there, it progresses the groundbreaking 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', and then offers the great sing-a-long tune 'Getting Better'.

'Fixing a Hole' is another great song, and 'She's Leaving Home', my favorite song on the album, is such a classic, it's pointless to try and describe it.

'Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite" is different, very memorable, good stuff.

'Within You Without You' is one of George Harrison's stongest songs, slowly progressing at an epic pace.

'When I'm sixty-four' is simple and charming, the kind of song you can really relate to and love.

'Lovly Rita' and 'Good Morning Good Moring' are both pretty weird, but in a good way.

The Sgt. Peppers reprise helps one get one out of a Sgt. Peppers state of mind.

The last song, 'A day in the life' is a slowly moving masterpiece.

The Beatles greatest album ever is a stong album, worthy of every hornor in the music industry, and it continues to win new fans over 30 years since it's release.