“It was twenty forty years ago today yesterday,
Sgt. pepper taught the band to play”
As usual, EW’s Popwatch blog basically nails my sentiments about Sgt. Pepper on the 40th anniversary of its release:
Sgt. Pepper routinely tops best-albums-of-all-time lists, and it probably will until all the rock critics of Marcus’ generation die off. I’m not sure it’s even the best Beatles’ album; track for track, its 1966 predecessor Revolver is better.
Still, it’s a remarkable achievement, a song-suite that, overall, continues to offer an incredibly rich listening experience even after 40 years of repeat listens.
I think my attitude about Sgt. Pepper would be a lot different if (a) I was alive when it came out, or (b) dropped acid regularly. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an incredible work of art, but I certainly wouldn’t put it in my top-three favorite Beatles albums, let alone my top-five favorites of all-time.
I’m with Susman about Revolver… song for song, it’s the best record the Fab Four ever recorded. End of story.
Abby Road is probably my second-favorite Beatles album, mainly because of George’s influence. Here Comes the Sun and Something are two of the most beautiful songs they every produced.
I’d also have to rank the White Album above Pepper, just because no other album busts through so many different musical genres so effortlessly. You’ve got Back in the USSR (kind of an F-U to the Beach Boys), While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George again, with Clapton), Martha My Dear, Blackbird, Rocky Raccoon, Helter Skelter, Revolution 1/9, and Good Night.
I’m really not trying to put Sgt. Pepper down here, and I’m not saying it’s overrated. I guess it just doesn’t knock my socks off like some of the other Beatles albums. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
Anyway, all of that aside, here’s Paul with U2 performing Sgt. Pepper at Live 8 in London. Man… it kills me to think that I could’ve gone to this. Damn jetlag!
happy birthday my cutie!
The word “best” MIGHT be appropriate if when you take Pepper’s influence into account. Pepper was really when artists began to think seriously about making ALBUMS, not just big records with a few singles and B-sides. The cover art might also be the most influential ever. (And then, later, to put out “The Beatles” with an all-white cover: brilliant!) All your other points are sound.
Agreed. In terms of its cultural impact, Pepper was probably their most important album.