SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

This album does not contain THE BEATLES' best music, in my opinion. But it did push music in a new direction, inspiring countless bands to consider an album as more than a collection of unrelated songs.

An eclectic concoction of ballads, rock numbers and two extended, conceptual pieces ('Within You, Without You' and 'A Day In The Life'), the album comes together musically and thematically. A band no longer comfortable with touring, THE BEATLES here go one step further and offer us the idea of a surrogate band - long before PINK FLOYD reprised the idea on 'The Wall'. The concept works perfectly, managing to look forward to the days when musicians will be treated as artists rather than performing hacks, and at the same time look back to music-hall and honky-tonk.

The music itself is pleasant, without challenging the contemporary ear. Those purchasing this forty years after its release will perhaps be disappointed by what to their ears sounds dated. But at the time the psychedelia offered here was difficult for many BEATLES fans to digest. Nevertheless, this album should be listened to by everyone interested in music, and owned by those for whom music is a passion.