SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

One of prog mailing lists that I've been subscribing as member, someone posted a message that said something like prohibiting the discussion about The Beatles because it's not prog. As you might guess, it stimulated a bunch of reactions from other members - including myself, of course - opposing about that idea. It's ironic putting off The Beatles from the discussion topic as in fact The Beatles has created world-wide influences to many musicians on planet earth at the time as well as the years to following, even right now. Many prog musicians were influenced by The Beatles.

Recently, I purchased MOJO Magazine with David Gilmour as cover story. The magz also gives free CDs titled "PSYCH OUT!" - 15 Nuggets From The Scene That Spawned Pink Floyd. It's a very informative article about Pink Floyd, David Gilmour as well as Roger Waters. When I spun the CD that contained songs created in the period (mostly) of 1967 - 1968 it reminded me to two albums that I consider "prog" albums by The Beatles, i.e. "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Magical Mystery Tour". I spun the "Sgt Pepper's" CD right after the PSYCH OUT by Mojo and found out that Sgt Pepper's is much mature musically as compared to other bands featured at Mojo's bonus CD. Not only mature, the music is really progressive as it contains songs with style and tempo changes, unusual time signatures and a bit complex composition.

I don't want to write a long review as many have done much better on this album. But definitely, this album is truly a prog one. Even, the opening track has already demonstrated very intense prog elements. Other tracks like "Fixing Hole", "She's Leaving Home", "Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite" (my favorite), "Lovely Rita" clearly show how prog this album was.

When people talk about the birth of prog music, there has been many views who was the pioneer? Was it King Crimson "In The Court of The Crimson King", Procol Harum or The Beatles? I'd rather vote for the Beatles especially this "Sgt Pepper's" album. If people perceive that the birth of prog came out with mellotron drenched album like In The Court. If that is the boundary, nothing wrong saying In The Court was the pioneer. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW