SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND/WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

Off of what is considered to be one of the best and most influential albums of all time, the single for the seminal 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' is certainly no able replacement for the full product, but this is a great taste of the masterpiece, with a b-side that I consider to be quite possibly the Beatles' greatest song.

While catchy and very to-the-point, the Beatles incorporate plenty of interesting arrangements into the album's title track, including horn sections to give an exciting opener to the album. It is a very rocking track, and one of the best openers to an album in pop music. Of course, it is natural for the music to continue into the second track 'With A Little Help From My Friends,' which is typically played immediately after the first on FM radio. The two tracks segue seamlessly, giving the impression of one song with two very different parts. Here, the vocals of Ringo Starr are showcased, in which he does a decent job of singing the song, but it is certainly clear that he is the weakest member of the group.

The real gem on this singles release is actually the b-side, 'A Day In The Life.' While it certainly doesn't have the quality of an 'afterthought' as many b-sides do, I'm very glad they included it here, as it represents the best, most inspired and musical portion of the album. The song is surprisingly complex in it's composition for only being five minutes long, but it gives a very deep and engaging experience, almost existential in nature.

For those who haven't yet listened to the essential work that is 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' this might be a good place to get excited about it. The Beatles aren't the most superb group in my books, but this album - and by extension - this single really show to me that the band deserves such a wide fanbase.

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