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The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band CD (album) cover

SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

The Beatles

 

Proto-Prog

4.36 | 1219 ratings

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Guillermo
Prog Reviewer
5 stars For me it is hard to say if this album is better than "Revolver" or later albums recorded by The Beatles, but it is also very enjoyable and very influential in the development of Progressive Rock music, IMO. It was a very expensive album in making because they recorded it in 4 months, starting with the excellent songs which were released in February 1967 as a single: "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane".

The first time that I listened to this album was in 1973. Then, in 1982, I bought a new copy, made in England. After listening to both versions again, I found some differences. Then, I leaned that the first version that I listened to was the Mono version (despite saying "Stereo" in the cover!) and that the version that I bought in 1982 was really the Stereo version, as the cover said. Years later, when I bought Mark Lewisohn`s excellent book called "The Beatles: Recording Sessions", I learned that yes, the Mono and Stereo versions were different not only in the mixing, but in the inclusion of some sound effects which the Mono version included. I also learned that the Mono version was mixed with The Beatles being present in the studio, while the Stereo version was mixed by George Martin and other Recording Engineers, but without The Beatles being present in the studio. So, Lewisohn says that the "real" version is the Mono version. I also think that the Mono version is better. The C.D. version, released only in Stereo, which I also bought, includes some sound effects originally included at the end of the Side Two of the first pressings of the English L.P.

This album has a lot of very good arrangements, done by The Beatles with Producer George Martin. For me, this album is a "musical mind trip" (without using alcohol and drugs!). My favourite songs from this album are: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "She`s Leaving Home", "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", "Within You Without You", "When I`m Sixty-Four" and "A Day in the Life".

I hope that some day EMI Records could release in the C.D. format the Mono version of this album. It is more enjoyable, more "magical", IMO.

Guillermo | 5/5 |

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