Classic Beatles album celebrates 40 years anniversary
Writen by walking leaf on Friday, 1 of June , 2007 at 2:01 pm, ,
Forty years ago today (June 1st) marks a significant moment in the world of music with the release of the iconic Beatles album ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. It is widely regarding as one of – if not the – greatest music album of modern times and here are some fascinating stories behind the Fab Four’s music.
• It was the band’s eighth album.
• The album was recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios over a 129-day period, at a cost of £25,000.
• Pink Floyd were working on ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ in the next studio at the same time.
• The idea of making the whole album as if Sgt Pepper was a real band was believed to be Paul McCartney’s.
• It was a completely self-contained album, which was meant to be played from start to finish.
• One critic described the album as “a decisive moment in the history of Western civilisation”.
• Within weeks of the album’s release, Jimi Hendrix started performing the title track in concert.
• It was the first rock album to win Grammy Awards for album of the year and best contemporary album.
• Rolling Stone magazine rated it number one in the list of the 500 greatest albums of all time back in 2003.
• Sir Peter Blake designed the front cover. It featured a colourful collage of life-sized cardboard models of famous people, including Marlon Brando and Karl Marx.
• Mae West originally refused to appear on the front cover, but changed her mind after the band wrote to her.
• The initial design was altered, deleting Hitler and Jesus from the image, before the album was released.
• It was rumoured that ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ was about the drug LSD. John Lennon always denied this, insisting a drawing done by his young son, Julian, that inspired it.
• The lyrics to Lennon’s ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite’ were adapted almost word for word from an old circus poster, which he bought at an antique shop in Kent.
• McCartney’s vocals were sped up for the song ‘When I’m 64’ to give it a unique sound.
I’m surprised in how four decades has passed by since the initial release of this fantastic album. Nearly all the songs became number one hits in the music charts and it still sounds as good as back in the 60s! So raise a glass to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr for their efforts in creating a timeless music collection.
Category: Music, eMagi News
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Meneame -
- Digg
Comment by flo
Made Friday, 8 of June , 2007 at 12:44 am
They are wonderful , they’re awesome and genious for Ever ! : )
luv luv luv to them, wish them the best, wherever they are for all they gave because they gave so much
& happy birthday to Sgt Pepper : )
