Additional information
Includes a 28-page booklet with rare photos, notes on the recording sessions and lyrics. The Beatles: George Harrison (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, sitar, tamboura, harmonica, tambourine, comb & paper); John Lennon (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, Hammond organ, maracas, comb & paper); Paul McCartney (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, harpsichord, Hammond organ, bass, comb & paper); Ringo Starr (vocals, harmonica, piano, drums, bongos). Additional personnel includes: Neil Aspinall (tamboura, harmonica); Mal Evans (harmonica, alarm clock); George Martin (piano, harmonium, Wurlitzer organ, organ); Sounds Incorporated (saxophone, French horn, trombone). Engineers include: Geoff Emerick, Malcolm Addey, Ken Townsend. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios and Regent Sound Studio, London, England between December 6, 1966 and April 21, 1967. Includes liner notes by George Martin, Mark Lewisohn and Peter Blake. Personnel: John Lennon, Paul McCartney (vocals). Audio Remasterers: Sean Magee; Sam O'Kell; Steve Rooke; Guy Massey; Paul Hicks. Liner Note Authors: Mike Heatley; Mark Lewisohn; Alan Rouse; Kevin Howlett; Paul McCartney; Peter Blake. Recording information: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England (12/06/1966-04/01/1967); Regent Sound Studio, London, England (12/06/1966-04/01/1967); Studio One, Abbey Road (12/06/1966-04/01/1967); Studio Two, Abbey Road (12/06/1966-04/01/1967). One of the most famous and influential albums ever recorded, SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND had a huge impact on the music world, signaling the beginning of a new era of sophistication and maturity in rock. The musical experimentation was dynamic and fresh, several tracks were edited to create seamless transitions, and even the visual design was more elaborate than anything previously attempted. Producer George Martin and The Beatles searched for new sounds and studio effects. They added crowd sounds and animal cries from sound-effects recordings, sped up Paul McCartney's vocals in "When I'm Sixty-Four" (to make him sound younger), and sustained a single piano chord for 40 seconds to end "A Day In The Life." The orchestrations, scored by Martin, were hailed by critics as bridging the gap between pop and classical music, and many people who had never bought a rock record bought SGT. PEPPER'S.
Reviews
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.85) - Ranked #1 in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" - "...The most important rock & roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology..." Q (6/00, p.80) - Ranked #13 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" - "...It deserves playing, and playing again....[including] one of the Top Five finest vocal performances in all rock: Ringo's 'With A Little Help From My Friends'....do yourself a favor." Mojo (Publisher) (p.52) - Ranked #14 in Mojo's "The 50 Most Out There Albums Of All Time" - "The Beatles build a new universe with every song..." NME (Magazine) (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #33 in NME's list of the 'Greatest Albums Of All Time.' Paste (magazine) (p.60) - "As a pioneering work of studio wizardry, this loose concept album is amazing..."
