Beatles under a microscope - Sgt. Peppers

[Toejam]

YWithout taking too much away from 'Here There & Everywhere' and 'For No One', I feel that Paul could write songs like these all day long. They are nice enough songs and well done, but nothing that causes the casual listener or even Beatle fan to sit up and take notice.

What a strange thing to say! Most Beatles fans seem  to consider them sublime masterpieces of the very highest order!

[Toejam]

I've often talked about 'Eleanor Rigby' and thrown the word masterpiece around when doing so. No argument here.

Not from me either. I think it's the Beatles greatest song which it is a bit of sorry thing to say considering it's only got Paul on it...or has it?

[KelMar]

I love both songs, especially the latter

I'm glad I'm not the only one who really likes "She's Leaving Home." I thought it was just because I'm sentimental and have looked at it as both a daughter and a mother. Although my daughter has come back and sometimes it's more like a country song here..."How Can I Miss You When You Won't Leave" or whatever it's called. I know she feels the same at times too!

[BeatlesForever]

I love every single song on the Sgt. Pepper's album! In my opinion, you have to listen to the Sgt. Pepper's album in its entirety, every song contributes as an important element.     

[tkitna]

probably I would have quit "Lovely Rita"

What in Gods name are you thinking man.  ha2ha

[tkitna]

What a strange thing to say! Most Beatles fans seem  to consider them sublime masterpieces of the very highest order!

Really? I've never really heard a bunch of Beatle fans ever associate these songs with the masterpiece tag. Some,,,sure. The majority,,,,,hardly.

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

What in Gods name are you thinking man.  ha2ha

Haha, don't know, I actually enjoy that song a lot. I think every song on Sgt. Pepper's is very good or excellent, though only a few are truly masterpieces in my opinion.

[Hello Goodbye]

I would take away Fixing A Hole and She's Leaving Home

Fixing A Hole is my favorite song on this album.

 

[nimrod]

Fixing A Hole is my favorite song on this album.

ha2ha

[BeatlesForever]

I remember reading that the original track line up of the Sgt. Pepper's album (Prior to being released) was different and was truly intended to be heard in the exact numerical order as follows:   

(1.) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(2.) With A Little Help From My Friends
(3.) Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
(4.) Fixing A Hole
(5.) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
(6.) Getting Better
(7.) She's Leaving Home
(8.) Within You Without You
(9.) When I'm Sixty-Four
(10.) Lovely Rita
(11.) Good Morning Good Morning
(12.) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
(13.) A Day In The Life 

I programed all of the tracks this way and I LOVE IT!

[Dcazz]

She's Leaving Home - When I first listened to the stereo CD in 1987, this song sounded a bit different to me so I pulled out my mono LP and gave it a listen.  The mono version was sped up a semitone higher in pitch.  I prefer the stereo mix; Paul's voice and accent sounds so sad.  It is a sad song after all.  The harp and orchestra add to the morose atmosphere of this song.  John's background vocals and "bye-byes" intensify the gloom.  Regardless, I like this song.  It always stirs up a lot of emotion each time I hear it.

I always thought fun was the one thing money could buy! : )

[Klang]

I remember reading that the original track line up of the Sgt. Pepper's album (Prior to being released) was different and was truly intended to be heard in the exact numerical order as follows:   

(1.) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(2.) With A Little Help From My Friends
(3.) Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
(4.) Fixing A Hole
(5.) Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
(6.) Getting Better
(7.) She's Leaving Home
(8.) Within You Without You
(9.) When I'm Sixty-Four
(10.) Lovely Rita
(11.) Good Morning Good Morning
(12.) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
(13.) A Day In The Life 

I programed all of the tracks this way and I LOVE IT!

Seems like a good order to me. I'll try that.

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

Thing is with that is that it was Paul who brought in the tape loops that made TNK so innovative and George played the backward guitar solo and if I remember rightly I've read somewhere that he did the guitar while no one else was there or maybe that was the guitar solo in I'm only sleeping.

That's true, but curiously they always were more experimental with John's songs. I guess he was more open minded toward new things and let the others "play" with his tunes, beyond the fact that all the screwing around could work or not.

[Toejam]

That's true, but curiously they always were more experimental with John's songs. I guess he was more open minded toward new things and let the others "play" with his tunes, beyond the fact that all the screwing around could work or not.

In one of his last interviews John actually made that point with a bit of bitterness and seemingly critical of Paul for not being willing to take risks with his own songs.

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

In one of his last interviews John actually made that point with a bit of bitterness and seemingly critical of Paul for not being willing to take risks with his own songs.

I guess you're talking about this John's quote in his Playboy interview from 1980:

"The Beatles didn't make a good record of 'Across the Universe.' I think subconsciously we... I thought Paul subconsciously tried to destroy my great songs. We would play experimental games with my great pieces, like 'Strawberry Fields,' which I always felt was badly recorded. It worked, but it wasn't what it could have been. I allowed it, though. We would spend hours doing little, detailed cleaning up on Paul's songs, but when it came to mine... especially a great song like 'Strawberry Fields' or 'Across the Universe' ...somehow an atmosphere of looseness and experimentation would come up."