SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

This album is credited with inspiring prog itself. I agree but think there were 2 other albums released in 1967 that share the credit (or blame, depending on your point of view) ? Moody Blues- Days of Future Passed, and Pink Floyd? Piper at the Gates of Dawn. However, since neither of those albums are on this list (how?!?), this is the lone representative for the first seeds of prog. (I also think there were hints of this direction from the Beatles as early as the Rubber Soul era, but I digress.)

Track 1 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

The rockin' opening title track, with its orchestral interjections, sets us off on our journey. While there are no complex time signatures, the timing does change throughout the song. The transition to the next track is quite proggy, as well.

Track 2 - With a Little Help from My Friends

While Ringo (as "Billy Shears") tries not to sing out of tune, we enjoy a nice mid-tempo song with classic Beatles harmonies.

Track 3 - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

3-4 harpsichord starts us off (had there been harpsichord in rock before this? Not sure) joined by John's vocals and droning sitar. The chorus shifts to 4-4 after 3 big tom-tom beats. Ahh, time signature changes, very prog. The alternating meter sections continue throughout the song. Hat's off to Paul's bass line in the chorus!

Track 4 - Getting Better

Strident guitar chords on the verge of overdrive start us off here. The feel changes between the verses & choruses. The sitar returns on the 3rd verse, where admissions of domestic violence are made.

Track 5 - Fixing a Hole

More harpsichord, but this time with a jazzy shuffle and Paul's vocals. I like the guitar countermelody on the choruses. Wonderful solo, expertly syncopated.

Track 6 - She's Leaving Home

Very melancholy harp starts us off and strings join after Paul's vocals begin. This has always been my least favorite frack on the album. I do understand the social-consciousness message in the lyrics, and that it reflected the generation gap. But it's just so? melodramatic. But the arrangement might be one of the things that led to this album being "proggy" for its day.

Track 7 - Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.

Now this one's more like it for me. I think it's one of the proggiest tracks on here and possibly in the entire Beatles catalog. Still more harpsichord is being utilized here. I love the high-hat work on the verses. Ringo is so underrated as a drummer! That middle section! Wow! Paul's bass lines and Lennon's vocals are superb. The ending of the song is even more of a beautiful cacophony than the middle section. My only complaint with this song is that it's too short.

Track 8 - Within You, Without You

Beautiful spiritual raga-rock from George. I love the Tabla drums! That orchestration is magnificent! I think I was about 8 when I first got this album. (I was born a year after it was released.) My little brain didn't know WHAT to make of this, but I liked it! I'm not sure, but I think that this was the first Beatles song to break the 5-minute mark. Time signature changes galore!

Track 9 - When I'm 64

A bit of Paul cheese for the grannies as John would have said. It's a bit of fun. I don't think Paul can sing it anymore as he's well past 64 these days!

Track 10 - Lovely Rita

I love the dreamy intro! Then it's time to rock again. Nothing too deep here, but there are some fun little bits in some of the sound effects. Outstanding background vocals. I like the piano solo with the organ in the background. The Beatles were so great that they can make a silly track, like this, have a fantastic arrangement and overall sound. Now the "outro" with the echoey sighing, etc., is certainly proggy.

Track 11 - Good Morning, Good Morning

Some more silliness here. Ringo's drumming is excellent. A time change in the bridge. I love the sax-ensemble too. Cool little guitar solo. It almost sounds like Ringo has double bass drums here. And those animal sound effects are fun!

Track 12 - Sgt. Pepper's?(Reprise)

A bit of a harder rockin' restatement of the title-track, signaling the end of the album (but it isn't, is it!)

Track 13 - A Day in the Life

Simply put, this song is a masterpiece. Ringo's drum entrances are so unique. The first few mellow verses are so nicely done. But then?. that crescendo!!! What??? No one ever did anything like that before, that I know of, at least in rock music. Paul's middle bit is much quicker than the opening verses. After John's dreamy ahhs, the fist melody returns at the faster pace. Then another crescendo! And that final chord that rings forever .... This is how an album is properly ended. Then we get the odd little "run out groove" sound piece. That was unexpected

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

Of course this is one of the Beatles finest albums. I think it is more prog in spirit than practice. But what it DID do was open the doors of what is possible in rock music WIDE OPEN. Anything was possible after Sgt. Pepper. And if that isn't progressive in the true sense of the word, I don't know what is! 4.5 out of 5 stars (because I'm not crazy about She's Leaving Home).

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