Tom Phillips (The Village Voice) declared Sgt. Peppers "the most ambitious and successful record album ever issued". The album is most noted for its incredible timing. Its the album that was playing on the turntables all around the world during 'The Summer of Love', when psychedelic drugs went from being part of a subculture to a media phenomenon. According to Paul McCartney, it was an album 'inspired by drugs...pot and acid.' John Lennon wouldn't be so candid and never admitted that the title of his song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was actually referring to LSD. It has been reported that McCartney and Lennon would hide in a closet and smoke pot between takes.
The card on the right is to the Monterey International Pop Festival from John, Paul, George, and Ringo; a greeting from the Beatles who had just released Sgt. Pepper's one month earlier are unable to attend the festival but send their love. Along with the card they were responsible for the appearance at the festival of the up and coming new group from London, Jimi Hendrix and the Experience, their first appearance in the states. You can also refer to the Jimi Hendrix review from the table for more information and pictures of the artist and his group.
The most notable albums from the Beatles that are 'psychedelic' in nature are The White album, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour (also a movie and a very delicious one at that; the tour of the countryside in a magical bus with lots of far-out little characters and places), Yellow Submarine which is also a movie of note.
It took 700 hours to put the album together, 129 days beginning in Dec.'66 with "When I'm Sixty-Four", then "A Day In The Life" in Jan.'67, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, written by McCartney, was recorded in Feb.'67 along with; "Good Morning, Good Morning", "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite", "Fixing a Hole", and "Lovely Rita". "Lucy in the Sky", written by Lennon, was recorded in 8 takes on March 1, 1967. All the rest, "Getting Better", "She's Leaving Home", "Within You - Without You", and "With a Little Help From My Friends", were completed in March. The reprise of 'Sgt. Pepper" was completed in early April and the album was put together for release in May. After recording the album it is said that Paul, itching to make a surprise visit to the Jefferson Airplane, borrowed Frank Sinatra's Lear jet and flew to San Francisco to spend some time with the airplane in April 1967.
Last Updated: 15-May-99
