Greatest album: Sgt. Pepper
It was 40 years ago today...
Actually, it was 40 years ago this week that The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band.
I don't always agree with the critics, but in this case I do. Sgt. Pepper is the greatest album of all time. From the opening guitar chord of the album's theme song, to the final explosion of sound at the end of "A Day in the Life," Sgt. Pepper is non-stop brilliance. It also probably influenced pop music more than any album before or since.
Or perhaps you disagree. Perhaps you think another Beatles album is better. Or maybe you think some other band -- or even Elvis -- produced an album better than Sgt. Pepper. If so, tell me what's better than Sgt. Pepper and why.
While I'm wating for you to prove me wrong, I think I'll listen to "With a Little Help from My Friends" for about the millionth time.
posted by Patrick Rice @ 4:31 PM
9 Comments
9 Comments:
"Sgt. Pepper," with all due respect wouldn't even be in my top 10. "Revolver," which the Beatles released a year before "Pepper" laid all the sonic and structural groundwork for the latter album and features a more consistently strong set of songs, no "She's Leaving Home" or "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" to bog things down. Some of the best work from John ("Tomorrow Never Knows"), Paul ("For No One"), George ("Taxman") and Ringo ("Yellow Submarine") is found on "Revolver."
Do yourself a favor and get it.
The rest of my top 10, you wonder? In random, subject-to-change order...
2. "The Ramones," The Ramones.
3. "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols," Sex Pistols.
4. "Pet Sounds," the Beach Boys.
5. "Zen Arcade," Husker Du.
6. "Skylarking," XTC
7. "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," Public Enemy.
8. "Daydream Nation," Sonic Youth.
9. "The Velvet Underground and Nico," the Velvet Underground.
10. "Entertainment!" Gang of Four.
Just good to know nothing important going on in the world like 14 more dead Amercians in Bushs' Iraq that we can discuss something that dowsn't matter at all.
To anonymous, you obviously didn't see the front page of the paper today re: Iraq. And if something like music "doesn't matter at all" to you, you must lead a very impoverished life.
Let's see, 14 unnecessary American deaths, or I'm leading an impoverished life over who you think and what you think "music" being important. You Bushies are all screwed up.
Oh for goodness sake. If you feel the need to blog about Iraq please go down 2 blog subjects and blog away. It has been an option for quite a few days and yet no one is blogging. There is room enough in the world to talk about the important things in life.(our troops) and the mundane. Find the appropriate blog out there and voice away your opinion. If being able to voice an opinion on any subject but the war is wrong then my grandfather died for no reason in WW2.
Now about the subject at hand, I hadn't listened to Sgt Pepper in years but put the cd in today and your right it is great, but for the best. I love putting Jesus Christ Superstar on when I am cleaning the house and that never gets old to me, something about it just resonates with me.
Now calling you a Bushie, now that is funny.
If I had ever heard of this album I would comment.
G
What are the criteria for determining "Greatest Album Ever"? Without knowing that, who can say which is greatest? It was a good album; but so were thousands of others. For sheer social import, I would submit that "Stan Freberg presents The United States of America" tops it. If you've never heard of it you probably need to give it a listen. It was brilliant. And very funny.
"What are the criteria for determining "Greatest Album Ever"? Without knowing that, who can say which is greatest?"
Good Lord, why does there have to be one in every crowd. It's your opinion. Like the thing you sit on everyone has one take your head out of yours and answer the question or leave it alone.
1 - sgt pepper
2 - Music from Big Pink (The Band)
3 - White Album (Beatles)
4 - Pet Sounds (Beach Boys)
5 - Exile on Main St (Rolling Stones)
6 - Highway 61 Revisited (Dylan)
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