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UK: Parlophone PCS 7027; June 1, 1967 US: Capitol (S)MAS 2653; June 2, 1967
Enough has been said about this album, to the point where people think it's overkill. Overrated? Underrated? You tell me.
For the first time, the album was the same as the UK and the US, with the exception of the dog whistle and "inner groove". Those elements can be found on all world pressings except for the U.S. Even in Taiwan, they knew the deal.
For me, it is my favorite Beatles album. It was the album I wanted to hear after reading about it as a kid. When I got to it, I was blown away.
You know who all the people are on the cover. You know who Adolf Hitler was not seen in the final version. You know how people said the album was the anthem for the summer of love. You know how when "When I'm Sixty-Four" was recorded, the tape machine was at a slower speed, so that when put back at "normal" speed, he would sound more youthful. You know that the organ sound that represents the circus in "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite" was actually played by two people at once. You know how "She's Leaving Home" is heavily edited, as the cuts of the string section sound abrupt at the appropriate moments. You've seen the footage of friends in the recording studio when the orchestral build-up was recorded in "A Day In The Life". You also know that people still feel that if you reverse the audio that is in the inner groove of Side 2, it sounds like Paul is saying "we fuck like Superman!" You also know that people think it's the first big rock concept album, even if the song does not have a true concept or a running theme. You know why you prefer the mono mix over the stereo, and why Paul McCartney prefers it that way too. You know that engineer Geoff Emerick wanted to mic the tabla in a way that had never been heard before, which is why the tabla sounds so deep in "Within You, Without You".
Yet knowing it/not knowing it still doesn't take away anything from what is (to me) still an incredible album. Some day it's dated, but I think those people are looking for reasons to date it. There is still a feeling of anticipation that can't be described in the last orchestral build-up in "A Day In The Life", as you wait for the final note, and hearing someone in the background say "sssh" as you hear someone move in their chair.
You know these things. Now tell me what moves you/doesn't move you about SGT. PEPPER.
JOHN BOOK'S MYSPACE http://www.myspace.com/crutmusic
THE RUN-OFF GROOVE http://www.musicforamerica.org/node/114473
BOOK'S MUSIC Podcast http://booksmusic.podomatic.com/
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?vst=45730
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