This album's a classic.
I was pretty sure everybody knew that. I just wanted to say it. You know why it's classic? Well, I could give you tons of reasons. This was, I think, one of the first concept albums (though I'd definitely never think of calling it that unless someone had told me beforehand...), and it showed a totally different direction that the Beatles were taking. No more "I wanna hold your haaaaaand!" for them! No! This is - the Beatles as we know them! Woooh! Yeaaaah! *applause*
No seriously...this is a classic. I fancy it an overrated classic, but it's a classic nonetheless. It shows what the Beatles were doing at the time - trying to go in a different direction and create songs that weren't "songs" so much as they were "music" and "art". (They were doing another thing, too, which I won't name...) So let's hear it for Sgt Peppers. Everybody likes Sgt Peppers!
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: This is a pretty good intro for the album...sets a good tone for what's going to come. I think that of all the introductions to albums that I've heard, this might be the best one. Then again, it always reminds me of the time that the drummer from the band I'm in said that maybe we should do this song someday. I told him no. We aren't the Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
With a Little Help From My Friends: Yeah! This song is awesome! It's one of my favorite tracks from the whole album! It's just so - it's so cool! (Admittedly I always took a spot of offense to "I get high with a little help from my friends". But don't worry, if you're singing it, you can always work around it incredibly easily.) And hey, that's Ringo singing a song! Good for Ringo. Ringo's a good singer. Not nearly as good as John or Paul. But he's still good...for a drummer...
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds: When I first heard this song, I was not impressed. I thought it had cool lyrics and everything, but the way they recorded it wasn't cool and that, had they given me the song, I'd have made it a better one. (But then again, nobody was really thinking of me in 1967.) But then I gave it another try. It's actually quite awesome, if you think about it. It's psychedelically awesome. (Looking at the title, what with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, I begin to wonder...hmm, what could this song really be about? Hmm...)
Getting Better: It's getting better all the tiiiime! Yes, it is. I always told my band, "We're getting better all the time!" and then the drummer would start singing the first bit of this song...that drummer. He's the sort of fellow who makes you glad you're a bassist. (And no, I have no clue what that sentence meant.) Well, I must admit that it is getting better all this time. I used to listen to this album when I did my math homework. This song made everything feel so much better. And so it does today.
Fixing a Hole: Here's another one of the songs where you could say it has something to do with drugs. But I never really thought so. I think it's more about - I don't know what it's about. It's not one of the album's highlights (at least not to me), but then again, there really isn't a lame song on the record.
She's Leaving Home: Another "low" song. Low meaning it's not a high point (no, definitely not high). Hey, I can't think of a drugs-related meaning for this song, and it's on Sgt Pepper's! That proves it isn't about drugs! (Or maybe it's just proving I'm naiive...one or the other.) Eh, I like it.
Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite!: I do like this song. This is probably my favorite song from Sgt Pepper's. And I can't think of a drugs meaning for this one, either. That proves that it really is about an old poster that John Lennon found that advertised a carnival-circus-type-thing and that everything in the song is something he found on the poster! (Yep, that's what it's about. And I'm stickin' to that story.) Except someone I know told me that it sounds really spooky like it's a great Halloween song or something. And it turns out she's right. But no matter! It still calms me. Nothing's gonna change my world. (Ah, wrong song...)
Within Without You: Here's George Harrison doing his own little thing now. With a sitar. You know, I can't remember why I like those things. I also can't remember why I named my ukulele after this guy, either. Oddly enough, George Harrison can make even this song enjoyable. Odd. Very odd.
When I'm 64: This song is a good reminder. It reminds us that we all get old and that we don't stay young forever! (And now Paul McCartney has turned 64. Now he knows what it's like!) Though, maybe I'm a bit young for this kind of reminder...I haven't even become a grown-up yet. But I like this song. It makes me think of my grandparents when I hear it. And they're always nice people to think about when you hear a song. Come on, I'll bet everybody likes their grandparents. I thought so.
Lovely Rita: Now I'll never be able to think about meter-maids without also thinking of this song. It's a good song, if you think about it. It used to be one of my favorite tracks from this album. It's not so much my favorite anymore as it used to be. But hey, I still like it.
Good Morning Good Morning: I've officially decided that this is my least-favorite song on this album. Not that it's particularly terrible. It's just not the best. In fact, sometimes I do skip it...I'll admit it...Fine, I admit that I do skip a song from Sgt Pepper's! But only occasionally! Meaning I can't be all that bad, right?
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise): This is pretty good, too. I think I prefer this to the first song. It sounds as though they really are sending the listener off after having a grand adventure in their little world of music, and - well, you know what I mean! Yeah, great conclusion.
A Day in the Life: Wait - A Day in the Life? That means there's still more songs! There's still another song! Unheard of! I thought that the reprise song was the last song on the album! This can't be! Actually, why don't I let it be for a while, and just enjoy the song? Actually, it's a pretty good song at that...one of the highlights. It's actually rather fantastic! Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay for the Beatles! Yay for Sgt Pepper's! Yay for John Lennon! Yay for the walrus! I am the walrus! Yay for everybody! Yeaaaaaah!
Best tracks: With a Little Help from my Friends, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Getting Better, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! and A Day in the Life. (Wow, that's a lot of 'em!)
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