The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

With Revolver, the Beatles made the Great Leap Forward, reaching a previously unheard-of level of sophistication and fearless experimentation. Sgt. Pepper, in many ways, refines that breakthrough, as the Beatles consciously synthesized such disparate influences as psychedelia, art-song, classical music, rock & roll, and music hall, often in the course of one song. Not once does the diversity seem forced -- the genius of the record is how the vaudevillian "When I'm 64" seems like a logical extension of "Within You Without You" and how it provides a gateway to the chiming guitars of "Lovely Rita." There's no discounting the individual contributions of each member or their producer, George Martin, but the preponderance of whimsy and self-conscious art gives the impression that Paul McCartney is the leader of the Lonely Hearts Club Band. He dominates the album in terms of compositions, setting the tone for the album with his unabashed melodicism and deviously clever arrangements. In comparison, Lennon's contributions seem fewer, and a couple of them are a little slight but his major statements are stunning. "With a Little Help From My Friends" is the ideal Ringo tune, a rolling, friendly pop song that hides genuine Lennon anguish, à la "Help!"; "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" remains one of the touchstones of British psychedelia; and he's the mastermind behind the bulk of "A Day in the Life," a haunting number that skillfully blends Lennon's verse and chorus with McCartney's bridge. It's possible to argue that there are better Beatles albums, yet no album is as historically important as this. After Sgt. Pepper, there were no rules to follow -- rock and pop bands could try anything, for better or worse. Ironically, few tried to achieve the sweeping, all-encompassing embrace of music as the Beatles did here. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Bremner Photo Research, Photo Editing Adrian Ibbetson Engineer Alan Civil French Horn Alan Dalziel Cello Alan Holmes Saxophone Alan Rouse Liner Notes, Project Coordinator Alex Nifosi Cello Alfred Waters Bassoon Barrie Cameron Saxophone Basil Tschaikov Clarinet Bernard Davis Viola Bill Monroe Violin Clifford Seville Flute Cyril Macarthur Double Bass David Glyde Saxophone David Mason Trumpet David McCallum Violin David Sandeman Flute Dean Bradley Violin Dennis Vigay Cello Derek Jacobs Violin Donald Weekes Violin Drew Lorimer Redesign Erich Gruenberg Violin Ernest Scott Violin Francisco Gabarro Cello Frank Reidy Clarinet Gavin ONeill Photo Retouching Geoff Emerick Engineer George Harrison Sitar, Vocals, Harmonica, Tamboura, Tambourine, Guitar George Martin Piano, Arranger, Horn, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Producer Gordon Pearce Double Bass Graham Kirkby Second Engineer, Engineer Granville Jones Violin Guy Massey Remastering Gwen Edwards Viola Hans Geiger Violin Harold Jackson Trumpet Henry Datyner Violin Henry MacKenzie Clarinet Jack Brymer Clarinet James W. Buck French Horn Jann Haworth Cover Art, ?, Design John Burden French Horn John Lee Trombone John Lennon Guitar, Percussion, Marimba, Organ (Hammond), Vocals, Guitar (Rhythm) John Underwood Viola Jose Garcia Violin Jurgen Hess Violin Keith Slaughter Second Engineer Ken Townsend Engineer Kevin Howlett Historical Research, Liner Notes Lionel Bently Violin Mal Evans Harmonica, Piano, Tambourine Malcolm Addey Engineer Marijke Tambourine Mark Lewisohn Text, Liner Notes MC Productions & The Apple Design Michael Barnes Tuba Michael Cooper Photography Mike Leander Score, Orchestration Monty Montgomery Trumpet N. Fawcett Bassoon Neil Aspinall Harmonica, Tamboura Neil Sanders French Horn Paul McCartney Harpsichord, Vocals, Conductor, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Guitar, Author, Guitar (Bass) Paul Wilkinson Design Peter Blake Cover Art, Liner Notes, Art Direction, Design Peter Vince Engineer Phil McDonald Second Engineer Ray Brown Trombone Raymond Premru Trombone Richard Lush Second Engineer, Engineer Ringo Starr Harmonica, Bongos, Drums, Vocals Robert Burns Clarinet Roger Lord Oboe Sheila Bromberg Harp Sidney Sax Violin Stephen Shingles Viola Steve Rooke Remastering T. Moore Trombone Tony Randall French Horn Trevor Williams Violin Tristan Fry Percussion Wendy Day Project Manager