A splendid time is guaranteed for all

sgt_pepper.jpg

It was forty years ago today, etc. Sgt Pepper was actually released on May 26th 1967 but June 1st was the official UK release date, June 2nd in the US. Love it or hate it (I love it, of course), popular music has to be divided into “before and after Sgt Pepper” such is the scope of the album’s impact. Yes, many of its vaunted innovations weren’t so unprecedented, yes Abbey Road is better musically, and so on. But it’s unlikely that any album will be so eagerly awaited by so many people, or be so influential, again.

Song-by-song description from the band members
Trivia page with parody covers from the Mothers to the Simpsons
The hip-hop version

Previously on { feuilleton }
Joe Orton
Please Mr. Postman
All you need is…