As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of The Beatles 8th album 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band', Undercover gives you some fun Pepper facts for your weekend dinner party.
Sgt Peppers was one of two albums The Beatles released in 1967. The other was 'Magical Mystery Tour'.The story in the song 'A Day In The Life' was inspired by Guinness heiress Tara Browne who had recently died in a car crash. John Lennon wrote the song.
The first voice you hear on the album is Paul McCartney. He sang the opening title song. The second voice is Ringo Starr, who sang track two 'With A Little Help From My Friends'.
The song 'Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite' was another John song. It was inspired by a poster John saw for a circus which read " Pablo Fanques Fair presents the Hendersons for the Benefit of Mr Kite'.
Both 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Penny Lane' were recorded for 'Sgt Pepper' but held back for the next album 'Magical Mystery Tour'. 'Only A Northern Song' was also recorded at the sessions but not used until 'Yellow Submarine'. A 22.10 long track titled 'Drum Track' is also reported to have been recorded then but never released.
Another song 'Carnival of Light' was recorded during the sessions but never released.
Producer George Martin added the classical instrument clarinet to 'When I'm 64'. He wanted to give it a unique sound. Paul McCartney's vocal was also sped up on the track to also give it a different feel.
'Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' took 129 to record.
'Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' cost £25,000 to make.
If 'Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' is 40 today, then Sgt Peppers band is 60 today. The lyrics to the song go "It was 20 years ago today that Sgt Pepper taught the band to play".
Sex siren Mae West initially refused to have her image on the cover of the album but relented after The Beatles personally wrote her a letter asking her permission. Actor Leo Gorcey, who was a part of the original artwork, was removed when he demanded to be paid. Hitler and Jesus were also in the original artwork but removed before release. Ghandi was also originally used but removed before release by EMI who felt they would offend the people of India.
The original album was released on L.P. vinyl in two versions ... mono and stereo.
An 8 track cartridge of the album was also released but to fill in space on each of the four sides, the track listing had to be changed.
The 8 track tracklisting was:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Capitol 8XT-2653
Program 1
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
A Little Help From My Friends (sic)
Fixing A Hole
Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite
Program 2
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
She's Leaving Home
Program 3
Within You Without You
A Day In The Life
Program 4
When I'm Sixty-Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning Good Morning
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
The first airplay for the album was on May 20 by the BBC. The radio station played every tracks except 'A Day In The Life' which they banned.
In South East Asia, Malaysia and Hong Kong, three tracks were removed because of perceived drug references and replaced with three only tracks. 'With A Little Help From My Friends', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and 'A Day In The Life' were replaced with three songs from the Magical Mystery Tour album; 'The Fool On The Hill', 'Baby You're A Rich Man' and 'I'm The Walrus' (sic).
The tracklisting for the Sgt Pepper album was:
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing A Hole
She's Leaving Home
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. kite
Within You Without You
When I'm Sixty-four
Lovely Rita
Goodmorning Goodmorning
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts club Band (Reprise)
A Day In The Life
