Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Review

By Isabelle Parker

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 1967 by The Beatles, a popular rock band from 1963-1970. After its release, the album topped UK album charts the Us Billboard's top LPs chart. It became the biggest selling Uk record of all time. It was created after member Paul McCartney suggested creating alter- egos for each of the members and writing songs from their character's perspectives. He later suggested creating a whole album from the fictional band's perspectives. An estimated 700 hours of work went into the LP. The music is experimental and psychedelic, ranging from the dramatic and touching 'She's Leaving Home' to the upbeat and trippy 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'. The album has been described as historically important due to its wide variety of songs and music. Tracks such as 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds', 'A Day in the Life' and 'Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite' have been rumoured to contain lines referencing drug use, but these allegations have been denied by the Beatles. The album is said to have been inspired by Beatles' roadie Mal Evans asking what the S and P stood for on the shakers during a flight to London. McCartney explained that they stood for 'salt' and 'pepper'. He then came up with the idea for creating an Edwardian military band. This album changed music, and remains important today. It was a unique adventure into sound, and inspired many future songs. It tested the barriers of music and broke traditional rock music rules. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is an influential and revolutionary album that set the scene for the next near 50 years of rock.