I enjoyed Aimee Mann's article on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. (Just typing in the title is fun: what a great phrase.)
As I live with a seven-year-old Beatlemaniac (Miles), I've been listening to lots of the Fab Four for the past few years (he first turned Beatlemaniac when he was two, I think, with "Here Comes the Sun"). And one thing I agree with Mann (and others) about: SPLHCB is deservedly influential, but it also has some surprising weaknesses. The hit songs on it are brilliant, but the other tunes are only very good, even though many songwriters would kill to write even one as good. "She's Leaving Home" has been singled out in some of the commentaries I have read as a weak song, but all you need to do to hear how brilliant the music is is here Brad Mehldau play it on jazz piano.
I was surprised to learn elsewhere that "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" were supposed to be on the album, but were not put on it because they had been released as a single already.
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2 comments:
Thanks for pointing out that article. Interesting to read her thoughts on that album. My kids also like the Beatles. The melodies are very appealing, and catchy, the voices are good, and many of the songs are interesting. Sgt. Pepper isn't one of my favorites - I like Rubber Soul, Revolver & the White Album most.
cheers
"Rubber Soul" has long been one of my favorites. Miles really likes "Drive My Car" (he likes the fast ones best).
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