Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Lennon/McCartney)
Sgt. Pepper and his band were dreamed up by Paul as a way to escape the constant demands of being a rock star. The song itself was merely written as an introduction to the rest of the album, but the idea of the band was to take old-fashioned lyrics set to psychedelic music identifiable to the Sixties generation. The long name also contributed to this, going along with long names of other (real) bands such as Big Brother and the Holding Company and Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Hendrix’s quick cover
In 1967 Jimi Hendrix played the song live at the Saville Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, which was leased by Brian Epstein, only three days after it had been released on record, with Paul and George in the audience.
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass guitar, lead guitar
- John Lennon – harmony vocal, rhythm guitar
- George Harrison – harmony vocal, lead and rhythm guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
- George Martin – organ
- Neill Sanders – French horn
- James W. Buck – French horn
- Tony Randell – French horn
- John Burden – French horn
Release dates
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
- 1967-1970 (1973)
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends / A Day In The Life (single) (1978)
- Yellow Submarine Songtrack (1999)
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition (2017) [2017 stereo mix]
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition (2017) [take 1 instrumental]
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition (2017) [take 9]
