Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone PMC7027 mono)

 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone PMC7027 mono)

Released in the U.K - 26th May 1967

Side One Matrix Number - XEX637-1  Mother Stamper 6  Sub-Stamper 44

Side Two Matrix Number - XEX638-1  Mother Stamper 1 Sub-Stamper 490


I got this one from a record fair in Skipton. When I think about it now, it was a false economy, because the same promoter of these record fairs was doing venues all over the north of England. Perhaps I just fancied a day out? It was a Sunday, and I used to do a takeaway delivery job the previous night. If I did well, I'd go places the following day. Anyway, this copy of "Pepper" replaced a better copy that went missing, so for £20 it was a no brainer.

My first copy of this album was on an imported EMI Greece label, stories of which I will get to in time. I remember a mate in junior school had an original copy with the cut-out sheet you see below, he brought it into school. It freaked me out completely. I hadn't heard the album then, but was astonished just by the way it was presented with all these goodies. This vinyl plays very well - shame the unique coloured inner sleeve is a bit battered.



"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is my favourite Beatles album. Not because it has their best songs, far from it - a lot of stuff here is very workman-like. But the scope of ambition, production and execution is what probably makes this the greatest record ever made. Top track? The chugging-guitar majesty of "Getting Better".


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