Album re-releases p102 New-release albums p107 Headphones p119 Turntables p120

CHOICE If there’s filler onPepper , then REVIEWS perhaps Lovely Rita is the biggest culprit. Even on something as throwaway as this, the coda still provides a bizarre twist and this new mix amps up Ringo’s crashing snares. Lennon’s Good Morning Good Morning, on the face of it, is an upbeat rocker. But listen to the lyrics carefully, and it’s far more nihilistic than it at first appears. It feels heavier, too, in this incarnation and doesn’t feel beaten down by the rocky Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club (Reprise), as on previous versions. And what can be said about the epochal A Day In The Life? Well, the strings remain astonishingly avant garde and the final E chord still sounds like the end of the world. The additional CD of early takes and works in progress are as revelatory as the new stereo mix. The Beatles’ back catalogue is packed with eureka moments, of course, but the long gestation period of Pepper

RE-RELEASES proved they could graft, too. RE-RELEASES Each track from the album is offered 102 up here, in an alternative form. The 103 The Beatles Sgt Pepper… opener without crowd noise and Martin’s brass arrangement shows how much he brought to the SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND party. An instrumental of With A Little Help… provides us with the space to (ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION) enjoy Ringo’s solid drumming, and REVIEWS REVIEWS UNIVERSAL from a historical point of view, it’s fascinating to hear the very first take of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds where eatles fans will, of course, have never sounded bolder and the agile bass playing and, once again, Lennon hasn’t yet nailed the best endlessly debate which is the haul of unreleased gems is the most Ringo’s drums are noticeably amped adjective that comes most to mind George Martin’s and Geoff Emerick’s rhythm of the lyrics. McCartney’s vocal Bband’s best album. However, revealing since Anthology 2. From the up in this new mix, giving the song throughout here, it’s ‘muscular’. This fairground interludes has never been coda to Fixing A Hole actually sounds the accolade for the most important album’s opening moments presenting considerably more punch. new stereo mix thickens Fixing A more apparent. pretty funky, while She’s Leaving Home surely rests with Sgt. Pepper…. As an orchestra tuning up, The Beatles Lennon’s first major contribution, Hole with far more bottom end than Side 2 opens with George’s only and Within You Without You work well arguably the most influential long- tap into an interesting dualism. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, has we’re used to. There’s sophistication, songwriting contribution to Pepper, as instrumentals. Beatles anoraks will player of all time, its reputation as They’re at once embracing the older become a psychedelic treasure, of too, though. The Mike Leander string the mid-tempo raga of Within You thrill, of course, to a version of A Day rock’s first concept album has always order and thumbing their noses at course. Yet its pleasing counterpoint arrangement for She’s Leaving Home Without You. Along with Love You To In The Life with a hummed last note been a misnomer – the ‘fake band’ the establishment. The Sgt. Pepper… of laidback verses and stomping sounds absolutely pristine. This and The Inner Light, it continues his instead of the final version’s timeless conceit unravels after its second theme itself is the album’s rockiest chorus is often missed, among the classic 60s kitchen-sink drama finds fascination with Indian classical music triple-piano and harmonium chord. song and only makes a cursory moment. And this new version comes plaudits for its groundbreaking use of The Beatles expertly straddling the and underlines the forward-thinking Like Anthology 2, we get multiple takes reappearance on the penultimate with added thump: Ringo’s kit sounds surrealism. You’ll notice Ringo far more generation gap of disaffected youth nature of this LP at its best. For When of Strawberry Fields Forever, too. track. So much for joined-up thinking. cavernous, and the overdriven guitars once again here, as his bass drums and disappointed parenthood. Sheila I’m Sixty-Four, McCartney is seemingly Sgt Pepper… is where pop got Like Revolver from 1966, the are seriously punchy. boom before each chorus. Producers Bromberg’s harp intro is wonderfully occupying the same headspace as serious – and this is a seriously good diversity of musical styles and tone Giles Martin and Sam Okell have nuanced and Leander’s occasional use when he soundtracked TV drama representation of that landmark feat. – from Lennon’s acerbic bitterness SHINING STARR also pimped the guitars on Getting of Indian motifs within a Western string The Family Way the previous winter. Steve Harnell and psychedelic imagination to Ringo’s appearance as Billy Shears Better, giving the intro a fresh, metallic arrangement is absolutely inspired. Macca detractors seize upon moments McCartney’s whimsy and Harrison’s on With A Little Help From My sound. A perfect blend of Macca and like this – Lennon, of course, termed mysticism – is really what should lie Friends finds him at the edge of his Lennon’s yin and yang. FAIR PLAY it “granny music” – but the lightness at the heart of Pepper…’s long-term limited vocal range, for an anthem of For those who baulk at McCartney’s Those attracted by Pepper’s studio of touch works well when set against appeal. It’s also George Martin’s finest collective unity that’s a neat summation whimsical side, which asserts itself innovations will no doubt gravitate to John’s cynicism and George’s achievement as a producer. of the hopes of the emerging counter- on a handful of tracks at Pepper’s the swirling cut-and-paste psychedelia didacticism. McCartney’s bassline VERDICT So, what’s the headline news from culture community itself. It’s a striking core, then this mix will alleviate of Being For The Benefit Of Mr. is the star of the show, alongside a this new reissue? Well, Ringo’s drums showcase for McCartney’s supremely some of those grumbles. If there’s an Kite!, and the hallucinatory nature of cheeky Martin brass arrangement. 10/10