It's Certainly A Thrill: 'Sgt. Pepper' Is Best Album (Better than the White Album?!)

usa today ^ | 11-17-03

[steppenwolffe]

To everyone's complete lack of surprise, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has been anointed the best album ever in a new Rolling Stone poll.

The Beatles' consecrated 1967 classic tops ''The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,'' a collector's issue on stands Friday. Though typically the odds-on favorite for such rankings, Sgt. Pepper wasn't a slam-dunk.

''There was a horse race,'' says Rolling Stone music editor Joe Levy. ''Early on, any number of albums in the top 10 were in the lead. The final result is no shock, but there's a reason for that. The Beatles, after all, were the most important and innovative rock group in the world. And Sgt. Pepper arguably set the tone for what an album could be.''

The Beatles have four albums in the top 10. Predictably, the list is weighted toward testosterone-fueled vintage rock. The top solo female is Joni Mitchell, whose 1971 Blue is No. 30.

The newest entry is this year's Elephant by the White Stripes, landing at No. 390. The most current disc in the top 20 is Nirvana's 1991 breakthrough, Nevermind. Recent albums by Coldplay and The Strokes also made the cut, as did all three Eminem releases and a wide range of hip-hop.

''A classic record proves itself over time,'' Levy says, ''so it's gratifying and surprising to see so many newer records on the list, considering they're competing against such beloved and titanic records as Rubber Soul and Dusty in Memphis.''

Rolling Stone asked musicians, critics, historians and key industry figures to rank their 50 favorites. The 273 participants included Beck, U2's The Edge, Jackson Browne, Art Garfunkel, Missy Elliott and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Linkin Park and The Doors. The Ernst & Young accounting firm devised a point system to weight votes for 1,600 submitted titles.

Voters were invited to identify favorites from any period or genre, allowing a smattering of country (Johnny Cash), jazz (Miles Davis) and seminal blues (Howlin' Wolf). The list also accommodates greatest hits collections and live recordings; four James Brown picks include two sets of hits and Live at the Apollo (1963). Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams, The Drifters and Loretta Lynn, who flourished during the era of 45s, are represented only by hits compilations.

''Artists whose best works were singles are not going to be well represented,'' Levy notes. For example, he adds, ''Disco is under-represented because it's a singles-driven genre.''

[republicofdavis]

"did the Parlophone Revolver have different songs, or different mixes, or what?"

It doesn't look like anybody answered your question. The British Revolver had three songs not on the US version -- And Your Bird Can Sing, Dr. Robert, and I'm Only Sleeping. These sonds were shipped to the US before the release of Revolver and included on the patchwork album Yesterday and Today. Those songs feel woefully out of place. The US version of Revolver is excellent. The British version, with those three songs, is a masterpiece.

[Skooz]

Capital Records had a habit of scouring a few songs from every album so they could package more product into another album, thus creating three albums out of two regular albums and a spare single or two.

[republicofdavis]

"Capital Records had a habit of scouring a few songs from every album so they could package more product into another album, thus creating three albums out of two regular albums and a spare single or two."

And so it was always a revelation for this American to hear the albums as they were intended. While Revolver is of course perfect in its complete state, Rubber Soul and especially the movie soundtracks were greatly improved as well.

[steppenwolffe]

I bet you the Bee Gees, aren`t even mentioned in this list.

Amen, bro! Do you know that when "Saturday Night Fever" dominated the box office, that the Bee Gees' songs weren't even nominated for an oscar? I couldn't believe it.

[Mr. Mojo]

It seems people either love Let it Be or hate it. I fall in the former camp. The between-songs chatter, the Phil Specter production, the loose feel (from the live performance), and the tension that "Sweet Loretta Modern's" constant presence e brought to the thing all combine for a perfect mix. And let's not forget the songs themselves -- some masterpieces, some underrated gems.

Let me know what you think of the new one. It's disappointing that "Dig it" and "Maggie May" are excluded. ......"Like a Rolling Stone, like the FBI, and the CIA, BBC, BB King...." ....Those numbers add character to the whole.

[steppenwolffe]

Everytime I hear the song I think about the movie "Apocalypse Now" and the scene where the dancers are performing for the troops in Nam.

And my wife thinks I just like CCR. :)

[Snuffington]

The Stones came into their own with Beggars' Banquet (1968). Their previous release (Her Satanic Majesty's Request) was an attempt to copy the feel and style of the Beatles' Sgt Pepper, but failed miserably ...and embarrassingly. But Beggars' was pure Stones, and set off a run of incredible albums that were the essence of R&R --- Let it Bleed, Get Your Ya Ya's Out, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St. They've never come close to re-capturing the magic from that ('68 - '72) era.

"Tatoo You" came close in '81. But I agree that nothing they did could really match that '68 to '72 stretch. Just amazing.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

"Pet Sounds" will always be #1 to me.

[SuziQ]

I saw Jimi Hendrix open for the Monkees.

WHOA! Talk about cultural whiplash!

[HenryLeeII]

"...and Doris Day, Matt Busby, dig it, dig it, dig it..."

Supposedly there is a good version of "Don't Let Me Down" on the new one, included here since it was the B-side of "Get Back."

[My Favorite Headache]

You are crazy..lol..Exit Stage Left is AMAZING.

[My Favorite Headache]

LMFAO...priceless

[My Favorite Headache]

Sad...but hilarious

[eddie willers]

Revolver
US Version
Released August 8, 1966
Capitol T-2576 (mono), ST-2576 (stereo)

Side A:
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby
Love You To
Here, There and Everywhere
Yellow Submarine
She Said She Said

Side B:
Good Day Sunshine
For No One
I Want To Tell You
Got To Get You Into My Life
Tomorrow Never Knows


Revolver
UK Version:
Released September 26, 1966
Parlophone PCS 7088 (stereo only)

Side A:
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby
I'm Only Sleeping
Love You To
Here, There and Everywhere
Yellow Submarine
She Said She Said

Side B:
Good Day Sunshine
And Your Bird Can Sing
For No One
Doctor Robert
I Want To Tell You
Got To Get You Into My Life
Tomorrow Never Knows

[eddie willers]

It doesn't look like anybody answered your question

I finally got around to it. (see above)

I once bought a full set, (vinyl, of course....this being long before they were released on CD) Holland pressing of all the Parlophone editions (which had recording problems...darn it!) and Revolver did exactly as you said.

Went from VERY good to mind blowing.

So glad the CDs went with the real mix.

[republicofdavis]

"So glad the CDs went with the real mix."

No question

[eddie willers]

And so it was always a revelation for this American to hear the albums as they were intended. While Revolver is of course perfect in its complete state, Rubber Soul and especially the movie soundtracks were greatly improved as well.

My jaw hit the floor when I found out "I've Just Seen A Face" DID NOT open Rubber Soul.

In fact (as I'm sure you know)....it wasn't even on Rubber Soul, but the original Help!.

Talk about cognitive dissonance!

[republicofdavis]

And how about Help and A Hard Day's Night without all the orchestral dreck? For me it changed them from fine collections of a few songs to great albums.

[eddie willers]

For me it changed them from fine collections of a few songs to great albums.

Can't argue.

In fact, once I was able to hear the true releases and grasp how strong they were, I moved The Beatles (White Album for you youngsters out there) waaay down on my list below Help!, A Hard Day's Night, Revolver and Rubber Soul.

Anyone who only remembers the Capitol releases need to get the CD versions.

(Which I hope they remaster to SACD or DVD Audio)