Sgt. Pepper at Fifty: The Mood, the Look, the Sound, the Legacy of the Beatles' Great Masterpiece

While there'll be several books about this classic album to mark its 50th anniversary, to my mind, Derek Taylor's "It Was Twenty Years Ago Today" from 1987 remains the benchmark -- far enough away from 1967 to gain some perspective, but not so far away that remembered experience wasn't still fresh. So, how does this book fare, according to that standard?Actually, it fares quite well! First of all, by dividing itself into 4 specific sections, with each one devoted to one specific aspect. These sections are:1 - The Mood. In many ways, this is the most crucial part, because Sgt. Pepper is best understood & appreciated in the context of its time, as the full expression & embodiment of that time's most glowing hopes & dreams. Yet even then it wasn't mere escapism, as young people grappled with questions of meaning, identity, peace, love & hate to an fervent degree. Mike McInnerney, who was a young man & participating artist at the time, gives us a good overview of the cultural zeitgeist, beginning with 1966, not only in music but in underground poetry, art movements, fashion, and new modes of psychology, sociology, and politics. And drugs. Of course, and drugs -- but as they were seen then, as cleansing the doors of perception a la Blake & Huxley, opening the mind & soul to a greater reality of unrealized possibilities & potential. Which was certainly naïve, but in a mostly positive way, as I recall from my own youth then. (But then I was lucky enough to get mostly the good aspects of the 1960s, and very few of the bad.)2 - The Look. Here we get a thorough overview of the album art & the artistic currents that fed into its creation. While fans will know most of this, it's well-told & offers some facts that were new to me, as they may be for others. The quotes from Jann Haworth especially stand out for me.3 - The Sound. Again, this is material that fans will know down to the minutest detail, I'm sure. But it's still an excellent primer about the evolution of each song, and the then-startlingly new techniques that were used to shape them. And it certainly makes me want to go back & listen to the album all the way through with fresh ears.4 - The Legacy. This part does seem a little short to me, although it does a good basic job of covering the ups & downs of critical opinion about the album over the following decades, as well as its ongoing influence. One of the negative descriptions that occurs many times is that Sgt. Pepper is too much of its brief moment & thus dated. Well, yes, it is ... but to me, given the bleaker state of the world these days, it's an important reminder that people have aspired to far more than we seem capable of imagining now. Its "dated" aspect is in fact part of its lasting charm. I'd have liked to have seen this idea developed a bit more thoroughly ... but maybe that's an entire other book in itself?In addition, there are small 2- or 3-page sidebars on red backgrounds, each one focusing on a single specific event or individual ... the man who painted Paul's piano, for instance, with his recollections of that time; or recounting of fabled events (poetry readings, happenings). All of these add dimension to the day-glo tapestry, as do the vivid photographs & reproduced posters.So, is this merely glorified nostalgia for members of my now-greying generation? I'll happily admit to it being partly that ... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. As far as Formative Moments Of Your Youth go, one could do much worse! For me, at least, this opens up the windows of memory & lets the golden past come flooding in for awhile. Time does teach us that life is more complex & compromised as we get older; but as David Lindsay once wrote, "It makes all the difference whether one sees darkness through the light, or brightness through the shadows." No, life can't be Sgt. Pepper every day ... but I'm glad Sgt. Pepper was there when I was young.And for younger listeners, not even born until 2 or 3 decades afterward? I think this is a good, solid introduction to that particular cultural touchstone, one that perhaps didn't have a lot of answers, but offered a great deal of hope ... and imagination ... and fun! From my admittedly biased perspective, most highly (ahem) recommended!

Bought this as a gift for my husband, who used to be a musician and loves all things Beatles... This book was on his Amazon wish list, so I knew he wanted it - luckily, he never checks his wish list, so he didn't see that it was purchased, so it was a complete and happy surprise!

Great item, very good price, nicely put together, spinning is the best part, but should let you know, for best sound you should have a good system with a very good turntable not a portable or etc. I use a Music Hall 7 with a Grado, my amps or tube, this is for the best sound. But play it anyway even if you don't have the big rig.

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Great fun to relive this great music and those incredible 60s.

Purchased along with the 50th Anniversary re-release of the album as a birthday present to myself. I must say, I have great taste!! Great book for any Beatles Fan!

My sisters and I each bough my dad an item celebrating the 50th of the Sgt Pepper album, and he literally could not stop smiling.

Fantastic book. The photography is great. This is something you will go back to time and time again.

If you think you know everything about the Beatles, think again. Written by the people that were there at the time and packed full of great information not available anywhere else.

Bought for a present - the recipient loved it

interesting back grounds and notes

Very informative, really enjoyed it a good companion to the anniversary cd boxed set

If you like SPs you'll love this