Post by yerblues1968 on Jun 15, 2008 2:32:08 GMT -5
THE SOUTH BANK SHOW - THE MAKING OF SGT. PEPPER
Air Date: June 14, 1992
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album by The Beatles, which was released on June 1, 1967, The South Bank Show made a documentary on the making of the album. George Martin, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were interviewed.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the Beatles. Recorded over a 129-day period beginning on December 6, 1966, the album was released on June 1, 1967 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States. It was ranked the greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone in 2003.
When Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was being recorded, "Beatlemania" was waning. The Beatles had grown tired of touring and had quit the road in August 1966. After one particular concert, while being driven away in the back of a small van, the four of them—even Paul McCartney, who was perhaps the most in favour of continuing to tour—decided that enough was enough. From that point on the Beatles became an entirely studio-based band. For the first time in their careers, the band had more than ample time with which to prepare their next record. As EMI's premier act and Britain's most successful pop group they had almost unlimited access to the state of the art technology of Abbey Road Studios. All four band members had already developed a preference for long late night sessions, although they were still extremely efficient and highly disciplined in their studio habits.
The chart performance of the album was even stronger than critical reception. In the UK it debuted at No. 8 before the album was even released and the next week peaked at No. 1 where it stayed for 23 consecutive weeks. Then it was knocked off the top for The Sound of Music on the week ending November 18, 1967. Eventually it spent more weeks at the top, including the competitive Christmas week. When the CD edition was released on June 1, 1987, it made No. 3. In June 1992, the CD was re-promoted to commemorate its 25th Anniversary, and charted at No. 6. In 2007, commemorating 40 years of its release, Sgt. Pepper again re-entered the charts at No. 47 in the UK. In all, the album spent a total of 198 weeks on the UK charts.
The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, the first rock album to do so, and Best Contemporary Album in 1968. U.S. sales for the album totaled 11 million units, with 30 million worldwide.
It is arguable that Sgt. Pepper was the last Beatles album where the band were consistently working together as a group rather than as separate members, and without any fear of conflict or ego domination. Much of this was due to Brian Epstein and his ability to resolve any petty differences between them. When he died a couple of months after the album was released, the band began the slow path towards breaking up, having no one to guide them and give them something to do. It is notably the last time where the band are unified in their look, all having long hair, moustaches and day-glo suits. After this, their individual appearances varied widely. McCartney appeared to take up the leadership role, something which the other Beatles saw as controlling.
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 1. (8:22 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=NRr37NxL5qc
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 2. (8:20 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=pgnTLMMn0XM
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 3. (8:22 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=koNFCcP9wp0
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 4. (8:24 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=x5D-w0ya2rE
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 5. (8:21 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=3askZErSNRw
The South Bank Show 1992 documentary on The Making of Sgt. Pepper - Part 6. (8:21 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=7N5W6E_snNg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt_Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band