to think that Sergeant Pepper by the Beatles is fab and not M&S music

[FunnysInLaJardin]

as my DH thinks. He says it is bland nonsense and I think tis a classic. Who IBU?

[DarthPlagueis]

"Do only old people shop in Marks and Spencer? It's a ridiculous comment."

Not really, the M and S regular customer base is older than than average and to make the link between the people who were teens and 20s in 68 and this is not "ridiculous". You might find its why the record was on there in the first place.

[AnaVanda]

Sergeant Pepper is totally brilliant. Especially 'A day in the life'

[BestIsWestofBedfordFalls]

I love the Beatles though I prefer Revolver and The White Album. My kids love them too. I get that not everyone does but there's loads of stuff I can't stand either.

Brian Wilson was a genius.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Why is it ageist to point out that lots of people who bought the album will be shopping in Marks these days?

Do only old people shop in Marks and Spencer? It's a ridiculous comment.

[DarthPlagueis]

Why is it ageist to point out that lots of people who bought the album will be shopping in Marks these days?

It is one of the most influential albums of all time, and credited with starting the concept album era. In terms of the way it was recorded and the techniques used and innovated on it, it is still one of the most influential albums of all time.

It regularly appears on both critic lists, and voted for by the public lists of greatest albums. Persnally I think revolver and the first record of the White Album are better but hey, each to their own.

You are wrong about its influence though.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I'm not sure I could be friends with someone who doesn't like the Beatles

I'm not sure I could be friends with someone incapable of understanding people have different tastes.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Well if you think about the age of the people who originally bought Sgt Pepper, most of them probably do their shopping in Marks now!

More ageism. I was 7 when it was released. I think it is vastly overrated. I've been doing my food shopping in Marks and Spencer since I was 25.

It is not the most influential album of all time.

[DarthPlagueis]

Well if you think about the age of the people who originally bought Sgt Pepper, most of them probably do their shopping in Marks now!

I thoroughly disagree with those who think they were overrated. This album for one has had a massive effect on the music that came after it and is one of the most influential albums of all time. A day in the life is a particular favourite along with She's leaving home, but as a piece of music as a whole, played from one end to the other I think this is great.

[hackmum]

Revolver is my favourite but Sergeant Pepper is still a great record.

I'm not sure I could be friends with someone who doesn't like the Beatles.

[JacquesHammer]

IMO I don't think there's ever been a band more overrated than The Beatles

[DimsieMaitland]

The Beatles weren't manufactured. 3 of them met as teens, through school/mutual friends. Ringo was invited to join them later.

I love them.

[Floisme]

I agree with you both. It probably is a classic but I don't particularly like it - never did.

I never thought Fawlty Towers was funny either.

[Tanith]

That I don't agree with. It stands the test of time very well and their songs are still covered by many performers.

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

They were originally manufactured, the same way as the boy bands. None of their music stands the test of time

[Tanith]

I suppose I should give some credit for their writing With a Little Help from My Friends^ although the real genius there is Joe Cocker and his producer who reset the time signature and added Jimmy Page's searing guitar intro.*

I agree, and the two versions, side by side, illustrate the blandness of the Beatles very well.
Another example is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". I have a beautiful classical guitar duet of this one that was used in many of the obituaries for George Harrison in preference to his own version.

They wrote great songs that were often better covered by other people.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Sorry to be clear, I meant the Joe Cocker cover of With a little help from my Friends

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

It is one of many great albums that should (arguably) (perhaps) be introduced or reintroduced to today's audience by being played in supermarkets

I hate Sgt.Pepper so much I think I'd leave a shop if it were being played. She's Leaving Home is bearable as is Lucy in the Sky (although much prefer Elton John version)

I suppose I should give some credit for their writing *With a Little Help from My Friends^ although the real genius there is Joe Cocker and his producer who reset the time signature and added Jimmy Page's searing guitar intro.

[SnatchedPencil]

The Beatles as a whole were (and are) massively overrated. Sergeant Pepper is good but not the outstanding example of musical perfection some people seem to think it is.

The Beatles had some classic songs, Yer Blues or Helter Skelter for example, but they put out some serious crap too (pretty much all of their most-played songs to be honest).

I'm not saying they were rubbish and I own half a dozen of their albums, but they are HUGELY overrated. They were probably the fourth best British band of the era after the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Kinks. That makes them pretty good, I just don't think they are "the best". A bit like Elvis: no doubt he was talented, but the best of all time? Don't make me laugh!

But yes, I'm not entirely surprised that it's the sort of thing that they play in M&S - the person in charge of the music probably thinks that they are being pretty daring by playing it...

[morningtoncrescent62]

Your DH is plain wrong. However, YABU if you think Sergeant Pepper is more deserving of classic status than Revolver or the White Album.

[MaudOnceMore]

It is one of many great albums that should (arguably) (perhaps) be introduced or reintroduced to today's audience by being played in supermarkets. Much as I love Phil Spector's Christmas album it would be good to have some variety.

[albertcampionscat]

Yabu. Worst Beatles record.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

So far as being ahead of its time Rolling Stone magazine had this to say about it. "Them" being The Beach Boys.

The Beatles made a point of echoing them on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – an acknowledgment that Pet Sounds was the inspiration for the Beatles' masterpiece

I don't buy into this idea that there was nothing experimental in contemporary popular music before The Beatles made Sgt Pepper.

Would also point out that The Beach Boys sonic experiments were made by Brian Wilson - an actual member of the Beach Boys and a top notch producer unlike The Beatles who relied on George Martin.

There is nothing on Sgt Pepper which comes close to God Only Knows or Good Vibrations (not on Pet Sounds but released in 1966 before Sgt.Pepper)

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

Plus anyone who uses 'tis' in a post is automatically wrong

[LiviaDrusillaAugusta]

Even my parents who loved the Beatles in their day agree now that they are bland shite!

[liebstraumNo3]

Can't bear the Beatles. Load of old dirge. Some of their better songs survive through remakes.