Would "Sgt. Pepper's" be a better album if.....

....."Within You Without You" was dropped from the LP and Side 2 began with either "Penny Lane" or "Strawberry Fields"? If so, which of these would best kick off the second side?

dodgealum07-24-2017 1:36pm

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bdp24 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,520 posts 07-25-2017 at 08:27am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Amen roxy, about both the imo somewhat over-rated SP, and Squeeze. Squeeze are becoming almost forgotten, but they were one of the very best of their time (late 70’s into the 80’s), if your taste includes "Pop" (a dirty word to some, especially Grateful Dead-loving hippies). Great albums, good live too. Another great Pop group is The Rubinoos, whose guitarist Tommy Dunbar is absolutely fantastic.
roxy54 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 7,814 posts 07-25-2017 at 03:11am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete avsjerry is right...the album exists as it is. The only thing that I think would make it a better album is if it was a better album. Whenever I hear awe and reverence regarding this album, I have to think of a British songwriting duo that I consider superior; Glen Tillbrook and Cris Difford of Squeeze. I'll put Sweets Fom a Stranger or East Side Story against Sgt . Peppers any day. No, music isn't a contest. I'm just referring to talent, musicianship and just plain old entertaining excellence. I think that way too much has been made of Sgt. Peppers.
gpgr4blu Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,079 posts 07-25-2017 at 02:37am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete No. Within You and Without You is a great song and is perfect where it is. Eastern mysticism in an album full of western psychedelia. Exotic followed immediately by cheeky traditional British music hall.
Post removed Jul 25, 2017
ghosthouse Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,296 posts 07-25-2017 at 01:57am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete asvjerry - since you felt compelled to share your opinion of RR as humorist, "nattering nabobs of negativism" was a memorable phrase uttered by VP Spiro Agnew - an even funnier guy.
stevecham Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,340 posts 07-25-2017 at 01:24am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete You guys...
asvjerry Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,385 posts 07-24-2017 at 11:45pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete At the risk of being a nattering nabob of negativity (the only thing RR said that I thought was funny), I find Elton John's cover of 'Lucy' more interesting as a listen. And "With a Little Help..." was covered in the movie 'The Lathe of Heaven' so much better and in a fashion that the song only hints at....moving, instead of being a vague sex/drugs/r'n r reference.... BTW...the album exists as it is. If you want to re-arrange it, have at it. It's your playlist, after all....
tostadosunidos Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,197 posts 07-24-2017 at 11:40pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete and the Mona Lisa would look so much better if she were sporting Ray-Bans.
shadorne Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 7,467 posts 07-24-2017 at 11:08pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Yeah for sure... me, Paul and Ringo were chatting about this very topic last week and we are all agreed ;-)
geoffkait Details Discussions Posts This discussion 23,365 posts 07-24-2017 at 07:43pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Great cover photo. The amazing thing is the Stones came out with their 3D cover only 3 months later. Pretty fast work.
bdp24 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,520 posts 07-24-2017 at 06:45pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete While you're at it, cut "With A Little help From My Friends" (a dreadful song, with a dreadful Ringo vocal), "When I'm Sixty-Four" (McCartney at his worst), and perhaps even "Lovely Rita" (a mediocre song at best). Both "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" belong on the album, and would greatly improve it. No "Blue Jay Way" though, please. It barely qualifies as a "song", though it IS less bad than "Within You Without You". Almost nothing isn't!
ghosthouse Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,296 posts 07-24-2017 at 05:24pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete dodgealum - I don't want to get embroiled in a "better album" debate :-) though I sort of get where you are going with this. Of your two options, I guess I’d choose Penny Lane given Lennon’s Lucy in the Sky and Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite are already on there. Somehow, to me, Strawberry Fields has a similar feel to both of those (I expect we’ll hear from persons otherwise opinionated). BUT to meet "contractual obligations" to Mr. Harrison, maybe Blue Jay Way would be a good choice??? That (again to me) has a similar feel to Within/Without and avoids a McCartney trifecta on the first 3 tracks of Side 2. But I ain't sayin' dropping WY/WY to include ANY of those 3 would make it a better album!

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