Brain Reflects On 50 Years of Sgt. Pepper

Yes, I realize that The Beatles aren't a country band. But some things in music are worth celebrating no matter what format you work in. 50 years ago today, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. It is often hailed as one of the best albums of all time. I'm not sure if I agree that it's number one, but it certainly is one of the most important albums ever made. It is one of the first examples of an album being a work of art.

One of the best parts of collecting vinyl records is discovering great albums from the past. I own an original 1967 pressing of Sgt. Pepper. To me, it's a piece of music history. I wouldn't rank it as my all time favorite album, but I remember playing it after I got it and saying to myself, "OK...this is a really special album." From the opening of Sgt. Pepper to the ending of A Day In The Life, it all works together. I can't type down into words why it all works. You just have to listen. That is the mark of a great album.

You can argue that Sgt. Pepper isn't even The Beatle's best album. Many will claim that title belongs to Revolver or Abbey Road, my personal favorite. But none of those would exist without Sgt. Pepper first. To be fair, Sgt. Pepper wouldn't exist without Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, but that's an argument for another day.

If you're looking to catch a special honoring Sgt. Pepper you can catch a great one on PBS this weekend.