Let’s get one thing clear before we go any further: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the best albums ever recorded. It was a defining piece of work in an era where the Beatles redefined the music industry in so many ways, and the occasion of its 50th birthday is a prime opportunity to ram those rose-tinted glasses onto our faces so hard that we’ll be seeing sepia for the next month.
Okay, just had to get that off my chest before I exploded.
In all seriousness, it is the 50th anniversary of the release of arguably the Beatles’ most popular and influential album. It is regularly regarded as the best work of the Beatles. with Rolling Stone crowning it the greatest album of all time in 2009. In a career where the band took music to places it had never been before, the album was definitely the most ground-breaking.
The eclectic mix of styles that the album contained, from the psychedelic fantasia of ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ to distinctly Indian and other Eastern influences to be found in ‘Within You Without You’, the album was one of the most diverse that we have ever seen, or would necessarily be likely to see. Some artists are lucky to cover that broad a range in their career, let alone one album.
Plus, the whole Sgt. Pepper image, with the album colour and performance setup bursting with colour, made the whole thing seem so much more uplifting and exciting.
What is more, with this momentous occasion comes a prime opportunity to look back at some of the other albums that have stuck as firmly in our collective memories along the road through musical history.
Get ready for the musical ride of your life and, possibly for some, a much-needed education.
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)
Widely regarded as one of the best albums ever recorded, and given even greater prominence as a result of the web of relationship drama that accompanied it, Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh studio album holds pride of place in the memories of many a music aficionado.
Balancing heartfelt ballads like ‘Songbird’ against the relentless optimism and drive of ‘Second Hand News’ and ‘Go Your Own Way’ leaves us with a collection that ticks all the boxes for a modern classic, and comes as no surprise that it still remains in the top 10 best-selling albums of all time.
Some of the songs hold a modern relevance in pop culture as well. ‘The Chain’ was featured on the soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 recently and ‘Don’t Stop’ has a staple of drunk weddings and family parties for donkey’s years.
Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)
Sometimes albums are remembered not necessarily for the music itself, but the mood that it captures, and that is definitely the case with Nirvana’s timeless classic. An album that perfectly encapsulated the pain of teenage angst in an irrational world, and it stands as a monument to the defiance of youth.
Given a romantic significance in hindsight after the death of Kurt Cobain, Nevermind was a major player in the rise to fame of the Seattle grunge movement and redefined the grunge and alternative rock genres in a time when music was going through a transition. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ is one of the iconic songs of the 1990s and perhaps the last three or four decades, and other songs like ‘In Bloom’ and ‘Lithium’ also stand as shining examples of the positive development of rock music, tinged with the sad reminder of what might have been.
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
In many ways it is best remembered in popular culture for its scary link-up with The Wizard of Oz. For those of you who don’t know for whatever reason, it’s an urban legend that if you listen to this album while watching the Wizard of Oz, they sync up perfectly. If you’ve got yourself an afternoon, give it a go – it’s worth your time.
But putting that to one side, it is easy to forget what a brilliant album The Dark Side of the Moon is in its own right. Its iconic album cover is still instantly recognisable, and it is seen as a modern classic from one of the best bands of all time.
‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ is probably the biggest draw on the album, but the slightly haunting minimalism of ‘Breathe’ also sticks with me.
Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge over Troubled Water (1970)
It would be almost unfair not to mention one of the most universally loved musical acts in this, and Simon and Garfunkel certainly stick in most people’s memories for the raft of hits they produced.
Their towering achievement, however, came ironically when they were on the verge of parting ways, with what turned out to be their final studio album. Bridge Over Troubled Water showcases the best of the magnificently talented duo, with the title song paying tribute to the vocal power of Art Garfunkel, ‘Cecilia’ acting as a beautiful bout of levity amongst the ballads and, well, ‘The Boxer’ speaks for itself as one of the finest songs of its era.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
I felt it important to not restrict this throwback exclusively to the mid-20th century, and it is important that even albums recorded closer to the present day have an equally strong claim to the title of prestigious. Eminem is one of the most prominent artists of the 21st century, and his journey to the top was kickstarted at the turn of the millennium, with his breakout album The Slim Shady LP being followed up with The Marshall Mathers LP.
However, it is the second of those records that earns its place in history. From becoming the fastest-selling US album of all time by shifting 1.78 million copies in its first week to being repeatedly awarded the title of highest-ranked rap album on best album lists, this record stands as a tribute to Eminem and his talent as a lyricist.
‘Stan’ and ‘The Way I Am’ made headlines on the album’s initial release, but it is ‘The Real Slim Shady’ that really stands out on this record.
David Bowie – Hunky Dory (1971)
Anyone with a soul shed a tear last year when the man, the myth, the legend David Bowie left us. A true visionary and a musical genius, he was an artist who took the idea of music extending beyond audio and creating personas to turn his albums into larger artistic movements.
The crowning glory of his crusade was of course Ziggy Stardust, born out of the creation of the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. But in musical terms, it is his effort of the year before, Hunky Dory, that really serves as a reminder of the genius he was capable of.
‘Life on Mars?’ still stands today as one of Bowie’s ultimate masterpieces, and other tracks like ‘Changes’ and ‘Song for Bob Dylan’ have stood the test of time almost as well and have a special place in popular culture now.
Plus, if you want an extra laugh, check out Flight of the Conchords‘ tribute to David Bowie from 2007. It’s pretty special stuff.
