The classic original Beatles studio albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the Beatles catalogue has seen since its original release.

Within each CD's new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. The newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere.

Beatles Photos

The Beatles Merchandise

The Beatles Rock Band

More from The Beatles

The Beatles Mono Box Set [LIMITED EDITION]

The Beatles Stereo Box Set

The Beatles [USB] [LIMITED EDITION]

BEATLES THE SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (ED

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During a recent TV special, it wa said that, during the time the Beatles were in the studio making "Sgt. Pepper...", there was a lot of doubt about what they would come out with and many fans were giving up on them. As someone who was around at the time, I certainly don't remember much of that. Of course, the Beatles always had a few doubters and detractors, but most of us were looking forward to their next record. Stories of how much time and effort were going into it only fueled our anticipation. It was like the release of the fourth Harry Potter book when "Sgt. Pepper..." finally came out. Some stores opened early and huge numbers were sold the first day of it's release. I bought a copy that day like many others. Nor was I disappointed. Since then, I have spent many hours listening to "Sgt. Pepper..." and I expect I'll spend many more.

To appreciate the significance of "Sgt. Pepper..." you have to understand the pivotal place of the Beatles in the culture of the time. Quite simply, they changed everything. Before the Beatles, the primary medium of pop/rock music was the 45 rpm single. The Beatles released a flood of good quality songs, many original, so that "albums" became more than just a couple of hit singles packaged with a bunch of throwaway tracks. All of the tracks were good and people began to buy albums because it was the best way to get all the music. "Sgt. Pepper..." took this a step further by making the album a more unified whole. It elevated pop/rock music to the level of art, implying an expressiveness and timelessness beyond anything rock had previously aspired to. But the impact of the Beatles went far beyond music. It entered into fashion, modes of behavior, and popular attitudes in a variety of areas. We were even fed a constant stream of news reports about what the Beatles were doing from day to day or week to week. London became, for a time, THE cultural center of the world.

"Sgt. Pepper..." itself has a timeless quality. Songs such as With A Little Help From My Friends, Getting Better, Within You Without You, When I'm Sixty-four and others have themes that people can relate to just as well today as when they were first released. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and A Day In The Life, while perhaps mored dated lyrically, are among the most interesting pieces in other respects.

For those of us who were around and listening when "Sgt. Pepper..." came out, it is more than just a record or CD. It marks the peak of a time of incredible energy and change. The decline and dissolution of the Beatles is something many of us still feel in a very personal way. Even today, we mourn the end of the Beatles and the death of John Lennon. Those events represent the passing and final end of something we treasured.

"Sgt. Pepper..." is a great record by a great band. Even more, it is a central landmark of its period and of its genre. If you think you like rock music, but you don't have a copy of "Sgt. Pepper...", sorry but you've missed it. Get a copy. You can't really appreciate the Beatles without it. Definitely a favorite of mine, and I expect it will be a favorite of yours, too.

152 of 183 found the following review helpful:

The greatest album since the big bangSep 01, 2006
By J. V. Lewis
I feel like a monumental jackass reviewing this album: should I review the Q'uran and Coka Cola Classic next? Is there any more fundamentally unassailable album in the history of music? Is anything more impervious to criticism?

I just feel like recording the joy [I am not exagerating] I'm feeling right now as my 11-year-old daughter is discovering this album. She is spurning Christina Aguilera and I don't know what other one-dimensional rot for the complex, multi-layered, polyphonic wonders of the peak album of the most musical foursome of all time. This feels like a great victory for me. Parenthood hath its rewards.

Just had to type that out.

79 of 94 found the following review helpful:

A Magical World Never Bettered: V 2.0Jan 14, 2000
By Mike London "MAC"
[I originally wrote a seperate review, called "A magical world that has never better", posted August 23, 1998, on Amazon.com. Because it is marked as a private review it is not listed under my profile. As this is the original review, of which the second one from 2000 is modelled after (hence the 2.0 in the review title), I thought I would include it here.

Mike London, October 18, 2007]
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Review I.
"A magical world that has never been bettered" August 23, 1998

This whole album is a masterpiece. Nothing has been done before or since that can equal this one. Of course its been said a zillion times, but its really true. I bought it in Christmas last year (1997), and as I listened to it, it got better and better. For me, The Beatles (at first) took some time getting used too. Then they got stronger and stronger. On this record, they do almost the impossible. They create an entire magical fantasy. Its delishisouly (spelling?) sweet. The First Concept Album was indeed the finest. Everything works well with the concept. The album sleeve works better with the music than any I have seen. They help endear us to this wonderful world The Beatles are taking us too. At first I thought it was a bunch of hype, and the reason I bought it was because I was rapidly sinking (regressing, some of the younger people I know say) into the older music. I wanted Sgt Pepper cause everyone talked about it and had never heard it. This record will never be equalled, I fear. I wish it would, because I would love to do some more exploring. They took us on a Magical Mystery Tour on this one. Ironic, they did exactly that on this record, and though it was a concept album I don't think it was their intention, and then they made a concept movie with this in mind, and they didn't do that well (for The Beatles). If you want a record like no other, go out and buy this right now.

Another great record that came out the same year is The Doors (debut). If it weren't for this, that would easily be the best for that year. But Sgt Pepper has surpassed all others. The Beatles never were able to do it again. They did get it in isolated moments, but never for the whole record like on this. No one else has ever come close. This deserves all the acclaim it gets.

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Review II
"A Magical World Never Bettered: V 2.0" January 14, 2000

This whole album is a masterpiece. Nothing has been done before or since that can equal this one. Of course its been said a zillion times, but its really true. I bought it in Christmas back a few years ago (1997), and as I listened to it, it got better and better. For me, The Beatles (at first) took some time getting used too. Then they got stronger and stronger. On this record, they do almost the impossible. They create an entire magical fantasy. Its delishisouly (spelling?) sweet. The First Concept Album was indeed the finest. Everything works well with the concept. The album sleeve works better with the music than any I have seen. They help endear us to this wonderful world The Beatles are taking us too. At first I thought it was a bunch of hype, and the reason I bought it was because I was rapidly sinking (regressing, some of the younger people I know say) into the older music. I wanted Sgt Pepper cause everyone talked about it and had never heard it. This record will never be equalled, I fear. I wish it would, because I would love to do some more exploring. They took us on a Magical Mystery Tour on this one. Ironic, they did exactly that on this record, and though it was a concept album I don't think it was their intention, and then they made a concept movie with this in mind, and they didn't do that well (for The Beatles). If you want a record like no other, go out and buy this right now. Another great record that came out the same year is The Doors (debut). If it weren't for this, that would easily be the best for that year. But Sgt Pepper has surpassed all others. The Beatles never were able to do it again. They did get it in isolated moments, but never for the whole record like on this. No one else has ever come close. This deserves all the acclaim it gets.

As far as personal favorites go, however, I still enjoy the White Album the most. Rubber Soul and Revolver are good also (Rubber Soul is better than Revolver, tho' Revolver is more of a break thru). YOu could see the dircetion they were going with a few of the songs off Help! Some of that material is on level with Rubber Soul. Abbey Road, which I didn't care much for now, I really enjoy now. Sgt Pepper, however, is the cultural milestone to end all cultural milestones.

15 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Remastered ReviewSep 11, 2009
By Movie Fan
I've always been a casual Beatles fan, but over the past 5 years, they've truly become one of my all-time favorite
bands. So when the remastered catalog was announced to arrive on 9/9/09, I decided to buy them all!
The first one I want to review is my favorite Beatles album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Before I get to the sound quality, I want to address the packaging. The packaging is near perfection. I have
a friend that proudly owns all the original vinyl releases and these packages reproduce all the great album
art, along with new photos and expanded liner notes. The insert booklets are printed on heavy stock, uv coated
paper that are top-shelf! The digi paks are also printed on heavy stock uv coated paper. Unfortunately, where
they fall short is that instead of using a plastic clear tray to place the disc in, they slide into paper sleeves.
I know everyone wants to go green, and ditch using plastic, but every time you remove the disc from the sleeve,
you risk scratching the disc. This is my only complaint with all the remasters. I've solved the problem by storing
each disc in a separate paper CD-R sleeve to preserve the disc. Use the paper sleeve insert at your own risk!

Now, for the sound quality. Some folks will love it, some will be indifferent and some will hate it, but I love
the new sound of the recordings. I don't have much to compare them too, because I only owned
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour (1990)
and Let It Be (1990), but to me they sound brighter and more vibrant than before.
The biggest change is that the recordings are noticeably louder than previous releases. And, to me, they
sound like they were recorded today, with still retaining their vintage 1960s sound, if that makes sense.
I've picked up on little things and sounds that I never noticed before. The cleaner sound also reveals more
of the live feel that these recordings had - as compared to the computer driven quest for perfection that
all of today's music sound likes. You'll hear the sounds of fingers making chord changes, the little sounds
that a live drummer will make, etc.. The music, to me sounds more alive and vibrant than it ever has. Bottom line:
the recordings retain their vintage sound, but have been polished using 21st century digital audio technology.
Guy Massey & Steve Rooke did an excellent job of preserving the integrity of the original 4 track recording of
Sgt. Pepper. On Sgt. Pepper, I thought "A Day in the Life" really benefitted from the remastering process. That
song sounded completely new to me thanks to the clearer sound. I'm hearing all kinds of little details in that song
I've never heard before!

Overall, if your a vinyl purist (nothing wrong with that) or someone that frowns down on remasters, than chances
are, the remasters are not for you, but for a new generation of listeners that are discovering the Beatles for the
first time (thanks to these remasters & The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle)
this is an excellent starting point for what many regard as the world's greatest band. And for my money, there's no better
album to start your Beatles education with than Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

18 of 19 found the following review helpful:

One Of My Favorite Albums EVER! :-)Apr 07, 2002
By Trish
This was one of the first Beatle albums I ever owned. And I think it's gotta be one of my absolute favorites out of all my collection. It's trippy, it's joyful, it's a PERFECT reflection of the era in which it was written! And it doesn't get much better than that infamous chord at the end of "A Day In The Life"! Truly one for the books! :-)

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