The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Mike's Mix) (1967)

Time for another of Mike's remixes of a classic Beatles' album, and for this one he's gone straight to arguably the best of them all.

I’m hoping that this week’s in-depth look at 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' will allow you to appreciate the greatest band in the world… in a whole new way. 

Here’s my track by track analysis of what’s Included: 
01 Strawberry Fields Forever - I thought that instead of just remixing the album I’d include the prequel to it. Here is take one of SFF. To start us off I thought I would re-edit the beginning of the song as a tribute to another great band and one of my favorite songs by them. It’s subtle but I tried to edit the beginning to (vaguely lol…) sound like the beginning few seconds of 'And You And I' by Yes. I always loved the way that song starts as just tuning and noodling around on the guitar…but suddenly turned into this amazing song. Here I let the keyboards do the same thing. True, I didn’t use the original single version of the song… but I always liked the gentleness of the first take, so I chose that one to start us off. A lovely ballad version focusing on John’s vocals and soon to be discarded backing vocals. I took a small liberty by fading out and echoing the last repeats of the word “forever”.
02 Penny Lane - The other side of the single. I brought up the backing orchestra and lost most of the band for this one. Except of course for Paul’s vocals, bass and the fun often buried harmony vocals. Since we aren’t into the actual album yet…I took the liberty to add some interesting vocal attempts that went on during the recording sessions but later went unused. 
03 Sgt. Pepper - The official beginning of possibly one of the greatest musical and cultural touchstones ever created. So many unique, unusual sounds were invented during the recording of this album. Experimentation and Innovation were at play during every moment of the recording, which makes this one of the most fun albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to rip apart and put back together. So much to discover and so much to uncover…just for you! Let’s begin with the stabbing, hard rocking guitar parts followed immediately by classical french horns. What an astounding and unexpected way to begin the album. This followed by the lads trademark three-part harmonies and then Paul’s super gritty lead vocals… and we’re off to a great start! 
04 With A Little Help From My Friends - RINGOOOOO! The focus is on three things here. Ringo’s stellar lead vocals, the incredible backup help from his “friends” and Paul’s catchy bass work. I stripped off everybody else at the very end to just focus on the note that had Ringo scared SHITLESS! He was so worried he wouldn’t be able to hit and hold the note. John, Paul and George had to all stand around the microphone with him and silently encouraged him during the recording of his lead parts. Wish I had a picture of that!! 
05 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - I bring in isolated instruments and vocals throughout on this one so you can really focus on all the cool stuff going on during this one. 
06 Getting Better - Paul’s fun bass work is core here, as it is throughout the entire album. I also tried to bring out some of the hidden harmonies from the guys at various parts during the entire song. I love the little bongo part at the end. 
07 Fixing A Hole - Paul’s vocals and bass are once again brought forward. The cool guitar solo is followed by some more awesome three-part harmonies. 
08 She’s Leaving Home - Such a gorgeous arrangement by Mike Leander who Paul brought in when George Martin, their main producer for many years, had a conflicting recording event scheduled. Paul was very impatient and decided not to wait for George to do the arrangement, and brought in Mike to do the orchestral charts. It’s the ONLY time Paul ever went outside of the band to get another person to arrange and produce one of his sessions. It took years for Martin to forgive him…if he ever did. I included some lovely harmonies that float in among the single tracked vocals that you hear. I also included some stray parts of the orchestra bits that were trimmed out of the final version. 
09 Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! - I really focused on the carnival aspects of this song… and of course Paul’s incredible bass playing… again. 
10 Within You, Without You - George’s showcase on the album. I included a humorous snippet of John commenting on the proceedings that went on during the recording session of this classic cut. Originally the band thought people would have a hard time dealing with a solo Indian piece in the middle of the album…which is why they added laughter between the ending of this track and the beginning of the next. George, to say the least, was not thrilled by this. I’ve moved the laughter to where it rightly belongs… after John’s opening comments! 
11 When I’m 64 - I’ve always called this version “The Bar Mitzvah Version.” I think you’ll see why. 
12 Lovely Rita - An acoustic take on the song with great backing harmonies and lots of hidden treasures at the end usually buried under the other instrumental tracks, and now set free! 
13 Good Morning, Good Morning - Wonderful guitar work similar to the opening track of the album. What an awesome solo!! And those hidden harmonies are brought back up to the front again. Gooooood Morning everybody!! That’ll do. 
14 Sgt. Pepper (Reprise) - Paul’s blistering bass line and the whole groups fun, vocal banterings are finally uncovered. For those wondering what they are saying: (Intro: Paul McCartney & John Lennon) One, two, three, four! (Bye!) Twist it! (What?) Twist it! (Shake it) (Outro: George Harrison & John Lennon) Woo! Bang (Oh my god, it kills me)Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang 
15 A Day In The Life / Inner Groove - My favorite mix on the album! So many cool things going on during this one. McCartney’s bass, John’s haunting vocals, the eerie backing vocals… that orchestra set free to go from their lowest note to their highest…any way they want to do it. A masterpiece! To add to this I threw in some things from the original recording sessions, a wonderful flub by McCartney and some stunningly chaotic piano playing during the second orchestra build-up. I used the original ending… often called the HUMM’s ending as well as an unused synth note in place of the original extended piano note…… And I also couldn’t ignore the infamous Inner Groove. I hope you like my take on it, made from various sections I found when I tried to rip it apart and break it down using about 18 different modern tech devices! So that’s it kids… my version of the Beatles masterpiece: 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band'!

I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it! 

See ya again soon! 

Michael

Track listing

01 Strawberry Fields Forever
02 Penny Lane
03 Sgt. Pepper
04 With A Little Help From My Friends
05 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
06 Getting Better
07 Fixing A Hole
08 She’s Leaving Home
09 Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
10 Within You, Without You
11 When I’m 64
12 Lovely Rita
13 Good Morning, Good Morning
14 Sgt. Pepper (Reprise)
15 A Day In The Life

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