A day in the life, with me, and one of the the greatest albums of all time
By johnnydod, 18th Jul 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutReviewsMusicPop
Pour yourself a glass of wine and sit back, if you have the album stick it on and play as you read
- I sat back, glass in hand and just let the music flow over me
- It's wonderful to be here, It's certainly a thrill. You're such a lovely audience, We'd like to take you home with us, We'd love to take you home.
- I've got to admit it's getting better, A little better all the time (can't get no worse) To admit it's getting better, It's getting better since you've been mine.
- Lennon was inspired to write the song "For the benefit of Mr kite by a 19th century circus poster for Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal
- Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four?
- Lovely Rita meter maid Nothing can come between us When it gets dark I tow your heart away Standing by a parking meter
- Based on a novel by a man named Lear, And I need a job, So I want to be a paperback writer.
I sat back, glass in hand and just let the music flow over me
I had one of those rare days when I found myself alone in the house all day, so I decided that I would do something that I hadn’t done for quite a while, opening the cabinet door I flicked through the albums, suddenly one album stuck out like a sore thumb, it was called.
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
I have most of my treasured music backed up onto CD but when it comes to real listening pleasure there is nothing quite like taking out that precious jet black vinyl disc from its sleeve making sure I only hold it on the edge between my fingers, the shiny reflection, mirroring my face and in turn making me shine, let’s face it when one shines ones inner light shines brighter.
It's wonderful to be here, It's certainly a thrill. You're such a lovely audience, We'd like to take you home with us, We'd love to take you home.
I placed the flat circular disc onto my turntable set it up to the first track, Oh that sound when the stylus hits the vinyl, you don't get that with a CD. I poured myself a glass of Sauvignon Blanc (Did you know that The Latin for vinyl is vinum meaning wine) and so began a journey of pure unadulterated ecstasy.
Track one side one "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
It was twenty years ago today,
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They've been going in and out of style
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
I've got to admit it's getting better, A little better all the time (can't get no worse) To admit it's getting better, It's getting better since you've been mine.
The Beatles wanted to cut an album about a fictitious band with fictitious characters for each band members.
I followed track after track, from the melancholy song from “Billy Shears (Ringo) “With a Little Help from My Friends” to the psychedelic "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (a lot of people at the time thought the title had a hidden connotation namely LSD, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, anyway I was quite happy with my glass of wine, that’s as far down the drug road I am willing to go.
Moving onto the heartening "Getting Better" followed by "Fixing a Hole" so clever those words
“I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go”
Lennon was inspired to write the song "For the benefit of Mr kite by a 19th century circus poster for Pablo Fanque's Circus Royal
And as with all good stories you should always introduce along with the happy-go-lucky a little sadness to bring the reader (listener) to their senses. So with the expertise the Beatles were so well known for, you are suddenly brought down to earth with the sad saga of "She's Leaving Home" after which side one ends with a taster for side two "Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!"
I quickly slurped my glass dry and turned the disc over, poured another glass of the clear crystal nectar and sat back in enthusiastic anticipation. I wasn’t disappointed the reverberations of the sitar, transporting me onto a transcendent plane "Within You without You" hit me and I was on a magic carpet.
When you've seen beyond yourself-then you may find, peace of mind,
Is waiting there and the time will come when you see
We’re all one, and life flows on within you and without you.
The track is recorded with instruments such as, sitar and acoustic guitar; the other instruments included tabla, dilruba, swarmandel, and tambura the lyrics have stayed with me all my life.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I'm sixty-four?
I was soon awakened and brought right back home with "When I'm Sixty-Four" I can remember playing this track on my 64th birthday, little thinking that I would wish I was 64 once again, however I digress back to the music.
The next track is a lively number from the master Paul McCartney with his love story of a meter maid entitled "Lovely Rita"
Standing by a parking meter,
When I caught a glimpse of Rita,
Filling in a ticket in her little white book.
In a cap she looked much older,
And the bag across her shoulder
Made her look a little like a military man.
Lovely Rita meter maid Nothing can come between us When it gets dark I tow your heart away Standing by a parking meter
Roused by the next rendition "Good Morning Good Morning" followed by a repeat of the title track "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. the lryrics lead you to believe its the last track, than Wham! the” Fabulous Four” hit us with the lamenting lyrics of my all-time favourite "A Day in the Life"
Do you remember turning up the volume to see just how long that last cord would sound for?
No wonder in 1968 this album won.
- Album of the Year
- Best Album Cover, Graphic Arts
- Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical
- Best Contemporary Album
It made number one in the albums charts in Australia, Norway, The UK and the US Billboard 200, the album entered the UK Albums Chart on 3 June 1967 and remained there for a total of 201 weeks, that's nearly four flipping years. In the US the album stayed in the Billboard 200 chart for 175 weeks.
It remained at number one in the US for a total of 15 straight weeks.The album sold more than 32 million worldwide.
I took my treasured album off its turntable and lovingly placed it back into its sleeve. What a wonderful voyage of unadulterated pleasure that was and I thought I just had to share it with you.
Based on a novel by a man named Lear, And I need a job, So I want to be a paperback writer.
Well you don't have to write a paperback book, just pop some of your thoughts onto paper and send it in to us, we pay you for your work, its as simple as that.
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Comments
19th Jul 2012 (#)
Nicely done Johnny
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
love it love it love it! thanks so much Johnny! one of my favourite groups and songs of all times...
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
Now what would be better than to spend a day with Johnny, not a thing. Well done, as usual. Thanks for the trip down memory lane (as I love the Beatles & albums) and for a well presented page. As always, thank you for sharing.:)
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
Johnny Superb article once again you have taken me back. When this came out I was in Rio in South America great memories and as I have said before how I survived the 1960's I will never know.
Best Wishes
Steve
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19th Jul 2012 (#)
I feel the same way! We too are Beatles fans and just love listening to all their old songs. Some of them I play on the piano! There is no music like the old music!! Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!!
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20th Jul 2012 (#)
Great work. I do the same thing, as you discribed here, when I get writers block. I've been a musician all my life and I find that it clears my mind to just sit and listen to good music with a relaxing drink.
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22nd Jul 2012 (#)
Music is inspiring...great page and memories johnnydod...
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23rd Jul 2012 (#)
Great and inspiring memories.
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27th Jul 2012 (#)
Wonderful walk dawn memory lane
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27th Jul 2012 (#)
Wonderful walk dawn memory lane
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28th Jul 2012 (#)
Thank you, Johnny. A wonderful page, full of memories.
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