“Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” is a modification to the opening song on The Beatles’ “Sgt Peppers” album, of course. However, this version is slightly different being of a quicker tempo, different lyrics and more rousing instrumentation. The full title of the song it too long for a blog post at the Cavern Club. Therefore, we shall shorten it to the “Sgt Pepper’s Reprise” for the purposes of this information page.
In Detail
Albums
Recorded: 1st April, 1967
Studio: EMI Studios, London
Genre: Rock
Track Duration: 1:18
Record Label: Parlophone, Capitol, EMI
Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Performers
Paul McCartney: lead vocal, bass, also the Hammond organ
John Lennon: lead vocal, also rhythm guitar
George Harrison: lead vocal, also the lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine, maracas
Track Source
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Anthology 2
Love
Sgt Pepper’s Reprise
Of course, the idea behind the “Sgt Pepper’s Reprise” was to “bookend” the album with an opening song and a similar ending track. The Beatles’ assistant, Neil Aspinall, said because there was a “welcome song” on the album, there should be a “goodbye song” too. Aspinall says:
“I said to Paul [McCartney], ‘Why don’t you have Sgt Pepper as the compère of the album? He comes on at the beginning of the show and introduces the band, and at the end he closes it.
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Album (1967)
Anthology 2 Album (1996)
Love Album (2006)
A bit later, Paul told John [Lennon] about it in the studio, and John came up to me and said, ‘Nobody likes a smart-arse, Neil’… That was when I knew that John liked it and that it would happen.”
Of course, the “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album ends with “A Day In The Life“. However, just like the opening “Sgt Pepper’s” song leads perfectly into “With A Little Help From My Friends“, this track does a similar thing. In short, the album can now finish with that famous end chord in dramatic style.
Recording Studio
The Beatles started recording the “Sgt Pepper’s Reprise” on 1st April, 1967 in Studio One at the EMI Studios in London during the 7.00pm-6.00am session. They chose the last of the nine takes for the rhythm track with Paul McCartney singing the guide vocal. Overdubbing began for the mono mix with further instrumentation and vocals with the stereo mix beginning on the 20th April.
For those who like to hear outtakes, then the mono mix from take five is also on the Beatles’ “Anthology 2” album. Then there is another remix of this track on their “Love” album. With the Love album having 26 songs (28 on the download version), the “Sgt Pepper’s Reprise” it’s obviously a significant track in The Beatles’ catalogue.
