THE BEATLES - 50 Years "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

We are in a place steeped in history, where the classic "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was created: Abbey Road Studio 2. A large, high room where Giles Martin invited us in mid-April to present his arrangement, which he had tinkered with for almost a year and which proves to be a real sound miracle. The mono treasure, which appeared on 1 June 1967, is now a fully-fledged stereo epic that has been breathed new, dynamic life into with the help of state-of-the-art technology - without harming it in any way. On the contrary: "Sgt. Pepper's" never sounded so intense, so rousing and contemporary. An approach that will also inspire future generations and will probably find far more buyers than the 30 million who have bought it so far.

The eighth album of the Beatles is the holy grail of pop history, characterised by technical innovation, captivating songwriting and a beguiling stylistic diversity, which has shaped the whole host of musicians. And rightly so: "Sgt. Pepper's" is heavily psychedelic, shows an unbelievable variety of colours and influences, seems as euphoric as it is threatening and skilfully plays the emotional keyboard of the listener. Music can't be better - that's also what our conversation partner says.

eclipsed: "Sgt. Pepper's" is an album that seems deeply rooted in all our DNA. The Holy Grail of Pop?

Giles Martin: (laughs) At least it's an album that is passed on from one generation to the next. And that's something special. Especially at a time when pop music is so short-lived and transient. Just in focus, things are forgotten again a few weeks later. "Sgt. Pepper's" is different - its sustainability has lasted 50 years now, and it still has an enormous impact on the music that is produced today.

eclipsed: A timeless work in the truest sense of the word?

Martin: And the one that outshines all the others. That has shown many artists new ways. I know, for example, that Roger Waters first heard it on the radio when he was in the car. He put down an emergency brake, almost grazed another vehicle and ran left to hear it in peace. Then he drove home and wrote the first songs for "Dark Side Of The Moon". Therefore the meaning of "Sgt. Pepper's" cannot be rated high enough. And my father, who passed away last year, always said that it was the climax of the Beatles' collaboration. The band's universe moved so incredibly fast, and "Sgt. Pepper's" is the most mature thing the Beatles have ever done. They threw all the ideas they had developed on tour into a big funnel and turned them into songs. My father said there were so many that he had real problems dealing with it. They really pushed him to his limits.

Lest mehr im eclipsed Nr. 191 (06-2017).