Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the Beatles’ eighth studio album, and like for many, my personal favourite album. Of all time. Sure, while Abbey Road, Revolver and Rubber Soul all had great songs, perhaps even better songs, Sgt Pepper’s stands above them all because it works best as an album.

It came at a point where the Beatles’ stopped touring and focused on their music, but was also before the animosity that drove the group apart rose between them. And sure, they were decked out on drugs for most of the album, but I don’t particularly care.

The whole album is a bit of a journey (using an overused word there). It starts off with a bang, leads into something almost magical, then takes a darker turn toward the middle. Then it picks up again all the way through until the final song. It starts with a bit of fanfare (I love Paul’s voice in that) that leads into With a Little Help From My Friends. Ringo’s voice gives it a simplicity and innocence that makes it my favourite of the “Ringo” songs*. This leads into Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, where the transitions between the high and lows of the song are glorious. Getting Better is a deceptively simple song, but the repeated droning notes hammer the point home. Fixing a Hole is one of those quirky songs that seems weird but grows on you over time. She’s Leaving Home is hauntingly sad. Within You, Without You is just trippy. When I’m Sixty Four is one of those “nice” songs. Lovely Rita is often overlooked, but I think its happy-go lucky-ness is just addictive. Good Morning, Good Morning is just really catchy. Sgt. Pepper’s Reprise is a nice way to round out the album and lead into the final song. A Day in Life is one of my favourite songs.

I’d always been a fan of the Beatles as a child, but it wasn’t until I was a bit older (and I guess more mature, though that’s debatable) that I finally began to understand their music. Sgt. Pepper’s is just one of those albums that sticks with me. I can’t just pick one song from the album, I have to listen to it the whole way through. And whenever I need to just phase out from the world, I can just put it on, relax and float down stream…

*The Beatles tried to have Ringo sing at least one song on every album.