The Beatles ‘Sgt. Peppers’ album to be played note-for-note, song-for-song on St. Catharines stage

Considered the most seminal and influential rock album of all time by nearly all musicologists, Classic Albums Live will be playing The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band note-for-note, song-for-song on the stage at Partridge Hall in St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on Nov. 22.

The rock world’s first concept album, the idea came after the band decided to stop touring.

“We need to get away from ourselves,” said bass player-singer Paul McCartney at the time. “What if we became sort of an alter-ego band?” Hence, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was born.

The eighth studio album by The Beatles, it was released on May 26, 1967, and included classic hits like: With A Little Help From My Friends, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, When I’m Sixty-Four, Lovely Rita, A Day In The Life, Getting Better and She’s Leaving Home.

The album had an immediate cross-generational impact between young listeners and older critics and was associated with numerous touchstones of the era’s youth culture, such as fashion, drugs, mysticism, and a sense of optimism and empowerment.

Critics lauded the album for its innovations in songwriting, production, and graphic design, for bridging a cultural divide between popular music and high art, and for reflecting the interests of contemporary youth and the Summer of ’67 counterculture.

More than 32 million copies had been sold worldwide as of 2011. After winning four Grammys in 1968, including Best Album, it topped several critics’ and listeners’ polls for the best album of all time, including those published by Rolling Stone magazine and in the book, All Time Top-1,000 Albums.

For tickets, check here.