# It was 40 years ago today... Favorite/least favorite Sgt. Pepper tracks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419 "2007-06-01T22:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/1 "2007-06-01T22:49:38Z")
Didn’t see a thread on this yet, forgive me if I missed it, but June 1, 1967 saw quite possibly the most recognized, influential, immitated and beloved album of the 60s-- or at the very least, of 1967. - **Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band** Side 1: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band With a Little Help from My Friends Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Getting Better Fixing a Hole She’s Leaving Home Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! Side 2: Within You Without You When I’m Sixty-Four Lovely Rita Good Morning Good Morning Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) A Day in the Life\* What’s your favorite track? What’s your least favorite? My fav: Getting Better Least fav: She’s Leaving Home ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/2 "2007-06-01T22:53:45Z")
My favorite (and the one listened to when I had my only intentional psychadelic experience) is George’s _Within You/Without You_. Least fav: With a Little Help From My Friends (no real reason/just don’t like it) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/3 "2007-06-01T23:01:31Z")
Mine would be _Good Morning Good Morning_. It’s the most hard-edged song on the album. The horns really pack a punch. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/4 "2007-06-01T23:06:23Z")
Favourite: A Day In The Life Also Rans: Fixing A Hole, Being For The Benefit Of Mister Kite, Within You, Without You. Not Favoured: She’s Leaving Home, Good Morning Good Morning ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/5 "2007-06-01T23:12:41Z")
Favorite: Lovely Rita (I quite like Joe Cocker’s version of A Little Help… better than the Beatles.) Least: Mr. Kite ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/6 "2007-06-01T23:17:19Z")
I’ve always had a certain fondness for Mr. Kite. But I have to go with A Day in the Life. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/7 "2007-06-01T23:27:05Z")
Although I still appreciate its innovation and “importance” for its time, I’ve found that musically, the appeal _Sgt. Pepper_ has not endured quite as well for me over time as some of the Beatles’ other albums, like _Revolver_ and _Abbey Road_. Even the remixed version on CD has a rough, tinny quality to the sound in many songs (possibly intentional), and their harmonizing is not at its best. Still, there are great songs. “A Day in the Life,” although I’m a bit tired of it. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.” “Fixing a Hole,” and “Lovely Rita” are great examples of McCartney managing whimsy without sappiness. Could never bear “Good Morning, Good Morning,” and “She’s Leaving Home” is the worst sort of schmaltz. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/8 "2007-06-01T23:31:55Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] “She’s Leaving Home” is the worst sort of schmaltz. [/QUOTE] I agree. To me this is just absolutely a bad song-- not just a bad Beatles song, which 9 times out of 10 is still better than a lot of other stuff out there. But this is absolutely a horrible, horrible song that should never have been on this album, or any other album by any other band. ---
**Author:** ![GuyNblueJeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GuyNblueJeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuyNblueJeans)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/9 "2007-06-01T23:37:40Z")
I love “She’s Leaving Home.” A great song on a great album! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/10 "2007-06-01T23:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Didn’t see a thread on this yet, forgive me if I missed it [/QUOTE] There was one, but it seems to have disappeared. 😕 Anyway, at least in the context of the album (and arguably, Sgt. Pepper was the album that _made_ people start considering songs in the context of the album), my favorite track is “A Day In the Life,” while my least favorite is “Within You Without You” (I think it runs too long and throws off the pace of the album). ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/11 "2007-06-01T23:54:07Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Anyway, at least in the context of the album (and arguably, Sgt. Pepper was the album that _made_ people start considering songs in the context of the album), my favorite track is “A Day In the Life,” while my least favorite is “Within You Without You” (I think it runs too long and throws off the pace of the album). [/QUOTE] Quit stealing thoughts from my head. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/12 "2007-06-02T00:21:07Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] Although I still appreciate its innovation and “importance” for its time, I’ve found that musically, the appeal _Sgt. Pepper_ has not endured quite as well for me over time as some of the Beatles’ other albums, like _Revolver_ and _Abbey Road_. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget Rubber Soul! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/13 "2007-06-02T00:41:20Z")
Favorite: Mr. Kite Worst: Within You Without You ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/14 "2007-06-02T00:54:33Z")
Favorite: When I’m 64 Least Favorite: Within you without you ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/15 "2007-06-02T01:02:48Z")
Its probably the album of theirs that has dated most badly from that period in the Beatles brief career, but it is still very listenable and enjoyable. Think: in 1967, was anybody waxing nostalgic and planning to gather artists of the day to remake the great popular work of 1927? I think not, at least not on the same scale. BTW: Day in the Life on top, Within You, Without You on the bottom, although I think it’s one of George’s better Indian-influenced works. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/16 "2007-06-02T01:04:22Z")
I just listened to this for the first time yesterday. Songs I liked (in album order) -Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band -With A Little Help From My Friends -Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds -Getting Better -Fixing a Hole -Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! -When I’m Sixty-Four -Sgt. Pepper’s (reprise) Songs I’m Neutral About: -She’s Leaving Home -Lovely Rita Songs I Didn’t Like: -Within You Without You -Good Morning Good Morning -A Day in the Life Top Pick: When I’m Sixty-Four/Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (tie)- two upbeat, vaudevillian songs, though _Mr. Kite_ is a little more trippy than _Sixty-Four_. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/17 "2007-06-02T01:16:36Z")
“Getting Better” is my favorite song. But my favorite moment is at the beginning of the reprise when John says _“Hi…”_ (or would that be _“…high…”_?) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/18 "2007-06-02T01:31:33Z")
I was looking at the track listing and I had a really hard time picking a least favorite. It is one of those very rare albums that doesn’t have any “misses” IMO. My favorites: \* Lovely Rita Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite\* If I had to pick one song to leave off the album, it would be _Within You Without You_. I do rather like the song, but as has been previously pointed out it doesn’t seem to “fit” with the rest of the songs on the album. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/19 "2007-06-02T01:48:05Z")
Standout: Within You Without You - A nice break from the inane la-la-la baby Brit pop of the time. Worst (We have to pick just 1?): -Getting Better - Fluff. With poor harmonies -She’s Leaving Home - Precursor to the rise of David Geddes -When I’m Sixty-Four - I can’t stand novelty pop, especially unintended novelty pop -A Day in the Life - What a great idea! A never-ending final note (Sonic Youth’s EVOL notwithstanding) Optimistically Speaking: If it weren’t for Sgt. Pepper’s, there’d be no We’re Only In It For The Money. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419/20 "2007-06-02T01:50:50Z")
Favourite: _When I’m Sixty-Four_, _A Day in the Life_, _Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds_, _Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band_, _Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite_, and _With A Little Help From My Friends_. Least favourite: Like everybody else, not a big fan of _Within You/Without You_–I think _Love Me Too_ does it much better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-40-years-ago-today-favorite-least-favorite-sgt-pepper-tracks/406419.md?page=2)