From the Publisher
Fifty years after Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, Southall (Northern Songs), former head of press at EMI, presents a tribute to this enduring album. Roughly the size and shape of an album cover, this book is divided into two parts (whimsically referredt to as the "A" and "B" sides). In the first section, Southall imparts solid if fairly unexciting material about the group and the production of the album. The second part zooms out for a look at the political, social, and pop cultural environment of 1967. The author's coverage of the larger music scene is intriguing—his exploration of innovative groups such as Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention offers context for where Sgt. Pepper fit in — but his laborious, often dry month-by-month look at 1967 is somewhat exhausting. However, this isn't a little that most music lovers will read from cover to cover. Visually enticing, with tons of quotes and photos galore (many of which depeict the Fab Four in delightfully garish hippie garb), it's ripe for browsing. VERDICT: Not essential reading by any means, but a fun addition to larger music collections. Watch it fly off display shelves.
— Library Journal
From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY
"Written by the former EMI Head of Press Brian Southall, this project delivers a rave of photos, interviews, anecdotes, and expert commentary on the album and the Fab Four." —Foreword Reviews
Library Journal
04/15/2017
Fifty years after Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, Southall (Northern Songs), former head of press at EMI, presents a tribute to this enduring album. Roughly the size and shape of an album cover, this book is divided into two parts (whimsically referred to as the "A" and "B" sides). In the first section, Southall imparts solid if fairly unexciting material about the group and the production of the album. The second part zooms out for a look at the political, social, and pop cultural environment of 1967. The author's coverage of the larger music scene is more intriguing—his exploration of innovative groups such as Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention offers context for where Sgt. Pepper fit in—but his laborious, often dry month-by-month look at 1967 is somewhat exhausting. However, this isn't a title that most music lovers will read from cover to cover. Visually enticing, with tons of quotes and photos galore (many of which depict the Fab Four in delightfully garish hippie garb), it's ripe for browsing. VERDICT Not essential reading by any means, but a fun addition to larger music collections. Watch it fly off display shelves.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile
Brian Southall makes the case that "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is the greatest Beatles album and celebrates the important year of 1967, when it was released. Johnny Heller's reading puts listeners in the studio with the Beatles as they create a musical sound as significant as the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds." Southall tells the background of each song, such as how classic marches created the fairground effect on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite." Along the way, Southall recalls how the Beatles grew out of the music they had played earlier as the Quarrymen, assesses the impact of "Sgt. Pepper," and wraps up with a 1967 timeline. The bite-sized anecdotes provide a fascinating introduction to the Beatles and their most famous album. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
