Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was a multi-platinum double album produced by George Martin

George Martin

Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...

, featuring covers of songs by The Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

. It was released in July 1978, as the soundtrack to the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...

, which starred the Bee Gees

Bee Gees

The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...

, Peter Frampton

Peter Frampton

Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...

 and Steve Martin

Steve Martin

Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....

.

The project was managed by The Robert Stigwood Organisation

RSO Records

RSO Records was a record label, formed by rock and roll and musical theatre impresario Robert Stigwood in 1973. The "RSO" stands for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. The company's main headquarters were at 67 Brook Street, in London's Mayfair...

. In 1975 the original plans for the album were suspended due to a dispute between Columbia

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

 and RSO. RSO invested $12 million into this soundtrack and the profit offset set against costs such as $1 million for promotion.

Platinum album and fallout

Although the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band debuted at #5 in the U.S. Billboard

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 album charts and stayed there for six weeks, becoming a multi-platinum album, there was reported resistance to the interpretation of The Beatles' songs, such as Martin's comedic take on "Maxwell's Silver Hammer

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song by The Beatles, on their album, Abbey Road, sung by Paul McCartney. It was written by McCartney, though credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Background:...

". However Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...

's version of "Got To Get You Into My Life

Got to Get You into My Life

"Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles, first released in 1966 on the album Revolver. Written by Paul McCartney , it made prominent use of a brass section...

" became a million selling single and Aerosmith

Aerosmith

Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...

's "Come Together

Come Together

"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....

" charted in the top 40 and later appeared on the soundtrack for Armageddon.

Radio airplay trailed off when the film was released with poor reviews, only five weeks later. The album immediately dropped out of the top 100 and pre-sale shipments to USA failed to sell in the quantities predicted. Owing to low box office receipts the film failed to make back its production costs, but profits from the sound track album and the successful singles it spawned later covered those losses.

Disc 1

(LP Side 1)

1. Introducing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (4:42)

   "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

   Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)

   "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney , and first recorded and released in 1967, on the The Beatles' album of the same name. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track , and as "Sgt...

   
   " — The Bee Gees

   Bee Gees

   The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...

   
    and Paul Nicholas

   Paul Nicholas

   Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...

   
    (1:56)

   "With a Little Help from My Friends

   With a Little Help from My Friends

   -Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction...

   
   " — Peter Frampton

   Peter Frampton

   Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...

   
    and The Bee Gees (2:46)

2. "Here Comes the Sun
   Here Comes the Sun
   "Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. It is regarded as one of the most popular Beatles songs. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles...
   
   " — by Sandy Farina (3:45)
3. "Getting Better
   Getting Better
   "Getting Better" is a song written mainly by Paul McCartney, with lyrical contributions from John Lennon . It was recorded by The Beatles for the 1967 album Sgt...
   
   " — performed by Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees (2:46)
4. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
   Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
   "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, for The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...
   
   " — Dianne Steinberg and Stargard
   Stargard (band)
   Stargard was an American three-piece female funk band, consisting of original members Rochelle Runnells, Debra Anderson, and Janice Williams. Stargard was best known for their 1977 Norman Whitfield-penned hit song " Which Way Is Up?" which served as a theme for the movie of the same name starring...
   
   
5. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)
   I Want You (She's So Heavy)
   "I Want You " is a song by The Beatles, from their album Abbey Road. It was written by John Lennon, although credited to Lennon–McCartney....
   
   " — George Martin
   George Martin
   Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
   
   , Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
   Bee Gees
   The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
   
   , Donald Pleasence
   Donald Pleasence
   Sir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
   
   , Dianne Steinberg, Paul Nicholas
   Paul Nicholas
   Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
   
   , The Bee Gees and Stargard (6:31)

(LP Side 2)

1. "Good Morning Good Morning
   Good Morning Good Morning
   "Good Morning Good Morning" is a song written by John Lennon and recorded by The Beatles, featured on their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.-Lyrical inspiration:...
   
   " — performed by Paul Nicholas, Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees (1:58)
2. "She's Leaving Home
   She's Leaving Home
   "She's Leaving Home" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney and released in 1967 on The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. McCartney wrote and sang the verse and Lennon the chorus...
   
   " — Steven Tyler
   Steven Tyler
   Steven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
   
   , The Bee Gees, Jay MacIntosh and John Wheeler
   John Wheeler
   John Wheeler may refer to:* John Wheeler , American Emmy Award-winning audio/video engineer* John Wheeler , Union officer in the Civil War; killed at Gettysburg* John Wheeler John Wheeler may refer to:* John Wheeler (audio/video technologist) (born 1957), American Emmy Award-winning audio/video...
   
   (2:41)
3. "You Never Give Me Your Money
   You Never Give Me Your Money
   "You Never Give Me Your Money" is a song by The Beatles that opens the climactic medley on side two of the album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney and is credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Structure:...
   
   " — Paul Nicholas and Dianne Steinberg (3:07)
4. "Oh! Darling
   Oh! Darling
   "Oh! Darling" is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney and appearing as the fourth song on the album, Abbey Road, in 1969. Its working title was "Oh! Darling "...
   
   " — Robin Gibb
   Robin Gibb
   Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
   
    (3:21) reached #15 in United States Billboard Hot 100 chart
5. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer
   Maxwell's Silver Hammer
   "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song by The Beatles, on their album, Abbey Road, sung by Paul McCartney. It was written by McCartney, though credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Background:...
   
   " — Steve Martin
   Steve Martin
   Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
   
    and the vocal chorus (4:31)
6. Rise To Stardom Suite (5:11)

   "Polythene Pam

   Polythene Pam

   "Polythene Pam" is a song written by John Lennon, credited to Lennon–McCartney, and performed by The Beatles on their album Abbey Road. The song is the part of the B-side medley in which Lennon declares that the title heroine "is so good looking but she looks like a man."-Background and...

   
   " — The Bee Gees (0:38)

   "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

   She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

   "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" is a song written by Paul McCartney and performed by The Beatles on their album Abbey Road as part of the Abbey Road medley.-Origin:...

   
   " — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees (1:46)

   "Nowhere Man" — The Bee Gees (1:14)

   "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) reprise" — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees (1:33)

Disc 2

(LP Side 3)

1. "Got To Get You Into My Life
   Got to Get You into My Life
   "Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles, first released in 1966 on the album Revolver. Written by Paul McCartney , it made prominent use of a brass section...
   
   " — Earth, Wind & Fire
   Earth, Wind & Fire
   Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
   
    (3:36) reached #15 in United States Billboard Hot 100 chart
2. "Strawberry Fields Forever
   Strawberry Fields Forever
   "Strawberry Fields Forever" is a song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and attributed to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership. It was inspired by Lennon's memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named "Strawberry Field" near his childhood home."Strawberry Fields...
   
   " — Sandy Farina (3:31)
3. "When I'm Sixty-Four
   When I'm Sixty-Four
   "When I'm Sixty-Four" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and released in 1967 on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.-Composition:...
   
   " — Frankie Howerd
   Frankie Howerd
   Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd OBE was an English comedian and comic actor whose career, described by fellow comedian Barry Cryer as "a series of comebacks", spanned six decades.-Early career:...
   
    and Sandy Farina (2:40)
4. "Mean Mr. Mustard
   Mean Mr. Mustard
   "Mean Mr. Mustard" is a song written by John Lennon, and performed by The Beatles on their album Abbey Road...
   
   " — Frankie Howerd (2:46)
5. "Fixing a Hole
   Fixing a Hole
   "Fixing a Hole" is a song written by Paul McCartney and recorded by The Beatles, featured on their 1967 album Sgt...
   
   " — George Burns
   George Burns
   George Burns , born Nathan Birnbaum, was an American comedian, actor, and writer.He was one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, film, radio, television and movies, with and without his wife, Gracie Allen. His arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation became...
   
    (2:25)
6. "Because
   Because (The Beatles song)
   "Because" is a song written by John Lennon and recorded by The Beatles in 1969. It features a prominent three-part vocal harmony by Lennon, McCartney and George Harrison, overdubbed three times to make nine voices in all...
   
   " — Alice Cooper
   Alice Cooper
   Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
   
    and The Bee Gees (2:45)
7. The Death of Strawberry (3:24)

   "Golden Slumbers" — Peter Frampton (1:39)

   "Carry That Weight

   Carry That Weight

   "Carry That Weight" is a song by The Beatles. Released on Abbey Road and part of the long, climactic medley that closes the album, it features vocals from all four Beatles...

   
   " — The Bee Gees (1:45)

(LP Side 4)

1. "Come Together
   Come Together
   "Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....
   
   " — Aerosmith
   Aerosmith
   Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
   
    (3:46)
2. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
   Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
   "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" is a song from the 1967 album by The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was composed by John Lennon...
   
   " Maurice Gibb
   Maurice Gibb
   Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
   
   , Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees and George Burns (3:12)
3. "The Long and Winding Road
   The Long and Winding Road
   "The Long and Winding Road" is a ballad written by Paul McCartney that originally appeared on The Beatles' album Let It Be. It became The Beatles' 20th and last number-one song in the United States on 23 May 1970, and was the last single released by the quartet...
   
   " Peter Frampton (3:40)
4. "A Day in the Life
   A Day in the Life
   "A Day in the Life" is a song by The Beatles, the final track on the group's 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song comprises distinct segments written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with orchestral additions...
   
   " — Barry Gibb and The Bee Gees
5. "Get Back
   Get Back
   "Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
   
   " — Billy Preston
   Billy Preston
   William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
   
    (2:56)
6. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Finale]" — The cast (2:13)

Credits

• George Martin
  George Martin
  Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
  
   — Arranger, Producer
• Greg Adams — Trumpet
• Robert Ahwai — Guitar
• Wilbur Bascomb Jr — Bass
• Jeff Beck
  Jeff Beck
  Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
  
   — Guitar
• Larry Carlton
  Larry Carlton
  Larry Carlton is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands...
  
   — Guitar
• Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper
  Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
  
   — Vocals
• Ray Cooper
  Ray Cooper
  Ray Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
  
   — Percussion
• Earth, Wind & Fire
  Earth, Wind & Fire
  Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
  
   — Performer
• Sandy Farina — Performer
• Victor Feldman — Percussion
• Peter Frampton
  Peter Frampton
  Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
  
   — Guitar
• The Bee Gees — Performer
• David Hungate
  David Hungate
  David Hungate is a bass player noted as a member of Los Angeles pop-rock band Toto from 1977-1982. Boz Scaggs's Silk Degrees album of 1976 included Hungate and several other future members of Toto...
  
   — Bass
• Stephen "Doc" Kupka — Sax (Baritone)
• Max Middleton
  Max Middleton
  David Maxwell "Max" Middleton . He is an English composer and keyboardist and was originally a docker on the Liverpool docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussive playing style of the Hohner Clavinet...
  
   — Synthesizer, Keyboards
• Francis Monkman
  Francis Monkman
  Francis Monkman is an English rock, classical and film score composer, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Curved Air.-Career:...
  
   — Moog Synthesizer
• Paul Nicholas
  Paul Nicholas
  Paul Nicholas is an English actor and singer who has had considerable success on stage, screen and in the pop charts.-Biography:Nicholas was born as Paul Oscar Beuselinck in Peterborough, England...
  
   — Performer
• David Paich — Keyboards
• Jeff Porcaro
  Jeff Porcaro
  Jeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
  
   — Drums
• Billy Preston
  Billy Preston
  William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
  
   — Hammond Organ
• Bernard "Pretty" Purdie — Drums, Percussion
• Tommy Reilly — Harmonica
• Ray Russell
  Ray Russell (musician)
  Raymond 'Ray' Russell is an English session musician who is primarily a guitarist. He is also renowned as a record producer, composer and session musician....
  
   — Guitar

Singles

• "Come Together
  Come Together
  "Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....
  
  " — Aerosmith
  Aerosmith
  Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
  
   — Reached #23 in Billboard singles chart
• "Get Back
  Get Back
  "Get Back" is a song by The Beatles, composed by Paul McCartney and frequently attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The song was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969, and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston." A different mix of the song later became the closing track of Let It Be ,...
  
  " — Billy Preston
  Billy Preston
  William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
  
   — Reached #86 in Billboard singles chart
• "Got To Get You Into My Life
  Got to Get You into My Life
  "Got to Get You into My Life" is a song by The Beatles, first released in 1966 on the album Revolver. Written by Paul McCartney , it made prominent use of a brass section...
  
  " — Earth, Wind & Fire
  Earth, Wind & Fire
  Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
  
   — (Also released on Earth, Wind & Fire Greatest Hits Vol 1). Reached #9 in the Billboard singles chart and #1 in U.S. R&B charts.
• "Oh! Darling
  Oh! Darling
  "Oh! Darling" is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney and appearing as the fourth song on the album, Abbey Road, in 1969. Its working title was "Oh! Darling "...
  
  " — Robin Gibb
  Robin Gibb
  Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
  
   — Reached #15 in the Billboard singles chart.