In just eight years together as a band, The Beatles recorded thirteen studio albums – including seven from 1963 to 1966. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison were prolific in the early days, delivering record after record to their legions of fans.

However, they slowed down somewhat in the second half of the 1960s as their sound evolved. They stopped performing live in 1966 and that year’s album ‘Revolver’ saw The Beatles move further away from their early style, using more studio technology and innovating with a new approach.

The following year the band released their eighth studio album, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ – amid the ‘summer of love’. It is arguably their most iconic work, capturing the counterculture movement, with Peter Blake and Jann Haworth’s cover art one of the Fab Four’s defining images.

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The psychedelic album was largely Paul’s brainchild and came up with the idea for songs involving a fictional military band during a flight to London at the end of 1966. An avant-garde record, it is an early example of a concept album and was incredibly influential in the music world.

‘Sgt Pepper’ was said to be Paul’s favourite work that the band produced. He was the driving force behind it while at the peak of his creative powers.

In an interview with Mojo, Paul said about it: “I think it’s the most influential Beatles album. Perhaps, as you said, in inverted commas, it’s the most ‘important’, but not necessarily the best.

‘”Revolver’ had some special moments on it. What’s called ‘The White Album’ had some very important moments on it. And ‘Abbey Road’. There are other albums as good in different ways. But ‘Pepper’ is the most noticeable Beatles album because it was so different, and such a change from what was going on at the time.”

‌But the album was not universally popular among his colleagues. John took many swipes at it in interviews after he left the band.

Writing in 1978 about wanting to spend less time with music and more time with his family, he said: “The lesson for me is clear. I’ve already ‘lost’ one family to produce what? Sgt Pepper? I am blessed with a second chance”.

The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heartclub – HANDOUT PICTURE
The Beatles in their famous Sgt Pepper suits(Image: Daily Record / Handout)
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John added: “If I never ‘produce’ anything more for public consumption than ‘silence’, so be it. Amen.”

Far Out Magazine also reports that John once said: “I actively dislike bits…which didn’t come out right. There are bits in ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ I don’t like. Some of the sound in ‘Mr Kite’ isn’t right. I like ‘A Day in the Life’, but it’s still not half as nice as I thought it was when we were doing it”.

Despite John’s dislike of it, ‘Sgt Pepper’ was incredibly successful. Its list of great tracks include ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’, ‘A Day in the Life’ and the album’s title track.