h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK - Time for Blasphemy!!

Good though it it is, inventive as it may be, it isn't a patch on either Revolver or The White album (which, though fatally flawed with Revolution 9, is still more experimental than Pepper).

Pepper is a commercial Psychedelic LP, Revolver and White Album have a much darker side, as do all hallucinogenics.

Charles Shaar Murray once described Pepper as "a turd on a silk cushion" for breaking the creative momentum of Rubber Soul, Revolver and White.

And I have to agree with him. And I think it was Paul's fault. "She's Leaving Home"? Pychedelic? Come on!!!

Of course, it wasn't *really* his fault... after all he had just died!

George just died not Paul. And she's leaving home isn't the worst one on the album by a long shot - within you without you (one of George's) is far far worse.

Catchy name, though, Within You Without You.

-Spike A.

I definately don't think its the greatest LP. There are those, however, who do. Personally, I like "Within you without you". I kind of like "She's Leaving Home" as well. What can I say? I guess I'm just too agreeable.

Although some songs on, or rather the whole feel of, the album may seem pat, you must remember that it was a sound completely out of left field. Nobody had ever really done anything like that in a lot of ways: Musically, it contained entire new ideas (eg, the orchestral crescendo in "Day in the life") and effects (eg he strange kazoo-like noise in "lovely rita") and lyrically it explored entire new worlds (Lucy in the Sky). Additionally, it had several revolutionary gimmicks some of which are now standard: it was the first album to *ever* include lyrics, the cover art was spectacular, it had no pause between tracks, and the inside groove (of the UK release) had had a recording on it (so that record players without the automatic lift at the end of the album would play it). Although it hasn't lasted as well as some other albums, its repreccusions are enourmus.



PS. Paul didn't *just* die. He died a loooong time ago (and was replaced by a robot).

BTW, Pepper couldn't have broken the musical creativity of Rubber soul, revolver and the whiter album, as the white album was released *after* it.

Not sure if I like Abbey Road more..........
It had some pretty good tracks too eg Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Octopus's Garden and not to mention the best song George ever wrote - Something.

Oh and Her Majesty's good too.

Sheesh! what I *meant* by '(paul) had just died' was actually a tongue-in cheek reference to all the 'Paul Is Dead' rumours around at the time... and all the so-called clues on Pepper itself (see related articles on h2g2).

Within You, Without You is one of the better tracks on SPLHCB (IMHO), try turning your mind off , relaxing and floating downstream...

...and as for breaking the momentum, Pepper has absolutely *nothing* in common with any tracks on Revolver or White Album, creatively speaking it is a blip on the radar, out of nowhere (now, here?) and there is nothing to predict its arrival or any attempt by the band to build on its foundation. THAT'S what I call a break in creativity.

OK, I see your points now. I still think your dead wrong but I see your points. I figured you were eluding to the "paul is dead", which is why I, in turn, also elduded to it.

As for the momentum, point taken, but I believe Pepper has more in common with Revolver and White album than you may think. There is a logical progression from "Got to get you into my life"(on Revolver) to "Penny Lane" (almost on Pepper) to "Its getting Better" (on pepper) to "Ob-la-di-bla-da" (White album). Or from "And your bird can sing"(revolver) to "good morning" (pepper) to "Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey" (white album)

Interesting points... I'll have to go and check your theory out and let you know...

later, dudes!

I agree that it is one of the best - I wouldn't say "The Best" as my mind often changes...
Here's the Death Clue article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A506648

<BB<

General Post: I will actually get around to actaully writing this entry some day...