The celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band officially kicks off today with the release of various Anniversary Edition packages of the iconic album.
Originally released on June 1st, 1967, the album was remixed by George Martin's son Giles and expanded with 34 outtakes from the studio sessions.
In an introduction to the new collection, Paul McCartney writes, "It’s crazy to think that 50 years later we are looking back on this project with such fondness and a little bit of amazement at how four guys, a great producer and his engineers could make such a lasting piece of art."
The reissue includes:
- A previously unreleased instrumental take of “Penny Lane”
- Two previously unreleased complete takes of “Strawberry Fields Forever”
- Direct transfers of the album’s original mono mix and the “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” singles
- Previously unreleased mono mixes of “She’s Leaving Home,” “A Day in the Life” and “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” (thought to have been erased from a tape in 1967)
- Promotional films for “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Penny Lane” and “A Day in the Life” plus The Making of Sgt. Pepper, a documentary film broadcast in 1992