We have a winner! The tournament’s #1 seed Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was not denied, and unlike my incorrect pick of #1 seed Duke in the 2011 March Madness tournament, Sgt. Peppers brought it home. Am I surprised by the results? No. Despite the list of 16 fantastic albums, Sgt. Peppers was arguably the best. It beat #3 seed Are You Experiencedby Jimi Hendrix by only three votes. It was close, but so was the Duke vs. Arizona game, that ultimately led to Duke’s demise.
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is widely considered as not only the Beatles‘ best album, but also the greatest album of the rock n’ roll era. The album was preceded by Revolver and it demonstrates musical elements that the Beatles were exploring in Revolver, like electronic sampling and creative instrumentation. Elements of Revolver were heard more in Magical Mystery Tour(a combination LP) and the culmination of the Beatles’ psychedelic experimentation resulted in the concept album that was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
An album is obviously defined by its track listing. A concept album is also defined by its order. The album’s first song, “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,” is an invite into the magical world of the Beatles. The song sounds like the opening of a Broadway play. It is a tremendous concoction of melody, studio sounds, brass and rock. The song also seamlessly flows into track two, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” a traditional pop/rock Beatles’ hit. While Sgt. Peppers flows as a concept album, the music pieces psychedelic elements with the Beatles’ rock sound, but the psychedelic trinkets are more defined in some songs than others. It is this pleasant combination, mixed with the band’s unique efficiency, that makes Sgt. Peppers so successful.
Best song off the album? Is there any question. “A Day in the Life” provides listeners with one of the most original psychedelic pieces ever created. The song combines drawn-out verses and strange lyrics, with a fast-paced day breakdown and two of the most intense transitions ever heard in music. It is the David of rock music. Enjoy.
We have made it to our own final four. I wish I could say that we have a VCU and Butler in our distinguished four, but, the tournament has not seen many upsets. While many great albums were released in 1967, only a few were extraordinary, and of those we have our final four. Voting ends on April 8 and then we will have our two. Will the #1 seed and #2 seed remain or will we see a disturbance in the chalk.
The #1 seed Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band continues to move on in our voting. In the elite eight it beat Dylan‘s John Wesley Hardingby nine votes. But, will it be able to get past the #5 seed (highest left in the tournament) which is coming off the heels of upsetting Magical Mystery Tour. Do I smell a little revenge from the Beatles for the last match? Voting time.
The battle of the #2 and #3 seed. A classic match of awesome albums. We have the Doors eponymous first album first. The album wrecked Surrealistic Pillow, ending Jefferson Airplane’s chances of a Cinderella run. Are You Experienced did the same with Strange Days, also by the Doors. Another potential revenge battle.
The first round keeps on trucking along. The higher seeded match-ups for the best album of 1967 have garnered a lot of attention and votes continue to come in. Currently, the 1,2,3 seeds are rolling along but Magical Mystery Tour, the 4th seed, is having issues with Velvet Underground and Nico, the 13th seed, which only trails by ONE VOTE! It’s an exciting potential upset. Haven’t had a chance to vote in the higher seeded first round matches yet? Follow the below links before voting in the last four first round match-ups below.
#1 Seed: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles vs. #16 Seed: Absolutely Free by The Mother’s Invention
Let’s move on to some excellent first round matches. While many of the higher seed battles are going to be won by the higher seeds, we may see some mini-upsets in some of these mid-level upsets. You all ready? Let’s do it. Remember vote if you want your favorite to pass through. First round voting ends March 21!
Disraeli Gears may be The Cream’s best album. It was the second release by this supergroup and it featured classics like “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Strange Brew.” It was ranked 112 in Rolling Stones’ best albums of all time. It is a great example of the talent that oozed from this band. But, it does have some competition with The Pipers at The Gate of Dawn. While this is not Pink Floyd’s best album (by any argument), it is the debut from one of the most influential British rock bands that would later take progressive psychedelic rock to a new level. Syd Barrett provided direction for this album (the only Floyd album he would) and songs like “Interstellar Overdrive,” “Astronomy Domine” and “Bike” are featured, all excellent examples of psychedelic rock.
#6 seed: Strange Days by The Doors vs. #11 seed: Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina by The Left Banke
Do not write this one off as a clear win for the Doors quite yet. Many may be looking at this and thinking who is The Left Banke and how did they manage an 11 seed. Well, they are a dark horse in the competition because of the absolute excellence of this release. On it is “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina” two of the best examples of baroque pop ever to be released. Listen to the songs before you vote. This is not intended to sway your vote. Strange Days is an excellent album that probably deserved a higher rating (that’s how good 1967 was for album releases). Released just eight months after their first release, the album features “Strange Days” and “People are Strange.”
#7 seed: Forever Changes by Love vs. #10 seed: Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane
The battle of two psychedelic juggernauts. This may come down to matter of preference. On one side you have Love who with Forever Changes pretty much defined the genre of psychedelic rock. It is some of the most crisp and fine examples of the genre ever. Surrealistic Pillow, on the other hand, features “Somebody To Love” and “White Rabbit” two other exceptional examples of psychedelic rock. In a way, Jefferson Airplane’s music is more rock-oriented and Love, more psychedelic. Let the battle of the 1967 California psychedelic bands commence.
#8 seed: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Aretha Franklin vs. #9 seed: John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan
The diversity of 1967 album releases is striking. I do love how we go from Love vs. Jefferson Airplane (two bands playing psychedelic music) to Aretha vs. Bob Dylan, soul vs. folk. So, which way will you go? “Respect” or “All Along the Watchtower”
We have a winner! The tournament’s #1 seed Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was not denied, and unlike my incorrect pick of #1 seed Duke in the 2011 March Madness tournament, Sgt. Peppers brought it home. Am I surprised by the results? No. Despite the list of 16 fantastic albums, Sgt. Peppers was arguably the best. It beat #3 seed Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix by only three votes. It was close, but so was the Duke vs. Arizona game, that ultimately led to Duke’s demise.
The Music Court 