2012 Reissue wish-list / Day 12 / The Beatles: Sgt Pepper

In this final day of the reissue wish list series (it is the twelfth and last day of Christmas!) I thought the time had come to celebrate a really big release.

This year sees the 45th anniversary of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, so today’s wish list reissue is specifically a Super Deluxe Edition of, arguably, The Beatles’ most loved record.

It is surely only a matter of time before EMI/Apple Corps decide to ‘celebrate’ The Beatles’ albums in this most indulgent of formats. The Mono Box proved that, despite economic downturns and austerity measures, when it comes to the fab four, there are always plenty of fans, collectors, enthusiasts and audiophiles who can find the cash to pursue their favourite musical hobby.

And if you are going to choose one album as a place to start a series of Beatles Super Deluxe releases, then look no further than the psychedelic burst of energy that is Sgt Pepper, recorded when John, Paul, George and Ringo still actively enjoyed working together. Free from what had become the misery of touring, they gleefully experimented with recording techniques, played with conceptual ideas (although it’s not really a concept album) and redrew the boundaries of what a pop record could look and sound like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koNFCcP9wp0

Pepper was such an event, and such a statement, with the Peter Blake pop art cover, the gatefold sleeve, the lyrics printed on the back, the bespoke-designed inner sleeve (by Dutch design collective The Fool) and the cardboard cut-out moustaches, stripes and badges. It lends itself perfectly to the excess of the Super Deluxe Edition.

So where to start? What to include? Here is how I envisage the ultimate Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Super Deluxe Edition:

Disc One (CD): Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (mono – 2009 remaster)

Disc Two (CD): Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (stereo – 2009 remaster)

Disc Three (CD): Pepper session tracks (2009 remaster where applicable)

• Strawberry Fields Forever (Mono)
• Penny Lane (Mono)
• Carnival of Light (Mono)
• It’s Only A Northern Song (Mono)
• Strawberry Fields Forever (Stereo)
• Penny Lane (Stereo / extra trumpet version)

Disc Four (CD) The evolution of Strawberry Fields Forever:
A take-by-take guide through the creative process of the ground-breaking single.

Disc Five (CD): Anthology Pepper:
The 12 Pepper tracks from Anthology 2 (including Only A Northern Song) – new remastering needed.

Disc Six (Blu-ray):

• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Mono) – Hi Rez 96/24
• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Stereo) – Hi Rez 96/24
• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Stereo) – Hi Rez 96/24 5.1 Surround
• Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane promo films
• The Making of Sgt Pepper documentary from 1987

Disc Seven (DVD)

• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band 5.1 Surround Mix
• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band LPCM Stereo
• Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane promo films
• The Making of Sgt Pepper documentary from 1987

Vinyl (audiophile pressings)

• Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever 7″ single
• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (mono) on heavyweight vinyl
• Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (stereo) on heavyweight vinyl

Hard backed book with unseen photos/memorabilia etc (12x12inch)

Art Prints – Front cover, other Michael Cooper photos

Facsimile of recording sheets, handwritten lyrics, notes, etc

Reproduction of cardboard cut-outs

So there we have it. This 7-disc, double-vinyl set would be housed in a sturdy lift-off lid box (as per Pink Floyd). All CDs/DVDs/Blu-ray discs would come in individual digi-packs for on-shelf storage. Vinyl records sleeves would exactly replicate the original.

With this kind of spec, expect to pay over £100.

Expensive, yes. But a splendid time is guaranteed for all.