Did you know that “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were recorded during the sessions for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”? The songs were left off the album as The Beatles usually did not include songs released as singles on their British albums. George Martin later said he regretted the exclusion.
What if “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” had been included on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”? What would the running order have been? What tracks would have been excluded?
I’ve never been the biggest fan of “Fixing a Hole”, “She’s Leaving Home” or “When I’m Sixty-Four” so they were the ones to go to make room for the two additions. Plus I’ve put “All You Need Is Love” after “A Day in the Life”. After the crescendo and randomness at the climax of the latter track it ends the album on an optimistic note.
Original running order
Side one
1. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
2. “With a Little Help from My Friends”
3. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
4. “Getting Better”
5. “Fixing a Hole”
6. “She’s Leaving Home”
7. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!”
Side two
1. “Within You Without You”
2. “When I’m Sixty-Four”
3. “Lovely Rita”
4. “Good Morning Good Morning”
5. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
6. “A Day in the Life”
My running order
Side one
1. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
2. “With a Little Help from My Friends”
3. “Strawberry Fields Forever”
4. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
5. “Getting Better”
6. “Fixing a Hole”
7. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!”
Side two
1. “Within You Without You”
2. “Penny Lane”
3. “Good Morning Good Morning”
4. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
5. “A Day in the Life”
6. “All You Need Is Love”
Reblogged this on Espacio de MANON.