Rock superstars to cover Sgt. Pepper for charity.

I have never really been a huge fan of cover albums.  If I want to hear an album I usually opt for the original.  It is few and far between that the covers even come close to capturing the original.  This project seems different somehow though.  What hasn’t been said about Sgt. Pepper?  It is the apex of the rock album.  It is a summit that few attempt to climb.  I think it is interesting to even attenpt this record.  I’m most excited to hear what the artists do with the songs.  There are so many different ways that they coulg go with a Pepper cover record.  Do they play it safe and try to reproduce it closely? Or, do they try to reinvent them completely different. 

A Pepper covers record is a double edged sword.  Do you try to pay homage, or attempt to reinvent a masterpiece?  Where is that line between homage to heroes, and making something completely unlistenable.  I mean it would be like remaking The Godfather.  I look forward to hearing this with mild curiosity. 

Here’s what we’ve read.

Rock bands are to cover tracks from the Beatles’ ground-breaking 1967 “Sgt. Pepper” album to mark its 40th anniversary in a special BBC radio show, the broadcaster said on Friday.

Oasis, The Killers and Razorlight are among those who will take part in recording sessions for the BBC Radio 2 programme to be aired on June 2, a day after the anniversary.

Other bands covering songs from the acclaimed album include James Morrison, The Fratellis, Travis and the Kaiser Chiefs.

The album, whose full name is “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, was released in Britain on June 1, 1967.

It is often hailed by critics as the greatest album ever recorded.

It was named as Britain’s second-best selling album ever in a survey published in 2005 by the Official UK Charts Company.

The bands will be playing under the supervision of audio engineer Geoff Emerick, who won a Grammy for his work on the original album, recorded at London’s Abbey Road studios.

“We are going to use the original one-inch four-track equipment,” Emerick told the Times.

“We had a mixing desk with eight inputs and the drums were recorded in mono.

“We have borrowed the original mixing desk from Mark Knopfler’s studio and we will complete the recordings at Abbey Road,” he added.

Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said: “The range and quality of artists involved ensure that this will be a fitting tribute to one of the great albums of all time.”

Source: Reuters