I never got it. How come Sgt Pepper, of all the Beatles' albums, is considered such a pop masterpiece? No, not a pop masterpiece- a work of art? During the late 60s, there were a handful of albums that revolutionised the soundscape of the period : `Trout Mask Replica', `The Velvet Underground with Nico', 'Astral Weeks', `Pet Sounds','The Band' and the Dylan triumverate: 'Bringing it all Back Home', 'Blonde on Blonde' and 'Highway 61 Revisited.' Let's not forget the umpteen psychedelic one-offs by garage bands captured on the Nuggets compilations. Sgt. Pepper don't even come close to those. The songs are mostly trite, silly, and boring. Even Macca's Frog Chorus thing some years back had a more memorable tune than most of the tracks on here. There are a few that are okay.' With A Little Help From My Friends' is pleasant enough, although Cocker's version is far superior - and that is hardly meant as a recommendation. 'Getting Better' is listenable. The rest are excruciating. `She's Leaving Home' just has to be the most sentimental tosh you will ever here in your life. It's a wonder Cilla Black never covered it. `Lucy...' and `A Day in the Life' are the only songs that stand up to scrutiny.

It may appear as if I have no time for the Beatles. Not true. I think the Fab Four are one of the finest pop groups of the 60s and I heartily recommend such classics as `Abbey Road' and `A Hard Day's Night.' Sgt Pepper, however, I hate. I even hate the cover, which is fussy and scrappy. The photographic portraits of Robert Freeman are far more striking and pleasing to the eye.