Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

When I found this Beatles album in a corner of Makati Cinema Square Manila, 1996, really I did not know that this album is a very special item. Until I read the review from Wikipedia as written below. Unfortunately that I found this long playing naked without it’s cover.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth album by The Beatles. It is often cited as their magnum opus and one of the most influential albums of all time by prominent critics and publications, ranking number 1 on Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003.

Upon release, Sgt. Pepper received both popular and critical acclaim. Various reviews appearing in the mainstream press and trade publications throughout June 1967, immediately after the album’s release, were generally quite positive. In The Times, prominent critic Kenneth Tynan described Sgt. Pepper as “a decisive moment in the history of Western civilization.” Others including Richard Poirier, and Geoffrey Stokes were similarly expansive in their praise, Stokes noting, “listening to the Sgt. Pepper album one thinks not simply of the history of popular music but the history of this century.” Thank God, I have this album.*

Track list:

Side one
1.”Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – 2:04
2.”With a Little Help from My Friends” – 2:46
3.”Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” – 3:30
4.”Getting Better” – 2:49
5.”Fixing a Hole” – 2:38
6.”She’s Leaving Home” – 3:37
7.”Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” – 2:37

Side two
1.”Within You Without You” (George Harrison) – 5:07
2.”When I’m Sixty-Four” – 2:37
3.”Lovely Rita” – 2:44
4.”Good Morning Good Morning” – 2:43
5.”Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” – 1:20
6.”A Day in the Life” – 5:33
*

Appreciating Children Songs

Children song is not a sexy business for music industry. While pop music like Kangen-ist is spreading like wild grass, music for children is very rare. We have ever a talented singer Sherina, but she is now a teenager and newly released a teenager-pop-album. Since children songs are rare, actually we have to appreciate every single children-song album. Look at this album, there are at least two songs which have cacthy melodies. Actually, who has to encourage children-song production? Government? May be. Since children-song actually is for education purpose, not merely as matter of business.*

Bubi Chen and His Fabulous Five

This album by the most prominent Indonesian pianist Bubi Chen is noted by Rolling Stone magazine on the end of 2007 as one of 150 Best Indonesian Album. Thank to Rolling Stone magazine, I bought this long play newly on January 2008. Don’t imagine that this album is about mainstream jazz, but it is more likely jazz-chachacha playing famous songs composed by non-Indonesian composer. If you are truly jazz lover, you should have this historical album for Indonesia jazz history.*

Track list
Side one:
1. Begin the Beguine (Cole Porter)
2. Sakura (traditional)
3. Perfidia (A. Dominguez)
4. Come Back to Sorriento (De Curtis)
5. Moon River (Mercer-Mancini)
6. The World of Suzie Wong

Side two:
1. Torero (Carosone)
2. To Be or Not to Be (d’ Esposito)
3. Bali Hai (Roger Hammerstein II)
4. Nanatsu Noko (traditional)
5. La Paloma (Yradier)
6. Come Back to Me (Martin)

Album: Bubi Chen and His Fabulous Five
Musicians: Bubi Chen (piano), Jack Lemmers (guitar), AT Asni (drums), Sarono (bass), Nien (bamboo)
Producer: Irama Record
Liner note: Wienaktoe
Cover design: Pandji Kamal