Classic Album Sundays is the world’s most popular listening experience and Kansas City is proud to be part of it. Classic Album Sundays provides an immersive experience where you will not only hear the story behind the album but will also hear it in a way you never have before on world-class hi-fi equipment.
On June 25th, Classic Album Sundays KC will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” with two listening sessions (Noon and 3pm). Come experience this iconic album as we discover why it has had such an impact on pop and rock music. PLEASE NOTE: NO PASSES FOR THIS SHOW. We expect both shows to sell out, but if they are still available, tickets at the door will be $10. If you attend the Noon show we will have to clear the room before the 3pm show, however, you are welcome to move over to the restaurant side and continue the fun!
The Beatles Break
After releasing nearly two records a year since 1963 and touring with the frustration of not being able to hear themselves play due to bad PA’s and the ridiculously loud screaming of the audience, The Beatles decided to retire from life on the road and took a well-deserved break in 1966. Ringo retreated to family life, George to India, John attended art galleries in London meeting Yoko in the process and Paul went to Kenya with girlfriend Jane Asher and on the return journey came up with the concept for their next album. Maybe in response to The Beatles monstrous success and as a way to distance themselves from the pressures of mega stardom, he decided they should create a fictional band. Inspired by some of the contemporary long-winded band names like Country Joe and the Fish, Paul came up with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
129 Days
Returning to the studio in November, the band started by recording their next single “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields” which set the child-like vision and psychedelic tone for the ensuing album. In comparison with recording their debut “Please Please Me” in about 1o hours, the Beatles spent 129 days in the studio making the masterpiece that would forever change pop music.
Studio Wizardry
Their producer George Martin was game and together they experimented and did things that were not normally done on pop records. The stories abound such as the random tape montage of the circus on “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” and the recording of the masked orchestra for “A Day in the Life”. And it was all done on two four tracks with Martin heavily utilizing the process of “bouncing down”. This process would be much imitated until the advent of 8-track, 16-track and later 24-track recorders.
Psychedelia
The production was only one of the ways in which the album was groundbreaking. Regarding the songwriting, some of the songs were influenced by psychedelics as the bandmembers had started experimenting with LSD. It was also visually stimulating as it was the first album to print the lyrics, one of the first pop records to have a gatefold sleeve and also came with a set of cardboard cut-outs, not to mention Peter Blake’s famous record cover. Because of its significant impact, it was the first rock album to receive the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Join us for Sunday lunch, order a pizza, maybe a beer, and listen to music that either inspired or was relevant to this classic LP, then the lights go down, the volume goes up and we play the featured album from beginning to end on vinyl over a world-class sound system. You won’t believe what you can hear!
Audio Menu: Audio Note Turntable setup - TT1 Turntable, Deluxe Arm 3, IQ3 cartridge; Audio Note Ankoru Amplifiers and M5 Phono pre-amplifier; Audio Note interconnects and cabling, Klipsch La Scala II loudspeakers, Klipsch R-115SW subwoofers
Classic Album Sundays - Kansas City
Blackbird Home Theater, The Tap Room @ Waldo Pizza, Klipsch, and Audio Note UK.
Tickets $5 in Advance - $10 at the door (if available)
