Once you find that one special piece of media that seems to have it all, you have to wonder, “Imagine if I hadn’t found this.” Gold nuggets like this are everywhere, especially in the Robert Stigwood film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The appeal? Several talented artists putting their twist on Beatles songs, with the Bee Gees standing out as one of the best.
Stigwood served as manager of the Bee Gees and had a big appreciation for the Beatles. So much so that he produced a Broadway show called Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. But Stigwood wanted to see it on the big screen and recruited big talent to fuel the Beatlemania, with the Bee Gees especially bringing their best work.
Sgt. Pepper celebrates the Beatles
Stigwood has served as manager of Cream, the Bee Gees, and Andy Gibb, brother to Bee Gees members. He also loved the Beatles and bought the rights to 29 Beatles songs to turn Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band into a film in ‘78. Stigwood spared no expense and recruited Earth, Wind & Fire, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, and of course the Bee Gees to cover Beatles songs.
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The Bee Gees, along with Peter Frampton, lead an ensemble cast telling the story of a band up against the ills of the music industry plus evildoers trying to destroy the band. The accompanying double album features songs originally written and performed by the Beatles. As a film, it was a very humble box office success but was slammed by critics.
The Bee Gees covering the Beatles still stand out
So, it’s easy to miss Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. But that means missing unique collaborations featuring Steve Martin, who the same year released the double platinum comedy album A Wild and Crazy Guy, and Billy Preston, the only non-Beatles musician to be credited on a Beatles recording by the band’s own request.
It also means missing out on a truly standout performance by the Bee Gees. Though, thankfully, enough people appreciated their cover of “A Day In The Life,” that the band released it as a single, so more people can enjoy Barry Gibb’s falsetto interpretation. Have you heard the song before? Experience it for the first time or enjoy it all over again below!