SGT. PEPPER RINGO (Room 318)
SGT. PEPPER RINGO (Room 318)
Ringo’s contribution to Pepper was as singer of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ which some believed summed up Ringo’s life precisely! Largely a McCartney composition, assisted by John who added a few of the lines. This song was later recorded by Joe Cocker, who gave it a much rougher and rockier treatment, which resulted in a Number One Worldwide Hit. Peter Blake was responsible for designing the sleeve and for him it has turned out to be somewhat of a mixed blessing. As perhaps Britain’s greatest Pop artist, his other work has been unfairly overshadowed by his design of the most famous album cover in the history of popular music. Peter’s wife, Jann, came up with the idea that if Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band were an imaginary band (as Paul had told them) then the cover should depict an imaginary audience watching them. Each of The Beatles were asked for a list of people who should be on the cover. Paul’s list included Fred Astaire and William Burroughs. John’s list was more controversial and he initially chose Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler, which were rejected at a later date. George insisted that there should be some Indian gurus represented on the cover. The list was getting longer and ultimately there were over 60 icons, including the Madam Tussaud’s wax work dummies of John, Paul, George and... Ringo. What was Ringo’s contribution to the cover? In inimitable style he just told Peter Blake he’d go along with everybody else’s’ choices! The record label were horrified when the bill came in for the cover, £2,867 15 shillings and 3d. Of that Peter Blake received two hundred pounds for the photograph that was eventually used. For other top bands EMI would expect to pay twenty five and thirty pounds for the cover of an album, The Beatles had torn up the rule book and were now making their own rules. With the benefit of hindsight, the price EMI paid for the most famous cover of all time, was an absolute snip!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
SGT. PEPPER RINGO (Room 318)
Ringo’s contribution to Pepper was as singer of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ which some believed summed up Ringo’s life precisely! Largely a McCartney composition, assisted by John who added a few of the lines. This song was later recorded by Joe Cocker, who gave it a much rougher and rockier treatment, which resulted in a Number One Worldwide Hit. Peter Blake was responsible for designing the sleeve and for him it has turned out to be somewhat of a mixed blessing. As perhaps Britain’s greatest Pop artist, his other work has been unfairly overshadowed by his design of the most famous album cover in the history of popular music. Peter’s wife, Jann, came up with the idea that if Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band were an imaginary band (as Paul had told them) then the cover should depict an imaginary audience watching them. Each of The Beatles were asked for a list of people who should be on the cover. Paul’s list included Fred Astaire and William Burroughs. John’s list was more controversial and he initially chose Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler, which were rejected at a later date. George insisted that there should be some Indian gurus represented on the cover. The list was getting longer and ultimately there were over 60 icons, including the Madam Tussaud’s wax work dummies of John, Paul, George and... Ringo. What was Ringo’s contribution to the cover? In inimitable style he just told Peter Blake he’d go along with everybody else’s’ choices! The record label were horrified when the bill came in for the cover, £2,867 15 shillings and 3d. Of that Peter Blake received two hundred pounds for the photograph that was eventually used. For other top bands EMI would expect to pay twenty five and thirty pounds for the cover of an album, The Beatles had torn up the rule book and were now making their own rules. With the benefit of hindsight, the price EMI paid for the most famous cover of all time, was an absolute snip!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
SGT. PEPPER RINGO (Room 318)
Ringo’s contribution to Pepper was as singer of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ which some believed summed up Ringo’s life precisely! Largely a McCartney composition, assisted by John who added a few of the lines. This song was later recorded by Joe Cocker, who gave it a much rougher and rockier treatment, which resulted in a Number One Worldwide Hit. Peter Blake was responsible for designing the sleeve and for him it has turned out to be somewhat of a mixed blessing. As perhaps Britain’s greatest Pop artist, his other work has been unfairly overshadowed by his design of the most famous album cover in the history of popular music. Peter’s wife, Jann, came up with the idea that if Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band were an imaginary band (as Paul had told them) then the cover should depict an imaginary audience watching them. Each of The Beatles were asked for a list of people who should be on the cover. Paul’s list included Fred Astaire and William Burroughs. John’s list was more controversial and he initially chose Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler, which were rejected at a later date. George insisted that there should be some Indian gurus represented on the cover. The list was getting longer and ultimately there were over 60 icons, including the Madam Tussaud’s wax work dummies of John, Paul, George and... Ringo. What was Ringo’s contribution to the cover? In inimitable style he just told Peter Blake he’d go along with everybody else’s’ choices! The record label were horrified when the bill came in for the cover, £2,867 15 shillings and 3d. Of that Peter Blake received two hundred pounds for the photograph that was eventually used. For other top bands EMI would expect to pay twenty five and thirty pounds for the cover of an album, The Beatles had torn up the rule book and were now making their own rules. With the benefit of hindsight, the price EMI paid for the most famous cover of all time, was an absolute snip!
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON