Robyn Hitchcock - Sgt. Pepper - London 2007 (Internet Archive)

This may well prove to be a recording that divides opinion into love, or hate camps, like no other we have featured. From the Internet Archive this is Robyn Hitchcock back on the 1st July 2007, live at the Three Kings Pub in Clerkenwell, London. Why the love or hate thing? Well for some fans of The Beatles, doing a full cover version of the Sgt. Pepper album, and in your own style and interpretation may prove a step to far. I have always admired The Beatles music, however when I came across this, I was fascinated and I have to say incredibly impressed.

For those not familiar with Robyn, this is the introduction from Wikipedia - Robyn Rowan Hitchcock (born 3 March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar. Coming to prominence in the late 1970s with The Soft Boys, Hitchcock afterward launched a prolific solo career. His musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Syd Barrett. Hitchcock's lyrics tend to include surrealism, comedic elements, characterisations of English eccentrics, and melancholy depictions of everyday life.

He was signed to two major American labels (A&M Records, then Warner Bros.) over the course of the 1980s and 1990s, but mainstream success has been limited. He has earned strong critical reviews over a steady stream of album releases and live performances, and a "cult following" for his songs. More details (here).

Robyn is accompanied by some superb musicians and the approach to the music is both in good humour and yet with a real attempt to make something special with the material. Perhaps it helped performing in a well respected pub, (with a strong tradition for excellent beers) and clearly the audience are loving this performance in what is a small club style environment. I think Robyn's voice just lends itself to the material, the band nail it and morphing into 'The Midnight Hour' during 'Good Morning Good Morning' really is something else.

Recording Details: Source AUD -> Edirol R09 Lineage SP-CMC-2 -> Edirol R09 -> Audition 2.0 -> FLAC.

Sound Quality: Excellent quality audience source, this is clean and crisp throughout.

Set List:

01 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
02 With a Little Help from My Friends
03 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
04 Getting Better
05 Fixing a Hole
06 She's Leaving Home
07 Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
08 Within You Without You
09 When I'm Sixty-Four
10 Lovely Rita
11 Good Morning Good Morning
12 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13 A Day in the Life
14 Strawberry Fields Forever
15 Penny Lane
16 Sunny Afternoon
17 Waterloo Sunset
18 Are You Experienced
19 Hey Bulldog
20 Kingdom of Love
21 All You Need Is Love

Comments: This can be obtained in MP3, Flac, and Ogg Vorbis formats over at the Internet Archive (here).

Website: Official (here).

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