Heralded upon its release as The Beatles’ masterpiece, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was issued in the UK on 1 June 1967.
It was released as PMC 7027 (mono) and PCS 7027 (stereo). A 4″ reel-to-reel tape was also issued in 1967, with the catalogue number TA-PMC 7027 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape).
Sgt Pepper entered the UK charts on 3 June 1967. The following week it was at number one, where it remained for 23 weeks. It returned to the top spot for another week on 25 November, for two weeks from 23 December, and for a final week on 3 February 1968. In all it spent 148 consecutive weeks in the charts.
The album sold more than 250,000 copies in the UK in its first week of release, and by the end of June had sold over half a million. Sgt Pepper remains in the top 10 best-selling albums of all time, both in the UK and worldwide.
A question that has been with me for years. Where exactly did Paul get the idea the name Sgt Pepper? When I see the OPP crest on his arm in Album, I think of a good friend of the family, Ran and June Pepper. Like my father Ran was an OPP police officer as well. At work he held the rank of Sergeant. I should have asked his late wife or him many years ago but never got around to it and have often wondered if there was a connection with the OPP crest, the Album name and the Sergeant Pepper I knew? Tks
bob needham
PS Thanks guys for the great memories and songs
Salt and pepper-Sergeant Pepper! Paul and Mal Evans were on a plane flying back from the States and there was salt and pepper for the passengers. Paul being Paul played around with the words ‘salt and pepper’ until he came up with Sergeant Pepper!
This is incorrect. Sgt Pepper was released on May 26 in the UK and June 2 in the US.
The May 26th UK release was only partial, although I don’t know how extensive ‘partial’ means in this instance. It was available nationwide from June 1st, and that is why the band’s own website and Apple Corps give the release date as June 1st.
I bought the album on 26th may 1967.
The album entered the official album chart (being the Record Retailer chart) on the week commencing 28th May. It entered at No. 8 presumably based on sales of 1 or maybe 2 days.
http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19670528/7502/
The album also entered the NME chart at No. 1 on its album chart dated 31st May.
I have an original 3 1/4 ips twin track mono tape record with 1967 printed on the back.
it was on Parlophone label and produced by George Martin. code TA-PMC 7027 – publishers Northern Songs; NCB the reel has EMI on it. The white leader intro tape has the name of the album printed on it