On this day in 1967, The Beatles began recording for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

 In late 1965, after a hectic tour that saw controversy for the band and death threats, the band had understandably grown tired of live performance. They decided to take an extended break that saw  them focus on their own interests. During this time, McCartney reportedly tried LSD for  the first time, and his experience helped inspire the groups next album.

In November of 1966, he had the idea of a song involving and Edwardian-era military band, before deciding that The Beatle’s next album should represent a performance by the fictional band. He believed the fictional group would allow the band more freedom to experiment with their music and relieving some of the monotony that the group was feeling. The group was able to pull from a wide variety of influences, from the Beach Boys to traditional Indian instrumental music. 

On the 1st of February 1967, The Beatles met at EMI Studios to record the titular track for the album. They recorded 9 takes of the song, and by the end, McCartney had made the decision to make the song’s concept into a full album. The album’s recording would take until April to be completed, by which point the studio had become more of a clubhouse for the band, with psychedelic lighting and visits from friends like David Crosby and Mick Jagger.

The album was released on the 26th of May and immediately received rave reviews. It was widely regarded as the soundtrack for the “Summer of Love”, entrancing fans with its psychedelic theme. Critics were similarly impressed, with the album earning widespread critical acclaim. It has since gone on to become one of the most commercially successful albums of all time and topped many best album lists. It is also one of the 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to  be added to the National Recording Registry, for work considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”, reflecting the common opinion that the album is one of the most important and influential rock records ever released.