Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Legacy)

The Verdict:

  • Place 0: UK 1st (1967) Reference record is out of competition. Even though it sometimes lacks in detail and separation, it still is the most harmonic overall experience.
  • Place 1: UK 6th (1976). This I would call the audiophile version. More detail, slightly more pronounced bass and trebles while being faithful to the original. My to-go-to version.
  • Place 2: German 2nd cut (1967). It’s quite faithful to the original -1/-1 UK version, but the added bass on Side A provides just a bit of an extra punch.
  • Place 3: Japanese (1974). Very slightly reduced bass and considerably added treble, but offers great details.
  • Place 4: UK 5th (1971). Side A is same as UK 1st, Side 2 is quite close to UK 6th, though it has some rather disputable changes in the vocals’ perception.
  • Place 5: German 3rd cut (1979). In parts splendid, in parts rather weird, leading to somewhat artificial feel of the changed voice characteristics.