http://www.nme.com/news/oasis/27579

>> Oasis, The Killers to record new version of 'Sgt Pepper'

Oasis, The Killers and Kaiser Chiefs are to cover songs from The Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic album's release.

The original album was released on June 1, 1967 and to mark the event the big names will all be covering tracks from the record for a BBC2 special to be aired on June 2.

Razorlight, James Morrison, The Fratellis and Travis are among the other acts taking part.

The BBC reports that Geoff Emerick, the engineer in charge of the original sessions will use the same equipment to record the new versions.

Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said: "This will be not only a unique radio event, but a very special musical moment.

"The range and quality of artists involved ensure that this will be a fitting tribute to one of the great albums of all time."

There is no news yet on which track the artists concerned will cover. <<

As long as they don't involve The Spice Girls. That's all I ask.

No Spice Girls, but the Sugababes will be doing Within You Without You.



Obviously, I just made that up, but I can imagine they'd probably do a pretty good version, since they've done several Bhangra-influenced songs.

For some reason, I can imagine them doing Lovely Rita. Weird, but I can imagine it.

I wonder how many others are involved? Surely people would want to be involved in this? People like George Michael and Sadé would be interesting choices. I have no idea what songs they'd perform, but they're both interesting singers.

Just no Spice Girls. Please, God.

Speaking of Sgt. Pepper tributes, it's now the 19th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father, a benefit album released in the UK by New Music Express. I still have the LP, but have never found a CD version.

Three Wize Men - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
Wet Wet Wet - "With a Little Help from My Friends"
The Christians - "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"
The Wedding Present with Amelia Fletcher - "Getting Better"
Hue and Cry - "Fixing a Hole"
Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey - "She's Leaving Home"
Frank Sidebottom - "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"
Sonic Youth - "Within You Without You"
Courtney Pine - "When I'm Sixty-Four"
Michelle Shocked - "Lovely Rita"
The Triffids - "Good Morning Good Morning"
Three Wize Men - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"
The Fall - "A Day in the Life"

A double A-sided single featuring the Wet Wet Wet and Billy Bragg tracks was released and reached No. 1 in the UK charts.

This is someone's Photoshop work, not official art, but if Oasis release their song as a separate single they should make the sleeve something like this.

The NME has a big photo feature about this today, lots of pics of the musicians recording their Pepper cover versions while being overseen by Geoff Emerick:

http://www.nme.com/photos/1/138/0/bbc-r ... gt.-pepper

http://www.nme.com/news/oasis/28990

>> Noel Gallagher: 'I was embarrassed for Kaisers and Razorlight'

Oasis star Noel Gallagher has revealed which 'Sgt Pepper' track they have covered for a Radio 2 special - but he's not so keen on some of the other artist who have tackled songs from the LP.

Oasis have recorded 'Within You Without You to celebrate 40 years since the release of 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

The George Harrison-written song was specially chosen by brother Liam Gallagher, as Noel explained, "I said if Liam wants to do it, I'll do it, so he was up for it and decided he was going to pick the song. I just assumed he would say 'A Day In The Life', but he came back with Within You Without You , and I was like 'What? There's no guitars on it!'"

The tribute record also features the talents of Razorlight and Kaiser Chiefs.

Speaking of the difficulties the bands faced, recording with the original Abbey Road recording equipment, Noel expressed his opinion on the performances of fellow contemporaries Razorlight and Kaiser Chiefs.

He said: "I was watching Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight on the documentary and with the greatest respect to those two bands, it was embarrassing. I was embarrassed for them."

Speaking of why the record is so close to his heart, Noel revealed: "'Sgt Pepper' is special for me because I was born on the 29 May, and it came out on the 1 June. So when I was being born in St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, it was being played on hospital radio."

Meanwhile, 'Sgt Pepper''s 40th Anniversary special is on Radio 2 at 8pm on June 16. <<