You probably can picture the album cover — or at least the image of John, Paul, George and Ringo dressed up in vivid band uniforms.
1967’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was the Beatles eighth studio album and remains one of the most enduring in pop culture, thanks to its fusion of complex songs and art.
Now you can listen to the album — live — in its entirety.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Jeans ‘n Classics will come together to perform “Sgt. Pepper” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, and at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 3 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
“The music of the Beatles is arguably some of the most important music in the last century, and it undoubtedly changed the course of rock and pop music forever,” said Stephen Squires, the orchestra’s resident conductor. “The sheer breadth and variety of style and the creative force evident has made these songs timeless.”
The orchestra and Jeans ‘n Classics will be tackling one of the Fab Four’s most iconic and influential records.
“As for ‘Sgt. Pepper,’ it is one of a handful of albums from the ’60s that really propelled pop/rock music forward as a fully legitimate art form,” Squires said. “We will recreate the exact ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album, in order.”
The program includes a “bunch of Beatle bonuses” as well.
“Literally a treasure trove of riches in terms of great songs from other albums — ‘Penny Lane,’ ‘Back in the U.S.S.R.,’ ‘The Long and Winding Road,’ ‘Yesterday,’ ‘Imagine’ and many more,” he said. “(And an) awesome encore of ‘Hey Jude’ at the end.”
For 23 years, Jeans ‘n Classics has been teaming up its rock musicians with more than 100 orchestras throughout North America, interpreting the music of legendary rock and pop artists with its own flair. The group has created nearly 1,000 pop and rock orchestrations for its 45 different productions. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with Jeans ‘n Classics many times over the years.
“They are the ultimate professionals — great charts, great musicians and great people,” Squires said. This marks his fourth show he’s conducted with Jeans ‘n Classics and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
Squires said the most challenging thing about this concert also happens to be his favorite thing about this concert: The music is extremely well-known and loved.
“So, on one hand, it is like you are starting up a conversation with an old friend who you know so well — it’s like the years since you last spoke don’t exist,” Squires said. “On the other hand, when performing music like this that is in everyone’s subconscious, you better get it right, because if you don’t, everybody will know.”
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Many grew up with the music of the Beatles as part of the soundtrack of their lives.
“On a personal note, a favorite thing for me is that my all-time favorite Beatles song is on the show: ‘The Long and Winding Road,'” Squires said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Whether you experienced Beatlemania firsthand or are just discovering the Lads from Liverpool for the first time, the concert offers something for everyone.
“I hope they experience a really comforting sense of musical nostalgia — after all this music is now past the age of 50,” Squires said. “For people hearing this wonderful music for the first time, I hope they appreciate this true slice of brilliance and greatness from our musical past.”
Masks and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination are required for all attendees.
Elgin Symphony Orchestra ‘Sgt. Pepper’ Concert
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 (Skokie); 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 3 p.m. Feb. 20 (Elgin)
Where: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie; Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
Tickets: $10-$70
Information: elginsymphony.org
Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.