We all know that John and Paul's song writing partnership was a generous cup that still ranneth over. Beatle friends and associates eagerly lapped up the saucerful of hits, and many became overnight pop sensations. This CD brings together 13 of these Lennon & McCartney classics.
Sgt. Pepper's Band manages to weave standard elements of each song with clever Beatle riffs and their own unique interpretation. Some of the tracks represent, in my opinion, the best-ever renditions of these songs.
The opening track, I Don't Want to see you again, is the first of four Peter & Gordon tunes, and is one of the best on the album. A Harrison-inspired slide guitar swoops in and around classic P&G-like harmonies, producing an upbeat and hauntingly beautiful rendition. I've added this to my list of things I can't get enough of...Sugar Crisp being the other ;-)
The tight and unique harmonies continue in Nobody I Know, a top notch cover version of this song. The What You're Doing riff is harbinger of things to come, as S.P.B. sprinkle familiar Beatle soundbits throughout the album.
The third track is a very Beatlesque version of That Means a Lot.
S.P.B.'s version of Woman beats the original recording hands down. It's very clean, like hearing Let it Be before Phil Spector. Again, the harmonies are great...I wonder if the band is also a Pink Floyd fan?
Next up is a slightly slowed down version of One and One is Two. The vocals are much better than the original Strangers with Mike Shannon recording. Nevertheless it is a fairly straight forward cover of a lesser known Lennon and McCartney tune.
The fourth and final Peter & Gordon number is World Without Love. This is perhaps the weakest track on a very strong album, and I still prefer the original recording, replete with it's cheesy organ. This version is slower, almost synchopated, and features a nice piano solo not to mention an appearance by the Nowhere Man
I'll be on my Way is the first of three Billy J. Kramer tracks and an excellent version it is! Billy J's original opens with a little How do you do it riff but S.P.B. pays tribute to Buddy Holly, fitting since it was he who obviously inspired Paul to pen this tune. The three familiar chords to Crying, Waiting, Hoping will tease and please, and I reckon this is how the Beatles would have chosen to record and release this track.
Up next is another tune made famous by Billy J. Kramer. Bad to Me is handled brilliantly and features an interesting Beach Boys-style harmony.
It's been awhile since I've had this much fun listening to a song...I spent at least half an hour reverse-engineering this next track. It's For You was originally recorded by Cilla Black in 1968, and there can be no disputing that the lady has a great set of pipes...how she didn't figure in a Bond soundtrack is beyond me. Nevertheless this richly, complex rendition is akin to a fine wine (or real ale!) with it's many moods and flavours. First of all there is a strong Come Together thread running throughout the song. Then there are the vocals...a dash of Three Dog Night, or is that the Hollies singing After the Fox!?. It's a bit saucy too...reminds me of the sultry Allanah Myles vocal on Black Velvet.
The fairly straight forward cover of I'm in Love (originally recorded by The Fourmost) is a good choice to follow It's For You....an opportunity to cleanse your palatte before tucking in to the next course.
Goodbye is the best the track on the album and we're treated to not one, but two, Beatle flashbacks! An acoustic guitar opens with a familiar lick from Flying, and leads nicely into the lyrics which Paul penned for Mary Hopkin all those years ago. The vocals, albeit male, are handled wonderfully and the bridge features an exquisite guitar solo. Sad to see it end, the song must, and does fade away - but not before sneaking in a little Wild Honey Pie.
The final Billy J. Kramer track, From a Window, is upbeat and very Rutlesque....I defy you not to grin out loud!
Last up is the title track, Come and Get It, containing what is perhaps another subtle nod to Abbey Road recording artists Pink Floyd. Paul wrote the tune for Badfinger, an Apple band (and one of my favourites), and it seems somehow fitting that a Pete Ham-related song should close out this album. As it happens, the last album I enjoyed as much as Come and Get It was Pete's 7 Park Ave, also reviewed below.
Review Summary
Title: Come and Get It
Artist: Sgt. Pepper's Band - Aggeu Marquesm, Marcos Gauguin, Jo Rocha, Beto Arreguy, Marcelo Carrato
Purchase: I am not aware of any stores or websites currently carrying it. However you can contact the band directly and find out how to obtain a copy. For more information on the band visit their Website.