Shout! FactoryThe Beatles recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with deluxe reissues of the influential 1967 album. Now, September 26 sees the Blu-ray disc release of the star-studded 1978 film inspired by the record.
Produced by Robert Stigwood of Saturday Night Fever fame, the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band film starred Peter Frampton as the fictional Billy Shears, The Bee Gees as Shears’ band The Hendersons, and a wide variety of well-known actors and musicians.
More than 20 classic Beatles songs were performed by the various cast members, which included Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, George Burns and Steve Martin.
The Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band film was a commercial and critical failure when it was released; some even blamed it for ruining Frampton’s then red-hot music career. But it’s gained a cult following over the years, and is notable for the actors’ unique takes on the Fab Four’s memorable songs. For example, Earth, Wind & Fire’s take on “Got to Get You Into My Life” became a top 10 hit.
The tells the story of Shears and the Hendersons, who leave their quaint hometown of Heartland to seek fame and fortune as rock stars. While away, the mean Mr. Mustard steals the band’s magical instruments and proceeds to bring corruption and pollution to the town. Billy and his band mates then are tasked to return home to save Heartland.
The Blu-ray’s bonus features include the film’s theatrical trailer and audio commentary by pop-culture expert Russell Dyball.
Here are the songs featured in the film, along with the stars who performed them:
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — The Bee Gees and Paul Nicholas
“With a Little Help from My Friends” — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
“Here Comes the Sun” — Sandy Farina
“Getting Better” — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — Dianne Steinberg and Stargard
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” — The Bee Gees, Dianne Steinberg, Paul Nicholas, Donald Pleasence, Stargard
“Good Morning Good Morning” — Paul Nicholas, Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
“She’s Leaving Home” — The Bee Gees, Jay MacIntosh and John Wheeler
“You Never Give Me Your Money” — Paul Nicholas and Dianne Steinberg
“Oh! Darling” — Robin Gibb
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” — Steve Martin
“Polythene Pam” — The Bee Gees
“She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
“Nowhere Man” — The Bee Gees
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” — Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees
“Got to Get You into My Life” — Earth, Wind & Fire
“Strawberry Fields Forever” — Sandy Farina
“When I’m Sixty-Four” — Frankie Howerd and Sandy Farina
“Mean Mr. Mustard” — Frankie Howerd
“Fixing a Hole” — George Burns
“Because” — Alice Cooper and The Bee Gees
“Golden Slumbers” — — Peter Frampton
“Carry That Weight” — The Bee Gees
“Come Together” — Aerosmith
“Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” — Peter Frampton, The Bee Gees and George Burns
“The Long and Winding Road” — Peter Frampton
“A Day in the Life” — Barry Gibb and The Bee Gees
“Get Back” — Billy Preston
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Finale)” — Full cast
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