ON June 1, 1967, The Beatles released Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine said: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important rock & roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the greatest rock & roll group of all time."

Many millions have listened to the album which will celebrate its' 50th birthday on June 1.

The County Gazette ask three people who have never listened to the album to give their opinions on Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This is what they said: First up was Emma Webber, marketing and communications manager at The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton.

Somerset County Gazette:

It was 50 years ago today…..

I was -five when this seminal album was released and bar a brief spell in my early 20s have not really been a big Beatles fan (more of a Rolling Stone fan really!). Anyway, I was delighted to be set the “challenge” to listen to the album and give my honest feedback track by track.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

A scorcher, the guitar riff is gorgeous and the up-tempo vocals are a perfect party-starter.

With a little Help from My friends

A warm, good natured song that brings a smile to my face. Does remind me of ‘Wet Wet Wet’ though!

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

A glittering gem and my favourite. More ‘Alice in Wonderland’ than LSD in my opinion. A stand-out.

Getting Better

Love the mix of pessimism and optimism. A beautiful summary of what I presume were Paul & John’s different outlooks on life at the time.

Fixing a Hole

This one is about drugs and not DIY. On first listen I thought “a filler track” but on second (and third) perhaps an underrated gem.

She’s Leaving Home

Beautiful writing and storytelling throughout. Perfect harmonies and love the addition of the harp. Loved it from start to finish.

Being for the Benefit of Mr.Kite

Feels a bit of a throwaway and certainly my least favourite song on the album.

Within You Without You  

This is hypnotic and trance-like and a noticeably different in style to the rest. George is singing calmly and meditatively like some wise sage but not my cup of tea in 2017.

When I’m Sixty Four

Cheery and light-hearted and reminds me of Esther Rantzen and her team!

Lovely Rita

Reminds me of a good ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink’ song with cheeky lyrics!

Good Morning Good Morning

Sounds like a bad cereal commercial but the lyrics are of the sneering banality of everyday life. Not sure.

A Day in the Life

A complex and full song. Starts dream like, has a grounded middle section and then comes the orchestra that is one of the best uses of an orchestras in modern pop music that I have heard. Ps. Amazing drumming from Ringo.

Impressions

I was surprised at how it sounds so fresh still. It’s inventive, full of colour, ideas, stories and different sounds. It’s fun and playful but no frivolous pop fluff! A definite to be added to my playlist.

Next was Mark Watts who owns and runs The Spud-Shack on Fore Street in Taunton.

Somerset County Gazette:

He said: So when I'm not cooking Jacket potatoes or cooking hot pork rolls I also play in a an original rock group, so she asked if I had listened to the full Beatles LP, I must say, I was a little embarrassed to say I had not listened to it in full, rather just (probably) the hits, but what an excuse.

So, I've now listened (3 times and counting) if full, quite a change from the last two records I've been listening to in full (Christine and the Queens and Rag n Bone man) What's first worth saying is that, my word, it doesn't sons 50 years old, it's timeless, the recording and structure of each song is so clever, it's probably as good now as when it came out, anyway, lets go through each track.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Has a lovely beat and drive. The extra instruments in it makes it unusual.

With a little help from my friends

What a song, when you listen to the words, I can relate to it myself and nice to hear Ringo sing.

Lucy in the Sky with DIiamonds

A song I sing at karaoke as I can sing it very high pitched, a fun song, but not one of my favourites.

Getting Better

I don't think it's one of the hits, but truth be told, one of my favourite songs on the LP.

Fixing a Hole

Maybe one more my least favourite song.

She's Leaving Home

A classic, such a sad song, with maybe the best intro of the whole LP Being for the Benefit of Mr.Kite Not a track I'd heard before, and truth be told, could have stayed that way.

Within You Without You

One of the longer tracks and great to hear instruments not normally used in rock music, that said, it's clever with the vocal lines, but isn't really a song for me.

When I'm 64

Always loved this song from learning it in music classes at school. The only scary thing is, 64 now doesn't seem old! - cracking production throughout the song.

Lovely Rita

I know the song from playing it as a cover in one of the bands I once was in, but I've never liked it much.

Good Morning, Good Morning

I can hear how Blur were influenced by this song, but not one I think I've heard before but has now become a favourite of mine.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)

What great drum beats, could have been written and released now.

A Day in the Life

My favourite song on the whole LP.

John Lennon at his best even if it does have weird bits.

And finally, County Gazette, sports reporter, Paul Martin.

Somerset County Gazette:

He said:

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Even a Beatles novice such as myself had heard this one before. It’s catchy and has aged well, but canned laughter and applause? Surely the most influential band of all time should be above all that nonsense.

With a little help from my friends

Another classic, though shamefully I think the first time I ever heard it was when Sam & Mark of Pop Idol fame covered it in 2004. Needless to say, the original is superior.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Interesting one this. The verses have an edgy Tame Impala vibe about them (and yes, I detest myself for using those words non-ironically) which I like – I wonder if you had to be a chin-stroking hipster to appreciate the Beatles in their prime in the same way you do to be a fan of the aforementioned Australians nowadays?

Getting Better

Did a bit of reading up on this as the song rather passed me by, and rumour has it this track was named because it was the assessment Jimmie Nicol, filling in for an ill Ringo Starr, would always give of his performances on stage. For such a famously creative band, that’s an admirably literal way of choosing a song title.

Fixing a Hole

Enjoyed this one more than most of the others, though I lack the musical expertise to pinpoint quite why.

She’s leaving home

There was me thinking this album represented the summer of love – there’s only betrayal in this downbeat number. Suppose even in the swinging ‘60s there had to be a dose of gritty realism somewhere, but bonus points for the harp.

Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite

From what I did know of the Beatles before listening to this album, their imagination and innovation was what really set them apart. That is certainly true with this, which is up there with the best on the album for my money.

When I’m 64

To paraphrase the great Barry Davies, what a contrast to the previous song. This is another that, having not been brought up on the moon, I’d heard before, but it’s a song I’ve never been a huge fan of.

Lovely Rita

I’ve always had time for bands whose singers retain their regional accents in their songs – one of several reasons Arctic Monkeys were better in their early days. It is for that reason that the way Paul McCartney’s scouse twang breaks through as he chimes the words ‘little white book’ is the highlight of this track for me.

Good morning good morning

My extensive research reveals this was used in the Corn Flakes advert in 1967, though I’m still not sure that explains all the animals that intrude at the end.

Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)

I’m not comparing the two by any means but, in the same way the Beatles are renowned for their innovation, one of the most ‘creative’ bands of my childhood were Gorillaz.

In their debut album, they hid a remix of an earlier song way down the album despite the fact the later one is better than the original. For 19/2000 (Soulchild remix) read Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise).

A Day in the Life

I get all sorts of abuse for not being a fan of Bohemian Rhapsody, but it is for similar reasons I’m unsure on this album-ending track; there’s so much going on, it’s like five songs crammed into one.

Impressions:

In all, I’m conflicted. I’m glad I’ve finally got round to hearing it, and can appreciate why it made such an impact at the time. The influence it has had on so much of what has followed over the past half a century cannot be understated – by all accounts, this was the first album to show musicians that anything was possible and encourage them to experiment. That said, whether it is simply my ignorance or the fact I’ve just never really ‘got’ the Beatles in a way others have, I won’t be rushing back for another listen.