Song 100 - Lucy in the sky with diamonds - The Beatles

Song 100 and yes we are back to the Beatles, I wanted to keep along the lines of diamonds and what better song then Lucy in the sky with diamonds, taken from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I mean how can you not feel relaxed with the opening line: Picture yourself in a boat on river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies.

Although credited to both Lennon and McCartney, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, is said to be a Lennon led song. John, himself, said that he had been inspired by a painting that Julian (his son) came back with from nursery with the same title, that he painted with his friend, Lucy.

Although in the years since the song was released, many have said the song is about LCD, Lennon and McCartney has both firmly denied this, saying the song had more to do with their love of Alice in Wonderland. Another myth surrounding this record is that it was banned by the BBC because of the apparent meaning of it. This is not true and it was played on BBC radio in May 1967.

Lucy in the sky with diamonds is the third track on the critically acclaimed album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which was the Beatles' 8th studio album. Released in 1967, it stayed at the top of the album chart for 27 weeks in the UK and 10 weeks in the US. The album would win 4 Grammys, including best album, which was the first time a pop album had won this award.

Most of the song is in a simple triple metre (3/4 time), but the chorus is in 4/4 time. The song modulates between musical keys, A major for verses, B Flat major for the pre-chrous and G major for the chorus. Lennon sings it over an increasingly complicated underlying arrangement which feature tamboura played by George Harrison, who also plays the lead electric guitar put through a leslie speaker. Then McCartney is playing a counter melody on a Lowrey organ, taped with a special organ stop sounding, like a celeste.

 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band moved The Beatles into a more experimental period with their  music and it is said that the idea of creating the Edwardian band, was to allow them the freedom to explore new music style and influences. The album itself is in the number 3 in the best selling albums in the UK  ever.

The song itself has been covered by a variety of artists. Perhaps the most famous artist was Elton John in 1974, as Elton worked with John Lennon on his version of the song. Elton John would take the song to No. 1 in the US Chart.

To hear about Lucy in the sky;
Lucy in the sky with diamonds by The Beatles


Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Released: 1967.