The title says it all. If you haven't bought this CD/Album yet where the heck have you been? DO yourself a favor and Buy this sucker now as your soul may depend on it!

In classical music, there is Bach, who they are wont to say wrote the rules of composition in stone for all composers to follow. Many composers, in their own era and idiom followed, and were judged accordingly.

I believe that Sgt. Pepper is similar in that respect: that the laws of a well thought-out rock album are subconsciously manifest in "Pepper..." for all that follow in their own era and idiom.

Even if the Beatles have claimed it was not thought to be any sort of true concept record, there is a mood to the album that is uncanny in its dramatic progression. The songs, beginning with a band concert fade dream-like into realms of imagination, joy, regrets, nostalgia, sexual fantasy, and even self-exploration. Then, "A Day in the Life" is a jolt of sobering realism with the ending multi-octave G chord, resonating with depth and revelation.

History brings us many firsts that must stand the test of time. Those that survive are the cornerstones of which civilization and culture are founded upon. "Sgt. Pepper..." will forever be exhaulted because it is a standing stone in the history of music where rock music owed up to its classical past.

Of course this album is overrated, any album that sells this much is, just like Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. But in the first place, they are usually still fantastic, why else should they become so great.
The title track, 'with a little help', 'lovely rita', 'good morning', 'within you without you' and 'a day in the life' are classics, both of The Beatles catalogue, & of the psychedelic era, & to top it all, there's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', one of three or four best Beatles songs ever (all of these 3/4 are Lennon!). Still, the album has some minor flaws, the largest (but not that its big) being 'When I'm Sixty-Four'. like other of mccartney's songs on the more ambitious Beatles albums, its simply too neat & happily-ever-after-like. But as a song it really works.
Still, the album peaks when it harks back to 'Revolver' tracks like 'Tomorrow Never Knows', with 'Lucy' and 'Within You Without You' being the best examples. It's these psychedelic masterpieces that perfect the album, though the rest of it would be strong enough to stand the test of time on its own.