[Crowbob]

"The idea all along had been to record something unified and continuous, like a novel or film-a scapbook, rather, since the theme originally was the Beatles' own Liverpool childhood...'It (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) was Paul's number' George Martin says, 'Just an ordinary song, not particular brilliant as songs go. When we'd finishd it, Paul said, 'Why don't we make the whole album as though the Pepper Band really existed, as though Sargeant Pepper was doing the record. We can dub in effects and things.' From that moment on, it was as if Pepper had a life of its own.'..."It (the album cover) was further unique in opening out like a book, and in having the song lyrics printed in full on the back. Inside with the record was as sheet of cut-out novelties, figments of the Beatles. own comic-book childhood transformed to the last, or next, word in POP Art-a Sergeant Pepper picture card, a paper mustache, two badges and a set of NCO's stripes." 'SHOUT! The Beatles In Their Generation by Phillip Norman, p 288; p 291.

Incidentally, I do have an original Sgt. Pepper album set described above.