It was written in the Beatles' Cavern Club days by Paul (so early 60s), BUT clearly it underwent many changes and the arrangements and lyrics were all substantially modified and perfected before being recorded for Sgt Pepper, to the point that it's hard to believe it was ever in the form of an early Beatles' number. To add to that, numerous experimental ideas were thrown in (for example not even singing the first quater of the first bridge such that it was only implied, which always felt weirdly disorientating), the use of clarinet, and the general comedy of the bells. On the contrary, it sounds manifestly like a later Paul number rather than something that came earlier. And is one of the cleverest later songs he did.

I think the main offender as far as Ringo songs go has to be 'Don't Pass Me By' on the White Album. It's just so mediocre... at least Octopus' Garden has that intro.

oh yeah and what is it they're singing at the beginning of 'With A Little Help...'? I always thought it sounded like 'give me cheese'...

Do 'Magical Mystery Tour' next please Mr. Moore, I demand it! 'There's a fog upon L.A...'

They are introducing a guy, Billy Shears, the "singer" of the band. Many conspiracy theorists see connections to the supposed death of Paul McCartney to that, since the supposed guy replacing him was a guy named William. Worked as a police officer in Canada, won a Paul look-a-like contest. This connects to a line in She Came In Through The Bathroom Window on Abbey Road, "And so I quit the police department, and got myself a steady job." Anyway, I'm rambling.

"So let me introduce to you, the one and only Billy Shears, of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band........Biiiiilllllyyy Sheeeeaarrrrs"

The Paul dying thing is possibly the most stupid thing of all time.

The fact that originally Strawberry Fields along with Penny Lane was slated to be included on the album only would have added to it's legendary status. The British Press had proclaimed the Beatles official void of ideas because it had been awhile since anything had come from them, but all was reveled upon their Historic short films of Strawberry Fields along with Penny Lane which debuted on Ed Sullivan. I believe that he said the Beatles can not be with us this evening due to them working on a new album, but they have sent us a couple of new songs to play! In my opinion Sgt. Pepper is the greatest pop album of all time.