"We didn't have tape synchronizers. It was hit or miss," Martin said.

His presentation included a number of video clips, as well as interviews with McCartney, Harrison, Starr and Martine himself talking about the insanity, occasionally drug-induced, of the Abbey Road Studios during the recording sessions for the Sgt. Pepper album.

Martin also played a number of rare Beatles recordings that showed the evolution of well-known Beatles songs like "She's Leaving Home" and "Strawberry Fields Forever."

Martin also cleared up a number of rumors about the band and the album. Martin said the title of the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," often thought to be about the drug LSD, was inspired by a painting created by John Lennon's young son Julian. The painting depicted Julian's classmate Lucy literally in the sky with diamonds.

"It was not intended to be about drugs," Martin said.

Martin said the song's surreal lyrics do, however, contain psychedelic images. Martin also said the spiky, leafed plants in the foreground album's cover are not marijuana leaves, as rumored among some fans.

The two-hour presentation ended with an extended standing ovation for the aging musical icon, who was visibly touched.

"It was simply amazing," said audience member Kathleen M. Fay '04.