Music : Abbey Road

Rating: - The Beatles finish on top
Oh what an album. By this stage the Beatles could barely talk to each other let alone make a record. Somehow out of disunity came this masterpiece of an album.

From the opening track 'Come Together' (Lennon) through 'Something' (Harrison) 'Oh Darling' (McCartney) 'Here Comes The Sun' (Harrison) and finishing with the medley this is an album which combines great song-writing and performances of the highest quality. Of course George Martin also deserves enormous credit for his production work, as the sound of this album is a contributing factor to its greatness. I don't suppose the working atmosphere for George Martin was that great!

I was 8 when this album came out and have happy memories of my Mum & Dad playing it at parties in the late sixties and early 70's. My Dad (RIP) was a stalwart Jazz and Blues fan who would soon tell where to go if you started advocating the latest pop album. Not the Beatles though, Help, Sgt Pepper and Abbey Road were all in his collection.

It doesn't matter what sort of music you favour be it Baroque, Be-bop, Gilbert and Sullivan (as it happens I like Bach, Charlie Parker and The Mikado), this is an album that should be in your collection, along with most of the other Beatles albums as well.

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Rating: - Don't tire of listening to it
Great cd.
i love it.
it's so relaxing
Don't get tired of it.

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Rating: - Better than the sum of its parts
Abbey Road lends truth to the equation that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Separated for analysis, the "songs" on this LP are among the least in the Beatles' repertoire. Apart from Lennon's contribution of Come Together, a re-invented Chuck Berry tune, only Harrison contributed songs worthy of the Beatles in their prime. Something and Here Comes the Sun are classics that overshadow everything else here. Side one is full of remakes, not counting the Berry tune. McCartney rewrites Helter Skelter as Oh! Darling; Starr recreates Yellow Submarine as Octopus's Garden; and Lennon reworks Don't Let Me Down as I Want You (She's So Heavy). Actually the latter has an great bluesy feel, unusual in Beatles' tracks, but is only half completed as it has no lyrics other than the title and is weighted down by yet another example of Lennon's recording excesses, already evidenced on the "white album", as he tacks on several minutes of white noise to the end. Side two is nothing other than an amalgam of unfinished ideas and half-written tracks skillfully blended together by McCartney into a "huge medley". Some of these tracks date back to before the "white album" yet are no further along in completion. This is primarily where the "sum of the parts" comes into play. It all sounds rather Pink Floyd-ish until you pull it apart and realize there's nothing substantial there. Again, credit Harrison with the creative idea of bringing the Moog synthesizer to the party; it definitely helps keep the tracks sounding as if they belonged together. Otherwise we would be in for another Let It Be hodge-podge. Sports one of the best album covers of all time.

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Rating: - This is a fun record
As a child of the '70s, I am no expert on Beatle's music. I have only listened to two complete Beatles' albums ever. "Revolver" and "Abbey Road" and that is only 4-5 listens each in the last week - I am totally blown away. I can't get enough of either album.

This is my take as a newcomer into the world of Beatles' albums.

To me "Revolver" is razor sharp and a "thinking" album. Every track on "Revolver" is brilliantly conceived and executed.

Not so with "Abbey Road." It is a free and "feeling" album. This album carries the listener on a journey. The listener gets immersed in the vibes - feelings created. The conception/execution is equally amazing; however it doesn't appear to be the focus - the result is that it is not as focused, condensed or and as sharp. But, it is soooo fun to listen to.

It is difficult to express, but even on first listen to "Abbey Road" I got the feeling that I became privy to some sacred discovery.

I love "Mean Mr. Mustard" "Polythene Pam" - the harmonies just take you wherever and I love that free-wheeling experience. Where is this going to go next?

"You never give your money/and Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" all thematically alike are melodic, sensitive - yet never boring.

"I Want You" is a bit too long, but I love the bluesy passage in the middle.

"Because" is gorgeous.

"The End" is pure fun. Most of the rest is standard classic material we've all heard thousands of times.

Anyway I have heard so much about Sgt. Pepper and that is my next venture.

P.S. The 3 stars is a mistake. But system won't let me fix. I meant to give this 5 stars.

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Rating: - "Road" of Riches
The Beatles came together for one last effort and it's a monumental one except for a few glaring weak spots. "Abbey Road" begins with Lennon's funky "Come Together" which he stated is built on a riff by one of rock's founding fathers, Chuck Berry. George Harrison's majestic ballad "Something" follows. It's a remarkable achievement that shows just how much he'd matured as a songwriter when compared to the lame McCartney-penned "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", a silly ditty following the likes of "Your Mother Should Know" from "Magical Mystery Tour" and the somewhat rote "Oh! Darling" which Paul makes up for in his impassioned performance of the song. Ringo's composition, "Octopus's Garden" is also a bit weak in my humble opinion. It sounds like another take on "Yellow Submarine" but the kids should enjoy it. John's lyrically minimalist "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is half hard rock, half slinky blues. It's a long number at almost eight minutes but it holds up well. The original take goes on longer but the released version is cut abruptly which is a good thing as the boys' tendencies to jam (off record-listen to "Let It Be"'s "Dig It" also) could be a bit much at times. This song ended the first side of the vinyl album.

Side Two is comprised of eleven tunes, the last nine of which are edited as a suite and are worth the price of the album alone. Beginning with George's sublime "Here Comes The Sun" and John's "Because" with those shimmering, gorgeous harmonies; "You Never Give Me Your Money" which sounds like it was really co-written by John and Paul, follows. There are more exquisite harmonies on "Sun King". John handles lead vocals on the rockers "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polythene Pam" before Paul takes over with "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" and the lovely ballad "Golden Slumbers". The whole group sings "Carry That Weight" with Ringo's voice the slightly prominent one before each member has an instrumental solo on the fabulous "The End". It's a kick figuring out who is playing each bit. If you're at all familiar with the styles of John, Paul and George, you can pretty easily tell which is which and this is the only song that featured Ringo doing a solo bit. "Abbey Road" ends with the shortest piece the Beatles ever recorded- Paul's simple "Her Majesty".

Though not my favorite record by the Fab Four (see my reviews of "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Magical Mystery Tour"), "Abbey Road" is definitely an essential Beatles album to have.