The Beatles: Abbey Road

The Beatles: Abbey Road

1969

Apple Records

Format I Own it on: Vinyl & Compact Disc

Track Listing:  1. Come Together  2. Something  3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer  4. Oh! Darling  5. Octopus's Garden  6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)  7. Here Comes the Sun  8. Because  9. You Never Give Me Your Money  10. Sun King  11. Mean Mr Mustard  12. Polythene Pam  13. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window  14.   Golden Slumbers  15. Carry That Weight  16. The End  17. Her Majesty     

This was originally intended by the Beatles to be their final album...It didn't quite turn out that way, since they went back and finished their abandoned "Get Back" project...



Which eventually became their final album (chronologically speaking)  "Let it Be." I've always pretended that "Let It Be" came out first, thereby giving the Beatles a more fitting (and much happier) ending...

Although, I also like pretending that Bambi's mother never really got shot...

(This is one of my favorite scenes where Bambi suddenly hears a loud "Bang!" and hooray! It's a surprise celebratory fireworks display!)

Anyway, the Beatles go out in grand style! This is one of their most rewarding albums, as just about every song works...Side one is made up of individual tracks, showcasing each members singing and songwriting abilities, and side two is mostly dedicated to a tremendous side-long suite...

Highlights on side one include John's slithering "Come Together" which also shows just how great a bass player Paul had become, as does John's "I Want You (She's So Heavy), where the Beatles finally nail the Cream-style heavy electric blues thing they attempted on "Yer Blues." Paul inventively tosses out endless variations of the song's main riff as the mighty jam slowly dissolves into an impenetrable wall of white noise...Oh yea...I love on the compact disc how the radiant opening riff of George's "Here Comes the Sun" sounds coming in immediately after "I Want You" ends...It sounds so right...I kind of wish the vinyl could have fit "Here Comes the Sun" on side one...\

 Ringo even writes a cool tune, with "Octopus's Garden." which comes off as a honky-tonk "Yellow Submarine."   The only member who doesn't come across 100% on side one is Paul...His two contributions ("Maxwell's Silver Hammer": and "Oh Darlin'!") seem a little routine compared to the fresh stuff the rest of the band was doing, but that's okay because Paul owns side two! Check out his powerhouse vocal on "Golden Slumbers." He  tosses off winning pop miniatures like crazy ("You Never Give me  Your Money," "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.")

Most of side two is made up of various song snippets pieced together (think "Smile!" by the Beach Boys). None of the individual tracks can really be considered the greatest single Beatles song or anything, but taken together they comprise one of the most epic and unforgettable album sides in rock history.  They finish strong with the appropriately titled "The End," where  every band member gets a brief instrumental solo spotlight and then all join together to sing:

"And in the end,
the love you make,
is equal to the love you take..."

 "...Is that true?"

Yes it is...You see? That's how you end a music career! So next time you're listening to all your Beatle albums in a row, do yourself a favor and throw this one on after "Let It Be."  The Beatles got back together and gave us a final masterpiece and quit while they were on top.

Bless 'em.

Let's check out "You Never Give Me Your Money" by the Beatles...