Re: The Beatles-- Band Of The Month-- June 2010
Abbey Road
Released: September 26th 1969
The Beatles second last studio album. Wow, the time really has flown!
The Beatles recorded much of the Let It Be album, though it wasn't released until May of the following year. So, Abbey Road is the last recorded Beatles album, if only the second last released.
The nature of the Let It Be sessions was quasi-live. Now for Abbey Road, the Beatles returned to the studios in North London to record a musically intricate album, with 12 tracks.
As for the album cover, it is the first time in Beatles history to not contain an album name or a Beatles name. The photo is the group's most iconic shot, which showed the crossing near the entrance to the studios in London NW8 taken in August 1969.
Abbey Road was an extremely successful album. In The UK, it stayed in the number one spot for 17 weeks out of an 81 week chart run. In The Us, it stayed number one for 11 weeks out of an 83 week run.
The album ends with the famous last words (well not really, considering Her Majesty ruined it, plus Let It Be did too. But, since they were both recorded before The End, it was their last recorded message to the world.) "And in the end- the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
Also as a note, George Harrison outshines the others on this album, with the famous songs "Here Comes The Sun" and "Something", two songs that are oft considered some of the best Beatles songs.
The entire second side of the album can be played as a medley, the famous Abbey Road medley, starting with You Never Give Me Your Money and ending with Her Majesty.
Track List:
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
Coming Soon!
Album Analysis: Let It Be (THE FINAL ALBUM )