Abbey Road is the eleventh studio album released by the English rock band the Beatles. It is the last album the group started recording, although Let It Be was the last album completed before the band's dissolution in April 1970. It was mostly recorded in April, July and August 1969, and was released on 26 September 1969 in the United Kingdom, and 1 October 1969 in the United States, reaching number one in both countries. A double A-side single from the album, "Something" / "Come Together" was released in October, which also topped the charts in the US. Abbey Road incorporates genres such as blues, pop, and progressive rock and makes prominent use of the moog synthesizer and the Leslie speaker. It is also notable for having a long medley of songs on side two that have subsequently been covered as one suite by other notable artists. The album was recorded in a more collegial atmosphere than the Get Back / Let It Be sessions earlier in the year, but there were still significant confrontations within the band, particularly over Paul McCartney's song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", and John Lennon did not perform on several tracks. By the time the album was released, Lennon had left the group, though this was not publicly announced until McCartney also quit the following year. Although it was an immediate commercial success, it received mixed reviews. Some critics found its music inauthentic and criticized the production's artificial effects. By contrast, critics today view the album as one of the Beatles' best and rank it as one of the greatest albums of all time. George Harrison's two songs on the album, "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun", have been regarded as some of the best he wrote for the group. The album's cover, featuring the group walking across a zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios, has become one of the most famous and imitated in the history of recorded music.
This album is testament to the genius of Sir George Martin. You know how when folks in the UK want to honor someone the knight them and call them "sir"? In the USA we should honor them by adding the middle name F-ing. This guy right here would be Sir George F-ing Martin.
This is, no hyperbole, the greatest album of all time. It's the last one the Beatles made all together, and they almost tore each other apart doing so. There are tracks where Lennon doesn't appear, tracks where McCartney doesn't feature as prominently as he would have previously, and tracks where you can almost feel the frustration. In spite of it all, what they put together was incredible and, as always, greater than the sum of its parts. Here Comes the Sun is George Harrison's best work. I Want You (She's So Heavy) is a typical complex contribution from John. Paul took "some crap John wrote in India" and weaved it together with some of his own material to make the masterpiece that is the Abbey Road medley. Ringo...well, Octopus's Garden is pretty good, as far as Ringo's stuff goes. He did finally get a solo, which is nice. The album is so packed that I haven't even mentioned several other greats: Come Together, Something, and Because are all-timers. Best track: the medley
The fact that this album has a Wikipedia page for EACH song speaks to how insanely important and good it is. I don’t think I need to wax poetic about it. One of the best albums with some of the best individual songs of all time. In short: it slaps.
That weight their taling about is john legons fat nuts...lol
All my Beatles knowledge came from various compilations over the years, so I never really knew which songs came from what albums. I should've guessed from the way people spoke on the album, but I was surprised by how so many of the Beatles bangers were on this one. || I thought about finding a way to justify less than a 5 because sometimes I'm sick of the Beatles always getting heaped praise, but like, this Album is still gold all the way through, and was astronomical in size, scope, and influence. || Not sure if the remastered mix makes it more clear, or if I never noticed before, but I loved the bass throughout, and little adjustments in the background like synthesizers and other embellishments I never noticed before! Really amplified songs, without making it too crowded.
Aujourd'hui aurait du être un jour historique. En effet, en cette matinée du 20 juillet 2021 le générateur dévoilait son chouchou, la coqueluche de l'audimat générateurien, Abbey Road des Beatles. Ce review aurait pu permettre de dire tout le bien que je pense de cet album classique, mais malheureusement aujourd'hui l'essentiel n'est pas là. En effet, aujourd'hui, robpaupière a definitivement passé un cap dans le mauvais goût et la provocation, il a franchi la ligne irreversible qui va me pousser a devoir lui regler son compte. Pour vous remettre un peu dans le contexte, rob est mon "camarade" d'écoute. Nous avons effectué nos classes au sein de notre établissement scolaire ensemble, et dès son plus jeune âge, rob démontrait de sacrées dispositions a la musique de merde. En effet, son lecteur mp3 de l'epoque laissait échapper des sonorités nauséabondes de James Arthur, auquel rob vouait un culte total, malgré mon incompréhension la plus totale. Un beau jour de mars, je faisait suscintement mention de ce générateur à rob, qui fut de suite alerté et s'incrusta de force dans cette aventure, me forçant, et ce malgré mon consentement, à creer un groupe afin que nous puissions écouter les mêmes albums en simultané. C'est alors que les véritables problèmes débutèrent. Chaque jour depuis mars, je subis les commentaires musicaux catastrophiques de rob. Il les étale absolument partout: du Cruisaders au petit déjeuner, du Sonic Youth au gouter, du Finley Quaye pour terminer la journée. C'est une ribambelle de groupes tous plus moyens/mauvais les uns que les autres que rob prend en admiration, et dont il me rabache les mérites chaque jour que dieu fait. Mais alors même que cette situation est déjà extremement difficile a vivre vous en conviendrez, aujourd'hui marque un tournant. En effet, en plus de cet album des Beatles, que comme vous l'avez compris nous ne commenteront pas aujourd'hui, nous avions un album de retardà rattraper: Freak Out!, de la bande de l'ignoble Frank Zappa. Cet album absolument affreux - que j'ai déjà ouvertement critiqué dans ma désormais célèbre review dont on vient regulierement me parler (merci à vous pour cela) - a été hautement apprécié par l'effarant robtunnel. Il apprecie en effet son côté "experimental". Il est de notoriété public que rob cherche depuis toujours à se donner un genre de connaisseur un peu snob qui ne prend pas avec moi, mais considérer 15mn de cris d'animaux et de bruits de cuisine comme de la musique experimentale, c'est un peu fort de Roquefort. En plus de cela, alors que je commencais a liberer un flot d'insultes à l'egard de rob pour cette opinion desastreuse, comme beaucoup trop souvent, j'eu le malheur de faire reference a une artiste que j'apprecie enormement, la déesse Lana del Rey, regrettant sa non presence dans la liste au profit de tels albums de merde (je fais ici bien reference a l'album de la troupe de l'handicapé Frank Zappa). Rob, en fin non connaisseur musical, me retorquera que Lana del Rey n'a pas sa place dans cette liste des 1001, et surtout pas a la place du zoo de Zappa. C'en était trop pour moi, et j'ai donc décidé de menacer physiquement rob, que j'affornterai à mon retour en France dans un combat a mains nues. Je suis plutôt serein, rob ayant le physique de ses idées, il ne ferait pas de mal a une mouche, hormis peut etre en lui presentant sa playlist Spotify. Je vous tiendrai au courant du déroulé de comba très prochainement, à bientôt chers lecteurs.
ok. this is one of my all time favorite albums the fact it was the first one is honestly hilarious. first of all, starting with come together???? ok being real, not my Favorite beatles song ever, but what a song to start with. and then straight into SOMETHING. LIKE GOD. it’s literally one of the like best love songs ever written, like it never fails to make me feel all warm n fuzzy. maxwells silver hammer, such an underrated song. like it’s a lil stupid but it’s just a fun lil tune. oh darling fun lil song, and OCTUPUS’S GARDEN. ok ringo is my favorite beatle, and this song is so underrated. he literally was just like (british accent)”i wanna sing abt an octopus lads” and everyone was just like “ok whatever ringo” and GOOD FOR HIM!! she’s so heavy is a song that just makes me feel like cool as hell when i listen to it. like it’s repetitive sure but the instrumentals are sooooo good. here comes the sun is just classic, i don’t even have to say anything abt her. ok, controversial, because is not really my fave, and i honestly wish the A side of this album finished with shes so heavy instead. ok. B side medley. literally some of the best 16 minutes of music ever. ok the beginning of you never give me your money always gives me chills, esp the like bass riffs. sun king is very chill, honestly used to not care for it much but now its a highlight for me. mean mr mustard and polythene pam are more of those songs that on the surface r just fun lil tunes. ok the transition between the end of polythene pam and she came in through the bathroom window is just. MWAH. not to mention that that song is so good too. now on to my literal favorite beatles song(s) ever. Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight. words do not even describe how much i love these two songs. everything about golden slumbers has made me cry an embarrassing amount of times. and carry that weight is just one of those like. screaming catharsis songs. they aren’t complete without each other, and as a pair they are in my top 5 songs of all time. the end is literally like classic: “and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make” like that like is SOOO fucking good. and ringos drum solo! u go thomas the train. her majesty is so good, i get why it’s so short ofc but i wish it were more than like 30 seconds bc i’ve always really loved it. imo, this is literally one of the best albums every made. like i know it’s very VERY boomer, but it literally is classic and i feel like the first time listening to it is a whole experience.
Their masterpiece, highlights how different the individual members had become but at the same time their individuality compliments the album. McCartney at his most creative (the final medley from golden slumbers to the end especially , George with possibly the 2 best songs on the album and Lennon throws In his usual quirky genius (I want you and come together
Classic record, one of my favorite, if not favorite Beatles album. Something and Come Together, I want you, Here Comes The Sun are bonafide classics. Side B, while I don't really love any of the big long song individually, as a whole it's super cohesive and fun, they flow very well. Really nail what they were trying to channel on Sgt. Pepper
"Let's get together and do one more like we used to" McCartney to George Martin Driven by McCartney and Martin this album brought all 5 of them in the studio one more time at the peak of their skills to record an album that to this day is hard to compete with. From the vocal harmonies to the well placed guitars, the bass guitar lines that sing to Ringo's amazing use of tom Tom's and high hat to the studio wizardry of GM there is not a note, a flourish, a hand clap, that is not perfectly placed whether intentional or not. It is the 5 of them in the zone one last time. This album is a masterpiece that other groups can only envy to this day. Each Beatle contributes in special ways to expand the richness and depth of each song; Paul's bass on Something is integral to its greatness, the guitar duel on Carry that Weight played live from the floor is amazing. The masterpiece that is the melody on side two is possibly the finest piece of music ever written in pop music. It is mind blowing! This album shows their mastery in the studio. I have been listening to this album for over 50 years and it's still fresh, warm, emotional, energetic. I am in from the first note (I dare you not to sing along!). From the day it first came out to studying its impact in my English class to listening to the remastered version, its brilliance continues to have an impact on me. Favorites: Here Comes the Sun, Oh Darling, Because and at the top of the list McCartney's masterpiece the Medley. Also the entirety of She Came in Through the Bathroom Window and the melody within the melody, You Never Give Me Your Money. A tour de force.
L'album est excellent mais je n'ai pas envie de m'éterniser là-dessus. Non, ce dont j'ai envie de parler aujourd'hui, c'est le sentiment de pitié que j'éprouve envers l'enfance de mon compagnon d'écoute que vous commencez à connaître ; je veux bien entendu parler du dénommé ltrapeze. Voyez-vous, pendant que mes parents jouaient très régulièrement les Beatles dans mon salon, ltrapeze n'avait pas le droit au même traitement. Pour lui, l'ambiance au domcile familiale était quelque peu différente. Tantôt ce sont les reprises de Michal sur le plateau de la Star Ac 3 qui inondaient l'espace sonores de la maison, tantôt le single Premier Love de Tony Parker que ses parents avaient l'habitude de laisser tourner en boucle tout l'après-midi. Pour le petit ltrapeze, interdiction formelle de montrer tout signe d'intérêt pour une chanson qui n'entrait pas dans le champ des artistes précités. Un événement survenu en 2009 aurait pourtant pu changer la donne. Alors que la famille était réunie autour d'un poulet au caramel préparé par un traiteur thaïlandais du bas de la rue et que le poste radio chantait ♫ on s'est connus on était gosses t'étais mon premier love, bien avant le basket, mon premier titre, toujours ensemble, à l'epoque on était croques l'un de l'autre♫, ltrapeze se leva discrètement et appuya sur un bouton de ce même poste, faisant passer celui-ci de l'option CD à l'option FM. La famille se tut en cœur et ses parents cessèrent de frapper leurs cuisses pour marquer le rythme. Tous les regards se dirigeaient bientôt vers ltrapeze qui affichait un visage des plus crispés. La radio nasilla soudain ♫ come together right now over me ♫. L'atmosphère était irrespirable. "Retouche le bouton" lança alors le père Trapeze à son fils. Ce dernier maintint l'expression crispée qu'il arborait depuis maintenant un moment. "Oui, retouche le bouton s'il te plaît" intervint la mère Trapeze à son même fils. Ce dernier s'exécuta et le poste s'écria soudain ♫ on était jeunes on était fous à qui la faute on n'était rien sans l'autre ♫. La vie avait repris son cours.
Never got the hype around this one to be honest. It's still good, but I'd take Revolver or Sgt Pepper over it any day of the week. My favorite songs on this album are "Come Together", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Here Comes The Sun". I don't care for any of the songs after "Because" - the medley doesn't work for me and never has, don't know why. I really hope I don't come off as a contrarian, because I see that this is one of the highest rated albums on the site. The problem is clearly on my receiving end, I fully get that. Although Rango "Sir Richard Starkley MBE" Starr really carries the Beatles to greatness as always with his beautiful song "Octopus's Garden", which is a metaphor for pubic hair or some shit. Peace and love, peace and love 😎✌️🌟🌟❤️🎶💕☮️
In a world where saying you don't love the Beatles is borderline heresy, this album was just ok. I enjoyed the tracks written by George Harrison the most Something and Here Comes the Sun. The hits on this album are fantastic but few and far between. The fact this was their last album before breaking up definitely shows through the songs. It is one of those albums that's reputation preceeds itself so you are hard pressed to like it but overall I only liked 4 out of the 17 songs on this album.
One of the greatest albums ever recorded. Starts out with my all time favorite Beatles tune - “Come Together” and then followed by a bunch of really good tracks. Some rock, some mesmerize, some pop and all four of the boys contributed some of their best songwriting to this disc: (George- Here Comes the Sun, and Something; Ringo - Octopuses Garden; Paul - tracks 7-9; John - the aforementioned Come Together). 5 Stars!
Man, what can I say. One of the g.o.a.t.s, so many incredible songs; from the known (Here Comes The Sun, Come Together) to the lesser known... (Octopuses Garden, I Want You (She's So Heavy)) and never afraid to be wacky and creative with songs like Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Polythene Pam. I really like how Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight carry the album to the end. And "Something" has to be the best love song I have ever heard. The Beatles' last recorded album carries them out with a bang! a concrete 5
An incredible achievement- that a band breaking-up can produce an album of such intensity, intrigue and curiosity is simply stunning. This is no songs-by-numbers album but an attempt to push themselves creatively, musically, aesthetically - this album solidifies The Beatles’ status as art. Endlessly rewarding.
Still love this one. So many bangers. The whole B side is simply masterful
The Beatles final album. Abbey Road uses a "less is more" approach to production throughout, giving "Come Together" a controlled intensity while the raw sound of Paul's voice on "Oh! Darling" is one of the album's highlights. The sound of a whole band working together flawlessly is heard through this. One of their most consistent albums. 5/5
Unassailable. A masterpiece of a swan song from one of the most innovative pop acts of all time. Both Georges really shine on this record, but Paul's downright magical medley is the starring attraction. There's something really appealing about just how coherent this record is in spite of the obvious reflection of each member's unique style. I'm using this opportunity to revisit the 2019 remaster and there's a lot of wonderful detail I'm hearing on these mixes. For example, the little acoustic stereo hits during the Something bridge (starting at 1:15). I'm not sure there's a lot I can say that hasn't already been said about this record, but it's that rare one that deserves all the praise it gets. Favourite songs: Something, Oh! Darling, Here Comes the Sun, Because, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers, Her Majesty
-1 for maxwells silver hammer
Is Maxwell's silver hammer an object swung by Maxwell or just a fiercely loyal semi-inanimate object? Things we may never know.
An intricate and effortless masterpiece, the last round-up for the Beatles. The album is split into two distinct sections, with side one holding the strange, the silly, the rock'n'roll heavy, while side two contains a cycle of songs that is some of the band's strongest arrangements. Credit where credit is due, George Martin made some of these short tracks into something grand and so repeatable. Fav Tracks: Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Something, Come Together.
Who cares if the band was unwinding at this point? This is the greatest Greatest Hits album of songs that have never been heard before — of all time. Perfect in every way, this is the Beatles at the height of their power.
Now that the cranberry juice fever has faded, this album has surpassed Rumours in this site rank, but, surprisingly enough, it has been also surpassed by the fourth album by Led Zeppelin lol… Is this the correct order? Maybe, maybe it’s only that more hard rock fans are doing the list than before, I couldn’t tell. I’ve been listening to this record ever since I was born, I still have my parents vinyl copy (a very poorly treated 80’s by me, my siblings and cousins lightweight press) and I do have my 2009 remaster, I will eventually buy the 2019 repress but it’s not my priority as I did not hear anything very different from the 2009 one, why? Maybe because it was so magnificently produced the first time. My god did Martin had the touch. Is this the best record of all times? I don’t know but it is mostly flawless, I mean, I could try to find a weak link Maxwell’s Silver Hammer but actually would be trying too hard… I use to think this album was overrated and have never understand Why Come Together seems to be their most popular song (not that I don’t think it’s a great song and that base line my god!), but I get how this album it is built in greater heights than Sgt. Pepper or the white one. It’s just a delight to listen from start to end, everything here is built as a farewell but goddamn what an awesome one, you just know they knew this was it, and they knew also that The Beatles needed to go with a bang a huge and great and glorious bang… the tracklisting is full evidence of that. I understand this was not the case back in those days being Let It Be published after, but having I been born 17 years latter it’s not an issue for me, this is the last album by the Beatles and that’s it. I’m reading Lennon said he didn’t like the album in the 70’s, and I’m kinda loving that fact as well lol. Now, since everyone here has said everything there has to be said about side A and its gigantic and timeless stone cold classics (along of course with B-side’s gorgeous and stunning Here Comes The Sun), let’s write something about the medley: damn it is a rollercoaster, damn it says it all without saying much, damn those drums, and those intercalated guitar solos give everyone their last time to shine (much like nowadays great bands do when ending their shows), damn those words “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” will be with us to the day we die, damn how inadvertently brilliant closing Her Majesty is… damn what an awesome closing for the greatest music history (The Beatles) there ever was. Damn what an awesome and timeless record this is.
The first Beatles album I bought was the "Blue" record (1967-1970), this along with it's companion ("Red" 1962-1966) are the perfect entry level compilation records to introduce new Beatles fans to most of their hits. To really give you an idea of the range of the band's music, you must seek out most of their studio albums which are very good to brilliant, as sometimes it's the deeper cuts that deserve some attention. I've owned a copy of Abbey Road since the late-70's and it still gets plays on my turntable. Since I've heard the popular tracks so much (Come Together, Something, Here Comes The Sun), I have been known to skip those tracks for the rest of the record. It's these "secondary" tracks that give Abbey Road so much depth in quality. In fact, this has probably the best side 2 of any record I've heard highlighted by the medley that concludes the album. So good! Undoubtedly, this is the Beatles masterpiece!
John: Alright, this is our final album so we should start it off with our best effort. I've written "Come Together", a really unique and interesting song with enigmatic lyrics. George: I've written "Something", a tender and achingly earnest love song which- Paul: BANG BANG MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMME-
Almost perfect record of it wasn’t for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, which breaks the pace and feel of the record.
I remember first listening to this with my stepdad on a road trip when I was maybe 13 or 14 years old. It was one of the first albums whose construction made me pay attention to the album format itself, rather than just thinking of them as a collection of songs. It is also the album that made me really and truly understand the immense talent of The Beatles and why everyone made such a big fuss over them. I mean I had grown up with The Beatles and enjoyed them and everything, but had mostly listened to compilations of their earlier material, rather than proper albums. Abbey Road had a range, depth, and controlled experimentation that I hadn't quite experienced before. It's a journey to say the least. Almost like they knew this was the last hurrah so they had to get everything out they could. And thank God they got George Martin back on board to help them focus! You can bag on Paul McCartney all you want, but that song suite is a fuckin' marvel. Granted, this is also the album with "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," which is probably my least favorite Beatles track, and for which Paul is also responsible, but even despite that blemish, the rest of the album is so brilliant it more than makes up for it. There are great songs from each member that are suited to each of their strengths and personalities. It's particularly great to hear George finally begin to shine and produce some his finest work. On CD or streaming, the quick Side A to Side B flip from "I Want You" cutting to "Here Comes The Sun," has to be one of the most intense and beautiful moments in recorded music.
Pretty good album. I think these 4 lads are pretty talented. Do they have any other material I could listen to? Hopefully this is not a one off.
why did the Beatles cross the road
Few songs I like and a lot of background noise
This is clearly the sound of a band running on empty creatively. There is very little on here that reaches the previous heights of The Beatles. A hotchpotch of Lennon’s vague rock mysticism and McCartney’s middle class Chas ’n’ Dave workouts, the standout in terms of craft and effort is Something. Not a favourite of mine, but it works all the way through as a proper song and sounds like it has had time spent on putting it together. The rest sound like ideas at the early stage which escaped too early. “I know, let's write a song about someone called Maxwell who goes around hitting people on the head with a silver hammer’. Eleanor Rigby it is not. The medley on the second side is a bit ‘Stars on 45’, Macca’s football chants spliced with Lennon’s unfinished riffs to create the sound of dysfunction right there in the grooves. Overall, the album left me feeling a bit sad that they didn’t have the energy or the will to polish this stuff up to the standard of earlier work. Beatles by numbers.
Started off well enough. I would even go so far as to say that if you swap out the obnoxious "Oh, Darling" and the monotonous "I Want You" for the slightly more dynamic "Because", you'd have a superior A-side. But alas, starting from "You Never Give Me Your Money" onwards, the album devolves into utter nonsense, most of it bordering on unlistenable. The Beatles are a grossly overrated band, and the unfinished, thrown together mish-mash of songs on the B side here is perfect evidence of that. I award this album two pairs of silver hammers, to knock the pomposity out of each of the member's heads. ⚒⚒
No
For my mind, this is the best of Beatles, especially side two. I could do without Octopus' Garden and Maxwell's Silver Hammer, but the rest of the album is solid. The guitar work on "I Want You" is fascinating. On a side note, this YouTube version is a little frustrating because there is silence between all the tracks on side two. They should be connected together.
It's the highest rated album on here for a reason.
I'll help to keep this album in the first place of "Highest Rated Albums" on the site. Nuff said!
Genre: Pop Rock 5/5 There isn't much that can be said about Abbey Road that hasn't already been said, whether it's a personal experience or a broad-stroked comment. One of the most ubiquitous rock albums of all time, and an album rife with some of the best written material the boys had ever come up with, Abbey Road is one of pop music's brightest musical statements. From top to bottom, The Beatles give us every trick up their sleeves, and then some. George Harrison gives us his two best songs up to this point, Something and Here Comes the Sun, Paul's music hall touches on Maxwell's Silver Hammer and his blues rock jam Oh, Darling! showcase his dynamic and intriguing range, and John gives us two of the decade's best hard rock songs in the psych blues vibes on Come Together and the proto-metal rocker I Want You (She's So Heavy). Even Ringo's best is on here, as Octopus's Garden remains a cult classic to this day. The real star here though, after the psych/art pop gem Because, is the B-side medley that finishes off the album. An 8-song prog-pop suite (9, if you include Her Majesty), touching everything from art rock to psych pop to baroque pop and back again, it's one of the best things the Beatles ever did, and unfortunately doesn't receive the modern props that it deserves. Abbey Road is the perfect pop album, with equal notes of beauty and heaviness, and ample time given to challenging the form in either direction. Immaculately produced and arranged, this is an album that will stand the test of time, and will continue to impress the generations that follow. Or, at least the generations who'll give the time to listen.
At time of writing this review Abbey Road is the highest rated album on this website. (and if you ever scroll far enough down the reviews and bother to read this, it will most likely still be the highest rated album at time of reading) Personally I prefer Revolver but that doesn’t stop this being a masterpiece and deserving of the accolade of one of the greatest albums of all time, even if it’s only my second favourite Beatles album. So many great songs on the album and an album everyone can appreciate. What isn’t to like, though my wife does hate octopus’s garden, she probably has a point. 5 Stars
1001 Albums to Never Hear Again Before You Die Chapter 3 The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”: You Always Give Them Your Money The best thing this record has going for it is the suite of interlocking songs at the end of side B. It’s forward thinking and very well done. The next best thing about this record is George Harrison. He is clearly the highlight here, with two of the best songs on the album, maybe even the Beatles’ entire catalog. Ok? Are you happy? I said nice things about Abbey Road. Good. Now that *that’s* out of the way… You don’t ever need to hear this record again. In fact, you don’t ever need to hear another Beatles record in your life ever again. What, are you afraid you might forget how Come Together goes? Here, I’ll hum it for you so you don’t forget…bum bum bada da dum. Sorted. Or maybe you’ll want to revisit Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Why you’d want to do that, *klang,klang*, is beyond me. Perhaps you’re the type to want to revisit the “birth of heavy metal” by listening to “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”. If you’ve ever made or attempted to make that argument…just…no. I know what you’re thinking, “if I can’t ever listen to ‘Octopus’s Garden’ again, how will I get my fix of childhood nostalgia?” That’s a good question, but fear not, luckily for you our entire society is based around adults getting a nostalgia fix, so there are plenty of other options out there. How else do you explain 40 year olds who get in line for every dumb Marvel movie that comes out? Which brings me to my final point: The Beatles are the Walt Disney of rock music and if “Disney Adults” is a trope to be avoided, wouldn’t the same apply to “Beatles Adults”?
wtf is track 3? you can hear him trying to not laugh at one point. were they trying to see how ridiculous of a song they could release knowing people would eat it up? track 4 comes through headphones really weird. just one instrument comes through the right speaker. bugs the crap out of me I may have my track numbers messed up :/ not much goes through the right speaker for a lot of it though octopus garden? wtf actually knew 3 songs from it :o
if i was stuck in a room with John Lennon, a gun and 3 bullets i would shoot him 5 times.
Historisk, fængende, fortællende, forrygende
What can be said about this album that hasn't already been said. It's a masterpiece. Something is one of the greatest love songs ever written. Here comes the sun is beautiful. I want you (shes so heavy) is incredible and quiet heavy for 1969. The melody at the end is great as well
Can’t argue with that can you. Even if it did have a spastic hammer on it
Well lel
10 outta 10. Duh
The best beatles album
Bless up such a good album
Confession: I have never actually listened to this album. Obviously I've heard most of the songs. I am surprised by how somber the whole thing feels.
A masterpiece, the best Beatles album, and - by my reckoning - the third best album ever recorded.
classic album, always 5/5
Not my fave Beatles album but still a big fan of this
I mean shit, its the Beatles, and one of their most famous albums if not one of the THE most famous albums from any band or individual. Shit is pretty good with three or more classic hits.
Excellent
It's the Beatles, albeit separately. Brilliant
A classic
Fantastic album! Not a single track on here I don't, at the very least, absolutely love. 5/5.
My personal favourite Beatles Album, (after The Best of the Beatles - Alan Partridge Quote). I can't describe it as under-rated but I always thought that it lives in the shadow of Sgt Pepper. Released three weeks before I was born. 5 stars.
AWESOME
One of my all time favorites
Oh fuck yeah my favorite Beatles album. 5 stars.
One of the 5 essential Beetles albums, if you don’t know this album then you’re in luck. You get to listen to it for the first time. The sound of youth.
Delightful!
One of the greatest albums ever made by anybody. A tremendous achievement by an incredible band
Listened to this the first 3 times today. Don’t understand how I’ve never heard this before
A masterpiece. I’ve heard it hundreds of time, and will thousands more.
!!!
I've heard this album so many times. Top 3 from the Beatles for me.
Side A is good Side B is amazing. 5/5
I mean, come on
Genius
Amazing album <3
Really great music. Can't knock the Beatles - good production, good cover art, good musicality, good depth of emotion/lyricism. Love it.
10/10 how could you not love the beatles dingdong
My favorite Beatles album. Love every bit of this except the granny song, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. 5
La història és coneguda: banda en plena descomposició, temes més individuals que de grup, medley final per poder treure alguna cosa profitable de les gravacions... Malgrat tot, aquí viuen cançons com 'Here Comes the Sun' i 'Something', cúspides de Harrison com a compositor; 'Come Together', 'Carry That Weight', 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer', el dur 'I Want You' o, perquè no, 'Octopus's Garden'... tot un tour de force per acabar de manera brillant la trajectòria de la banda més important del segle XX
A masterpiece. Probably my favourite Beatles album! It opens with two of the greatest Beatles songs ever. (Come Together / Something). Here Comes The Sun / I Want You are tucked in the middle keeping the album consistent all the way through. For me though - the highlight is the finale which is essentially a gigantic eight song medley. I’m a huge sucker for this type of storytelling device whether spread out on an album or contained in one song. (The Wall, NOFX’s The Decline) I love a good mid-song switch up and this album has some of the best (blame it on my A.D.D.) The trio of songs at the end are some of the best transitions in rock and roll. And the call back to the first song in the medley is freaking awesome! Fave Tracks: “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End” “Something” “Oh Darling”
Classic. Something and Oh Darling are 2 of my favorite Beatles tracks. And the medley on Side Two? CHEFS KISS.
So good. The Beatles are used as an example of how 10,000 hours of practice can give you mastery of a form. I think I listened to The Beatles, mostly this album for 10,000 hours in our basement when I was a child, so I've mastered listening to them, and I've really got it down to an artform. A lot of the album is quite childish, but so am I, and so was I when I listened to it most. I love the range of songs, the lyrics, and that you can have a song along to most of these.
My favorite Beatles album. Something turned out to be one of their best songs and John / Paul didn't write it. But the perfection in this album is the side 2 medley. They pulled unfinished songs together to fill an album when they were clearly not getting along and had no interest in working together anymore, that is where the talent shines.
Does this need any comments.
It's quite amazing how Macca and George Martin managed to marshal the band one last time even though the party was pretty much over and come up with something so sublime. Lennon had outshone McCartney on the White Album but Macca is the star here, not that Lennon and Harrison's contributions were in any way less than great, and even Ringo (with George's help) manages to come up with a jaded yet joyous Fabs nursery rhyme to rival Yellow Submarine. "We transformed the sixties now here's the seventies for you." And there they were, gone.
For my 100th album I get my favourite album of all time and I've listened to this album an endless number of times. If a doctor is giving me one hour to live, this is the album I want to be heard playing. To me it's completely flawless and I love every single song, even the ones that people find mediocre. Side 2 is completely flawless. Here Comes the Sun is my favourite song of all time. There are so many other songs I love from so many artists, but Here Comes the Sun just taps into something so deep and it's to me it's the most perfect song ever written. I could talk endlessly about why I love this album, but it's pointless. It's the highest rank album on this site and always included in the top 10 albums of all time. It's there for a reason. The peak of creativity and mastery by one of the greatest bands of all time.
How do I call this album iconic without sounding like the Gen Z youth who overuse that word to the point that it's completely lost its impact? If that word still packs any wallop at all, then it's rightly used in full meaning here. The album artwork alone, my god. Everyone on the planet knows it. It also sums up perfectly why George is my favourite. These other dudes in suits and he's giving you Canadian tuxedo hippie man cool. He's the best one! The most enchanting and emotional tracks, Here Comes The Sun and Something, which he wrote both make it onto this album. Bless him for getting a word in edgewise for once! Excellent songwriting, as always. Incredible, groundbreaking instrumentation. Flawless delivery. It's what we've all come to expect of them at this point in their career. It is endlessly listenable, never boring, full of nuance and comfort at the same time. It's the perfect chunky cozy sweater that you'll never part with and look forward to cuddling in every autumn.
One sweet dream came true today. If the Beatles released Let It Be earlier in the year, Abbey Road would be the perfect final album for one of the best acts to ever exist. George's Something and Here Comes The Sun are up there with the best of the Beatles discography, John has some neat rockers in Come Together and I Want You, Paul's work in the Melody at the end is an interesting experience they've never done before, and even Ringo has a chance to shine in Octopus's Garden. Even the weaker songs (Maxwell's Silver Hammer for instance) can be enjoyable at the right time. Also features one of the most simple yet often replicated album covers ever.
I don’t even know where to start with Abbey Road. I can criticise aspects of this album, but the Beatles are still the Beatles. Things they did on albums, especially from their studio-based period, which were accidents have become so influential they seem like deliberate strategies, and people have built whole careers based on them. Some of the marked features of this album have become integral parts of the rock lexicon; the hidden track, the medley, the tom-heavy drumming, the use of effects like the leslie speaker, etc that emerged out of (arbitrary) opportunity of necessity. Most noted is the side 2 medley; born of necessity to utilise partially written song fragments, it became permission for extended side-long suites with disparate fragments (hello prog rock). The fact that it worked on Abbey Road excused the confusion of wilful collage with ‘clever’ song writing (and McCartney is one of the worst offenders at this, qv. ‘Band on the Run’. A ghastly incoherent mess). On this album, it helped present material that benefited from the succinct presentation. I mean, would ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ been better if edited down to a similar length as Polythene Pam? Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is, frankly, atrocious and feels like a track that might have made it’s way onto the White album, but does not belong here. And I agree with John and George that it was not worth the effort to record and include. But other than that, the songs are outstanding. (I was recently doping a deep dive on Let It Be, and the song writing here is SOOOO much better. Come Together, Something, Here Comes the Sun, and the side 2 medley are far and away highlights of the Beatles catalogue. (Here Comes the Sun is the most streamed Beatles song Spotify. It has always been a favourite of mine). Despite the clear tensions in the band around this time, they seem, to have put aside the worst of their bickering to lean into what a tight band they were. Augmented by Billy Preston and really great orchestral arrangement and production from George Martin, this last recorded output from t eh Beatles is confident and leaning into the future. The crisper sound from 8-track recording and a solid-state desk, tasteful use of synthesizer (white noise in I Want You aside) show that this was not just recycling their clichés, but committed to making a really great sounding record I rate my favourite albums according to those I most frequently play, and this is definitely in my top three (along with Revolver and Hard Day’s Night).
I mean, it's Abbey Road. It's one of those albums that other albums are measured against. It's a no-contest 5 stars. It's full of massive, genre-defining hits but it's the back half of the album that really seals the deal for me. The way they blend together a huge stack of short, but distinct songs into one long, experience is masterful. You just have to hold on and go for the ride all the way to the track titled "The End". "Abbey Road" is an incredible ride from beginning to end without a single misstep. Masterwork.
Most albums can be reviewed in a big picture, but I could talk about every song on Abbey Road up until the medley in length as if they were each albums. It’s incredible this was The Beatles’ last effort. In their run, each one of the members strove to improve their craft on ever single album. Of course John and Paul grew, but George really comes into his own voice here. Even Ringo’s effort is more well spoken. This is their magnum opus. They put thought in each song and the flow of their entire album. This isn’t my personal favorite Beatles album, but as this is their effort to the world.
On day 136 of this generator, I rolled my first Beatles album, and their first masterpiece, A Hard Day's Night. I complained over how long it took me to get this first one, as if the generator gods were teasing my inner fandom. And here we are, on day 488, with the 7th and final Beatles album, fittingly Abbey Road. Now, what are the odds all 7 Beatles albums were given to me before the halfway point? (1/2)^7 < 1%, so pretty damn rare. In fact, it's been almost exactly a year since my first Beatles album. The generator gods playing with me again. But I'm ready for this review. Abbey Road has been my favorite album since I was 10. It's my most revisited and beloved album. I always felt a bit embarrassed I had to give such a mainstream answer to "What's your favorite album?" instead of something a bit "cooler", but Abbey Road is as personal to me as can be, and I'm actually proud we live in a world where this is as influential and acclaimed as it is, if for no reason other than that other people see what I see in this album. And after my recent trip to Liverpool a couple weeks ago, and nearly 500 reviews, I can try my best to share what I love about this album, even if I won't be talking in too technical terms. Come Together: We start with a banger, in a lot of ways reminds me of T Rex, cool and subtle, with roots to classic rock n roll, evoking images of James Dean. Catchy with a banging chorus, some trippy elements that add a unique spin, and a climatic ending to excite you into the rest of the album. Something: A dreamy romantic track, a landmark Harrison track. You can feel the yearnful emotions of a confused lovestruck fool. Not too many songs have been able to capture this. Strings are a beautiful touch. Maxwell's Silver Hamner: Next we have a completely opposite type of song. A very wacky story that apparently tore the band with Paul's obsession to get it right. As you can guess by its sound and subject, it was initially intended for the white album but was too complex. Lyrics are humorous, one of the first Beatles lyrics that stuck to me as a kid for its whimsical nature and use of imagery. Excellent production, and I love the use of the Moog. Oh Darling: One of my least favorites, but I still love and sing along to it. A doo-wop track, I'm especially a fan of the harmonious back vocals, Paul's vocal shenanigans, and the cool subtle guitar. Octopus Garden: Honestly my favorite Ringo song. It's pretty simple except for that cool aquatic reverb guitar solo with the bubble effects. Has a bit of a country influence and is fun to sing along to. Awesome guitar bits by Harrison feel fluid and wavey. I once stared at a plastic fake fish tank on acid to this and became a jellyfish swimming into the abyss. I Want You: Once again, the Beatles invent a genre that could only be applied for this one song. Kinda like bIuesy jam rock with elements of noise rock, hardcore, and horror. It's long and repetitive yet unpredictable with alternating segments of coolness and pure chaos. Love how the second half is nothing but this intense instrumental tension that goes on seemingly forever before unexpectedly shutting off the side. And for modern listeners, it's a spontaneous and shocking transition to the bright Here Comes the Sun. Definitely a song I look forward to on every listen. Moog works super well in a way only seen in other prog rock songs, whose droning style would be further developed into krautrock, synthpop, and all sorts of other forms of electronica. Here Comes the Sun: For some strange reason their most popular song. I blame the folk-pop movement in the early 2010s that had a somewhat similar anthemic acoustic style, except nowhere near as well executed as here. It's simple yet complete, with the Moog being a nice addition to add extra brightness. A great introduction leading to the medley. Because: My brain considers this to be the start of the medley cause of how it sets the mood for the next several songs. Inspired by classical music, it's both beautiful and unsettling with slow and eery harmonious vocals and strange instruments with slow deep notes. Always a song that grabs my attention. You Never Give Me Your Money: The longest of the medley, consisting of 5 completely different components, setting up themes that would be revisited later. Everyone gets a vocal performance here and they all kill it, exciting me for the rest with the open-ended coda leading into Sun King. Sun King: This one stuck to me as a kid, with its dreamy vocals and nonsensical Spanish lines. Probably my first exposure to the psychedelic mindset, as I remember being a kid and evoking images of a trippy Aztec emperor performing sacred dark rituals to their gods. It's smooth and peaceful but dazed in its sound. Mean Mr Mustard: The second part of the medley begins. I remember seeing an animation of this on Youtube, and I can still remember it scene for scene over a decade later. It's wacky and fun, with the horns, jangly percussion, and British subject matter reminiscent of their Sgt Pepper vaudeville style. Polythene Pam: A short fun punk-like track. Love the lofi style that feels intentionally rushed, like we need to hurry to the next track. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window: We still talking about Mr Mustard's sister? The vocal harmonies and jangles from the previous track take over here, with an overall groovy sound and confused feeling. Golden Slumbers: We transition to the final third of the medley. A beautiful and dramatic song starting to revisit themes from the first track. Carry that Weight: An extension of the previous track but harder and more dramatic, like an orchestral arrangement with a choir support by all Beatles. The End: The dramatic closer to the greatest band of all time. Starts off with a proud interjection followed by my favorite drum solo by anyone. Then a memorable guitar riff that's been sampled many times. A very dramatic repeated line of "LOVE YOU" set to an awesome guitar solo by all 3 guitarists that showcases everything they're capable of. In the last few seconds, Paul ends us off with a highly impactful and memorable quote and a satisfying instrumental conclusion. Enjoy the silence to take in what you heard.
Abbey Road is easily a top 5 record ever produced. Considered by many to be the quintessential Beatles record, and it is easy to see why. The final album recorded by the Beatles is a culmination of all the recording techniques they had learned in the 7 years prior. Seamless transitions, beautifully layered guitar work, and perfect double tracks. There simply is not enough to say about this record. Start to finish, one of the greatest experiences ever. I personally consider the B-side to be perfect with "The Long One" Medley. George Harrisons guitar work is incredible while also showing off his song writing with two of his best songs. Lennon and McCartney continue show off their song writing capabilities while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of what an album can be. I could go on and on about this record forever, its just that good. Favorite Track: Come Together, I Want You (She's So Heavy), "The Long One" Medley Least Favorite Track: None
What needs to be said? This is one of the best albums ever made.
This is one of the best albums. What a way to go out on a high note. It's always hard to pick a favorite Beatles album but this one is always in the top 3 or 4. There are many who say that the two George Harrison songs are the best two songs on the album. Depending on my mood, I would agree. The medley is just fabulous. One son that has really grown on me over the years and has become one of my favorite Beatles songs is I want you. The way they layer on the guitars and the bass playing is just incredible as usual.
Another album packed with timeless classics. I love how the Beatles are never happy just making straightforward songs, they're always pushing and experimenting both conceptually and with instrumentation and production techniques. On this album there is frequent use of a moog synthesiser, She's So Heavy has white noise and heavy guitars and a structure that makes it sound 20 years ahead of it's time. Even Maxwell's Silver Hammer is great once you get past your initial reaction to the "granny music" melody and realise it's a song about a serial killer inspired by avant-garde theatre and the writings of French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry. There is so much to un pack with each listen. 5/5
This is their masterpiece. A last hurrah after the debacle of Let It Be - whatever revisionism is present in the Jackson film, that album and its sessions were a band clearly devolving and that had grown apart. You even see the artifice of an assignment to stimulate some of the old magic with an unrealistic timeline that would have been a breeze for the fab four in their most prolific younger days. It's clear that Martin pulled them up by the ears and said try again lads. The result is a perfect record. I don't even hate Maxwell's Silver Hammer as is the in thing to do. While its subject matter is bizarre, it is not alone in their catalog in either weird lyrical themes or as evil drugged out circus music. Harrison is given some shining moments and Ringo even gets to be a bit creative here. The side B suite is one of the most amazing things ever done in popular music. It is simply a bar that has seldom been even reached at much less accomplished. It is the best album by the most influential group of all time. It is a joy to listen to each and every time.
It is hard to put this one into words that haven't been said before. Abbey Road is one of my all-time favorite albums. I've probably listened to it hundreds of times. Every song is its own little perfectly crafted masterpiece. The mood of the album is so diverse. You'll find some of the darkest Beatles material (Because, I Want You) as well as some of the most uplifting ones (Here Comes the Sun, Octopus's Garden). The production is completely masterful. Hard to believe they were on the verge of breakup during the whole process. It's my cat Maxwell's favorite as well :)
Can an album containing songs such as ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ and ‘Octopus’s Garden’ be considered GOAT I hear you ask? Well individually, probably not, but the Beatles have always transcended such things, and ‘Abbey Road’ works and approaches GOAT status because it is greater than the sum of its parts. It sounds unlike any other Beatles record, noticeably warmer, lush, more sophisticated and polished than any of their other efforts. They were united here as they hadn’t been for years, and it shows. It’s brimming with ideas and has hooks for days. The medley, initially created to use up a bunch off offcuts the band had lying around, ends up being something special, almost operatic in scope, and a fitting coda to the groups extraordinary career. Everyone gets a final moment to shine. Ringo even gets a drum solo. In fact, that sense that an era is ending is palpable throughout the record. It feels like a farewell letter, but not a sad one. I love ‘Abbey Road’. It was the album that really turned me on to the Beatles when I was 15, and it’s the album of theirs I return to the most often.
Abbey Road is my favorite album, always has been. Coming to it today, 644 albums into this little experiment, it hit me differently. It was like meeting my soulmate after a long time apart. I think listening to so many diverse albums by so many artists has certainly broadened my horizons. But it has only strengthened my love and appreciation for Abbey Road. 1001 Albums is littered with artists who were inspired by this album, who attempted to make their own Abbey Road and failed. I could go on about this album for hours, but I won't. We all know this album. Most of us love this album. It's as good as any album will ever get. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Medley, Oh! Darling, Something, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Come Together, Here Comes the Sun, Because, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Octopus's Garden, Her Majesty
An interesting perspective is that this album was being recorded while the Woodstock festival was on. Side 1 Track 1. Come Together is one of John's best songs. "Here come ole flattop" was "borrowed" from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". Chuck couldn't care less but Lennon was sued by Morris Levy, a fine gentleman, except for the fact that he was a scumbag known for swindling poor black musicians and was later convicted with extortion. Levy owned Chuck's songs and went after Lennon for a pound of flesh. I understand Lennon settled by agreeing to include You Can't Catch Me on his Rock'n'Roll LP which would have given Levy a shit whack of royalties. The drums on Come Together are iconic and are both intricate and muzzled. Pearl Drums were critical to pull this off as the drums would be too overwhelming if Ringo played any other drum kit. Track 2 Ditto Ringo's Pearl drums as he continues to deliver creative drumming on Harrison's Something which is a phenomenal song. The first two songs are insanely good. Track 3 And next . . . Yup, here comes fucking Paul with Bang Bang whatever. Track 4 OK I really do like Oh Darling. Paul's singing is amazing and the guitar sounds like the guitar he used on the song Sgt Pepper. The chords are easy insofar as the strumming pattern goes - couldn't be easier really - but how someone makes those chords have that biting sound is a mystery to me. It may be the 5th Beatle working his magic. Track 5 Octo Garden is fun and par for the course Ringo stuff. The wiki notes mention that George helped Ringo write the melodies and also mention that John helped George write Something. I like how neither John nor George wanted song writing credit for their contributions. It seems like the three of them were solid friends. Track 6 A note for the kids out there, in 1969 you would be complimenting your girlfriend if you said "She's so heavy" Side two Here Comes the Sun: is the most streamed Beatles song on Spotify. That surprises me, It's a great song - but it still surprises me. 1 billion plays is serious. It's unfortunate that seeing this reminded me that Coldplay's The Scientist had even more plays. See my review of Cold Play's A Rush Of Blood To The Head to see how I used my MacBook to give Coldplay a kick in the balls. Because: So Lennon heard Yoko playing Beethoven and thought they should play the chords in the reverse order; this ended up being the song Because. Imagine how great music would sound if you could hear the things that John Lennon heard when he listened to songs. The medley I found this interesting to listen to for the first time in decades. It is intended to be a mini concept montage but there is no concept or sensible lyrical connection that I can glean. I just don't think the Beatles could do a real concept album. A concept album needs a principal songwriter to take control and write the story and the bulk of the lyrics. Pete wrote Tommy, Peter wrote The Lamb and Roger wrote The Wall. While I'm sure Paul would want to take control of a Beatles concept album, he wasn't good enough at writing meaningful lyrics that could tell a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end. John was good enough but I don't think he could be bothered. Layered on top of this is that neither Paul nor John would ever let the other take the lead which is needed for a concept album. The medley on Abbey Road is a bunch of unrelated odds and sods being Frankensteined together. It sounds like a mini concept album if you don't listen too carefully. Lyrically there is no story that hangs together. "Sunday's on the phone with Monday; Tuesday's on the phone with me. Oh Yeah". Should be "Oh no". Musically, however, it does hang together as a concept. The faux overture of "You never give me your money" reappears as "You never give me your pillow . . ." and musically it works. The jamming with the guitar solos is top shelf and Ringo pulls out some creative drumming on Paul's songs for the first and last time. Lyrically though it makes you wish someone told Paul to give his head a shake. Musically, the medley is an excellent example of how songs can be put together to make the whole better than the sum of the parts. Is this Paul's genius? Or is it the genius of the fifth Beatle? George Martin was a master at making the Beatles' music sound its best. He unfortunately had no ability to make Paul's lyrics have personality. Her Majesty is too much fun. I decided to learn to play it on guitar thinking it would be easy. Wrong. There are 17 different chords in that 25 second song. Not an easy one to learn properly.
It's not a perfect album, but the idea of Ringo and George losing their minds during the course of recording Maxwell's Silver Hammer is undeniably funny. Octopus's garden is also a silly little ditty, but I have a soft spot for it. Everything else on Abbey Road pretty much speaks for itself. Some of the best songs ever recorded are on this. Come Together and Here Comes the Sun were some of my favourites as a kid, as an adult you can find pretty much whatever you want on here. I did while listening happily on the beach yesterday. There's also something undeniably sad about this album. It's the final one recorded together and it's filled with a set of swan songs by a band that changed music forever. Such a strong ending leaves you wondering what else could have come out of the fab four if they'd stuck together. That they stayed a unit for so long is equally as remarkable.