Abbey Road

Note: I received two massive books for Christmas. One was the 1,001 Books You Should Read Before You Die. Actually I received that one twice. I turned one in and ordered 1,001 Albums You Should Hear Before You Die, which came yesterday. After looking through both I realize I have a lot of reading and hearing to do. Anyways, I thought I might occasionally throw out my two cents about the albums I've heard and books I've read. I figured this would be right up Snakester's alley. FYI: Each book is ordered chronologically, the index is alphabetical. There is no "here's the best" kind of thing. So I am just going through the index for albums I've heard and the second album listed is...


Abbey Road – The Beatles
Label: Apple
Producer: George Martin
Running time: 47:36

One thing I realize as I read the review of this album and a few of the others is that I hate (Snakester just cringed) how critics write. More than anyone, critics want to let you know that they know big words. Here's the thing, the bigger the words the quicker the average reader will put it down.
Anyways I have always tended to couple the Beatles albums (Hard Days Night-Help, Rubber Soul-Revolver, Sgt. Peppers-Magical Mystery Tour, The White Album (they did that one for me), Let It Be-Abbey Road). Now this last couple is interesting. Let It Be was recorded first and released last. Abbey Road was the album that never would have happened if the lads weren't uncomfortable with how things ended with Let It Be. So Abbey Road is the last album that they put through the entire production grinder and it shows. It's progressive and varied in song selection. The last half of the album flows as if a medley from one song to another building to the ultimate climax for the greatest bands to ever string up their guitars. George also has his best showing with his two allotted songs – "Something" and "Here Comes the Sun."
Let It Be never got fully produced and ends up sounding more raw, which for some reason draws me in. But Abbey Road is a testament that no matter how much they bickered and disliked each other – Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr – could create big idea albums like no other group seems to be able to match.