These sessions would bring out the worst in the Beatles with band members fighting and George Harrison temporarily leaving the band. The sessions created many new songs which were going to be compiled for the album Let It Be, but the band was dissatisfied with every mix created so the band decided to push the album back. Instead, the band got together again later in the year and started recording from scratch a new album which would be called Abbey Road.
Abbey Road is commonly known as one of their best albums from an artistic and musical standpoint. The album draws from many styles, from hard rock, blues rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock and baroque pop making it one of their most diverse albums.
The album opens with the bluesy swampfest 'Come Together', which is one of the most famous songs on the album. The songs lyrics were written by John Lennon and make no sense at all - the exact way he wanted it to be. The song was a #1 single for the band in late 1969. Also released on the same single was George Harrison's ballad 'Something' which comes directly after on the album. Another blues style number, this song features a string section and one of the most melodic guitar solos recorded. Because this was a double A-side single with 'Come Together', this song was George's first #1 hit as a songwriter. After having two amazing songs, we dip in quality a bit with Paul McCartney's "granny shit" song 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'. It's definitely not a bad song and in the certain mood I really like it, but it's a definite low light on a fantastic album.
Macca does redeem himself with the next song, the soul inspired 'Oh! Darling' which features one of his best vocal performances on tape. This was a single in selected Asian markets and has become one of the most known from the album. Next up is the enjoyable 'Octopus's Garden', written and sung by Mr. Ringo Starr. Again this song is quite good but definitely not a highlight, but you can't deny how genuinely happy it sounds. But after every sunny day comes a storm, and it does not come a lot darker than John's droning 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'. Perhaps their heaviest song, the tune revolves around a descending riff and only 14 different words are featured - not many words for an 8 minute song! The riff keeps winding until it suddenly stops and side one is finished.
Side two starts with the complete opposite of the previous track, the overly happy Harrison 'Here Comes the Sun'. This beautiful pop number features Harrison's most intricate acoustic guitar work and also deploys some spacy sounding synthesizers. A great song that deserves to be as famous as it is. The riff from 'I Want You' is used again in 'Because' which features the three great singers of the band (sorry Ringo) harmonizing perfectly. 'Because' is really a song you need to hear to believe, it might be the epitome of beautiful. When those three sing individually it is spine tingling so when those three harmonize you can imagine how that must sound. Breathtaking.
The next 8 songs are part of what is known as the "Abbey Road Medley". These are short songs all joined together to create one big long song (16 minutes!!) but are all individual songs on the album jacket and CD. The first, 'You Never Give Me Your Money', works just as well out of the medley as the song has three different movements in it's own! The song features some of the finest guitar work in the bands history and is my favourite Beatles song overall. 'Sun King' recalls both 'Because' through it's 3 part harmonies and also 'Albatross' by Fleetwood Mac in the guitar work. 'Mean Mr. Mustard' and 'Polythene Pam' are two throwaway numbers by definition but they both have such a quirky sense of humour that it is impossible not to like them. 'She Came in Through the Bathroom Window' is another classic from the album and was famously covered by Joe Cocker the same year. The final three songs from the album, 'Golden Slumbers', 'Carry That Weight' and 'The End' provide the perfect climax to the end of the career of a great band. All four singers sing the chorus on 'Carry That Weight' and all four get a solo on 'The End' with a blistering series of guitar solos from Paul, George and John. What a way to end the recording career.
Oh wait... it's not the end. After 15 seconds of silence, we get 17 seconds of Paul singing and playing the acoustic guitar on the hidden track 'Her Majesty'. Very funny guys!
Although this was released before Let It Be, this was recorded several months after hence why most people refer to this as their final album. It is a true piece of art and I believe this album offers something for everyone. There are no bad songs on the album - some of them are definitely better than others but listening to this you realize how great the Beatles are and you can understand why they get the name as the best band ever.
9.5/10.
Highlights: Something, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
Lowlights: Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Sun King, Mean Mr. Mustard
