The Beatles - Abbey Road

Abbey Road

This is the official 11th UK album by the Beatles, released in September 1969.

After the near-disastrous sessions for the "Get Back" album (later re-titled as Let It Be) in January 1969, The Beatles briefly settled their differences long enough to record Abbey Road, in July, which was to be their last studio-recorded album.

Side One of the album (vinyl) is John's concept of indivitual tracks, while Side Two has Paul's now famous 'Pop Opera', a long suite of compositions, many of them being relatively short, segued as one.

The record sleeve shows the Beatles walking across a zebra crossing in Abbey Road away from the recording studio. This, with the album's closing track 'The End', was regarded by many as being the message from the band saying "it's the end of the Bealtles". (The Bealtes disbanded on 10.4.70, six months after the release of this album.)

Abbey Road became one of the most successful Beatles albums ever. The album debuted straight to No. 1 in the UK chart and stayed a total of 17 weeks at the top.

All songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, except where noted.

1. Come Together: The track is written by John and features a lead vocal from him with harmonies in places from Paul. John and George both play the lead guitars. John also plays the piano while Ringo doubles on drums and maraccas.

2. Something (Harrison): This is, to my opinion, undoubtedly the best song from the album. George sings solo vocal on his own song. It was issued as the A-side of a single and this was the first time a George Harrision song was used on as an A-side of a Beatles single. John plays the lead guitar together with George. Their friend, Billy Preston plays the organ. The orchestration is by the George Martin Orchestra. (The first line of the song: "something in the ways she moves" was based on a James Taylor's song.)

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer: Paul's first song on the album features himself on lead vocal with harmonies from John. Paul and John also dubs in the backing vocals. John is on lead guitar while George doubles on acoustic guitar and synthesiser. Paul is also on bass and piano. Ringo is heard banging a hammer on an anvil for added effect.

4. Oh! Darling: Paul again sings (a harse and gusty) lead vocal on this dramatic track; the backing vocals are from John and Paul. The instrument backing includes Paul on piano, lead guitar from George who also plays the synthesiser.

5. Octopus's Garden (Starkey): This is the second (and last) song written by Ringo to be included in a Bealtes album. Ringo sings lead vocal with backing from John and Paul. John and George both play the lead guitars. Paul is also on piano while George adds in the synthesiser. It also includes some sound effects like bubbles blowing and gargling backing vocals in the instrumental break.

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy): This is actually two songs joined together as one, but without a link. The lead vocal and the bluesy lead guitar are by John. Paul harmonises in places. George, who plays the rhythm guitar, adds in the moog synthesiser to creat the white noise or "wind" effect. Billy Preston is on organ. The song has a long repeated guitar riff at the ending until the song stops abruptly.

7. Here Comes The Sun (Harrison): On this second song from George which he sings lead vocal and plays an acoustic guitar and synthesiser. The backing vocal are from John and Paul. The strings are provided by session musicians.

8. Because: This song features a close harmony from John and Paul. John is on lead guitar and harpsichord while George adds in the programmed moog synthesiser. Ringo is not present on this track.

The "Pop Opera" suite:

9. You Never Give Me Your Money: This track is a medley of four separate songs welded together as one. The first song, You Never Give Me Your Money, features Paul singing lead vocal and backing himself on a piano. On the second song, That Magic Feeling, Paul's singing is backed by a honky-tonk style piano. The third song, One Sweet Dream, is an upbeat rock 'n' roll song by Paul and the fourth song has Paul and John repeating the lines : "1-2-3-4-5-6-7, all good children go to heaven". The backing vocals are from John and Paul. John is on lead guitar. Paul adds in the piano while George handles the rhythm guitar. Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine.

10. Sun King: John's vocals are double-track for the lead, then multi-tracked to produce his own harmonies. John plays the lead guitar and maraccas. Paul is on bass and harmonium. George also plays lead guitar while ringo is on drums and bongos on this track that sounds like tribal chants. George Martin joins the Beatles on organ.

11. Mean Mustard: John, who plays piano on this track, sings lead vocal with Paul harmonising here and there. Paul also plays the fuzz bass guitar whle Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine. George plays lead guitar on this short track.

12. Polythene Pam: Another short track with John on lead vocal and Paul on harmony vocal. John plays both acoustic and lead guitars. Paul is on bass and lead guitar too. George doubles on rhythm guitar and tambourine with Ringo on drums and maraccas.

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window: Paul sings lead vocal and joins John for the backing vocals. John plays the acoustic guitar with Paul taking the role of playing the lead guitar. George plays the bass while Ringo doubles on drums and maraccas.

14. Golden Slumbers: Paul sings solo vocal on this short melody. Paul doubles on bass and piano. Ringo is only other Beatle presence. Session musicians provide the string.

15. Carry The Weight: The first part of this track has the Beatles singing in 4-part harmony. The second part of the song is the second verse of You Never Give Me Your Money. This has Paul on lead vocal and backed himself on piano, and with the orchestration from George Martin. The final part returns to the Beatles singing Carry The Weight. John plays the lead guitar in this short track.

16. The End: This track again is made up of 4 parts. It starts with Paul singing lead on a verse. This is followed by a 16-second Ringo drum solo (the first and only on a Beatles record). The third session changes into a jam session with backing vocals (love you....) from John, Paul and George. John and Paul sing the final verse. John is on lead guitar with Paul on piano and George on rhythm guitar. The strings are added by session musicians.

17. Her Majesty: After an 18-second silence from The End, Paul suddenly breaks into a vocal solo, backing himself on acoustic guitar, on this short track.