It is perhaps the most well-known album - 1969's Abbey Road marks the end of the journey for the Fab Four. Although released before Let it Be, it was recorded last, before John, Paul, George and Ringo went their separate ways. After disastrous and tense Get Back recording sessions (later salvaged to become Let it Be) the group thought they would have one last shot at recording, in a much more comfortable environment - their home at EMI's Abbey Road Studios.
Featuring seventeen songs, the album is an eclectic mix of different music styles. From the metal-esque sounds on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" to the tantalising nine part harmony on "Because", Abbey Road contains many different sounds which work so well together. Side two includes the medley, containing "You Never Give Me Your Money", "Sun King", "Mean Mr. Mustard", "Polythene Pam", "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window", "Carry That Weight" and "The End". Also included on the album is Ringo Starr's second solo composition (with help from George Harrison), "Octopus's Garden" and the two singles from the album, John's "Come Together" and George's "Something". "Something" was released as the A-side of the single, Harrison's first composition to be so.
The iconic album cover - the only of The Beatles' albums to not have any words on the cover - further fuelled rumours of the increasingly popular 'Paul is dead' theory (see our previous post on it). Fun fact: the white Volkswagen Beetle seen behind George was supposed to be removed by its owner before photographing took place but he was away. The car is now an image associated with the album cover. Abbey Road is ranked at number 14 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
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