ABBEY ROAD

If, like me, you prefer your Beatles bearded and barefoot, then ABBEY ROAD is likely your favourite from the Fab Foursome. Sure, SGT. PEPPER'S was more influential, and THE BEATLES (AKA "The White Album") has twice the tune-age, but this one is just plain flawless, with some of the best, most polished material The Beatles and producer George Martin ever committed to tape.

As you may know, the Beatles' albums were re-mastered and re-packaged recently, and the results were great. Now is the time to start, complete or even replace your collection of CDs from the biggest band ever. As with the entirety of The Beatles catalog, ABBEY ROAD is much better than before thanks to the re-master. The sound sparkles, and is more clearly defined -- you can hear individual instruments and nuances you may have been completely unaware of before. The packaging is also a class act: the fragile old plastic jewel box is gone, replaced by durable, esthetically-pleasing and environmentally friendlier cardboard. There are loads of great photos, historical notes, recording notes and a mini documentary on the making of the album, to further sweeten the deal. The documentary can be played on your computer, and features video and more photos, plus audio commentary from the Fabs themselves. Gear! Does it get any better than this? Well, yes: I can't speak for your country, but around these parts the re-masters are selling for nearly ten dollars less than previous inferior editions. I often wondered why Beatles CDs needed to be so expensive (typically around $25 Canadian, compared to average CD costs of 18 to 20 dollars). Now here they are, sounding and looking better than ever, for just 15 bucks a pop. Thank you, universe!

Of course, as I indicated above, ABBEY ROAD may just well be the finest of The Beatles' long-haired classics. Some of the biggest and best hits are here, including Lennon's ultra-cool album opener "Come Together," Harrison's beautiful and romantic "Something" and his uplifting "Here Comes the Sun," McCartney's cheerfully dark "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," and Ringo's wistful, escapist kiddy favourite "Octopus's Garden." The Liverpool Lads were in top form here, and working very well together as a band. The mood was good, and the result was the career high note that should have been the last release (if it all had to end as it soon did -- leaving a then ten year-old me in tears of disbelief at the news). McCartney's "You Never Give Me Your Money" may not have made the old blue 67- 70 hits compilation, but man, it's an absolute gem, and the melancholy longing for lost innocence in the line "Once there was a way to get back homeward, once there was a way to get back home" now moves me more than ever. Finally, and best of all, the seamless song-cycle that forms the album's second half is, simply, stupendous. On the mini-doc, Sir Paul tells us that as he and John entered the iconic studio, they had "lots and lots of bits of things-- and we hit upon the idea of medlying them all, which gave the second side... a kind of operatic structure." Paul, Ringo and your humble reviewer are in agreement; quoth Ringo: "one of the finest pieces we put together."

ABBEY ROAD is a rock masterpiece, and no less than a landmark of 20th-Century popular music and culture. It's a timeless album to live, love, and revisit again and again. Remember, folks: "and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Hear, hear!