ABBEY ROAD

The band had almost finished "Let It Be" (under difficult circumstances) when Paul suggested to Martin to start another album, more in the spirit of a band's album like they were used to do in their early days. This idea was well received and the Fab Four started the sessions for "Abbey Road".

The band will come up with some of their finest songs. Especially George. "Something" is one of the very best Fab Four song. One could say that it is the most McCartney ones of his creation. An enormous melody, an emotional guitar solo (but "While My Guitar. was already a hint of this). It is my fave of this album.

It was released as a single (which I purchased in 1971) with "Come Together". Another great and famous Lennon song. It will be the first Nr. 1 hit from George. It was initially meant for Joe Cocker who will perform an incredible cover of "With A Little Help For My Friend" at Woodstock.

The first weak moment is for sure "Maxwell's Silver Hammer". Just press next and listen to "Oh Darling". It is an excellent song from Paul even if he had some problems with his voice at the time. John has even said that :" He could have done a better job, but since Paul wrote it, he should be on the leading vocals".

"Octopus Garden" is the second song written by Ringo in the Fab Four history. It is also one of my fave from Ringo when he was in charge of the lead vocals.

The closing number of side one "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is my second preferred track from this album. And so it was some thirty four years ago when I discovered it. It is a dual song with two separate parts. It is their second longest composition (after "Revolution 9") and features an hypnotic and heavy guitar riff with an abrupt finale which was desired by John. The band developped a long and vibrant instrumental section, which was not the standard for the band.

The contrast with "Here Comes The Sun" is enormous, especially when you listen to the CD version since it just comes straight after. I already made this type of comment for "Rubber Soul" when "Michele" finished side one and "What Goes On" started side two.

It is another of the very good George composition. He wrote it while being at his friend Eric Clapton's house. He just grab an acoustic guitar, walked in the garden, thought of the never ending English winter and wrote this great song. Sounds so easy... Lennon did not participate in the recording.

In terms of melody "Because" is probably the most beautiful one from this album (on par with "Something"). John was really at his best while writing it. The song features interesting synthesizers work as well.

IMO, it ends the most interesting part of this album. The next eight songs are some sort of "suite" of which "Sun King" is very soft and melodic. But there is little consistency in this work. They are really eight different short songs.

The McCartney parts being very pleasant ("You Never Give me your Money "and "Golden Slumbers"). On the "Carry That Weight" chorus, the four members are signing (which was not often the case).

During "The End" each member will perform a short solo (even Ringo for fifteen seconds! ). It is a song with lots of theme change which should have closed this album instead of the ridiculously short "Her Majesty" The shortest track ever recorded by the Fab Four (twenty-two seconds.).

It is the Fab Four album in which McCartney was the less involved. Probably becuase he was thinking of something else...

"Abbey road" is very good and will peak at the first spot of the UK charts for seventeen weeks. Four months!

Four stars.