Abbey Road

Review

by Richie Unterberger

The last Beatles album to be recorded (although Let It Be was the last to be released), Abbey Road was a fitting swan song for the group, echoing some of the faux-conceptual forms of Sgt. Pepper's, but featuring stronger compositions and more rock-oriented ensemble work. The group was still pushing forward in all facets of its art, whether devising some of the greatest harmonies to be heard on any rock record (especially on "Because"), constructing a medley of songs/vignettes that covered much of side two, adding subtle touches of Moog synthesizer, or crafting furious guitar-heavy rock ("The End," "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," "Come Together"). George Harrison also blossomed into a major songwriter, contributing the buoyant "Here Comes the Sun" and the supremely melodic ballad "Something," the latter of which became the first Harrison-penned Beatles hit. Whether Abbey Road is the Beatles' best work is debatable, but it's certainly the most immaculately produced (with the possible exception of Sgt. Pepper's) and most tightly constructed.

Tracks

				Title	Composer	Time
		1		Come Together	Lennon, McCartney	4:19
		2		Something	Harrison	3:02
		3		Maxwell's Silver Hammer	Lennon, McCartney	3:27
		4		Oh! Darling	Lennon, McCartney	3:27
		5		Octopus's Garden	Starkey, Starr	2:50
		6		I Want You (She's So Heavy)	Lennon, McCartney	7:47
		7		Here Comes the Sun	Harrison	3:05
		8		Because	Lennon, McCartney	2:45
		9		You Never Give Me Your Money	Lennon, McCartney	4:02
		10		Sun King	Lennon, McCartney	2:26
		11		Mean Mr. Mustard	Lennon, McCartney	1:06
		12		Polythene Pam	Lennon, McCartney	1:12
		13		She Came in Through the Bathroom Window	Lennon, McCartney	1:58
		14		Golden Slumbers	Lennon, McCartney	1:31
		15		Carry That Weight	Lennon, McCartney	1:36
		16		The End	Lennon, McCartney	2:21
		17		Her Majesty	Lennon, McCartney	0:27

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