You have the sense, after LET IT BE, that the Beatles knew this would probably be the last time they would record together and really tried to make this one shine. It shows. From "Come Together" & Lennon's other powerful tune -- "I Want You, She's So Heavy" --to Harrison's "Something" (which Frank Sinatra called one of the most beautiful love songs ever done -- and a tribute by George to his then wife Patti Boyd, as would be Eric Clapton's "Layla" & "Wonderful Tonight") this album has no real misfires. From "Sun King" to "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" and "Golden Slumbers" to "Carry that Weight" to "The End" (where John, Paul & George have guitar solos) it packs a pop punch that is still potent nearly 40 years later. Other notables Paul ode to old rock "Oh Darling!" and Ringo's fanciful "Octopus' Garden". Come one, come all. Pleasant time is guaranteed for all! This final LP would always be the biggest seller of their seven year run.

This is the best album from The Beatles. I've been a fan of them since I was 13! I know that was a long time ago in the 90's but I liked so many of their songs. They have a sound taht stands the test of time! This is definately their best album. Every song is great and get stuck in your head. This is my favorite Beatles album and you're music collection isn't complete without this one!

A thousand reviews? I only can echo the majority. This is simply another masterpiece from the greatest band that ever cut a record. These four were in a class by themselves. The Beatles and then there were all the others. Abbey Road blew everyone away when it came out and still is an experience and not just a set of songs put together for listening to while you run the vacumn cleaner. I always think of some of the assertions that have been made about Shakespeare when I take in the entire catlog of the Beatles. It seems impossible that one small rock combo could come together and create art the way they did the same way that so many people can't imagine one person writing as many classics as Shakespeare did. During the time of the Beatles, it was one set of songs after another, album after album of music that cut a new path a little deeper each time. Abbey Road was like a non-stop freight train and a must for anybody that can grasp the significance of this time period and the effect of this music on what was happening.

Abbey Road by The Beatles,1969,almost the end of the road for the group,This is the Beatles final album,leaving behind a legacy mechanically unmatched,surpassing the word classic which is an understatement,Frank Sinatra once said,Something,was the best song of the decade,nobody was inclined to give ol' blue eyes an argument,if anybody knew about songs it would be Sinatra,speaking of songs on Abbey Road,there's too many to talk about,but a good example of the classical touch,The Beatles showed the world,the timeless,Sun King,revealing the harmonies,that was always self evident in the early days,and probably the main ingredient for their success,along with the brilliant songwriting. Another notable song to mention,the McCartney ballad,Oh Darling!,McCartney showcasing his full potential as an established singer,rehearsing this song for weeks breaking in the harshness in his voice for this recording,and this recording,Abbey Road,a true timeless masterpiece,and a cool cover to match the title,The Beatles are like a fine wine aging with time.

Until about 5 years ago, some friends and I would rent a house every summer down the Jersey shore. About 8 or 9 of us would check the house parties in Belmar, then hit all the clubs including Bar A, DJ's, The Parker House etc.

One night there was a concert at the Garden State Arts Center featuring The Black Crowes with special guest Jimmy Page of the classic-rock band Led Zeppelin. Being that Page is possibly the greatest guitarist of all time, a friend and I decided to check out the show.

The Black Crowes had solid hits including 'Remedy' and 'Salvation' recognizable to most fans. But the thing that struck me most about that evening was the rather large difference in music quality between the Zeppelin classics, and even the best Crowes' music. The vintage stuff was simply on another level playing songs like 'In The Evening' and 'Ten Years Gone'... Which brings me to the point; that superordinary class of music rings true on the Beatle's album Abbey Road. It is clearly superior music to what other bands are able to play.

Now, I'm not the biggest Beatle's fan out there, but strangely enough, during the 1970's a teacher at our rather conservative Catholic school talked the nuns into taking the 6th, 7th and 8th graders to see Beatlemania in NYC. If I remember correctly, everything was cool until they showed that big, hippie-momma with the oversized mammaries nursing twins au naturel on the big-screen.

Anyway, there's been a lot of talk between Beatle's fans about which album is their crème de la crème. Is it Sgt. Pepper? The White Album? Or maybe even Let it Be? I'll throw my dusty cowboy hat into the ring and say Abbey Road is hands-down the finest album ever recorded by the Fab Four. Every fan of rock music deserves to have it in their collection. It's THAT good. Considering it was their second to last recording, it makes you wonder what might have been had they stayed together another ten years.

Eevn though I am a die hard Thrash/Death Metal fan I have am a huge fan of Classic Rock. The Beatles are my favorite band of all time, and this album shows why. Flawless writing and playing. If you do not own this album you need help.

Following the relative failure of the "Let It Be" project, John, Paul, George, and Ringo were able to get back together to make music one last time, and named their final LP, released in the fall of 1969, for the studios in which they had done all their recording--somehow, an appropriate gesture. The late George Harrison's songwriting was peaking just as the Fab Four were disintegrating as a group--he contributed the album's two best songs, and, with "Something," finally got the A-side of a Beatles single. The second side's medley is a masterful interweaving of varied song fragments, none really strong enough to stand on its own, into a rich musical tapestry--like master chefs creating a gourmet meal out of leftovers in the refrigerator. "Her Majesty" is a brief anticlimax; the group, knowing it was dying, didn't want anyone crying at the end. Down came the curtain.

So I was just idly surfing Amazon, reading reviews and whatnot when I decided to search the Beatles' catalogue. Abbey Road is the first you get when you punch the group's name in. The reviews, naturally this being the most popular band ever, were mostly positive. Positive reviews tend to bore me, so I decided to look at the negative (1 star) reviews instead, just for a laugh. But the thing is I've always been a bit insecure about my love of the Beatles. There is always a voice in me questioning "what if it is all hype? What if there's really nothing spectacular about them and you're just following along with the rock critics and fans?". Some of the 1 star reviews brought these feelings back as I tried to recollect what this album sounded like. It really didn't seem spectacular at all. The songwriting seemed superficial and the instrumentation seemed mediocre. Logic forbade me to continue to praise them.
So then I put the boys to the test and grabbed this album and gave it a listen (I'm listening to it now actually), and all I can say is, well, I like it. Alot. There is a certain charm in the melodies and lyrics, often times playful but somehow epic, even meaningful in an insane way. The Beatles inhabit a pop music dreamland on this album. Everything sounds perfectly placed, all the parts nuanced. It always sounds oh so cheesy when I think of it afterwards, but when I've got a Beatles album on, I am inside it and I am happy. A cheerful trance of sorts.
I'm sure once this album is over and a few days have passed I will again wonder why I let the Beatles fill space in my CD collection. I may even regret writing this review, or this 5 star rating, then I'll listen to them again.

So it occured to me one day that I didn't own a single Beatles CD. Can you even believe it? Arguably the best band in all of rock and roll and not even a greatest hits on my shelf.

Since I'm a tad obsessive when it comes to stuff, I decided I didn't want any run of the mill Best Of, but instead wanted to go through and buy the albums from these boys the way they were originally sent out, so I decided I'd start with the albums that were what many considered to be innovative and the ones I knew I always wanted but never got.

Now my first impulse was to buy "the white album" but upon closer inspection I realized I wanted Revolver and Abbey Road first. And this week we have been playing this little gem on and off. I

I knew this was one of the last Beatles albums but what I didn't know is that it WAS the last Beatles album ever recorded, Let It Be was released after this but it had already been recorded by the time the boys headed into Abbey Road. I knew I wanted this album the minute I realized "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" was on here as for some reason that is my ultimate favorite Beatles song, I know I'm very strange.

But also on this 1969 masterpeice is "Come Together", "Octopus' Garden", and "Something" to name but a few of the familiar tunes.

A sort darker than the way the Beatles bounced into the world only a mere 5 years before, the reason this band is so important and influential is the fact that those 5 years saw these boys doing what no one had ever done before, coming up with insane and strange mixes to add to the guitar pop they brought to life.

From one direction to another these four boys are remarkable and every single piece of genius is evident on Abbey Road. The songs are more experimental than most of what you hear even today yet they are familiar and long lasting. I sing along with every single song, I feel every single emotion and believe me when you hear me running around screaming "I Want You" you know it's absolutely stunning!

There are probably more important Beatles albums and perhaps more entertaining albums in the catalog but since this is my very first Beatles ever (a hundred and one years later) I think it will remain a favorite for years and years.

the best band that ever recorded on this planet has achieved musical genius on Abbey Road. there will never be a better band!!!!!

What a great lp It tops most of there lps . What a swan song for the Boys, Just if they stayed together for a few more years wow.

An incredible work of music. Simply a masterpiece, and in my opinion has to be the best rocknroll/pop album of all time.


and if you'd like a laugh, read the the 1-star reviews.

What's not to get? Yes, Maxwell, and Octopus are a bit silly! If you know their histort and you know where they were during this particular period, you'd understand that they needed a bit of silliness!
John was busy being '....Heavy" w/ Yoko and the peace movement; Paul was melting down, George wanted out, and Ringo wanted everyone to just get along. There is not ONE piece here that if you listed to it, you wouldn't walk away humming. This album is the epitome of the Beatles's Magic! It is just too bad it was the last of it.

"Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" are two of George's best songs ever (and "Something" may be the single greatest love song ever)
"Oh Darling" is a bluesy masterpiece with Paul screaming with the best of them and showing why he will always be one of the best singers of all time.
The one who didn't really give his best effort was John (& I say that with love, as John Lennon has been a huge influence on my life!)
"Come Together" has a great riff, but he ended up getting sued over the lyrics by Chuck Berry (& I thought they were friends!)
"I Want You (She's so Heavy) again has a GREAT riff...slow and hard...driving and whirling to an abrupt end....but again....John...where's the Lennon wit??? ("I want you so bad it's driving me mad")
Mean Mr. Mustard is kind of cool, but seems like he cut it short to please someone else (Paul? George Martin?)
"Because" however, is an absolutely beautiful piece of work w/ some of their best harmonies ever...(which by the way are really showcased on this album very well)

Abbey Road is less about individual songs and more about the whole product: Less about the lyrics and more about the harmonies. And musically (both instrumentally & vocally), one of the greatest albums of all time!

But, again, it all just fits together...this is what a group should be about! Where John didn't have his best day, Paul & George rode in on the white Horses.

I was very young when the Beatles broke up (10), but I do still miss them!

"The greatest album of all time" is a matter of taste but anyone that does not have this on the top 10 list is an idiot. The (very few) people who gave this less than 5 stars must be tone deaf morons!

I've listened to Abbey Road dozens of times. Tonight as I listened to the CD, I was motivated to write about the sound quality. It sounds like a poor transfer. I have the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs vinyl, and though it has been a long time since I listened to it, it is much more tolerable than the CD. Why? The CD sound is a plastic imitation. Ringo's cymbals sound like white noise. The drums are all stick and no skin. Bass is flabby and indistinct (granted, even on the Mobile Fidelity release it is not anything to praise, but the CD is worse). The organ on Harrison's "Something" sounds more like a Casio keyboard than a Hammond. There's a smudging of everything and very little sense of open space around any of the vocals or instruments. I could go on and on, but if anyone can get a superior analog version of this album, they can make their own comparison. I think in almost every category, any trained listener would find the CD sound worse.

Yet, I have trepidations about the inevitable remastered versions of the Beatles catalog that are rumored to be just around the corner. When they remade the Let It Be album (Let It Be Naked), the sound had more clarity, but it also seemed dynamically compressed. I could live with it, if they did that to the other albums, but I would not be completely satisfied.

Most people will think I am just nitpicking. But good music deserves a decent transfer from the master tape. Comparing the CD with the vinyl, this didn't happen when Abbey Road was transfered to digital. I find the CD convenient, but it is always a strangely unsatisfying experience. The CD gives an impression of this great album, but the unnatural timbres of instruments and electronic quality of the voices deaden the beauty of the songs.

If you buy this, just remember that there is more to this album than you will ever hear from the CD. We hope for better... maybe the remastered version. But I may just digitally record my vinyl copy. It may well outdo any future remastering.

From the first cut, "Come Together," to the last, "Her Majesty," this is filled with songs, by turn, that are quirky, musical, emotional, amusing. . . . This is a classic "Late Beatles" album, even as the group was falling to pieces. There is a maturity to this work that belies their relative youth.

"Come Together" starts this album off in fine style. Nice guitar work is manifest here. This is followed by George Harrison's "Something," starting off with distinctive and enjoyable guitar work. A couple key lines:

"You're asking me will my love go?
I don't know, I don't know."

Then, the wild and weird "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." A couple lines indicate why I choose those words:

"But as she's getting ready to go,
Bang, Bang, Maxwell's silver hammer cam down on her head.
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer made sure she was dead."

Yikes! What an ending to her putative date with Maxwell!

"Here Comes the Sun" has a more pleasing sensibility and follows. A wonderful song. . . .

After that comes a series of songs interlinked with one another. Let's look at a couple to illustrate. "Mean Mister Mustard" segues into "Polythene Pam."

"You should see Polythene Pam,
She's good looking but she looks just like a man."

And on it goes. To close, there is a brief, amusing ditty, "Her Majesty."

"Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl,
But she doesn't have a lot to say.
. . . .
Someday I'm gonna make her mine."

And so ends this wonderful masterpiece from the Beatles' body of work.

In 1969,without really knowing it The Beatles were about to split but before they released two albums "Abbey Road"that same year and "Let It Be" in 1970.Abbey Road was named after the recording studio were they recorded their albums and it was in fact recorded after the Let It Be sessions but it was released before that album came out,its awkward but that`s how it is.For this album they knew they weren`t a band like they used to,but unlike Let It Be for this album they putted their differents aside in order to make a great album,which they exactly did.Its not credited to be as good as it really is,but its a superior album(at least better than most band`s material that`s for sure)and some consider it the best.Its tricky to choose the best album as they have many unforgettable classics and great albums,but this one has each musicians focusing on the music and playing and writting very well(even Ringo wrote a song on this album and its great).

If you compare Let It Be to Abbey Road there is a big difference between the two as anyone with sense will say Abbey is superior,but in fact Let It Be is often said to be the filming of the breakup of the band and it was recorded before Abbey Road.Yet for this album you can`t really tell that as they sound so great and they were focused to make of this a great album,and what a masterpiece did it become!Still after doing Let It Be,its impressive how they managed to work back as a unit again,or at least make it feel like,anyone who listened to Let It Be will understand me.If not then you learned something!Still for this one,each Beatles did their stuff as they wanted(unlike on Let It Be when Paul told George exactly what to play and pitty George doing what he had to)and the result is impressive while at this point of their career it probably shouldn`t have.

There are many rock`n`roll songs on Abbey Road like the great opening track that is "Come Togheter" or George`s "I Want You(She`s So Heavy)" and its for the better,but there still are some of those fun pop songs such as "Maxwell`s Silver Hammer" and "Mean Mustard" that you can still enjoy.George has a more important presence on the album than on previous ones,his guitar playing is seemingly better and his songs and lyrics are great.Even Ringo wrote a song for the album,"Octopus`s Garden"(inspired by what someone told him,that octopuses decorate the front of their house,just like a garden)and its done really well,he did a very good song,not as good as the other three Beatles but still very good and worth being on the album.Trow in a couple of ballads such as the amazing "Here Comes The Sun"(wich is credited for being the best love some of all time,Elvis Presley himself said so along with a few others)and the excellent "Something"(both written by George!)which are two of the world`s best ballad,and you`ve got Abbey Road one of the greatest albums of all time(along with a few other Beatles album rightfully deserving so such as Rubber Soul,Revolver and others).

See there is more about this album than the iconic cover it has!Actually speaking of the cover it was quite controversial as a DJ in the States(U.S)started rumours that Paul McCartney`s death.The thing is the cover had a few signs that pointing towards his death,tought it was not intended on purpose to.Those signs were Paul walking on the street(on the cover)without shoes on,which is appearently a mafia sign of death!There`s more the white car`s plate at the middle left of the cover reads ""28IF" wich meant to the belivers that Paul would be 28 if he wasn`t dead!Also Ringo wore a black suit wich meant he was the undertaker,you see all those kinds of things(those are the ones I know)and The Beatles knew it was all rumors but how to make them understand Paul was still alive?Anyway that is the dark story behind the cover with all those rumors,quite interresting but not true of course!

The songs are pretty much all great,tought im not really a fan of Paul`s "Her Majesty" who at only 22 seconds is not exactly `The best thing ever`(its not bad but its way,way,WAY too short!To me the highlights of the album are "Come Togheter" a strong Lennon song and the impressive at 7:47 or so minutes(a Beatles epic!Might be the only one they did)"I Want You(She`s So Heavy)","Here Comes The Sun","Polythene Pam" and a few others.Really its a collection of great songs put togheter.I think what makes Abbey Road so great is that The Beatles have matured as persons and as artist wich allowed them to do terrific stuff .On the second half of the album it seems to be a medley and it surprisingly fits,I don`t know if that`s what it was supposed to be but that`s what many fans think anyway."You Never Give Me Your Money" is in fact a direct reference to the record industry and how The Beatles felt about it,just tought I`d say that.There are other good songs I haven`t mentionned yet such as "Oh!Darling"(Paul does a good job but I think it might have fitted John`s style more) and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" but really each song are good and have something different,special and unique.Oh and Ringo even does a drum solo on "In The End" as he felt pressure from other drummers who did and didn`t take him too seriously as a drummer,well considering all I hear before of other drummers I don`t think that this little 10 second solo part will scare them but its certainly nice.

What`s left to say?Well first this might be a little long review but had a lot to say about this great album and I couldn`t do it any shorter.This NEEDS to be in your collection,if you like The Beatles or rock then you need this,really.If you don`t trust or belive me there are plenty of reviewers who can say the same thing to you.Five stars the very least,its that good and you won`t regret it it has great songs,beautifull songs,rocking songs not to mantion great playing and absolutely terrific writtings.Its an essential album and one of The Beatles`s best album in my opinion no matter what you say it won`t make me change my opinion.I hope you will buy this album if you don`t already have it.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this album? Sonically stunning and beautifully crafted. Not every song is great, but there is not a bad song to be found.
It's not a concept album, but it almost plays like one. Even the album cover is brilliant in it's simplicity. Some of the high lights "Come together", "Something", "Here comes the sun" and "Because"
A must for any CD collection

This cd is essential to your library of rock music. It is worth your pepsi points to have it. Although all the songs aren't good, you will enjoy them more than when you listened as a kid.

while not my favorite beatles album, it is still amazing. The first side has great song after great song and the second side fits so well together and the trio at the end is perfection. great album, awesome cover, awesome band, and just one of their best albums.

Highlights:
Come Together
Something
Oh! Darling
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Because
Here Comes the Sun
Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/The End

As the band was breaking up and each member was getting into his own music this final recording is a fine legacy and wonderfull gift to their fans.

Strong contributions from all, don't let anyone tell you Ringo was not a very good rock drummer. He adds significantly to the Beatles sound. George's "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something" saw him come of age as a song writer, Frank Sinatra called the later song the greatest Love song ever written, I wont argue with Frank.

This, their last recording was recorded after Let it Be but released before,all the Beatles went on to successful solo careers, however never individually captured the quality of Abbey Road. Truely earning the Classic label.

The Beatles, in my opinion, were one of those groups who got better as they got older. Sure, they will always be remembered for their 1964 appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' that made them famous, but to me, the early Beatles can't hold a candle to the late-'60s Beatles.

1969's legendary 'Abbey Road' is proof.

As soon as you here the opening keyboard line on 'Come Together,' you know this is going to be an album worth listening to. 'Something,' 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer,' and 'Golden Slumbers' all shine here. And who could forget George Harrison's legendary 'Here Comes The Sun'?

The Beatles are a group that I think should be listened to by albums. Yes, there are some great Beatles best-ofs out there, most notably '1962-1966' and '1967-1970,' but the studio albums are much better.

At this point, The Beatles musically weren't the same band that performed 'She Loves You' and 'Love Me Do.' This record actually has some progressive background to it; the heavier drums by Ringo Starr and the ripping keyboards by Lennon and McCartney make this a must listen.

Highly recommended for any Beatles or rock and roll fan. A masterpiece. ENJOY!!!

The Technicians [& I use that term very loosely] that created the CD version should have been fired & sent back to working as shelf stackers at the local supermarket. This album has been Ruined by Technology. What more can I say,....well..Here we go...... The jewel in the crown has been desiccated by some bozo who has never listened to the original album on record or tape. Most of the songs on this album MUST run together, WITHOUT A BREAK in between, or it ruins the whole effect. It's like cutting the Mona Lisa into 5x3inch glossies to fit into your mum's Brag Book photo album. YOU JUST WOULDN'T DO IT!. Why???? Well for one thing it would be extremely foolish, & secondly you can't appreciate the whole picture when looking at tiny pieces of it. Shame on the morons who were in control & chopped this magnificent album into bits. Thank heavens I still have the original record & tape so I can hear it as it was meant to be, albeit without good sound quality. It is sad that in this day & age, we do not have the intelligence or ability to faithfully replicate a piece of music. They could do it in the sixties & the seventies with their technology, but since the eighties to the present day, humans have become incapable of such a simple task.
To anyone who has heard this album in its original form, you will be hugely disappointed by the CD version.
For those who are listening to it for the first time, you don't know how much you're missing out!
It's clear that big business really couldn't give a damn about any of us, & it's clear to see they don't consider themselves professionals when it comes to producing a CD. Maybe they should let some kid hack it back together for them - should take no more than ten minutes.
Message to Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr - How could you let this happen? Are you so embarrassed by this album, or so obscenely rich, you don't care how it sounds??????
Abbey Road

Abbey Road (1969) was the last album The Beatles ever recorded. Forever.

And thankfully they left us with a symphony. Four distinct personalities came together one last time to create yet another landmark in music history. Abbey Road is a colorful, generous, and thoughtful piece of art, and if given the chance, it can breathe new life into a weary soul and shine warm sunlight into a cold heart. Ah, the essence of The Beatles.

Abbey Road is an album full of highlights, and the most remarkable are two George Harrison songs. The beautiful and sincere love song, Something, and the lovely folk ballad, Here Comes The Sun, are both wonderful and timeless classics. John Lennon's rockin' Come Together and eerily beautiful Because are also great songs, and his I Want You (She's So Heavy) is an electric guitar new age blues masterpiece. Paul's bluesy Oh!Darling is a wonderfully melodic 1950s rocker that features his now famous screaming vocal performance. Ringo's cozy ballad Octopus's Garden adds warmth and atmosphere to the album, and along with Maxwell's Silver Hammer is just plain fun.

Even with all of these great moments, the centerpiece of the album is "the medley". Eight song fragments pieced together to sound so effortlessly complete that it seems as if they were composed as a contiguous symphony. It begins with You Never Give Me Your Money which blends into the four-part harmonies of Sun King. The bouncy Mean Mr. Mustard crashes into the somewhat perverted Polythene Pam and then into the rollicking She Came In Through The Bathroom Window. The piano and orchestra accompanied lullabye, Golden Slumbers, is contemplative and tender.

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Golden Slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise

Carry That Wieght continues the medley with a Ringo Starr drum solo and back n' forth guitar dueling between John, Paul, and George. The sweeping and melodic wisdom of The End completes the medley, and then is followed by an amusing little afterthought, Her Majesty, to end the album.

Abbey Road is one the best selling albums of all time (although Sgt. Pepper has sold more), and because it was The Beatles last, one of the world's most cherished. When listened to as a single piece of work, Abbey Road is a masterpiece of artistic beauty unlike anything the world will ever see or hear again. Thank Goodness John, Paul, George and Ringo decided to COME TOGETHER in THE END for SOMETHING Beatles fans will always treasure.

Timeless CD. Every song in this album is great and you will not regret investing in this CD.

I'm 19 and a huge Beatles fan (like so many others, I know)

Abbey Road is a must have record for the collector.
What would I have wanted to knew before I purchased the product? Uhm...just that it would play. If you like the Beatles, you'll like this album.

Put the needle on, sit back and enjoy!!

This is the new "Abbey Road" --you have to see the cover--just an amazing synthesis of the Beatles and the U.S., the classic Beatles and the modern.

Greetings From Lafayette Park

I have discovered it, and as a long-time Beatles fan, I can't stop listening.

The songs! Like Abbey Road or The White Album, each song stands on its own. Listen to "Dirty Life", with the Lennonesque wisdom, wry wit, insight and understanding; "The Cost", a ballad that sweeps me into a "Long and Winding Road" that is rich, powerful, evocative--gorgeous piano and a beautifully mastered string ensemble that reaches into the mind and heart to the last trails of the echo and strings--Beatles, yet something also altogether new; "I'd Rather Close My Eyes" a soaring and definitive statement of that searing moment when we turn from love--when Lipman hits the final note, a soaring, incredibly powerful and amazing long high C,--it is one of those moments, like "Let it Be", in which music, lyrics, melody and emotion meld with unforgettable resonance.

"Dirty Little Secret" with its solo guitar, haunting lyrics, and its "secrets", captures the beauty and poignancy of "Yesterday", while adding the Lennon's cleared eyed truth ala "Norwegian Wood". Listen to the Revolver-like classical string section of "She Didn't Know What She Saw" counterposed with the sublime "Motorcycle Interstitial"; the full-out orchestral creativity of "A Physical Thing"--the track adds carillion, wedding bells, stereo-sweeping subway chimes-and barking dogs!-- set against a beautifully orchestrated full string section, which rises, like "A Day in the Life: or "All You Need is Love", to an incredible orchestral crescendo of every orchestral sound--just incredible--new, classical, integrated, brilliant.

The lyrics are rich with complexity and deep, multiple meanings. Listen to the wry wisdom of "Dirty Life", this knowing, ironic perspective on life--and the changes we see in ourselves and others--combining Dylanesque insight and McCartney lyricism, the lyrics then transcending into the wit, insight and wordplay/worldplay in it its Lennonesque bridge; "Beholden", a strikingly unique song, complete with wind and far off radio signals, as a story is told of the sweeping course of chaos, and escape; "More and More Like A Civil War"--in its strong, sharp, wise and clear eyed commentary on today's wars on the battlefield and amongst ourselves, a modern "Revolution"--and the remarkable, ethereal "The Joke", which portrays the eternal position of vulnerable lovers, with a stunning shift to a universal perspective that is both wry yet tender in its understanding of the human plight--the beauty of McCartney in its musical richness, and true Lennon in its honest, clear-sighted yet truly compassionate and understanding view of love.

This album creates a world like nothing I have heard since Abbey--each time I listen I find something new. The cover is truly apt: it indeed is a "crossing"--a bridge--from that album to a new world. Truly an original. This is the most original, thrilling, passionate and intelligent album that I have heard this year.

I am very satisfied with your service and it is my intention to use it again.Thank you very much,best wishes,
Marija Vidoviæ

I just got done reading some of the reviews of this album. Wow, I couldn't believe that some people rated this album a three star or lower. One guy even had the guts to say something like "why would you buy this album when you can buy "Pink"" or something like that???? Let's face it. This album came out a long time ago. A lot of water, music, etc has passed under the bridge since that time. I probably don't have the same love for this album that I did in 1973. That being said, I still think this is one of the best albums of all time. Yeh, there are a couple of corny songs (my favorite song as about nine year old was Octopus' Garden). But look at all of the great songs--Come Together, Something, Oh Darling, Here Comes the Sun, and my personal favorite--You Never Give Me Your Money. Plus there was all that intrigue as to whether Paul was dead or not. This is a great album.

Abbey Road is, of course, one of the best albums of all time. It places alongside any of the great ones, from any genre. Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" comes to mind as a similar groundbreaking and note-perfect album. But I would like to use this forum to say a few words about Ringo Starr, probably the most underrated (if rated at all) drummer of all time. Now I know that Ringo is a Beatle, and so needs no further defense than that. However, because I have of late heard so many music listeners misjudge him, I feel the need to offer a defense.
This album is a perfect example of Starr's impeccable melodic drumming. I think there is a reason that so many people misjudge him. His genius is not in his songwriting or singing, which are the most obvious places to make a good impression; likewise, it is not in his beats-per-measure or in the fact that he can play in a 13/9 time signature (the marks of many "progressive" drummers.) No, Ringo's genius lies elsewhere: His drums are nothing less than another expressive voice in this embarrassingly-well voiced band. Like McCartney's melodic bass lines, Harrison's economic guitar solos (another one who never makes the list of "Best Guitarists" because he doesn't use fireworks), Lennon's biting rhythm guitar, and both Paul's and John's expressive singing, Starr's drumming is a distinctive voice, an extension of him as a person. You can recognize this voice in one measure, and from a mile away. This type of musical "voice" can only be cultivated with years of practice and mountains of talent.
Just listen to the melody of the drums on the opener "Come Together." Listen to the seamlessness of the bass and drums. They make a song all by themselves. Hear Ringo's kit sing on the ballad "Something"--could you add or subtract even one hit without upsetting that performance? I do not think I need to go any further to entice you to listen again to this entire album, or to any of their albums. I guarantee, in fact, that listening to them with an ear to the drums will be like hearing them again for the first time.
Among all the things that Abbey Road is, and to so very many people, let it be a testament to this great musician. (N.B. Because someone is destined to bring this up, let me also address the fact that Ringo did not play on the original recording of "Love Me Do." The fact is that Pete Best, the original drummer, couldn't play the song correctly on the first try. When the band went back into the studio to re-record it, they had already replaced Best with Starr. However, The producer George Martin did not want to take a chance again, and so paid a studio musician to lay down the track. This had nothing to do with Starr's technical ability.)

Big fans of The Beatles can automatically bump my fours stars up to five. As for the rest of us (I consider myself a 'Classic Rock Fan'), I'm going to approach this review by rating "Abbey Road" against the numerous past works of The Beatles. And, because I have lived through the entire era of Beatlemania, and bought each of their ablums as they emerged on the market, I have a good Woodstocker's handle on the 'then and now' perspective of this music and all their other yield as well.

Here we have 'the [1969] Good-bye album'. The Fab Four were pretty much sick of one another at this point (and can we blame them?) and at least three of the four (Paul, John, and George) were clearly all for going their own ways -- this album is a clear reflection of those aggregate paradigms.

The music on "Abbey Road" is quite good; however, as a complete work it's a sort of mix-match of incongruent compositions (both long and short songs), and varying styles. We get a taste of The Beatles from all three of their musical periods (but mostly from the final period) and it would have been nice had the final album been a reflection of 'fluid maturity tenoned with a culmination of brilliance'. But this is the real world and we have to take what we can get, or perhaps endure it.

I call this one 'the last [The] Beatles album' but, to be technically correct, "Abbey Road" was the last album commenced by The Beatles prior to their disbandment. It's way far from being their best work (if you want that, grab "Revolver," "Sgt. Pepper," "Magical Mystery Tour," and "The Beatles" [The White Album], the first from the tail-end of their 'early period' and the latter three from their psychedelic 'middle period').... but "Abbey Road" is nice, very nice.

On "Abbey Road" each of The Beatles hazarded 'a stab' at composition and at singing leads, even Ringo with his "Octopus's Garden." The top cuts are clearly "Come Together" (Lennon) and "Something" (Harrison). THE Beatle, Paul McCartney, contributed a mediocre "Oh! Darling!" and could not seem to emerge from his middle-period mindset. In fact, "Abbey Road" might well represent The Beatles step-child composer, George Harrison's, Magnum opus because his gum-drop rock "Here Comes the Sun" also received a LOT of radio play when this album first hit the streets and I still hear it occasionally on classic rock stations.

And, of course, the album's cover conveys one of the huge 'Paul Is Dead' trivia entries, all the way from Paul's bare feet to the cigarette in his right hand to the license plate on the Volkswagon Beetle. There are more (supposed) clues but such minutia are mostly of interest to only the more rabid, drooling Beatlemaniacs. By the way, if you acquire the CD you'll need a really good magnifying glass to check all this out! *.*

I should note for the record that by early Fall, 1969 when "Abbey Road" was released, not only were The Beatles sick of one another, but hippies in general were sick of one another too. This was two summers beyond the so-called 'Summer of Love' [1967] and the euphoria of those great days was quickly wearing off. The enthisiasm for certain types of rock music was changing quickly and radically and I really believe that The Beatles had pretty much drunk their well dry anyway.

So to summarize, as art, this album/CD has its notable flaws. As music of The Beatles, not even the most casual fan could hardly pass this one by (no pun intended).

I used to listen to Abbey Road back in high school every night at bedtime. I would fall asleep to the Beatles Abbey Road every single night. Now I have it on CD format and am re-living my past by playing it every night as I fall asleep into Golden Slumber thanks to the Beatles. Clearly the best "album" ever made in my humble opinion!

aw, this is the first cd i got into by the beatles. needless to say this really changed my life.

this whole cd is genius. the songs all relate with each other in some way or another, and they all flow into each other, and it's just amazing. one of my favorite cds of all time.

please get your hands on this album immediately if you haven't already heard it

This CD is great. It's a classic. If this is not in your collection, it's a Must Buy.

Numerous other reviews indicated that the second side of this record was one of the best pieces of recorded music in Rock history. I agree. The medley which smoothly transitions from one song to the next, including reprise themes throughout, demonstrates the band's writing and arrangement ability.
All four members have a vocal solo on the first side of the record, and the various song styles present a dynamic musical contribution to Rock music.
Listening to the record, fine little details are more audible than on the CD edition of this album. The large artwork and the effort required to maintain the vinyl provide a more personal experience with the music for the listener. I find it more likely to listen to an album on vinyl in its entirety than I would if it were in a digital format, where shuffling and other "features" obscure the original artist's presentation.