By the time Abbey Road was released in 1969, The Beatles were effectively coming to an end. Despite the internal tensions, they managed to pull together for one last studio masterpiece that sounds remarkably cohesive and forward-thinking. It’s a fascinating bookend to their career – while Let it be was released later, Abbey Road was the final time all four members were truly working together in the studio to create something world-shaking.

The sound is incredibly warm and rich, benefiting from the latest recording technology of the era. It’s an album that perfectly balances the band’s gift for a simple, catchy melody with their desire to experiment. The first side is a collection of powerhouse individual songs, while the second side is famous for its “medley” – a seamless flow of song fragments that creates a symphonic, almost magical experience. It feels like a celebration of everything they had learned over the previous decade.

“Come together” and “Something” are obviously legendary, showing off the band’s rock and soul influences, but “Here comes the sun” is perhaps the most beloved track here for its pure, radiating optimism. Then you have “I want you (she’s so heavy)”, which almost sounds like the birth of heavy metal with its repetitive, crushing outro. There is so much variety packed into these forty-seven minutes that it never feels repetitive.

Abbey Road remains a cornerstone of any record collection because it’s the sound of the greatest band in the world saying goodbye at the top of their game. It’s fun, adventurous, and deeply emotional. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering them, the sheer craft on display is staggering. It’s the kind of album that makes you realise why the world fell in love with them in the first place.

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