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Beatles forums => Albums => Microscopes => Topic started by: tkitna on July 30, 2011, 03:07:07 PM

Title: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on July 30, 2011, 03:07:07 PM
Abbey Road

The lads rally and give us this timeless classic. It was no secret that the ‘Let It Be’ sessions didn’t come off as the boys planned and they weren’t happy nor proud of the effort.  Realizing that the end was eminent and knowing they didn’t want it to end like that, they put their differences aside for one last time to put forth an effort that would show the world why they were the greatest band to ever be assembled.


Come Together - I admit that this is not one of my favorite songs. I’m not saying its bad and I realize its one of their most famous songs ever, its just that it doesn’t grab me for some reason. It starts off with one of the most innovative drum riffs ever and the people that cap on Ringo need to shut up already. Awesome stuff. Love the bass and guitar in the beginning too. Johns voice sounds great. 0.50 love Pauls deeper backgrounds. 1:10 love that guitar tone. 2:02 organ sounds awesome here. 2:13 like the guitar solo tone here also. 2:30 don’t know who does it, but one of them slides their finger down the guitar strings and its my favorite part of the song.  3:12 really like the simple guitar solo. Johns exaggerated ‘Yeahs’ at the end are sweet too and the ending is an alright fade out. Good song, but one that I could care less if I hear or not.

Something - George gives us one of his strongest songs as a Beatle to date. A nice, slower, love song that would do anybody proud. I like the drum fill, bass, guitar beginning. Great way to start a song. Speaking of the bass, its awesome sounding. George’s smooth voice is a welcome touch to the song. 0:27 like the organ here. 0:33 the crash cymbal buildup at the end of the bar is so important to the song, that I cant even begin to explain. It would fall way short without it. 0:42 strings added. 1:14 the middle portion here is nothing short of amazing. I love the buildup and emotion. George almost pleads to us. Love it. The violin plucks throughout this part are neat too. Hard to pick out, but cool nontheless. 1:42 what a nice guitar solo. I like the tone and the execution. Ringos drumming is top notch throughout also. Sometimes I can find myself becoming a little sick of this song, but it was nice to hear because it reminded me how damn good it really is. George outdid himself on this one.

Maxwells Silver Hammer - Every album has a sore spot it seems and this is Abbey Roads. This song sucks and is easily one of my least favorite Beatle songs ever. Besides Paul, I think the other band members felt the same way. Pauls voice sounds good enough and I like the piano and Ringos drums in the beginning. The anvil makes the song sillier than it already is if that’s possible. I do like the guitar tone throughout. 0:51 the Moog or whatever keyboard effect here adds to the frustration. It sounds dumb. 1:20 Paul laughing is the best part of the song. 1:34 like the inclusion of the acoustic here. 2:31 love the ‘Maxwell must go free’ backgrounds here. 3:16 backgrounds are silly and sound awful. Song couldn’t end quick enough for me.

Oh! Darling - Love Pauls voice here. Guitar tone on the strums sounds great. Bass is strong. 0:15 harmonies are top notch. Ringo is awesome throughout the entire song. 0:54 Pauls high ‘Oooooh’ here is great. 1:04 please do me a favor and listen to Ringo here. Please. 1:08 Pauls voice,,,,what more can I say? I love the piano here too. 1:52 best part of the song. Love how Pauls emphasizes that bar. This is a nice song for Paul to showcase his amazing vocal ability, but I get bored of it pretty quick. When the last few guitar notes are plucked, I sigh in relief.

Octopus’s Garden - Here’s a rather silly number that George and Ringo kind of collaborated on during the writing process. Its enjoyable enough and it kind of hinders on the same vein as ‘Yellow Submarine’, but its more widely accepted for some reason. Not crazy about the opening guitar tone. Ringos drums sound good. His voice,,,eh, its Ringo. The bass is stellar as usual. 0:31 piano is awesome here. 0:42 the large chorus, background vocals sound kind of silly to me. 0:54 I do like the background ‘Ohh’s’ and ‘Ahh’s’ though. 1:32 like the guitar solo, but the underwater effects kind of kills any momentum it builds. All in all, it’s a silly, fun song that hangs on the neutral side for me.

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) - I hate this song. Just thought I’d toss that out there. I like the guitars in the beginning. Johns voice sounds good. Ringos drum are great as is the bass. 0:56 speaking of bass, I love this part. 1:57 organ is killer here. 2:24 tempo change is the best part of the song. I do like the guitar here also. 4:32 something is said in the background, but I cant make it out. The song just keeps going on and on and on. Its so long and monotonous that I can hardly stand it. The abrupt ending is one of the most welcome things my ears have ever heard.

Here Comes The Sun - Can we be honest with ourselves for a moment? Can we? This is probably George’s best Beatle song ever. Sure we all choose our favorites and so forth, but if push came to shove, this song would probably win in a back alley fight with the others. Its not my favorite by George, but its probably his best if that makes sense. The opening guitar sounds so good. The light hearted organ adds also. Georges smooth voice again works perfectly. The strings coming in at 0:14 are great (might be from organ). Drums sounds amazing. Bass is nice. Backgrounds are top notch. 1:36 even the ‘sun sun sun’ chorus and hanclaps work for me. The keyboards are heavy throughout. The ending is awesome too with Goerge finishing it off with the guitar. Fantastic song. George was on a roll.

Because - Love the keyboard beginning and how the guitar comes in on the other channel at 0:14. The layered harmonies are beautiful and haunting. I love Pauls voice climbing the ladder at the 0:38 mark. Bass sounds nice. 1:31 the keyboard horns sound good and it’s a reminder that we are falling right into the 70’s. Short, sweet song that I enjoy. Whenever a conversation about bands and harmonizing comes up, I always bring up this song. People don’t realize they triple tracked the harmonies so they always agree with me that the Beatles are hard to beat. Sometimes you have to be sneaky.

You Never Give Me Your Money - This has been my favorite Beatle song forever. I know its not their best, but it has so much going on that I just have always loved it. Probably because of Pauls stamp that he put on songs like this, but what can I do? Piano beginning is nice. 0:08 guitar comes in. Great. Pauls voice is fantastic. 0:32 the double tracked backgrounds blend in. 0:47 bass comes in and sounds amazing. Love it. 1:10 song totally changes. Now all of a sudden, we’re in a saloon with the beer barrel piano. The walking bass is neat. 1:31 the high pitched guitar. 1:48 legendary Beatle harmonies. Don’t ignore that guitar being played either. 2:09 if you did ignore it, here it is a little more pronounced for the buildup. 2:28 love the guitar tone here too. Pauls voice is awesome too. Love how Ringo ends the bars with a hi-hat splash. How do they think of things like that? 3:03 Paul singing here is my favorite part of the song. 3:09 the counting backgrounds are silly and a sore spot, but not every song can be perfect I suppose. I love this song.

Sun King - And I dislike this one. Too slow and boring, plus a lot of nonsense being sung. Filler. I like the guitar and bass in the beginning. 0:13 guitar is pretty. 0:52 heavenly harmonies. 1:18 I dig the organ. 1:14 Johns voice has never sounded better. All in all, I’ll pass.

Mean Mr. Mustard - Like this one a lot. Like the fuzz bass in the beginning and Ringos drums. 0:09 nice use of the tambourine. Electric guitar tone is good. Backgrounds are nice. Paul can really be heard here. Nice short tune.

Polythene Pam - Love this tune and wish there was more of it. It really drives hard and I love Ringos drumming. Guitar sounds great in the beginning. Johns voice is good, but the background vocals are sublime. Bass is decent. 0:43 Love the tambourine/woodblock hit here. 0:48 really dig the guitar solo. Not the best, but sounds good. Cowbell throughout also. The buildup into the next song is great. Awesome bit of music there.

She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Like Pauls voice. I also love Ringo on the hi-hats here. Love the acoustic and electric being played at the sametime. Love the backgrounds too. Bass sounds good. 0:30 like the lead guitar here. 0:51 congos being played in the background. Never heard that before. Wonder what makes the cracking noise in the background?  Another nice little song.

Golden Slumbers - Paul could have made this song into another ‘Let It Be’ , ‘Hey Jude’ type song if he really wanted. I truly feel that way. If he extended this into an entire song, it would have been a biggie. Piano beginning in nice. Strings are wonderful and huge. Pauls voice is great. Bass sounds good. 0:34 how big is that? This is good, but we only get a hint of how good it could have been. I feel cheated in some ways.

Carry That Weight - This is stupid. Not sure what this was going to be, but I’m glad theres only a short piece of it. I suppose it fits alright into the setup tune, but its nothing I would have been interested in.
Bass and drumming is alright. Piano is powerful. 0:25 like the brass. 0:35 love guitar tone here.

The End - We always talk about moments of Beatle magic. Well, this is surely one of them. What a way to end a partnership. All four of them get to showcase what they were a part of the biggest musical phenomenon in history. They go out with a little bit of fun between themselves and I cant help but to think that they each had a smile on their face when it happened. 0:19 Ringo solo. Not the greatest technically, but probably the most copied solo ever. He then throws down the beat for the John, Paul, and George to trade licks. Words cant describe the pure awesomeness. Piano and backgrounds end the song with some strings and a little bit of lead guitar. Thanks for the memories guys.

Her Majesty - Why is this on here? The End sets everything up to close the book, but they open it back up again for this. Its like the whole saga lost a little piece of magic due to this. I little acoustic ditty from Paul that I don’t even mind, but placing it here is just wrong.


I play this album more than any other Beatle album, because when I want to show off how good the band was, no other album seems to approach this one for some reason. Maybe it’s the studio. Its easily the cleanest produced album. Maybe because they came back with a vengeance from a dire situation that nobody thought they would recover from. Who knows. All I know is, I’m happy they decided to go out in top fashion and they accomplished that. Great album!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on July 30, 2011, 05:21:59 PM
I've always felt that this album is slightly overrated, but it's excellent anyway. If you ask me, I prefer Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's, the greatest trilogy ever, but Abbey Road is still an outstanding album. In my opinion the high points are "Come Together", "Something", "Here Comes The Sun", "Because", "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "The End", which I agree it would have been the perfect end of the album (just from its title and the cosmic final line) and there was no need for "Her Majesty" (actually, on some early LPs this song was not printed on the cover). This record is so fresh, sounds like it would have been recorded today, though I love "dated 60's music"!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on July 30, 2011, 06:22:27 PM
tkitna - love your reviews, this one for the most part is a homerun with many of my opinions.

Questions for ya - I've read/heard that John wasn't too pleased with the side B and the amount of producing that went into it vs. side A, truth to that?  To your points, the back and forth when the medley gets going with Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam is great, neither would suffer if made into a stand alone song but both benefit from the production aspect of linking them.

Also - in The End, can you (or somebody), detail by x:xx who is playing which parts of the dueling guitar solos?  Is there any video of them playing it?  Does Paul, while touring, divvy out the parts to his band, like, "you, you have John's part and you, you take my part, I want to play George's tonight"  lol

Here Comes the Sun has evolved to be my favorite Beatle song in the past year to so.  Rock Band has something to do with that, it is by far the most enjoyable song to play in that game for me. 

(If anybody doesn't play rock band and look down on it because you play real instruments so be it, for us untalented souls it provided a nice way to pretend)


Carry that weight and sunking don't annoy me like they do you.  I fully understand where you are coming from but they "fit" as filler for me and can't imagine the medley without them.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on July 30, 2011, 08:18:23 PM
. 4:32 something is said in the background, but I cant make it out.

According to the Beatles anomalies site: 4:32
    Left channel, shout, something like "Turn it down man/Mal" or "Bloody loudmouth!"
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on July 30, 2011, 09:33:26 PM
Golden Slumbers - Paul could have made this song into another ‘Let It Be’ , ‘Hey Jude’ type song if he really wanted. I truly feel that way. If he extended this into an entire song, it would have been a biggie. Piano beginning in nice. Strings are wonderful and huge. Pauls voice is great. Bass sounds good. 0:34 how big is that? This is good, but we only get a hint of how good it could have been. I feel cheated in some ways.

Carry That Weight - This is stupid. Not sure what this was going to be, but I’m glad theres only a short piece of it. I suppose it fits alright into the setup tune, but its nothing I would have been interested in.
Bass and drumming is alright. Piano is powerful. 0:25 like the brass. 0:35 love guitar tone here.

The End - We always talk about moments of Beatle magic. Well, this is surely one of them. What a way to end a partnership. All four of them get to showcase what they were a part of the biggest musical phenomenon in history. They go out with a little bit of fun between themselves and I cant help but to think that they each had a smile on their face when it happened. 0:19 Ringo solo. Not the greatest technically, but probably the most copied solo ever. He then throws down the beat for the John, Paul, and George to trade licks. Words cant describe the pure awesomeness. Piano and backgrounds end the song with some strings and a little bit of lead guitar. Thanks for the memories guys.


Todd, I feel the same as you do regarding Golden Slumbers which is one of my favorite pieces on Abbey Road.  Indeed, The Medley has always been my favorite part of this album.  Although this live performance is the familiar segment of The Medley, we get an idea as to how Golden Slumbers could have been extended with full orchestral accompaniment...

Paul McCartney - GOLDEN SLUMBERS Live (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMb5omXfmL0#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: stevie on July 30, 2011, 10:49:45 PM
My second fave album after Revolver but is the best sounding of all the boys albums.

YNGMYM is also one of my favorite Beatle songs, along with Something.

I'm puzzled about Her Majesty, TK? Its common knowledge that an engineer who was told to get rid of the master for it, tacked it on at the end!!
It was originally slotted in between PP and SCITTBW - that sloppy guitar chord is the final strum of PP.

When Paul heard the final mix, he left on the end, so as The End wouldn't sound as too much of a 'pompous' statement? Something like that anyway.

OH, and re The End solo? I think in 'Revolution In The Head by Ian McDonald, it details the order of the solo. Actually, its in Geoff Emerick's excellent book, 'Here, There and Everywhere'>
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on July 31, 2011, 12:36:16 AM
Magnificent, my favourite album ever, 11/10, love every second of it (although Maxwell couldve been changed) Georges best songs etc etc

Todd how can you say you hate I Want You ?, the track that gave King Crimson its sound, its f***in brilliant man, turn the bastard track up to full and listen to that guitar tone and diving bass parts, and Lennons vocal = ecstacy
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on July 31, 2011, 01:39:09 AM
Todd how can you say you hate I Want You ?, the track that gave King Crimson its sound, its f***in brilliant man, turn the bastard track up to full and listen to that guitar tone and diving bass parts, and Lennons vocal = ecstacy

I dont know Kev, just cant do it. I guess its alright if i'm blitzed, but for just sitting down listening enjoyment, this one is boring to my ears.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on July 31, 2011, 03:27:08 AM
I dont know Kev, just cant do it. I guess its alright if i'm blitzed, but for just sitting down listening enjoyment, this one is boring to my ears.

man its completely wrapped in sheer awesumness   ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: raxo on July 31, 2011, 06:39:28 AM
[...]
Also - in The End, can you (or somebody), detail by x:xx who is playing which parts of the dueling guitar solos?  Is there any video of them playing it?  Does Paul, while touring, divvy out the parts to his band, like, "you, you have John's part and you, you take my part, I want to play George's tonight"  lol[...]

Saliendo de my cave...
The order is: 2 bars George (00:53-00:57 & 01:05-01:09 & 01:17-01:21), 2 bars Paul (00:57-01:02 & 01:09-01:13 & 01:21-01:24) & 2 bars John (01:02-01:05 & 01:13-01:17 & 01:24-01:29) ... this sequence repeats itself (by them, obviously) 3 times 'til the famous "and in the end..." etc ... and no, there's no footage of them playing (or duplicating, in any way) this sort of solo guitar parts ... what a moment, by the way! :)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on July 31, 2011, 04:52:52 PM
I'm puzzled about Her Majesty, TK? Its common knowledge that an engineer who was told to get rid of the master for it, tacked it on at the end!!
It was originally slotted in between PP and SCITTBW - that sloppy guitar chord is the final strum of PP.

When Paul heard the final mix, he left on the end, so as The End wouldn't sound as too much of a 'pompous' statement? Something like that anyway.

I'm not certain of the how's and why's, but I just wish they would have excluded it. It takes away from the magic in my opinion.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on August 01, 2011, 08:26:16 AM
I always wondered whether fans in 1969 realised it was really The End for The Beatles.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 01, 2011, 11:59:10 AM
I always wondered whether fans in 1969 realised it was really The End for The Beatles.

Probably not.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on August 03, 2011, 03:46:48 PM
If you ever get a chance to listen to this album on the original Japanese CD 1983 issue, don't pass it up. I blew it off for a long time, had heard it wasn't that good, etc... It is that good. I think it is better than the current CD. It is very warm sounding and unlike the way CDs are mastered now.

Or, listen to the MFSL vinyl.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Brynjar on August 03, 2011, 08:47:35 PM
Abbey Road

Golden Slumbers - Paul could have made this song into another ‘Let It Be’ , ‘Hey Jude’ type song if he really wanted. I truly feel that way. If he extended this into an entire song, it would have been a biggie. Piano beginning in nice. Strings are wonderful and huge. Pauls voice is great. Bass sounds good. 0:34 how big is that? This is good, but we only get a hint of how good it could have been. I feel cheated in some ways.


You took the words...
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Walrus on August 04, 2011, 03:40:33 AM
????

Maxwell's Silver Hammer sucks?!?!?!?!?

I think its a interesting tune and it's certainly a fun one to play on piano!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 04, 2011, 11:58:32 AM
If you ever get a chance to listen to this album on the original Japanese CD 1983 issue, don't pass it up. I blew it off for a long time, had heard it wasn't that good, etc... It is that good. I think it is better than the current CD. It is very warm sounding and unlike the way CDs are mastered now.

Or, listen to the MFSL vinyl.

Thanks for the heads up Gary. I dont think i've ever listened to the Japanese version (or ever had access to it). I'll look around on ebay. Sounds interesting.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 04, 2011, 12:00:54 PM
????

Maxwell's Silver Hammer sucks?!?!?!?!?

I think its a interesting tune and it's certainly a fun one to play on piano!

Sorry Walrus. Definately not one for me. It would probably fall into the top 10 worst tunes they ever did in my opinion.

Of course, if I were a piano player, who knows how I would feel.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on August 04, 2011, 09:00:38 PM
Thanks for the heads up Gary. I dont think i've ever listened to the Japanese version (or ever had access to it). I'll look around on ebay. Sounds interesting.

If you get one, expect to pay many $$$$$$$$ for it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on August 04, 2011, 09:27:49 PM
Sorry Walrus. Definately not one for me. It would probably fall into the top 10 worst tunes they ever did in my opinion.

Of course, if I were a piano player, who knows how I would feel.

Maxwells Silver Hammer is a perfect showcase of why The Beatles fell apart.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 04, 2011, 10:49:13 PM
Maxwells Silver Hammer is a perfect showcase of why The Beatles fell apart.

For me, I wouldve prefered it and Octopus Garden not to be on the album, they shoulve replaced it with Junk or Teddy Boy IMO, I just think those 2 songs make the album less serious but it was something Paul had to do, I bet John the rocker hated MSH though
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Mr Mustard on August 05, 2011, 01:40:00 AM
One of The Beatles' most endearing qualities was always their sense of fun and mischief. At a time when prog rock was surfacing in all its magnificent po-faced pomposity, Abbey Road punctured such allusions with cheeky hidden tricks like Her Majesty tacked on unnanounced at the end and with jaunty singalongs about psychopaths and sea creatures which only the likes of Paul and Ringo could get away with. I realise I'm in a minority (of at least two...a dear friend of mine bought Abbey Road solely on the strength of his obsession with this track) but Maxwell's Silver Hammer is a charming touch of McCartney brilliance in my book. I'm afraid I've simply never understood nor agreed with the snobbish hostility shown towards it. Silly sound effects and jokey backing vocals dovetail with Paul's impudent lead to create a little slice of Beatle magic. Octopus's Garden, similarly infused with daft nautical motifs like bubbled water and kazoos, creates a bouncy bonhomie which puts the comparatively leaden Yellow Submarine to shame.

I seem to be the only person who thinks this, but it's Paul's dreadfully overblown Oh! Darling which comes closest to spoiling side one. I admire the breadth of Macca's vocal range and dexterity but I feel that his bawling on this track does nothing to excite and everything to grate....if forced to choose, I would much prefer to airbrush this one off Abbey Road and retain the sheer fun of Maxwell and the Octopus....

As for the rest of side one: Something is breathtakingly wonderful and rightly takes its place near the top of the fab four's entire canon. George spreads his wings and soars, sloughing off his trademark saturnine vocal en route. A genuinely beautiful song - little wonder that Sinatra called it the greatest love song of the past fifty years and Lennon himself humbly acknowledged it as the best cut on the entire album.

Speaking of John, he tops and tails the first side of an album which nevertheless always strikes me as very much Paul's tour de force. Come Together, the quasi pornographic opener with the shiveringly prophetic whispers of "Shoot me!" has always been one of the more overrated Beatles numbers in my opinion. It's well known of course that it plagiarised the Chuck Berry track "You Can't Catch Me" embroiling Lennon in legal hot water further down the line...was it worth the hassle? I think not - a ranting stream of poor-man's Walrus style nonsense lyrics fail to lift this rather monotonous counter cultural rallying cry out of the doldrums. Never could quite grasp its appeal myself.

By contrast, I Want You (She's So Heavy) - which I used to mildly loathe - has for me taken on a maturity and grandeur over the ensuing years. The track seems to have acquired a patina of respectability, with its shifting time signatures and superbly textured wash of layered sound. Fabulous guitar work and a viscerally earnest, gutsy lyrical simplicity handled with astounding vocal prowess by John. Love the use of white noise to create the wind effect towards the climax and the classically surprising dead stop to this mighty juggernaut... the lads never did lose their knack of being able to catch their listeners on the hop.

I'll reserve my comments regarding side two for later.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 05, 2011, 02:15:12 AM
I absolutely love side 2 of Abbey Rd but side 1 for me is disjointed, in fact the seamless jointing of side 2 amplifies side 1's disjointedness (is that a word ?)  ;D

Side 1 always sounds like solo Beatles and bit like the White Album whereas side 2 sounds like a wonderful band performance, it is exquisite.

I want You closes side one wonderfully, for me it is a 'band' track, superb bass, guitar vocals drums and what I love about it is its deep and menacing quality, if your familiar with Starless by King Crimson from the album Red (the one with a cover photo like With The Beatles UK album) you can hear how Robert Fripp & Co took this 'feel' further and made it even more menacing.
Tracks like Oh Darling & MSH to me are Paul solo tracks, Id be surprised if John is even on those tracks.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Mr Mustard on August 05, 2011, 02:30:18 AM
I absolutely love side 2 of Abbey Rd but side 1 for me is disjointed, in fact the seamless jointing of side 2 amplifies side 1's disjointedness (is that a word ?)  ;D

Side 1 always sounds like solo Beatles and bit like the White Album whereas side 2 sounds like a wonderful band performance, it is exquisite.

I want You closes side one wonderfully, for me it is a 'band' track, superb bass, guitar vocals drums and what I love about it is its deep and menacing quality, if your familiar with Starless by King Crimson from the album Red (the one with a cover photo like With The Beatles UK album) you can hear how Robert Fripp & Co took this 'feel' further and made it even more menacing.
Tracks like Oh Darling & MSH to me are Paul solo tracks, Id be surprised if John is even on those tracks.

Good points re the contrast between the two sides nimrod. John was famously dismissive of the "pop opera" medley which made up side two, but like you I love it and feel it is a polished masterpiece and does indeed have more of a unified feel to it, combining and interweaving the four talents in fascinating permutations in a way that the more isolated efforts on side one rarely achieves.

Lennon apparently detested Maxwell's Silver Hammer but I believe he liked Oh! Darling so much he wished that Paul had let him sing it!

To be fair John was absent for a period during the recording sessions following his car crash in Scotland around the end of June. I think he contributes some backing vocals on Maxwell.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on August 05, 2011, 04:21:59 AM
Talking about "pop opera", I think that "Carry That Weight" was influenced by the chorus of "See Me, Feel Me" from Tommy, which in turn was probably influenced by the chorus of "Hey Jude".
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on August 05, 2011, 07:31:04 AM
For me, I wouldve prefered it and Octopus Garden not to be on the album, they shoulve replaced it with Junk or Teddy Boy IMO, I just think those 2 songs make the album less serious but it was something Paul had to do, I bet John the rocker hated MSH though

I think it was more the fact that Paul spent hours and hours on the song and actually believed it would be the Beatles' next single.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 06, 2011, 12:34:59 AM
I think it was more the fact that Paul spent hours and hours on the song and actually believed it would be the Beatles' next single.

Yeah, wasnt it like the longest the guys have ever messed with one song in the studio before?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 06, 2011, 12:45:52 AM
I seem to be the only person who thinks this, but it's Paul's dreadfully overblown Oh! Darling which comes closest to spoiling side one. I admire the breadth of Macca's vocal range and dexterity but I feel that his bawling on this track does nothing to excite and everything to grate....if forced to choose, I would much prefer to airbrush this one off Abbey Road and retain the sheer fun of Maxwell and the Octopus....

I'm not the biggest fan of 'Oh! Darling' either. I feel that its a direct twin to 'I Want You' in the regards that they both showcase the singers voice while being boring, long, and monotonous.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 06, 2011, 12:48:10 AM
I absolutely love side 2 of Abbey Rd but side 1 for me is disjointed, in fact the seamless jointing of side 2 amplifies side 1's disjointedness (is that a word ?)  ;D

Side 1 always sounds like solo Beatles and bit like the White Album whereas side 2 sounds like a wonderful band performance, it is exquisite.

I want You closes side one wonderfully, for me it is a 'band' track, superb bass, guitar vocals drums and what I love about it is its deep and menacing quality, if your familiar with Starless by King Crimson from the album Red (the one with a cover photo like With The Beatles UK album) you can hear how Robert Fripp & Co took this 'feel' further and made it even more menacing.
Tracks like Oh Darling & MSH to me are Paul solo tracks, Id be surprised if John is even on those tracks.

Good post and something I never really thought too much about, but is absolutly true.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KeepUnderCover on August 17, 2011, 12:20:41 PM
Maxwell Silver Hammer is one of my all-time favorite Beatles songs. It's just goofy and catchy at the same time, just a silly pop song.

Oh Darling! has a cutting vocal edge from John, and is great just for the vocals alone.

I've never been too fond of Octopus's Garden, though.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 17, 2011, 12:43:56 PM
Maxwell Silver Hammer is one of my all-time favorite Beatles songs. It's just goofy and catchy at the same time, just a silly pop song.

Oh Darling! has a cutting vocal edge from John, and is great just for the vocals alone.



I think you might mean Paul  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Ovi on August 17, 2011, 12:46:10 PM
I love this album. It's my favourite from The Fab Four. I love every single song on it, yes, there are maybe some weak tracks there, but the album flows incredibly well until the end (or until "Her Majesty"  ;D). "You Never Give Me Your Money", what a wonderful structure, Paul's voice seems so unpredictable; "Something" is to me by far the best George effort, and "Oh! Darling" has always been among my top favourites too. "Octopus's Garden" is to me Ringo's best and I think "Because" is one of the most beautiful and touching moments in the Beatles history. I even got used to "Her Majesty", it's typical Beatles, unexpected and funny.
Well, what can I say, everything's been said above, it's an amazingly good album, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on August 17, 2011, 04:18:22 PM
The more I read the responses and think about my appreciation of this album over the years I wonder if anybody has done what I have with the medley:

years ago I took the medley songs (separate tracks on cd's) and blended them back together using Audacity into one digital song.  I did it so when I burned a mix cd I could easily have the medley as a complete song.  Now that ipods and mp3 players are the norm I don't even put the individual medley songs on my ipod.  There is something wrong and disappointing about hearing one of them when you have the player set to shuffle and the song isn't with the rest of the medley. 

Anybody go to similar lengths to prevent accidental listening of Mean Mr. Mustard without Sunking and Polythene Pam surrounding it?

Another thing - I've always considered Because as the beginning of the medley, just was on wikipedia and they say You Never Give Me Your Money is the first medley song.  I love the end of Because, the silence then the beginning of YNGMYM.  Can't imagine them apart  ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 17, 2011, 10:26:15 PM
theres actually an easier way to do that bm, download a free mp3 converter and, whack your CD in and choose the tracks after Because to convert but convert them as an album wrap...ie one song.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on August 17, 2011, 10:32:27 PM
theres actually an easier way to do that bm, download a free mp3 converter and, whack your CD in and choose the tracks after Because to convert but convert them as an album wrap...ie one song.

never knew that, thanks, not sure how much use I'll get out of that in the future though   ;)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: edgineer on August 18, 2011, 02:04:55 AM
Abbey Road is a window into the Beatles world....John's indifference..George's blossoming talent...Paul's acceptance of the end...
Something is the album's best song, and despite Georgie's protest, Paul's bass playing is incredible.
Here comes the Sun does prove that George has arrived as a songwriter.
Then there is the medley. A little over 15 minutes that is pure Beatles perfection and a fitting end to their collaboration.
Paul proves to be a prophet....the Beatles legacy will indeed be a heavy weight for the boys to carry.
I agree with the 5th Beatle......this album never gets old..it is a classic.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on August 18, 2011, 03:23:13 AM
Quote from: blmeanie
There is something wrong and disappointing about hearing one of them when you have the player set to shuffle and the song isn't with the rest of the medley.

That bugs the heck out of me too. Somewhere, I think it's Pandora radio or something like it, I've heard the medley tracks broken up and you are correct; it is just wrong.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Ovi on October 01, 2011, 02:17:29 PM
Happy Birthday to "Abbey Road" ! 42 years now, and it still sounds fresh.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on October 01, 2011, 11:12:47 PM
Happy Birthday to "Abbey Road" ! 42 years now, and it still sounds fresh.

it does.........in fact its my most played album, especially from Because.

Over the years though Ive grown to absolutely love I Want You (She's So Heavy), its so powerful, and, well................menacing.

Great how they mixed it at the end of Mr Kite on the Love album (my favourite bit of the album)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 02, 2011, 08:50:45 AM
Abbey Road

The lads rally and give us this timeless classic. It was no secret that the ‘Let It Be’ sessions didn’t come off as the boys planned and they weren’t happy nor proud of the effort.  Realizing that the end was eminent and knowing they didn’t want it to end like that, they put their differences aside for one last time to put forth an effort that would show the world why they were the greatest band to ever be assembled.


Come Together - I admit that this is not one of my favorite songs. I’m not saying its bad and I realize its one of their most famous songs ever, its just that it doesn’t grab me for some reason. It starts off with one of the most innovative drum riffs ever and the people that cap on Ringo need to shut up already. Awesome stuff. Love the bass and guitar in the beginning too. Johns voice sounds great. 0.50 love Pauls deeper backgrounds. 1:10 love that guitar tone. 2:02 organ sounds awesome here. 2:13 like the guitar solo tone here also. 2:30 don’t know who does it, but one of them slides their finger down the guitar strings and its my favorite part of the song.  3:12 really like the simple guitar solo. Johns exaggerated ‘Yeahs’ at the end are sweet too and the ending is an alright fade out. Good song, but one that I could care less if I hear or not.

Something - George gives us one of his strongest songs as a Beatle to date. A nice, slower, love song that would do anybody proud. I like the drum fill, bass, guitar beginning. Great way to start a song. Speaking of the bass, its awesome sounding. George’s smooth voice is a welcome touch to the song. 0:27 like the organ here. 0:33 the crash cymbal buildup at the end of the bar is so important to the song, that I cant even begin to explain. It would fall way short without it. 0:42 strings added. 1:14 the middle portion here is nothing short of amazing. I love the buildup and emotion. George almost pleads to us. Love it. The violin plucks throughout this part are neat too. Hard to pick out, but cool nontheless. 1:42 what a nice guitar solo. I like the tone and the execution. Ringos drumming is top notch throughout also. Sometimes I can find myself becoming a little sick of this song, but it was nice to hear because it reminded me how damn good it really is. George outdid himself on this one.

Maxwells Silver Hammer - Every album has a sore spot it seems and this is Abbey Roads. This song sucks and is easily one of my least favorite Beatle songs ever. Besides Paul, I think the other band members felt the same way. Pauls voice sounds good enough and I like the piano and Ringos drums in the beginning. The anvil makes the song sillier than it already is if that’s possible. I do like the guitar tone throughout. 0:51 the Moog or whatever keyboard effect here adds to the frustration. It sounds dumb. 1:20 Paul laughing is the best part of the song. 1:34 like the inclusion of the acoustic here. 2:31 love the ‘Maxwell must go free’ backgrounds here. 3:16 backgrounds are silly and sound awful. Song couldn’t end quick enough for me.

Oh! Darling - Love Pauls voice here. Guitar tone on the strums sounds great. Bass is strong. 0:15 harmonies are top notch. Ringo is awesome throughout the entire song. 0:54 Pauls high ‘Oooooh’ here is great. 1:04 please do me a favor and listen to Ringo here. Please. 1:08 Pauls voice,,,,what more can I say? I love the piano here too. 1:52 best part of the song. Love how Pauls emphasizes that bar. This is a nice song for Paul to showcase his amazing vocal ability, but I get bored of it pretty quick. When the last few guitar notes are plucked, I sigh in relief.

Octopus’s Garden - Here’s a rather silly number that George and Ringo kind of collaborated on during the writing process. Its enjoyable enough and it kind of hinders on the same vein as ‘Yellow Submarine’, but its more widely accepted for some reason. Not crazy about the opening guitar tone. Ringos drums sound good. His voice,,,eh, its Ringo. The bass is stellar as usual. 0:31 piano is awesome here. 0:42 the large chorus, background vocals sound kind of silly to me. 0:54 I do like the background ‘Ohh’s’ and ‘Ahh’s’ though. 1:32 like the guitar solo, but the underwater effects kind of kills any momentum it builds. All in all, it’s a silly, fun song that hangs on the neutral side for me.

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) - I hate this song.

O.K. Let me just stop you there. You started this thread calling this album a timeless classic but apart from Something you've barely found a good word to say about any song on the 1st side!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 02, 2011, 09:01:54 AM
Abbey Road

We always talk about moments of Beatle magic.
Do we?  :o
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on October 02, 2011, 09:04:57 AM
O.K. Let me just stop you there. You started this thread calling this album a timeless classic but apart from Something you've barely found a good word to say about any song on the 1st side!
[/quote




What it needs for Todd to rave about it is Lovely Rita  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 02, 2011, 10:11:37 AM
One of The Beatles' most endearing qualities was always their sense of fun and mischief. At a time when prog rock was surfacing in all its magnificent po-faced pomposity, Abbey Road punctured such allusions with cheeky hidden tricks like Her Majesty tacked on unnanounced at the end and with jaunty singalongs about psychopaths and sea creatures which only the likes of Paul and Ringo could get away with.

Paul hasn't got away with Maxwell's silver hammer. ha ha ha. Not by a long way. I've never known a song to be so hated. I love it btw.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on October 02, 2011, 12:28:46 PM
I love Abbey Road so much, I absolutely love the guitar tones starting with You Never Give Me Your Money, in fact I love them all the way through the album, the album is a complete masterpiece wonderfully recorded and produced, it even sounds happy  :)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on October 02, 2011, 12:43:55 PM
can anyone figure out who does the harmony vocals on The End where the lyrics are " and in the end etc"
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: glass onion on October 03, 2011, 09:40:22 AM
can anyone figure out who does the harmony vocals on The End where the lyrics are " and in the end etc"
if i was pushed into a corner i'd say paul and george.i've not listened,but from memeory i'm not sure if i hear johns' harmony in there.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on October 03, 2011, 10:47:16 AM
O.K. Let me just stop you there. You started this thread calling this album a timeless classic but apart from Something you've barely found a good word to say about any song on the 1st side!

What does my opinion of the songs have to do with anything? Would you not agree that the album is pretty much considered a timeless classic by almost everybody?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 03, 2011, 01:01:13 PM
What does my opinion of the songs have to do with anything? Would you not agree that the album is pretty much considered a timeless classic by almost everybody?

Yes. Well maybe not almost everybody perhaps most people but what does everybody elses opinion matter if you don't like so many of the songs very much? ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 03, 2011, 01:24:56 PM
I've jsut been reading the wiki for Abbey rd. and came across this 'After the lyrics were refined during the "Let It Be" sessions (tapes reveal Lennon giving Harrison some songwriting advice during its composition),' I've never heard that before. Anyone know anything about it or if it's on youtube or where we can listen or watch it?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on October 03, 2011, 08:08:57 PM
Yes. Well maybe not almost everybody perhaps most people but what does everybody elses opinion matter if you don't like so many of the songs very much? ;D

Nobody else's opinion matters to me, only mine matters, hence why they call it an opinion. Its kind of like your defense of 'Wild Life' when you said that Bobbers review was harsh while the mass public understands that the album is horrible. Thats your opinion in which you would be hard pressed to sway anybody to agree with it. Its all the same.

Stating that Abbey Road was a timeless classic was just a statement of common knowledge due to the fact that my opinions vary greatly compared to the mass public. It appears I should have broken the statement down into simpler words to clarify my meaning. I'll keep that in mind for future references.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on October 03, 2011, 08:27:19 PM
Nobody else's opinion matters to me, only mine matters, hence why they call it an opinion. Its kind of like your defense of 'Wild Life' when you said that Bobbers review was harsh while the mass public understands that the album is horrible. Thats your opinion in which you would be hard pressed to sway anybody to agree with it. Its all the same.

Stating that Abbey Road was a timeless classic was just a statement of common knowledge due to the fact that my opinions vary greatly compared to the mass public. It appears I should have broken the statement down into simpler words to clarify my meaning. I'll keep that in mind for future references.

well anyone'd come to the conclusion you'd tthought it was a timeless classic if you'd put that. A/w it's no big deal is it?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on October 03, 2011, 08:31:54 PM
well anyone'd come to the conclusion you'd tthought it was a timeless classic if you'd put that. A/w it's no big deal is it?

A classic is a classic because of general and not particular opinions, I think. I admit that Dark Side Of The Moon is a classic album beyond the fact that I'm not a Pink Floyd fan.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on October 03, 2011, 10:26:05 PM
A classic is a classic because of general and not particular opinions, I think. I admit that Dark Side Of The Moon is a classic album beyond the fact that I'm not a Pink Floyd fan.

and some might say its an overrated classic ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Brynjar on November 16, 2011, 02:56:12 PM
I love Abbey Road so much, I absolutely love the guitar tones starting with You Never Give Me Your Money, in fact I love them all the way through the album, the album is a complete masterpiece wonderfully recorded and produced, it even sounds happy  :)

 ;yes

I so agree with you there. Love that guitar sound. 
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 02, 2012, 09:32:32 PM
Maxwells Silver Hammer is a perfect showcase of why The Beatles fell apart.

I agree !
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 03, 2012, 04:06:52 AM
I dunno.  I still like Maxwell's Silver Hammer.  I like the medley a whole lot more, but I think Maxwell's Silver Hammer is a fun song.  In another thread I mentioned that this was Paul's Mack The Knife.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 03, 2012, 06:07:31 AM
I cant stand songs like that Barry  >:(

For me Paul started to be 'twee' before that with All Together Now and Honey Pie (2 more I hate), I think when John lost interest and Paul took over the group he had licence to put these songs out, he then carried it on with his solo career Mary Had A Little Lamb, C Moon, Frog Chorus and more, I just couldnt take him seriously anymore ........and he's still doing it....Dance Tonight  :-[
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on February 03, 2012, 09:21:04 AM
I believe All Together Now was a fun song for all of them and recorded in a party-like atmosphere.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on February 04, 2012, 03:59:03 AM
I believe All Together Now was a fun song for all of them and recorded in a party-like atmosphere.

No wonder it always makes me happy when I hear it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 08, 2012, 09:49:43 PM
I dunno.  I still like Maxwell's Silver Hammer.  I like the medley a whole lot more, but I think Maxwell's Silver Hammer is a fun song.  In another thread I mentioned that this was Paul's Mack The Knife.

I dont mind it now really but when you were 18 it wasnt considered 'cool' to dig songs like that, and it gave the Stones fans added ammunition to use against The Beatles  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 08, 2012, 10:59:26 PM
I dont mind it now really but when you were 18 it wasnt considered 'cool' to dig songs like that, and it gave the Stones fans added ammunition to use against The Beatles  ha2ha

Kev, when Abbey Road was released everyone was going around singing "Oh yeah!  Alright!" and tapping each other's head with their fists saying "Bang, Bang."  You should have seen it!

We were also ruining LPs and needles playing Beatles albums backward.  We were cool alright!   ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 08, 2012, 11:44:19 PM
And at the time, Stones fans were running around singing Country Honk in Texas accent.

We were way cooler!      ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 09, 2012, 12:24:27 AM
And at the time, Stones fans were running around singing Country Honk in Texas accent.

We were way cooler!      ha2ha

childrens songs and when Im 64 wasnt cool in England Barry, Mums & dads liked it, Satisfaction & Paint It Black was  way cool and parents hated it  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: 7 of 13 on February 09, 2012, 01:03:40 AM
childrens songs and when Im 64 wasnt cool in England Barry, Mums & dads liked it, Satisfaction & Paint It Black was  way cool and parents hated it  ha2ha
you can't be cereal.  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 10, 2012, 03:19:40 PM
Somebody has taken the RockBand tracks and separated the individual tracks.

It is so cool hearing Abbey Road this way, just guitar tracks, drum tracks, etc.

I am sure if you look around on the net you will find this....

http://moggfiles.wordpress.com/ (http://moggfiles.wordpress.com/)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 10, 2012, 11:55:22 PM
Cheers for that Gary  ;)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 11, 2012, 03:04:26 AM
Right!  Thank you, Gary!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on February 11, 2012, 02:41:37 PM
very cool, just listened to the vocals only for ADITL and it clearly was John doing the "ahhhhhhhhhh"
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 11, 2012, 11:15:21 PM
It was Paul
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 11, 2012, 11:59:27 PM
erm, at the risk of sounding like a dumbass (no need for any comments   ;D) how do I listen to these things ? Im missing something here ?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on February 12, 2012, 02:41:08 AM
erm, at the risk of sounding like a dumbass (no need for any comments   ;D) how do I listen to these things ? Im missing something here ?


I have used Audacity for all my audio editing for years, great tool.

Seems like Audacity is meant for these files.  I saw a link at  http://www.casadejoe.com/files/G.%20Morrow/The%20Beatles%20-%20MOGG%20Files/ (http://www.casadejoe.com/files/G.%20Morrow/The%20Beatles%20-%20MOGG%20Files/)

Then open them in Audacity
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 12, 2012, 03:23:30 AM
ahh ok, thanks meanie  ;)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on February 12, 2012, 05:07:30 AM
I'm updating my Beatles CDs and just got Abbey Road yesterday. What an improvement over my old CD! It made me remember why this shares the number 1 spot with Rubber Soul for me. That medley does it.  :)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Jema on February 13, 2012, 02:11:28 PM
My favorite songs from this album are: You Never Give Me Your Money,Golden Slumbers,Polythene Pam (I also wish there were more to this song),Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Here Comes The Sun.Oh! Darling is one of the worst Beatles songs ever,I honestly can't stand it.Other then that this album is pretty good,Octopus's Garden is my favorite Ringo song ever from all his others.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 13, 2012, 04:37:30 PM
Oh! Darling is one of the worst Beatles songs ever,I honestly can't stand it.

Even though I completely do not share your view, I understand how you might feel this way.

Give the song a different perspective. I think I know what Paul was trying to accomplish in this song. If you listen to the vocals, Paul was trying to make a belt-em out screaming song. The piano is fairly simplistic. If you listen to at as a "melodic" song, there is not much there. If you imagine yourself in a small club with a singer and just his piano, the performance takes on a different slant.

This is something about many Beatles songs, that I think some people miss. I probably go on about this ad infinitum, but sometimes you have to take a step back. There are works of art that look horrible from one perspective, then when you look from a different angle and know what was going on in the artist's life and what he/she was attempting to communicate, the art takes on new meaning and can become beautiful. This process sometimes requires work.

I probably bored a few people with the above, and you probably didn't even read it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Ovi on February 13, 2012, 04:46:51 PM
Even though I completely do not share your view, I understand how you might feel this way.

Give the song a different perspective. I think I know what Paul was trying to accomplish in this song. If you listen to the vocals, Paul was trying to make a belt-em out screaming song. The piano is fairly simplistic. If you listen to at as a "melodic" song, there is not much there. If you imagine yourself in a small club with a singer and just his piano, the performance takes on a different slant.

This is something about many Beatles songs, that I think some people miss. I probably go on about this ad infinitum, but sometimes you have to take a step back. There are works of art that look horrible from one perspective, then when you look from a different angle and know what was going on in the artist's life and what he/she was attempting to communicate, the art takes on new meaning and can become beautiful. This process sometimes requires work.

I probably bored a few people with the above, and you probably didn't even read it.

Very well put. I honestly never thought about the song that way, but I still think it's one of their all-time best. It took me a few listens for it to sink in, but it was worth it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 13, 2012, 05:18:44 PM
Oh! Darling is Paul doing some good ol' New Orleans Rhythm and Blues à la Fats Domino...



Ain't That A Shame

Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNNiBcU3BR4#)


Blue Monday

Fats Domino - Blue Monday 1957 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-PZIvzO64#ws)



Oh! Darling (Rehearsal)

The Beatles - Oh! Darling (Twickenham Rehearsals - Day 4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txXWjWEHPhg#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 13, 2012, 07:47:38 PM
Oh! Darling is Paul doing some good ol' New Orleans Rhythm and Blues à la Fats Domino...


Ain't That A Shame


Blue Monday


Oh! Darling (Rehearsal)


Thank you, I was kind of thinking that, but couldn't think of examples of the top of my head (or in my head  ???).
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 13, 2012, 11:18:58 PM
Even though I completely do not share your view, I understand how you might feel this way.

Give the song a different perspective. I think I know what Paul was trying to accomplish in this song. If you listen to the vocals, Paul was trying to make a belt-em out screaming song. The piano is fairly simplistic. If you listen to at as a "melodic" song, there is not much there. If you imagine yourself in a small club with a singer and just his piano, the performance takes on a different slant.

This is something about many Beatles songs, that I think some people miss. I probably go on about this ad infinitum, but sometimes you have to take a step back. There are works of art that look horrible from one perspective, then when you look from a different angle and know what was going on in the artist's life and what he/she was attempting to communicate, the art takes on new meaning and can become beautiful. This process sometimes requires work.

I probably bored a few people with the above, and you probably didn't even read it.

Good post Gary, I agree with you.  ;yes

Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 14, 2012, 12:18:38 AM
Thank you, I was kind of thinking that, but couldn't think of examples of the top of my head (or in my head  ???).


I like this rehearsal version of Oh! Darling better than the released take...


The Beatles - oh darling RARE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGP2sy4mlFk#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 14, 2012, 03:24:57 AM
Some more New Orleans Rhythm and Blues by Fats Domino...


Baby Please

Fats Domino - Baby Please (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyL0wY8yCVk#)
1954
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on February 14, 2012, 06:03:44 AM
Quote from: Gary910
Give the song a different perspective. I think I know what Paul was trying to accomplish in this song. If you listen to the vocals, Paul was trying to make a belt-em out screaming song. The piano is fairly simplistic. If you listen to at as a "melodic" song, there is not much there. If you imagine yourself in a small club with a singer and just his piano, the performance takes on a different slant.

This is something about many Beatles songs, that I think some people miss. I probably go on about this ad infinitum, but sometimes you have to take a step back.

I appreciate your perspective on this Gary. I've always liked this song but it is difficult for me to articulate my feelings about most of the songs that I enjoy. I lack the technical knowledge for one thing and I just feel music at such an emotional level that I can't really defend my opinions.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on February 14, 2012, 12:48:53 PM
I Love outtakes.  A few certainly get more play in my world than the released versions.  This one though?  Nope.  Cute at parts but I like what he accomplished with the released version just fine.


I like this rehearsal version of Oh! Darling better than the released take...


The Beatles - oh darling RARE ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGP2sy4mlFk#[/url])
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Jema on February 14, 2012, 12:59:11 PM
Even though I completely do not share your view, I understand how you might feel this way.

Give the song a different perspective. I think I know what Paul was trying to accomplish in this song. If you listen to the vocals, Paul was trying to make a belt-em out screaming song. The piano is fairly simplistic. If you listen to at as a "melodic" song, there is not much there. If you imagine yourself in a small club with a singer and just his piano, the performance takes on a different slant.

This is something about many Beatles songs, that I think some people miss. I probably go on about this ad infinitum, but sometimes you have to take a step back. There are works of art that look horrible from one perspective, then when you look from a different angle and know what was going on in the artist's life and what he/she was attempting to communicate, the art takes on new meaning and can become beautiful. This process sometimes requires work.

I probably bored a few people with the above, and you probably didn't even read it.
I did read it and I'd like to say thank you for not getting mad or anything because I was nervous to say that I don't like Oh! Darling because I know how everybody has different opinions and some people might have been offended or something.The reason I don't like the song is actually because of the way Paul says the words but I like the way you explained the song and from now on I will try to listen to the song and look at it from a different angle :) I should just listen to the whole song through a few times and see what happens to my view on it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Jema on February 14, 2012, 01:03:54 PM
Also I'd like to say that I'm really sorry if I cause a lot of trouble on different topics but maybe I'll stop saying my opinion on things because I hate causing trouble and I hope you can all forgive me,we all have different views on songs and I'm sorry I don't like Oh! Darling,I can see you all like it but maybe I shouldn't even had said I don't like Oh! Darling because I feel really bad about not liking it now  :-\
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 14, 2012, 03:31:12 PM
Also I'd like to say that I'm really sorry if I cause a lot of trouble on different topics but maybe I'll stop saying my opinion on things because I hate causing trouble and I hope you can all forgive me,we all have different views on songs and I'm sorry I don't like Oh! Darling,I can see you all like it but maybe I shouldn't even had said I don't like Oh! Darling because I feel really bad about not liking it now  :-\

Relax, Jema.  You're not causing any trouble.  Everyone has their own opinions and we certainly value yours.  And if it prompts debate, it's even better.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 14, 2012, 03:34:30 PM
I think Paul might have listened to this song prior to writing Oh! Darling...


Please Come Home For Christmas

Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itdNoGtPQ3I#)
Charles Brown   1960
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Ovi on February 14, 2012, 03:40:24 PM
Relax, Jema.  You're not causing any trouble.  Everyone has their own opinions and we certainly value yours.  And if it prompts debate, it's even better.

I agree. Take it easy, Jema. And after all, weren't these last posts better than what would've been if everybody loved the song? Imagine this :

"Member 1 : Great song.

Member 2 :
Quote from: Member1
Great song.
I agree, top song.

Member 3 :
Quote from: Member 2
I agree, top song.
Yes, 5/5, it never gets old. Ok, now we move on... "

Now, where's the fun in that? ;)

Don't stop saying your opinions out loud.

Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 14, 2012, 05:30:12 PM
I agree Jema, please do express your opinions, that is what a forum is all about.

When we express our opinions though, it is helpful if we say, "I don't like "X Song" because..." When it is just a "I hate 'X Song', or "X Song Sucks", that is meaningless. It doesn't promote any conversation, and it just gets everyone upset.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on February 14, 2012, 06:27:32 PM
Also I'd like to say that I'm really sorry if I cause a lot of trouble on different topics but maybe I'll stop saying my opinion on things because I hate causing trouble and I hope you can all forgive me,we all have different views on songs and I'm sorry I don't like Oh! Darling,I can see you all like it but maybe I shouldn't even had said I don't like Oh! Darling because I feel really bad about not liking it now  :-\

You didn't do anything wrong Jema! I understand how you feel but no one is mad at you as you can probably tell from the other comments.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Jema on February 14, 2012, 09:55:19 PM
Relax, Jema.  You're not causing any trouble.  Everyone has their own opinions and we certainly value yours.  And if it prompts debate, it's even better.
You didn't do anything wrong Jema! I understand how you feel but no one is mad at you as you can probably tell from the other comments.
I agree Jema, please do express your opinions, that is what a forum is all about.

When we express our opinions though, it is helpful if we say, "I don't like "X Song" because..." When it is just a "I hate 'X Song', or "X Song Sucks", that is meaningless. It doesn't promote any conversation, and it just gets everyone upset.
I agree. Take it easy, Jema. And after all, weren't these last posts better than what would've been if everybody loved the song? Imagine this :

"Member 1 : Great song.

Member 2 : I agree, top song.

Member 3 : Yes, 5/5, it never gets old. Ok, now we move on... "

Now, where's the fun in that? ;)

Don't stop saying your opinions out loud.


Thanks everybody,I'll try to stop taking everything to heart and start explaining my reasoning's :) I just don't like causing people trouble and I can see that I really didn't :)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 14, 2012, 11:21:58 PM
You didn't do anything wrong Jema! I understand how you feel but no one is mad at you as you can probably tell from the other comments.

Im absolutely fuming @ Jema  >:(





just kidding Jema  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Jema on February 15, 2012, 03:11:55 AM
Im absolutely fuming @ Jema  >:(





just kidding Jema  ha2ha
That was actually quite funny - I'm absolutely fuming  ha2ha I thought you actually were,then I scrolled down and I was relieved - I don't actually think you would be,at least I hope not!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 15, 2012, 04:22:39 AM
That was actually quite funny - I'm absolutely fuming  ha2ha I thought you actually were,then I scrolled down and I was relieved - I don't actually think you would be,at least I hope not!

Nah!  nimrod's not mean.  His avatar looks mean, but that's just a front.    ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on February 15, 2012, 04:31:38 AM
Jema, i'd be really upset if you didnt submit your opinion. What would be the point of it all then? You just keep on trucking and dont worry what other people think. It makes for better discussions.

Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: KelMar on February 15, 2012, 04:33:46 AM
Im absolutely fuming @ Jema  >:(





just kidding Jema  ha2ha

Trouble maker! ;)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on February 15, 2012, 04:38:23 AM
tkitna - love your reviews, this one for the most part is a homerun with many of my opinions.

Questions for ya - I've read/heard that John wasn't too pleased with the side B and the amount of producing that went into it vs. side A, truth to that?  To your points, the back and forth when the medley gets going with Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam is great, neither would suffer if made into a stand alone song but both benefit from the production aspect of linking them.

Also - in The End, can you (or somebody), detail by x:xx who is playing which parts of the dueling guitar solos?  Is there any video of them playing it?  Does Paul, while touring, divvy out the parts to his band, like, "you, you have John's part and you, you take my part, I want to play George's tonight"  lol

Just reread this thread and realized I never did answer you BL. Sorry buddy. Yeah, I guess John wasnt super thrilled with side 2, but I always thought it was due to the snippets of songs thrown together more so than the production, but I might be off. Let me go take a look.

Found this, but its not a lot-
"I liked the 'A' side [of Abbey Road] but I never liked that sort of pop opera on the other side. I think it's junk because it was just bits of songs thrown together." —John Lennon, "The Rolling Stone Interview", 1971

Who knows. John was always throwing those tidbits out there.

Raxo answered your second question which is good, because I would have had to look it up.  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 15, 2012, 09:05:07 AM
Nah!  nimrod's not mean.  His avatar looks mean, but that's just a front.    ;D

Awe..........Goaty's not mean Barry, he's just confused  ha2ha

Trouble maker! ;)

Ive always been the same Kelley  2ch
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: peterbell1 on February 15, 2012, 01:46:21 PM
I like this rehearsal version of Oh! Darling better than the released take...
The Beatles - oh darling RARE ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGP2sy4mlFk#[/url])


I have to agree - the released version was never a favourite of mine, mainly because I don't like the production/arrangement on the final version.
I think there's too much going on - especially in the "middle 8" sections ("When you told me ..." etc). The arpeggio guitar parts in those parts really annoy me, for some reason.

Those rehearsal takes are much more my cup of tea - a more laid back feel, with a bit more space to the song.

I think Macca was quite fond of this type of song ...
Paul McCartney & Wings - Call Me Back Again [Live] [High Quality] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyn21hhQ7f8#ws)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 15, 2012, 03:26:35 PM

Found this, but its not a lot-
"I liked the 'A' side [of Abbey Road] but I never liked that sort of pop opera on the other side. I think it's junk because it was just bits of songs thrown together." —John Lennon, "The Rolling Stone Interview", 1971

Who knows. John was always throwing those tidbits out there.


I have to laugh at many of John's quotes, because he would contradict himself many times. I think it had to do with his mood and his relationship to Yoko.

Although he was pretty consistent on his feelings about Abbey Road.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: peterbell1 on February 15, 2012, 04:39:49 PM
Had a few listens to Call Me Back Again this afternoon - it's a great song and I like it much better than Oh Darling, even though they are quite similar in style.
Jimmy McCulloch's guitar playing is great on that song - I wonder what he would have done with Oh Darling.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Gary910 on February 15, 2012, 06:14:26 PM
Had a few listens to Call Me Back Again this afternoon - it's a great song and I like it much better than Oh Darling, even though they are quite similar in style.
Jimmy McCulloch's guitar playing is great on that song - I wonder what he would have done with Oh Darling.

Ask JimmyMcCullochFan  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on February 15, 2012, 09:35:38 PM
I have to laugh at many of John's quotes, because he would contradict himself many times. I think it had to do with his mood and his relationship to Yoko.

Although he was pretty consistent on his feelings about Abbey Road.

Yeah John always said that about side 2, he just didnt like it, or it was him winding up Paul  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on February 16, 2012, 12:09:18 AM
Those rehearsal takes are much more my cup of tea - a more laid back feel, with a bit more space to the song.

It was pretty good, wasn't it Peter?  It had a nice live R&B club atmosphere about it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on July 05, 2012, 11:37:33 PM
Ive been listening to AR recently and Im now convinced that its the greatest album ever made..

Who's have thought, after all those wonderful records by the Fabs they would save their best till last
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on July 05, 2012, 11:48:45 PM
Ive been listening to AR recently and Im now convinced that its the greatest album ever made..

Who's have thought, after all those wonderful records by the Fabs they would save their best till last

I cant argue with you. Like i've said before, its not my favorite, but if I want to show somebody how good the Beatles can be, Abbey Road is my go to album.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on July 14, 2012, 10:15:01 PM
I love The Medley!!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on July 14, 2012, 11:24:23 PM
I've said it before, if you don't compile the medley into a single song on your mp3/i device so they are forced together in any shuffle you are missing out. 
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on July 15, 2012, 02:03:14 AM
I love The Medley!!

I love it all

Im gonna do a Microscope on Golden Slumbers I think

:)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on July 15, 2012, 02:15:18 AM

Im gonna do a Microscope on Golden Slumbers I think

:)


Pretty song.  I love Paul's voice here.  I like what he does at 0:45


The Beatles - Golden Slumbers (2009 Stereo Remaster) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYEzpe-xQDM#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Snoopy66 on July 15, 2012, 11:45:59 AM
I'm afraid, but "Abbey Road" never was on my favorite Beatles-album. I guess, it's mostly because you could sense that they were falling apart; it's much more obvious than on the "White Album".

Overall, I just miss the close musical relation between John & Paul. On the other hand, I think that George was at his best then.

My favourite songs are Come together, Because, Octopuss Garden, Something and Here comes the sun. The other songs are like kind of medly and musical-patchwork... hmm, not bad, but I'm just not too enthousiastic about.

Snoopy
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on July 16, 2012, 12:04:47 AM
I'm afraid, but "Abbey Road" never was on my favorite Beatles-album. I guess, it's mostly because you could sense that they were falling apart; it's much more obvious than on the "White Album".

This is the exact opposite of why I like it. To me, it was a return to form. They all worked together again (for the most part) and it showed. The White Album was a solo showcase.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on July 16, 2012, 01:49:03 AM
Gotta agree with Todd here, Abbey Road sound like a real band album to me, White Album didnt

I think they decided to put all their squabbles aside and make one last great album
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on August 08, 2012, 05:47:45 PM
To me it's easier to find favourite songs in the White Album, but as a whole I prefer Abbey Road. The former record has too much fillers, while the latter was a brillant swan song.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Yeshelloitsmehereagain on August 08, 2012, 06:30:11 PM
No, you are wrong. The White Album is much better. Abbey Road is still very good though.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 08, 2012, 09:34:14 PM
all their albums are magical, but theres something even more magical about Abbey Rd :)


Ive played it more than the other over the years so its my favourite, but were all gonna have different favourites
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Yeshelloitsmehereagain on August 08, 2012, 09:41:45 PM
Let us not go down such a road...
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 08, 2012, 09:48:49 PM
Let us not go down such a road...

a long and winding one ?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on August 08, 2012, 09:53:52 PM
Gotta agree with Todd here, Abbey Road sound like a real band album to me, White Album didnt

I think they decided to put all their squabbles aside and make one last great album

From what I've read it wasn't much different to the White Album. John hardly played or sang on it apart from his own songs.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Yeshelloitsmehereagain on August 09, 2012, 05:59:04 AM
That's what I mean, John on Abbey Road donates no real corkers or seems very interested at all... on the White Album he's got alot of really good/great songs and contains one of the best group pieces in "Yer Blues".

The White Album is much better.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on August 09, 2012, 11:37:29 AM
they serve different purposes

The White Album is a great listen to listen to often down and dirty songs/singles

Abbey Road is a great listen when you want a cohesive more produced listen.

Sometimes you want one more over the other.

Both are great.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Dcazz on August 09, 2012, 07:33:24 PM
I think what I like about Abby Road the most is that it seems to include everyone doing something important and also inovative. Ringo's drumming is strong throughout. George gets to play a lot more guitar than he had in a couple of years plus his Moog is used tastfully throughout. Paul and John do what they do best.
The collaberation reminds me of Revolver where the individual contributions reflect on the whole. The Beatles at their best!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 09, 2012, 10:04:12 PM
Id have liked the white album more if it had been a single album (as George Martin wanted) , theres just too much filler and silly stuff on there for me

Rev No 9
Rocky Racoon
Me & My Monkey
Both Honey Pie's
Dont Pass Me By

couldve all been binned for me.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 09, 2012, 10:22:39 PM
I like Don't Pass Me By!  Bluegrass, you know.


Don't Pass Me By   The Mama Tried Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naC5T_s0Vig#)


 ;D
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Yeshelloitsmehereagain on August 09, 2012, 11:03:32 PM
There's plenty of filler and silly stuff on Abbey Road, it just sounds easier on the ears because it was recorded differently and they mixed it into stereo properly.

Come Together
Maxwells' Silver Hammer
Octopus's Garden
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
Sun King
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Carry That Weight
Her Majesty

It's splendid production values go a long way to hide how sh*tty the actual root material is.

The White Album is alot more challenging, ungrossing and an ultimately more rewarding listen. Don't get me wrong Abbey Road it's a very nice epitaph and the playing and performance is pretty much flawless. The songs are just pretty weak.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 09, 2012, 11:10:04 PM
There's plenty of filler and silly stuff on Abbey Road, it just sounds easier on the ears because it was recorded differently and they mixed it into stereo properly.

Come Together
Maxwells' Silver Hammer
Octopus's Garden
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
Sun King
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Carry That Weight
Her Majesty

It's splendid production values go a long way to hide how sh*tty the actual root material is.

The White Album is alot more challenging, ungrossing and an ultimately more rewarding listen. Don't get me wrong Abbey Road it's a very nice epitaph and the playing and performance is pretty much flawless. The songs are just pretty weak.


one mans filler is another mans masterpiece :)


The Fab Faux - Abbey Road Side 2 (mostly) on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/11237479)


Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Yeshelloitsmehereagain on August 09, 2012, 11:56:25 PM
I don't know if anyone else is getting this but Vimeo seems to agree with me.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 10, 2012, 01:17:25 AM
Vimeo is a place for prime HD videos.  It's a spectacular website.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Snoopy66 on August 10, 2012, 09:03:14 AM
There's plenty of filler and silly stuff on Abbey Road, it just sounds easier on the ears because it was recorded differently and they mixed it into stereo properly.

Come Together
Maxwells' Silver Hammer
Octopus's Garden
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
Sun King
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Carry That Weight
Her Majesty

It's splendid production values go a long way to hide how sh*tty the actual root material is.

The White Album is alot more challenging, ungrossing and an ultimately more rewarding listen. Don't get me wrong Abbey Road it's a very nice epitaph and the playing and performance is pretty much flawless. The songs are just pretty weak.
I far prefer the "White Album" too. Though I wouldn't consider "Come together" as a "filler", as it has become a Beatles-classic since then. "Octopus's Garden", "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Carry that weight" aren't that bad too, I think.

I've got more the impression that "Abbey Road" contains too short and somewhat unfinished songs, rather than fillers.

Snoopy
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on August 10, 2012, 10:47:13 AM

It's splendid production values go a long way to hide how sh*tty the actual root material is.



sh*tty is a bit strong but it is remarkable how few of the songs on Abbey rd. are truly great songs. Allso, and i've probably banged on about this elsewhere but John's 4 songs for the album written in 69 were basically rip-offs of other songs. Come together we all know about from the Chuck Berry song and Because from the Beethoven Sonata and Sun king from Fleetwood Macs Albatross but less well known is how he appropriated the music from a song called Coming home baby for the music to IWY(SSH). That's a problem for me now and spoils my enjoyment of the album but it's a nice album to put on and Something, You never give me your money and Golden slumber/Carry that weight/The end are all genius.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on August 10, 2012, 11:04:07 AM
Allso, and i've probably banged on about this elsewhere but John's 4 songs for the album written in 69 were basically rip-offs of other songs. Come together we all know about from the Chuck Berry song and Because from the Beethoven Sonata and Sun king from Fleetwood Macs Albatross but less well known is how he appropriated the music from a song called Coming home baby for the music to IWY(SSH). That's a problem for me now and spoils my enjoyment of the album but it's a nice album to put on and Something, You never give me your money and Golden slumber/Carry that weight/The end are all genius.


It seems John had his sources in those years:
http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=9982.msg243888#msg243888 (http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=9982.msg243888#msg243888)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 10, 2012, 12:52:50 PM
I remember when I did the White Album microscope and was surprised at how little I really liked it. Too much quantity and not enough quality in my eyes.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 10, 2012, 02:26:39 PM
sh*tty is a bit strong but it is remarkable how few of the songs on Abbey rd. are truly great songs. Allso, and i've probably banged on about this elsewhere but John's 4 songs for the album written in 69 were basically rip-offs of other songs. Come together we all know about from the Chuck Berry song and Because from the Beethoven Sonata and Sun king from Fleetwood Macs Albatross but less well known is how he appropriated the music from a song called Coming home baby for the music to IWY(SSH). That's a problem for me now and spoils my enjoyment of the album but it's a nice album to put on and Something, You never give me your money and Golden slumber/Carry that weight/The end are all genius.


 ha2ha

OK John admitted the Chuck Berry borrow but ...........can you tell me which part of the melody of Sun King resembles the melody of Albatross cos that has got me completely puzzled, apart from the guitar tone similarity I can hear no similarity with the melody at all, (Ive also looked at the musical notation for both songs) can you also let me know the same with Because, it sounds nothing like Beethovens Moonlight Sonata to me, Ive heard the story about him asking Yoko to play the chords backwards but I along with several people have tried this and it sounds nothing like Because and anyway using chords from other songs is not in any way illegal, (if it were hundreds of Blues musicians would be guilty !) its stealing the melody and/or lyrics thats plagiarism, so I look forward to you expanding on which bits of the above 2 melodies (Because & Sun King) John ripped off. (I genuinely am interested).

Its a bit late now here but tomorrow I'll look into the ripping off of the song Coming home baby for I Want You (She's So Heavy), I dont think Ive heard the song but I'll you tube it tomorrow......do you know who its by ?

Just by way of fairness I also noticed that you didnt mention Paul borrowing the Lyrics for Golden Slumbers from Cradle Song, a lullaby by the dramatist Thomas Dekker from 1603........ in the 'genius' bit of the album... ;)

Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Ahme on August 10, 2012, 03:14:47 PM
Mel Torme - Comin Home Baby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_ODg0FmzQ#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on August 10, 2012, 06:14:54 PM
Many people seem to dislike "Come Together" in this forum, don't know exactly why. It has a fantastic drum beat, hypnotic bass lines, wonderful keyboard and guitar solos, and great singing. Of course that the lyrics are a joke, but other than that it's a marvelous recording.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Dcazz on August 10, 2012, 07:16:32 PM
Many people seem to dislike "Come Together" in this forum, don't know exactly why. It has a fantastic drum beat, hypnotic bass lines, wonderful keyboard and guitar solos, and great singing. Of course that the lyrics are a joke, but other than that it's a marvelous recording.
I always liked it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 10, 2012, 07:33:28 PM
Mel Torme - Comin Home Baby ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_ODg0FmzQ#[/url])


Booker T and the Mg's Comin' home baby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z93ReX0S_hI#)

Booker T. & the MGs - Abbey Road Medley (Beatles Covers) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKF2i-2MY2k#)
5:57
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 11, 2012, 06:01:36 AM
Many people seem to dislike "Come Together" in this forum, don't know exactly why. It has a fantastic drum beat, hypnotic bass lines, wonderful keyboard and guitar solos, and great singing. Of course that the lyrics are a joke, but other than that it's a marvelous recording.

I dont care for it much to be honest. I'd love to give you a valid reason why, because its a well done song, but I cant. Its like 'Get Back' in a way that I just grow tired of it really quick. I know its a good song, but I would prefer to listen to something else. Just sick of it, I guess.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on August 11, 2012, 08:20:39 AM

 ha2ha

OK John admitted the Chuck Berry borrow but ...........can you tell me which part of the melody of Sun King resembles the melody of Albatross cos that has got me completely puzzled, apart from the guitar tone similarity I can hear no similarity with the melody at all, (Ive also looked at the musical notation for both songs) can you also let me know the same with Because, it sounds nothing like Beethovens Moonlight Sonata to me, Ive heard the story about him asking Yoko to play the chords backwards but I along with several people have tried this and it sounds nothing like Because and anyway using chords from other songs is not in any way illegal, (if it were hundreds of Blues musicians would be guilty !) its stealing the melody and/or lyrics thats plagiarism, so I look forward to you expanding on which bits of the above 2 melodies (Because & Sun King) John ripped off. (I genuinely am interested).

Its a bit late now here but tomorrow I'll look into the ripping off of the song Coming home baby for I Want You (She's So Heavy), I dont think Ive heard the song but I'll you tube it tomorrow......do you know who its by ?

Just by way of fairness I also noticed that you didnt mention Paul borrowing the Lyrics for Golden Slumbers from Cradle Song, a lullaby by the dramatist Thomas Dekker from 1603........ in the 'genius' bit of the album... ;)

I just don't think the Albatross thing is even a question of debate. I'm not the only person who thinks they're virtually identical and as to the Beethoven. My way of thinking about it is if Beethoven hadn't written Moonlight sonata then Yoko wouldn't have played it backwards and John wouldn't have written Because so it is derived from another persons work which imo diminishes it. The Coming home baby song is by Mel Torme and it is on youtube.
 And no I just never thought about the Golden slumber lyric steal and as it happens I also forgot to point out that Oh Darling is a bit of a rip of the 'Elvis song' One night. I am  bothered by the plagiarism of various kinds by John on Abbery rd. Since I've found out about them it's really impaired mmy respect and emjoyment of the album because all but 2 of his contributions are so derived from other sources which is way too much whereas Paul's plagiarism on the album is only minimal. If John had only derived one or two songs from other sources it wouldn't irk me so much which is why I focused on John. You come across like one of these people who come across rather shrill about other fans being a Paul or a John fan. I love them both but I also don't worship unconditionally and unquestioningly everything they do.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 11, 2012, 10:10:38 AM
I just don't think the Albatross thing is even a question of debate. I'm not the only person who thinks they're virtually identical and as to the Beethoven. My way of thinking about it is if Beethoven hadn't written Moonlight sonata then Yoko wouldn't have played it backwards and John wouldn't have written Because so it is derived from another persons work which imo diminishes it.

So, you havent answered my question and pointed out the parts of the melodies of Sun king and Albatross that are the same, I can tell you why you havent, because there arent any, this is just some crap youve read in a trashy book no doubt, but really mate, you have come on a Beatle fan forum and said that 4 of Johns songs on imo THE greatest album ever made (in not just my opinion but endless pro's opinions) are sh*tty rip offs , and yet you cant show me the parts of the melody that John stole ????

Are you for f***ing real ?

You dont think its a question of debate ??? how ridiculous, I have a degree in music appreciation, I am a musician of 40 years standing, I know many pro musicians, so I have some qualification to speak about music, and I have asked you to show me the parts that John plagiarised, and you brush over it and say, its not worth debating ??

and to top it off a personal insult......I'M one of THOSE people who comes across rather shrill ??

Ok mate heres the deal, the Beatles are my gods, my heroes, they were Beethovens of the 60's....you can tell me all day long that you dont like them or their music and I will accept that as music is subjective, you can tell me that the Beatles are sh*t, I will accept that that is your opinion,  but if you come on here (a great Beatles forum) and tell me that John plagiarised 4 songs on Abbey Road you'd better be able to f***ing well prove it, and thats just it, you cant, you have offered no proof whatsoever, just your opinion, the melodies of Sun King and Albatross (both of which I have loved since 1969) are completely different...completely.

If you had made some attempt to prove what your saying I would have some respect for you, but you havent, youve just made scurrilous remarks about John Lennon, Id feel exactly the same if you'd said it about Paul or George.
As for what you say about Moonlight Sonata, that is purely laughable mate, according to your theory there would be no more new songs ever as all chord permutations have been used already and there are none left, I can name you at least 6 famous songs with the chords C -Am - F - G, in the verses, so theyre all copied and are plagiarised ?

your last two posts are laughable, and put simply they are Crap (with a capitol C)

I strongly suggest you learn more about harmony & melody before posting defamatory diatribes about a subject, and immensely talented and famous people like John Lennon........and if you must do it, be prepared to prove your case with facts.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on August 11, 2012, 02:44:49 PM
So, you havent answered my question and pointed out the parts of the melodies of Sun king and Albatross that are the same, I can tell you why you havent, because there arent any, this is just some crap youve read in a trashy book no doubt, but really mate, you have come on a Beatle fan forum and said that 4 of Johns songs on imo THE greatest album ever made (in not just my opinion but endless pro's opinions) are sh*tty rip offs , and yet you cant show me the parts of the melody that John stole ????

Are you for f***ing real ?

You dont think its a question of debate ??? how ridiculous, I have a degree in music appreciation, I am a musician of 40 years standing, I know many pro musicians, so I have some qualification to speak about music, and I have asked you to show me the parts that John plagiarised, and you brush over it and say, its not worth debating ??

and to top it off a personal insult......I'M one of THOSE people who comes across rather shrill ??

Ok mate heres the deal, the Beatles are my gods, my heroes, they were Beethovens of the 60's....you can tell me all day long that you dont like them or their music and I will accept that as music is subjective, you can tell me that the Beatles are sh*t, I will accept that that is your opinion,  but if you come on here (a great Beatles forum) and tell me that John plagiarised 4 songs on Abbey Road you'd better be able to f***ing well prove it, and thats just it, you cant, you have offered no proof whatsoever, just your opinion, the melodies of Sun King and Albatross (both of which I have loved since 1969) are completely different...completely.

If you had made some attempt to prove what your saying I would have some respect for you, but you havent, youve just made scurrilous remarks about John Lennon, Id feel exactly the same if you'd said it about Paul or George.
As for what you say about Moonlight Sonata, that is purely laughable mate, according to your theory there would be no more new songs ever as all chord permutations have been used already and there are none left, I can name you at least 6 famous songs with the chords C -Am - F - G, in the verses, so theyre all copied and are plagiarised ?

your last two posts are laughable, and put simply they are Crap (with a capitol C)

I strongly suggest you learn more about harmony & melody before posting defamatory diatribes about a subject, and immensely talented and famous people like John Lennon........and if you must do it, be prepared to prove your case with facts.
Well! I really think your blowing this out of propotion. I joined this forum because I love the Beatles. If you look at the vast majority of my posts about the band and their post-Beatles career you'll see how much I love them. As to calling them 'sh*tty' I haven't said those songs were 'sh*tty' on the contrary go back and look at my post yesterday I was telling the poster who did call them 'sh*tty' that that was a bit strong i then just happened to mention what I've thought for a few years about 4 of Johns songs on Abbery rd and I stand by that. Like I said I'm far from the only person to think those things about those songs so maybe you aught to calm down a bit and get some perspective. Of all The Beatles fans I've ever come across who react badly to negative things I say about them no one has been so over-the-top as you. Fair enough you worship them... I don't. I love lots of things about them and their art and I 'have issues' with some of things about them. Deal with it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 11, 2012, 09:14:15 PM
Albatross

Fleetwood Mac Albatross (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ombnqWR3eA#)
Fleetwood Mac   1969



The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una fantasia", op. 27, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata (FULL) - Piano Sonata No. 14 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU#)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 11, 2012, 11:32:31 PM
Well! I really think your blowing this out of propotion. I joined this forum because I love the Beatles. If you look at the vast majority of my posts about the band and their post-Beatles career you'll see how much I love them. As to calling them 'sh*tty' I haven't said those songs were 'sh*tty' on the contrary go back and look at my post yesterday I was telling the poster who did call them 'sh*tty' that that was a bit strong i then just happened to mention what I've thought for a few years about 4 of Johns songs on Abbery rd and I stand by that. Like I said I'm far from the only person to think those things about those songs so maybe you aught to calm down a bit and get some perspective. Of all The Beatles fans I've ever come across who react badly to negative things I say about them no one has been so over-the-top as you. Fair enough you worship them... I don't. I love lots of things about them and their art and I 'have issues' with some of things about them. Deal with it.

You come on a Beatles fan forum accuse John of blatantly cheating on 4 songs on one album (without proving it) and you tell me to deal with it, whats your next trick ? tell me my Mother was a whore and ask me to deal with that haha

I ask you again, show me the melodic notes or words in Sun King that are the same as the melodic notes, (phrasing and intervals) on Albatross..........the song Because has a lovely ORIGINAL melody, show me (again the above) on Moonlight where that melody is stolen

What Im asking you to do is not rocket science, we all know the same notes on She's So Fine are duplicated by George (maybe not intentionally) on My Sweet Lord so show me the bits that John copied ?

No my friend, I wont 'deal with it'

What you are going around saying 'as fact' completely undermines John as a credible artist, its not like your saying something trivial that's just 'your opinion'...............also I cant get over the fact that you think Im blowing this out of proportion, these are huge accusations your stating here and you are saying these things without the knowledge or in any way being able to substantiate your accusations, thats what I cant deal with, if your going to put huge and outrageous claims forward on this magnificent site as fact, then prove what you are saying is true. If you cant, then dont say them, or if you do, expect you claims to annoy the crap out of people.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 11, 2012, 11:52:12 PM
(http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/10172/smiley-face-popcorn.gif)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: stevie on August 12, 2012, 12:03:41 AM
 Albatross!


Do you get wafers with it then?
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: blmeanie on August 12, 2012, 12:06:41 AM
([url]http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/10172/smiley-face-popcorn.gif[/url])


of all message boards/forums I've ever been on, that is my favorite smiley, didn't realize it was here
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 12, 2012, 12:08:55 AM
I like this one Todd  ha2ha








(http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/fat-cat-with-popcorn.jpg)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 12, 2012, 01:14:11 AM
of all message boards/forums I've ever been on, that is my favorite smiley, didn't realize it was here

I had to search for it.  ha2ha
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 12, 2012, 01:19:58 AM
I like this one Todd  ha2ha


Thats a good one. There's tons, but this is one of my faves.

(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/048/2/d/joker_eatin_popcorn_by_capnectoplasm-d39sa07.gif)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on August 12, 2012, 01:26:25 AM
As a matter of fact, just accept that mine is the best or i'll send Denise after you.

(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n131/Nicnever/00%20D/Denise%20Richards/DeniseRichards-WildThings014.gif)
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on August 12, 2012, 01:40:13 AM
Sorry, Todd.  Yours is not the best.


Now send over Denise!!    ;D   
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 12, 2012, 02:32:56 AM
I like this one Todd  ha2ha


that feckin cats face cracks me up







([url]http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/fat-cat-with-popcorn.jpg[/url])
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Toejam on August 12, 2012, 09:50:55 AM
You come on a Beatles fan forum accuse John of blatantly cheating on 4 songs on one album (without proving it) and you tell me to deal with it, whats your next trick ? tell me my Mother was a whore and ask me to deal with that haha


I think that just says it all about just how overly worked up you are about this. If you can't just talke about something as trivial as to wheter or not John Lennon borrowed a few ideas for his songs  without flipping your lid then I'll leave you to it.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: nimrod on August 12, 2012, 10:10:07 AM
I think that just says it all about just how overly worked up you are about this. If you can't just talke about something as trivial as to wheter or not John Lennon borrowed a few ideas for his songs  without flipping your lid then I'll leave you to it.

Trivial ??? plagiarism = trivial ??

what planet are you on ?

still waiting for you to prove what you claim btw about John nicking songs

but somehow I get the feeling your not going too (or not able too), now why doesnt that surprise me ?

anyway Ive said all Im going to say on this, I will leave you too your weird beliefs that Sun King has the same melody as Albatross and that Because has the same melody as Beethovens Moonlight sonata and I will shake my head in disbelief that you call yourself a Beatles fan while at the same time you p*ss on John Lennons memory, reputation & grave. (figuratively speaking of course)

Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on January 27, 2013, 12:24:37 AM
I always wondered whether fans in 1969 realised it was really The End for The Beatles.

We had no idea that it was the end for The Beatles in the Fall of 1969.  We were too busy looking for clues!  ;)

But seriously, there was very little in the way of news regarding The Beatles in those days.  It was just what we read in newspapers or the news we got over radio and TV.  We were happy with the release of Abbey Road and thought it was another in their series of albums over six years.  We looked forward to their next album in 1970.  We started to hear about rifts in the Spring of 1970.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Bobber on January 27, 2013, 09:47:16 AM
We had no idea that it was the end for The Beatles in the Fall of 1969.  We were too busy looking for clues!  ;)

But seriously, there was very little in the way of news regarding The Beatles in those days.  It was just what we read in newspapers or the news we got over radio and TV.  We were happy with the release of Abbey Road and thought it was another in their series of albums over six years.  We looked forward to their next album in 1970.  We started to hear about rifts in the Spring of 1970.

Those wonderful days when the internet was science fiction.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Dcazz on January 27, 2013, 01:39:08 PM
We had no idea that it was the end for The Beatles in the Fall of 1969.  We were too busy looking for clues!  ;)

But seriously, there was very little in the way of news regarding The Beatles in those days.  It was just what we read in newspapers or the news we got over radio and TV.  We were happy with the release of Abbey Road and thought it was another in their series of albums over six years.  We looked forward to their next album in 1970.  We started to hear about rifts in the Spring of 1970.
I gree! We had no idea. We would get media stuff on John and Yoko's antics and Paul is Dead broke wide open in the fall of 69 and Let It Be was to be released whenever, so it just seemed they would keep on going.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on March 01, 2013, 04:53:53 AM
(http://i43.tinypic.com/14toqjc.jpg)



 ;)





Paul McCartney - Too Many People - She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (Live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_J9YgZEZko#ws)


Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Dcazz on March 02, 2013, 04:56:40 PM
([url]http://i43.tinypic.com/14toqjc.jpg[/url])I hope she washes her feet before she mucks uo the carpet! : )



 ;)





Paul McCartney - Too Many People - She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (Live) ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_J9YgZEZko#ws[/url])
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Dcazz on March 02, 2013, 04:58:21 PM
As a matter of fact, just accept that mine is the best or i'll send Denise after you.

([url]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n131/Nicnever/00%20D/Denise%20Richards/DeniseRichards-WildThings014.gif[/url])
Poor Charlie - I think!
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: tkitna on March 05, 2013, 02:10:01 AM
Poor Charlie - I think!

Thats what i'm thinking too.
Title: Re: Beatles under a microscope - Abbey Road
Post by: Hello Goodbye on June 04, 2014, 04:30:04 AM
My second fave album after Revolver but is the best sounding of all the boys albums.

YNGMYM is also one of my favorite Beatle songs, along with Something.

I'm puzzled about Her Majesty, TK? Its common knowledge that an engineer who was told to get rid of the master for it, tacked it on at the end!!
It was originally slotted in between PP and SCITTBW - that sloppy guitar chord is the final strum of PP.


When Paul heard the final mix, he left on the end, so as The End wouldn't sound as too much of a 'pompous' statement? Something like that anyway.

OH, and re The End solo? I think in 'Revolution In The Head by Ian McDonald, it details the order of the solo. Actually, its in Geoff Emerick's excellent book, 'Here, There and Everywhere'>


I think Her Majesty was originally supposed to be in between Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam.  The chord heard just prior to Her Majesty is the final strum of Mean Mr. Mustard...


Mean Mr Mustard/Her Majesty/Polythene Pam Beatles Abbey Road (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okNu5g1ZcbY#)


Reconstructing the original Abbey Road Medley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpDrOPvfTWE#ws)