I think I'd go with Rubber Soul or Revolver because the songwriting is sharper. Abbey Road owes more to professionalism than inspiration, I think, although the medley of song fragments on side two is a great example of what experience and professionalism can do for you.
But i think a lot of successful albums that have come after Abbey Road have followed it's loser structure ?What i mean by this is the flow of the album , it's not full of 3 minute songs .It's bigger and bolder , and for me points the way to how albums would develop in the following years after it's release .(smile)
I hear this looser structure a lot Geoff in the music i listen to from the Verve to Coldplay .
That's certainly true. Both those bands have put out some good stuff, so maybe it's just my boredom with mid seventies stadium rock that gets in the way. Also agree with your point about Abbey Road pointing the way to the future.
Abbey Road is the Jewel in The Beatles Crown ?
I'll say yes, but I'm also biased because "Abbey Road" is my favorite Beatles album. But I also think we can't ignore "Sgt. Pepper."
Penny Lane, I like what you posted, but even more to the point, I LOVE your moving picture avatar of Paul screaming (Shea?). His screams are one of the things I like the most about the Beatles, trivial as that sounds as I type it. Clarabella, Lucille, Long Tall Sally, Kansas City, the scream leading into the guitar solo of "Can't Buy Me Love", I'm Down (is that what he's singing in your Avatar?), even the electric version of Revolution (though it seems to be double tracked, so it's not quite as impressive, perhaps) - his screams make those some of my favorite recordings in the world!
abbey road has some very bright highlights, but some downs as well.