On September 26, 1969, “Apple Records” label released “Abbey Road” the eleventh Beatles (The) studio album. It was recorded February 22 – August 20, 1969, at “EMI Studios”, “Olympic Studios” and “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album recording sessions were the last in which all four Beatles participated. Although “Let It Be” was the final Beatles album before the band’s dissolution in April 1970, most of the album had been recorded before the “Abbey Road” sessions began. The album cover was designed by “Apple Records” creative director Kosh, and It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover. The cover has become one of the most famous and imitated images in the history of recorded music. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Abbey Road” at number 14 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified Diamond in Argentina by “CAPIF”; 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 5 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; 2 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 12 x Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and rhythm guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; white noise generator and sound effects; percussion
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; sound effects; wind chimes, handclaps and percussion
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; Hammond organ, harmonium and Moog synthesizer; handclaps, percussion
- Ringo Starr– lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion
- George Martin– piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium; percussion, mixing
- Billy Preston– Hammond organ
- Mal Evans– “anvil”
- Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and George Harrison
- “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight” and “The End” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney
- Mike Vickers – Moog programming
- Geoff Emerick – recording, mixing
- Phil McDonald – recording, mixing
- Alan Parsons – engineer assistant
- George Martin – mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.
- Come Together
- Something – George Harrison
- Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
- Oh! Darling
- Octopus’s Garden – Ringo Starr
- I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison
- Because
- You Never Give Me Your Money
- Sun King
- Mean Mr. Mustard
- Polythene Pam
- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
- Golden Slumbers
- Carry That Weight
- The End
- Her Majesty