MoeFOHs Album Of The Week... Week #4

[MoeFOH]

MoeFOH's Album of the Week 🎶

Same as the movie thread, each week we're going to spotlight an album... be it a classic, new release, hidden gem, or outright turd... and open it for discussion: i.e. post up your favourite tracks, clips, lyrics, experiences if you saw live, etc... or dive deeper and give us a critique on why you think it's great, overrated, or a complete train wreck... And finally score it for us...  

All contributors go into a monthly prize draw for a 3-cigar sampler! 

PM me with suggestions if there's an album you want to nominate for next week's discussion. 

 

Week #4: Abbey Road

The eleventh studio album for The Beatles, that iconic album cover... no doubt it is a masterpiece, in my mind, and likely most fans view it the same way, so there is probably more debate about where it ranks in The Beatles discography than anything else...

Agree / Disagree?

Thoughts, memories, experiences, favourite tracks...? 

Post em up!

Score it out of 10!

[MoeFOH]

 

[JohnS]

In hindsight, it's viewed differently to how it was received when released in October/November 1969 (depending on what side of the Atlantic you resided in). At that time, reception by critics was mixed because they didn't know what to make of the new sounds, especially the electronic sounds generated by the analog Moog keyboard on tracks such as Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Because, Here Comes the Sun and I Want You (She's So Heavy). It was also not known as a stop-gap measure when Get Back (later re-named Let it Be) didn't come out, it was just the next major album to come out after the self-titled double album, The Beatles (also known as The White Album) the year before in late 1968.

Now it's seen as one of the very best albums of The Beatles entire career and I concur (It's easily a 10 out of 10 album). In hindsight, I now think it was great that they 'went out on top' with this final album that they recorded. (N.B. Let it Be was released the following year but recorded earlier)

[Chas.Alpha]

I was just about to post where @JohnS and I stand on this. My review to come later... 😀

[Corylax18]

I don't get it. This album, any beatles album, the band itself. They invented Bubble Gum Pop, not music itself. "The Monkies" had the Moog Synthesizer on one of their albums YEARS before the beetles. Plenty of other musicians did as well. These guys weren't the first, last or even close to the best to use it, so again, why all the hype?

I'd rate this album the same as any of their others a 2, maybe 3 out of 10 if you're really stoned. Perfectly pleasant on the first listen through, fine on the second, but the 3rd through 5 millionth times would fall under "grating" in my opinion. 

This is coming from someone who has heard their entire discography, from start to finish, countless times over. My Dad has rare beetles albums that have made grown men shed a tear (I've seen it), multiple copies of every album they produced, rare, ultra limited pressings, etc. etc. etc. 

I just don't get it. My parents had generally great taste in Music, I still listen to countless bands they turned me on to; Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Hendrix, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, Clapton as a solo artist, Clapton with a Beetle, more than I can remember right now. All great, all bands I still listen too today. Music that I think has aged like a fine wine. To me, the beetles music ages like double cream on a hot, sunny day. 

[bassistheplace]

Genius on display

10/10

Another Beatles album that is one of the greatest pieces of art in popular music ever created

[mtd057]

10/10 for me. 

 

One of my all-time favorite albums from one of my favorite bands.  My father was a big Beatles fan, and I grew up listening to their music.  I could listen to this album every day!

[Chucko8]

I’ve always enjoyed the song Here Comes the Sun. Used to enjoy taking out the Beatles vinyl records of my parents when I was a kid and be amazed by the art work. This led me to playing and enjoying the music on them also

[Chibearsv]

I enjoy a Beatles song here and there and I appreciate their place in history but they’re too light for me.  

[Ford2112]

It's a brilliant album. The Medley alone is good enough to put it high on the list. Then you have Here Comes the Sun,Something,and Come Together? 10/10. Great vibe,and I always get chills when they break into Sun King. It may be my favorite Beatles album,with Revolver maybe a close second. The Original vinyl pressing I have is a prized posession!

4 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

I enjoy a Beatles song here and there and I appreciate their place in history but they’re too light for me.  

Try Napalm Death "SCUM"

[Chibearsv]

Just now, Ford2112 said:

Try Napalm Death "SCUM"

Right after I finish listening to P.F. Echoes 😎

[Chibearsv]

9 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

Try Napalm Death "SCUM"

Ok, that certainly isn’t light but I think I need a shower now. Which I’m sure is the point. 🤣

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, Chibearsv said:

I enjoy a Beatles song here and there and I appreciate their place in history but they’re too light for me.  

😡

[helix]

My fave Beatles album . Still a 10 . 

[Connoisseur Kim]

It's one of my fav Beatles album and it deserves to be 10 out 10. Something, Here Comes the Sun, and Maxwell's Silver Hammer are my fav songs of this Beatles album.

[Edicion]

Lining up for the album cover. 

[Meklown]

During uni if I took a bus home it would pass by that crossing. Always made for a nice fun fact for visitors 🙂

[SmokyFontaine]

As someone who is trying to learn guitar, the chord progressions, the combination of instruments, the vocals. Absolute musical genius. George Harrison was one of the most interesting people of the last hundred years. 

I didn't come to appreciate the Beatles for all they were until quite recently. Brilliant. 

[Chibearsv]

8 hours ago, Chas.Alpha said:

😡

I know, I know

[Puros Y Vino]

10/10 for me.  Thanks to my older brother who is 10 years my senior, The Beatles were the first "rock" band I was exposed to.  I was maybe 7/8 when I first played the albums in the mid 70's.   Our old furniture style record player had two genres of music in it's shelves.  Italian records and Beatles records.   I really enjoyed how they progressed musically over the years and experimented.  Their early years don't appeal to me as much even though I appreciate the songs for what they are.

[joeypots]

   Of course, I loved everything Beatles for most of my life. A friend lent me the super double extra deluxe re issue of Sergeant Peppers a few years ago and most of it just didn't float my boat. I'm not going to say the work doesn't hold up. My taste has changed. Here it comes.... most of McCartney's stuff, later Beatles and solo, grates on my nerves. A lot of it comes down to the fact that a lot of the Beatles stuff just isn't rock and roll. That's OK, it's just not for me anymore. I like down and dirty R&R and blues. Looking at the songs and the writing on Wikipedia about Abbey Road I see that the Beatles included Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus's Garden while Harrison had All Things Must Pass pretty much done. It's a pity they wouldn't give George more than two songs. 

  So Abbey Road? Of course it's genius innovation and that parts I like I like a lot. The true test for me is if I wanted to listen to it recently and I have not. 

[Tdm_86]

As a child I never was exposed much to The Beatles, my parents played more stuff like The Doors, Neil Young, Joplin etc. My exposure to Beatles music came much later, in my teens. By friends who did grow up listening to The Beatles. I always did like their music, but never really loved it. 
Abbey Road is, in my opinion, one of their better works. Still, if I were to rate it, I would rate it 7/10. I can take it or leave it, you’ll not hear me complain when someone puts it on, but it’s been a long time since I’ve played the album myself. 

[jhalischuk]

18 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I don't get it. This album, any beatles album, the band itself. They invented Bubble Gum Pop, not music itself. "The Monkies" had the Moog Synthesizer on one of their albums YEARS before the beetles. Plenty of other musicians did as well. These guys weren't the first, last or even close to the best to use it, so again, why all the hype?

I'd rate this album the same as any of their others a 2, maybe 3 out of 10 if you're really stoned. Perfectly pleasant on the first listen through, fine on the second, but the 3rd through 5 millionth times would fall under "grating" in my opinion. 

This is coming from someone who has heard their entire discography, from start to finish, countless times over. My Dad has rare beetles albums that have made grown men shed a tear (I've seen it), multiple copies of every album they produced, rare, ultra limited pressings, etc. etc. etc. 

I just don't get it. My parents had generally great taste in Music, I still listen to countless bands they turned me on to; Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Hendrix, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, Clapton as a solo artist, Clapton with a Beetle, more than I can remember right now. All great, all bands I still listen too today. Music that I think has aged like a fine wine. To me, the beetles music ages like double cream on a hot, sunny day.

I've never really gotten the Beatles either. If I had to rate Abbey road I'd still give it a 5/10 , if I'm taking into account how many musicians it inspired, I'd rate it much higher. 

I do think they changed a lot about pop music, that they're probably the most influential band ever, and I love the music of many musicians who cite them as huge influences, with this album being at the forefront. I just don't think the music is very good lol. 

[Akela3rd]

I grew up listening to my dad's Beatles vinyls (ten years after he bought them), loved Revolver and destroyed his copy of it through needle wear. Abbey Road to my mind is an album of single tracks not a coherent whole, half of which are awful, but full of gems.
On a side note the last band I saw before the UK locked down in March 2020 was Napalm Death and last month they were my first gig in two years - nice way to bookend the strangeness. Incredible live band.

Sent by spooky action at a distance

[Chas.Alpha]

The album kicks off with Come Together. A classic 1-4-5 from John. Paul warned him about using Chuck Berry’s “Her come old flat top...” line. Sure enough, Berry’s publisher sued and won. Flat top was a style of haircut popular in the US during the 50’s and earlier ‘60’s also know as the Crew Cut, a NAVY standard for enlisted men. Typically, if you kept it after your service or made your kids get them, you could be considered a staunch conservative. Something John wasn’t.

Moving to the second track, George brings in Something. Frank Sinatra covered it and called it the best love song ever written. That’s all that needs to be said, with a special mention for Paul’s bass lines.

#3: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer: A Paul lark. Written during the Let it Be/Get Back sessions. Mal Evans finally gets on a Beatle record!!!

#4: Oh Darlin’: Paul going back to the R&B roots that was the Beatles. I figure that the lads had resigned themselves that this was now Paul’s band, as John didn’t seem all that interested and Paul knew they were in the best group in history. 
 

#5: Octopus’s Garden: I didn’t know that Ringo brought this one in, until I saw the recently released Michael Lindsey Hogg film. Yes friends, that is how the music you hear comes to life. I bring in a bit, George my guitar player comes in and it fleshes it out. Happy song!

#6: I Want You/She’s So Heavy: Another 1-4-5ish from John, his obsession with Yoko is on full display, A rock band jamming, Paul’s bass line leading the charge out. Billy Preston is now officially the 5th Beatle.

#7: Here Comes The Sun: John, Paul and George had a tongue and cheek joke between themselves about who could do what with a classic D fingering on a guitar. John had Norwegian Wood, Paul took took the contest and turned it into For No One and I’ve Just Seen A Face, as near as I can tell and another George song was put on the shelf. Glad he finally got some record space!

#8: Because: My understanding, John was listing to Yoko playing Beethoven from sheet music and asked her to play it backwards. Crazy is as crazy does...

#9: Your Never Give Me Your Money: This where Abbey Road begins to become not just great, but classic. Paul is conspicuously playing lead guitar. I don’t hear George in it at all, I may be wrong...

#10: Sun King: A John lark. Beatle harmony at it’s best. 
#11: Mean Mister Mustard: Getting back to the days of Sgt. Pepper when they would just write a bit and George Martin would piece it all together. For most of us, it seldom works out. For The Beatles, it worked every time!

#12: Polythene Pam: Another John Jam that G. Martin was able to smash together.

#13: She Came in to the Bathroom Window: An almost finished song from Paul, but deadlines are deadlines... 

#14: Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight: This is the moment when this album becomes a classic. Paul showing what made The Beatles great. Life somehow makes sense again. I don’t know if Carry That Weight was brought in by Ringo, but Paul is playing lead guitar at this point. After Ringo’s classic drum solo, the guitar leads alternate from George, Paul and John, in case you were curios...

Post script: Her Majesty: No idea what that is, but it sure sounds like something Paul would do 😂

@JohnS Please feel free to correct as needed 😬

9.98 on the Rickenbacker scale