# Best of the Beatles: Abbey Road **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315 "2014-04-04T03:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/1 "2014-04-04T03:13:14Z")
So, _Abbey Road_ coming right after [_Yellow Submarine_](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=719358) came as a bit of a surprise to me - I don’t know about you, but I always thought of _Let It Be_ as being “earlier” than _Abbey Road_. To be honest, most songs on _Let It Be_ were recorded prior to these, but as I’ve been using the official release dates for this whole series, I’ll stick with them. But forget about all that - it’s _Abbey Road_! Crosswalks! Hammer themed murders! Octopi in underwater gardens! Mean old men with condiments for last names! From the iconic cover to the revolutionary contents, _Abbey Road_ is perhaps the most well known Beatles album. Funnily enough, critics at the time weren’t overwhelmed - many of them disliked the prominent use of synthesizers in the album, saying it was electronic. Despite this, it is now considered a major milestone in the development of modern music, and still holds the title for the Beatles’ bestselling album. After much deliberating, I have decided to be evil about the poll options. No “B-side medley” - much too easy! “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Polythene Pam,” “You Never Give Me Your Money,” and other members of the 16 minute medley will stand solo. Fun fact about the album: Well, due to the increasingly tense band relations, there aren’t many “fun” facts, but there certainly are facts. Although the dysfunctionality had peaked with _The White Album_, there was still plenty of if in _Abbey Road_. At its core, what tore the Beatles apart was the same thing that made them great: the vastly different personalities (and egos) in the group, especially those of the increasingly disinterested, drifting Lennon and the perfectionist McCartney. The Beatles were on their last legs in terms of being a cohesive group, but they still managed to produce one of the most influential albums of all time. Let’s vote! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/2 "2014-04-04T03:19:14Z")
I don’t care what else is on the album. The winner is “Something.” ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/3 "2014-04-04T03:19:32Z")
It’s too hard to choose! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/4 "2014-04-04T03:43:36Z")
I love the songs on this album almost without exception. But “Golden Slumbers,” for which I voted, is the only song about which I always think, “Jeez, if only it could be much, _much_ longer.” An achingly beautiful song. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/5 "2014-04-04T03:56:21Z")
Everything on _Abbey Road_ shines, and I agree with **EH** that “Golden Slumbers” should be a lot longer than it is. But if I had to pick one song to vote for, it would be “Here Comes the Sun.” It is cheerful and optimistic, and the opening acoustic guitar makes it instantly recognizable. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/6 "2014-04-04T03:56:37Z")
Since this poll only includes recordings on the actual album and I can’t vote for Joe Cocker’s versions of _She Came In Through the Bathroom Window_ and _Come Together_, I’ll vote for that horrid _Mean Mr Mustard._ The guy is horrid, not the song. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/7 "2014-04-04T07:44:32Z")
As a single, coherent song it has to be “Come Together”, but really, all of side two after “Here Comes the Sun” should probably be regarded as one long, composite song, composed of fragments (as are “A Day in the Life” or “Happiness is a Warm Gun”). As such, is the best song on the album. Each of its component parts, though, is too slight to stand up on their own (although “You Never Give Me Your Money”, which itself consists of fragments, comes close). ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/8 "2014-04-04T07:51:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t care what else is on the album. The winner is “Something.” If the closing medley was one thing, I’d have voted for that. But Something is really special. Even Sinatra loved and peformed it! ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/9 "2014-04-04T07:57:59Z")
I know the winner’s going to be Something or Come Together, but I can’t _not_ vote for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Don’t get me wrong, CT and Something are great songs - everything on the disk is great - but MSH is just _fun_. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/10 "2014-04-04T08:15:29Z")
I’m surprised I’m the first to vote for “The End.” What a beautiful (lyrically and musically) way to conclude the Side B medley, and to conclude the album\*, and (in one sense) conclude the Beatles. Innovative chord sequence that sounds perfectly natural, and beautifully produced sound. \*Yes, I’m aware that “Jermajesty” 😉 comes after. Good for the Beatles to poke a little fun at ther own sincere, message-y heaviness – something they’d done before with “Sgt. Pepper Inner Groove” (following “A Day in the Life”), the laughter at the end of “Within You Without You,” and “Maggie Mae” (which follows “Let It Be,” IIRC). ---
**Author:** ![Marks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@Marks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marks)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/11 "2014-04-04T11:53:06Z")
"You Never Give Me Your Money ". A pattern of The Real Thing activity. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/12 "2014-04-04T12:28:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I love the songs on this album almost without exception. But “Golden Slumbers,” for which I voted, is the only song about which I always think, “Jeez, if only it could be much, _much_ longer.” An achingly beautiful song. Mine is the second vote. Not sure what it is, but I’m almost in a trance listening to this one. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/13 "2014-04-04T13:04:36Z")
This was the first album I ever bought, and I never have to hear it again, as I’ve got every note memorized. So, let’s see. Can’t really vote for anything on the side 2 medley, although if there were a bit more to “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” I’d consider it, and there’s the great line in “One Sweet Dream”: “Soon we’ll be away from here, step on the gas and wipe that tear away”. “Come Together” is brilliant, and there’s still nothing else in the history of rock that sounds quite like it. “Something” is my all-time favorite George song. In the end, however, I’ve gone for “Oh! Darling”, in which Paul channels Fats Domino to (IMO) great effect. I’m a little surprised to see I’m the first and only to nominate that one. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/14 "2014-04-04T13:12:05Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > “Come Together” is brilliant, and there’s still nothing else in the history of rock that sounds quite like it. Chuck Berry’s publisher begs to differ. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/15 "2014-04-04T13:21:45Z")
I’m not sure I can vote at all on this one. This album is just about perfect in every way and by far my favourite Beatles’ album. “Golden Slumbers” is fantastic, but so is “You Never Give Me Your Money,” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” and “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Because,” and even “Sun King.” I need to contemplate. ETA: Here Comes the Sun wins. More ETA: After a long cold lonely winter, hearing this song on the radio almost brings tears to my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/16 "2014-04-04T16:19:11Z")
**Here Comes the Sun** is a musical miracle in miniature. Harrison’s other song is Something special, too. It’ll be interesting to see the vote tallies between these two vs. everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/17 "2014-04-04T16:39:51Z")
So much indispensable music here, but I went with **Golden Slumbers**. The vocals and superb, and it’s just a breath of clarity and calm after the few tracks that come before. Every time I listen to this album, and the first piano chords of **Slumbers** hit, a weight lifts from my shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/18 "2014-04-04T16:43:46Z")
I can see why, in you long quest to rate Beatles tracks, you decided to list each track as a separate choice. (But you missed the inner groove for Sgt. Pepper.) Playing by your rules, I picked “You never give me your money”. But I disagree. The Medley hangs together as one work. It is too easy a choice because most people would pick it. It is easily the pinnacle of modern pop music. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/19 "2014-04-04T16:50:24Z")
“You Never Give Me Your Money”. It’s the one song from the medley that works as a stand-alone track (doesn’t transition directly into the next song like the others do), and has the widest emotional breadth, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315/20 "2014-04-04T17:34:47Z")
The _Mean Mr. Mustard …The End_ medley is the only way for me to describe my “favorite song” on AR. Lacking that option, I voted for _The End_. The drum solo and rotating guitar solos give us the Fabs going out the way they came in: as a four-piece guitar/drums rock band who sound like they’re having a ball. Ignoring the non-sequential release date for the Let It Be album, of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-beatles-abbey-road/685315.md?page=2)