Every year there’s a rock station here that plays it on the first glorious day of spring. Wonderful. Still, I voted here for “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End.” The first part of it is so beautifully lyrical and winsome that it almost brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. My only criticism is that it’s too short.
It’s very hard for me not to vote for “Something” because IMO it’s one of the five best love songs in rock & roll history. Also very hard not to vote for “Oh Darling” for Paul’s vocals and the sheer fun of the song. Really hard not to go with “Come Together” because of an argument with my father in 1973 upon hearing the single on the car radio while driving to a golf tournament (Dad said “in 15 years nobody’ll be listening to this crap!”).
But even though the medley’s broken up into chunks in the poll (if left alone it would’ve been the clear winner, even in a multi-album poll), I went with “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End.” Just because every freaking note is transcribed in deep grooves within my brain cicuitry.
Chose Something. But honestly, I could gush about the whole damn album and nearly did. Just insert “I can’t get enough of Abbey Road” here. Breaks my heart that they were so amazing on this album. What they could have done together in the 70’s with this kind of material (if they could have gotten past their differences) blows my mind.
Yes, yes, me, too.
My reasoning is identical, with the added little bonus of me being very fond of Richie Havens’ cover ;).
This one is rich in candidates – the level of quality is even more remarkable when considering that although not the last released, it was the last recorded Beatles album (Let It Be was assembled after-the-fact from the “Get Back” project, to go with the release of the documentary, and both were still stalled when AR came out). As Voyager put it, a sort of one final letting go of the pretense – perhaps just knowing that the end WAS at hand for this ride, so let’s end it strong.
My pick: Something. There’s, well, something in that track that does it to me, what can I say?
Must agree with the earlier post that had all of the Side 2 Suite been listed as a continuous whole it would have probably had to get my vote (A Day In The Life on steroids); BUT at the same time I can see the logic in breaking it up into “movements” as it were – after all, the album was released with** every **track identified as a distinct “song”, but it would have been unfair to put a 1:06 passage(*) to compete against a whole Here Comes the Sun or Come Together, and having nearly half the album compete as a single unit would be piling it on, so it’s a compromise I can live with.
(*While recognizing they released quite a few major songs that barely passed the 2 minute mark!)
(And while we’re here: special mention for *Maxwell’s Silver Hammer *for use of black humor over a happy bubbly tune that’s an absolute earworm…)
The Medley is the best thing ever recorded to vinyl. It’s so beautiful and complex, no missteps, no weak links. It’s not just a pinnacle for the Beatles, it’a a pinnacle for rock music.
I love I Want You (She’s So Heavy). As John said, when you’re drowning, you just shout for help. There’s real longing in his voice, and the final half is so hypnotic but not tedious.
Since I can’t vote for the whole medley, I’m going to go with Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End.
Hah! Me too; it’s a great song to karaoke, though depending on how much I’ve had to drink and/or been talking, the bridge is often iffy for me, but I freakin’ go for it!
It was hard for me to decide between Something, and Golden Slumbers. As WordMan and others said, Something is a great love song, and IMHO Harrison’s best song with the Beatles. But, there’s something amazing about Golden Slumbers; the vocals on it are the clincher.
Nah, I couldn’t do it. This is my all-time favorite album by anyone.
The only song on Abbey Road that I do not consider a masterpiece (and I’m not including Her Majesty) is Octopus’s Garden.
As tempted as I was to vote for my song (well, medley), I couldn’t not give the nod to Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. What an absolutely perfect hunk of music.
…and I will sing a lull-a-by-y…
mmm
Come Together. No, Something. Wait, …Because, You Never Give Me Your Money, Oh! Darling, I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun.
I. Just. Can’t. :smack:
This one defeated me, ArchiveGuy.
Side Two
For me it is included and Her Majesty is half included because it is a perfect coda to all the nonsense.
Had to listen to it twice today. Damn Paul was a wonderful bassist.
‘The End’ is my favourite so I voted for that part of the medley.
“Here Comes the Sun” is my favorite Beatles song ever, so it wins out over others greats songs on the album.
It was a hard decision between the two most beautiful George songs, but then I played the guitar solo from “Something” in my head, and my vote went for it.
IIRC even Frank Sinatra, who on the whole was no fan of the Beatles, said “Something” was a perfect love song.
The best ever by Lennon and McCartney - I tried to work that into an earlier post, but let it lie…but yeah, Frank didn’t realize it was George’s toon.
I like Here Comes The Sun
And of all of Harrison’s solos with the Beatles, this one is the finest, IMHO.
I shall blaspheme and say I never really liked “Here Comes the Sun”
I voted for The End but would have more happily voted for the entire medley.