Yeah, it was tough, so I simply separated and/or combined tracks based on whether there was an actual break in the music (even a small one) or if one song naturally bled into the other. Of course, this happens a couple of times in Sgt Peppers, but (except for the Reprise), every track pretty much can stand on its own, while a few of these are genuinely crippled out of context. I’m glad at least one Medley segment is performing near the top of the response pile.
Abbey Road was one of the first three albums I ever bought, and it really is otherworldy in quality; picking one song as the best is hard as hell. I could have gone with Come Together, Something or I Want You (she’s so heavy), but finally settled on Oh! Darling as something of an underdog.
Just have to mention that while I love the song, I still crack up every time when the Golden Slumbers transitions from a gentle lullaby to a pounding orchestra and Paul practically screaming the lyrics.
I can’t help it: I think of this album as one long song.
Also, I believe it’s the greatest album ever recorded.
When I was a McWorker, back when I was in high school, I would always choose the Beatles-heavy music track tape to play when I was working in Playland. Because it included Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Don’t know why anyone thought it was a children’s song, but no one ever complained.
That said, Here Comes the Sun. It restores my faith in life when I need it to.
When this album came out, my then-bf was always singing “Something.” I have lots of great memories of that year, so have always loved that song. And I think, even if I could bypass the personal connection, I’d still vote for “Something.”
It is really between Come Together, and side two considered as a unitary whole.
Side one is not unified at all though, and the last three tracks there are quite dispensable.
I’m so very, very torn.
I love “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”–it’s such a happy, jolly melody…about a serial killer.
I love “Come Together”-of all the faux '50’s hard-rocker songs John ever did, for me, this is the only one that was flawless–most of the others try too hard. But I can easily imagine say, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, or even Buddy Holly belting it out.
“Here Comes The Sun” is probably George’s best song ever.
And in the end I went for “Here Comes The Sun” but so far for me, this was the toughest choice yet.
By the way–I’m sure most of you guys have seen this, but this is a really cool flash video of Come Together.
I love that whole second side, from the scratchy needle drop intro to the clean acoustic picking start of “Here comes the sun”, to the surprise “Her Majesty” with the last note silenced.