Is there any area in which The Beatles don’t stand head and shoulders above their peers? It occurs to me as I look at the iconic image to the right that this is only the band’s second-most famous album cover.
Abbey Road is an odd and wonderful album. Most of the second half is dedicated to a seven-song medley introducing such characters as Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam before launching into the anthemy singalong of ‘Carry That Weight’ and culminating in the symbolic finish of ‘The End,’ in which each Beatle trades off a solo on guitar or drums before capping off the album, and their career, with the profoundly simple phrase: ‘And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.’
As strong as that second side is, it would be silly to pluck out a single song so I’m turning my attention to side one. There you find the classic ‘Come Together’ as well as two of George’s finest compositions, ‘Something’ and ‘Here Comes the Sun.’
But I’ve chosen to highlight a song that doesn’t get much attention — Paul’s scorching blues number ‘Oh! Darling.’ Paul spent a week trying to get the vocal just right… he wanted it to sound like his voice was on the verge of giving out and he definitely accomplished that. I used to sing along with this one in high school, jumping on my bed and belting out the chorus.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the second Beatles week. It seems like all the artists I count among my personal favorites owe some debt to The Beatles, and revisiting their catalog this week it’s more apparent than ever why this is truly the greatest band in popular music history.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’ve very much enjoyed the Beatles weeks. Abbey Road may well be my 2nd or 3rd favorite album after Rubber Soul and maybe Revolver. And, while I understand that it may have been hard to isolate a song from side 2, I count some of those tunes amongst my favorites, including ‘She Came In Through the Bathroom Window” wonderfully covered, actually, by Joe Cocker, but more wonderful (of course) in the original. Before the medley begins, however, you get “Here Comes the Sun” and “Because”–so for my money, this might make side 2 one of the greatest Beatles experiences ever. “Here Comes the Sun” sits among my top 10 Beatles songs of all time, and “Because” is wonderful as well.
Side 1, unfortunately, allowed Ringo to have a song with “Octopus’s Garden”–cute, but one of the lesser Beatles songs to me. Also suffering on side one is Maxwell’s Silver Hammer–not a great moment for Paul. I like “Oh Darling” well enough, but to me the side 1 standouts have to be “Come Together” and “Something.”
a great week of Beatle music! I’m sorry I missed your performance jumping up and down on the bed belting out this song.
Don’t be sorry. It was rather frightening.
I can’t get over Paul’s voice in this song. My throat hurts just listening to it. I so admire their endless desire to experiment not only in the writing of their songs but in the performance and the recording of them. Not only were they some of the most talented musicians of all time, they were probably among the most courageous.
I have loved learning more of the back stories behind these songs and albums. I love that the film Across the Universe has caused yet another generation of kids to discover the Beatles (though Maddie is none too pleased 🙂 This music will endlessly find new fans.