Abbey Road (50th Anniversary) [VINYL]

Abbey Road, the iconic masterpiece from The Beatles, has been etched into the annals of music history since its original release in 1969. Now, half a century later, the 50th Anniversary Edition on vinyl breathes new life into this timeless classic, delivering an unparalleled sonic experience that transcends the boundaries of time. From the moment the needle touches the grooves of the vinyl, it's evident that this edition has been crafted with meticulous care. The warmth and richness of the analog sound transport the listener to the hallowed grounds of Abbey Road Studios, where the Fab Four once walked in musical unison. The vinyl medium, with its inherent warmth and depth, adds an extra layer of authenticity to the experience, capturing the true essence of the recording era. What sets this anniversary edition apart is the meticulous remastering process undertaken by Giles Martin, son of the legendary George Martin, who was the original producer of Abbey Road. Giles' commitment to preserving the integrity of the original recordings while enhancing the overall audio fidelity is nothing short of remarkable. The result is a sonic tapestry that reveals nuances and subtleties previously unheard, allowing listeners to rediscover the album with fresh ears. The packaging itself is a work of art, paying homage to the iconic cover art while incorporating new elements that commemorate the album's enduring legacy. The attention to detail extends beyond the sound quality, with the vinyl housed in a sturdy, high-quality sleeve that ensures the physical embodiment of Abbey Road matches the sonic excellence within. Abbey Road's 50th Anniversary Edition on vinyl is not merely a reissue; it's a celebration of musical brilliance and cultural significance. Whether you're a seasoned Beatles aficionado or a newcomer exploring the magic of Abbey Road for the first time, this edition serves as a gateway to an era when music was crafted with passion, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to artistry. In conclusion, Abbey Road's 50th Anniversary Edition on vinyl is a must-have for any serious collector or music enthusiast. It not only pays homage to one of the greatest albums of all time but elevates the listening experience to new heights, reminding us all why The Beatles continue to be an enduring force in the realm of popular music.

I can't pretend to be impartial about Abbey Road. It remains my favourite album of all time, even though a convincing case can be made that, from an objective point of view, there are indeed better albums. Nevertheless, it's a widely held view (which I share) that Abbey Road is the best album by the greatest band in the history of popular music. As such, it deserves a place in any music collection, even if only for its historic significance. Musically, I firmly believe that it stands up today every bit as strongly as it ever did, not least because it introduced George Harrison's classic ballad, "Something", a song which has been covered innumerable times, including by artists as diverse as James Brown, Shirley Bassey, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Joe Cocker, Smokey Robinson, and Frank Sinatra (twice!) Then there's "Here Comes The Sun", again by George, which apparently is the Beatles song which gets streamed more than any other. John Lennon's "Because" is a lesser known masterpiece which displays the stunning beauty of the Beatles' harmony vocals at their very best. "Come Together" is a magnificent example of inspired, imaginatively arranged, immaculately executed ensemble playing. And yet, all of these triumphs are merely the prologue to the legendary "Long One", a superb medley of various song fragments which somehow feel like a unified, cohesive composition of almost symphonic proportions, climaxing with brief solo features by all four Fabs before resolving with the Beatles' very own karmic epitaph - "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." I feel that no band ever ended their album career on a higher note. Abbey Road was a glorious way for The Beatles to bow out while they were still at the very top. It deserves six stars out of five!

Fantastic cd. Beatles at their very best

My favorite thing about Abbey Road has always been its sound--I've never considered the album one of the Beatles' very best, but have always considered it their "sonic masterpiece". I've listened a few times now, and the single most impressive remastered track to my ears is "Here Comes the Sun": the Moog is fascinating. The clarity of the Moog allows the details of its sounds to gives it a presence that I don't think could ever have been appreciated before. Rather than just being a backing instrument, the thoughtful deliberation in how the Moog was played and its sounds were crafted give it a centrality to "Abbey Road"'s sound. The Beatles didn't rely on the Moog to be trendy or as spectacle as most not bands had the tendency to do. Not only does the Moog make this contribution to "Here Comes the Sun", but it becomes a sort of leitmotif that continues through the following tracks. The backing vocals on "Here Comes the Sun" and across the album are among the Beatles' best and the clarity is incredible. I have always considered Ringo one of the best rock drummers, and the remasters similarly provide clarity to the drums that makes Ringo's precision and creativity more pronounced than ever. I wonder if McCartney provided some direction to the remastering? The bass sounds too heavy on the tracks published on YouTube; on the disc itself, the sound is much more balanced. The remaster has a nice little flourish on "Her Majesty", as the vocals slowly pan from right to left. I could well be wrong, but I can't imagine Giles Martin could take liberties that wide (pun intended!) without approval from McCartney. Bonus tracks are worth listening to, but maybe not as exciting as those from the "White Album" session; definitely not as much as the best outtakes from the "Let It Be" sessions that were leading up to "Abbey Road". I'm already looking forward to hearing what Apple will do with the "Let It Be" album and sessions. I dig it!

Got this for my girlfriend for her birthday, and she loved it! She said it was amazing and obviously worked I presume, so if you want to get someone special a gift and you know they like The Beatles, Get this! I was honestly about to keep it for myself 😂

A classic Beatles LP. Arrived 4 days early. Not as good as Pepper or Let It Be, but nearly. You could tell their hearts weren't in it, but at least they gave it a try.

This is a sympathetic and sensitive remaster. The changes over the 1987 remaster are subtle. The recording is clearer with better overall instrument definition and dynamic range. The bass dominance in the 1987 version has been addressed. The differences between this and the 2009 remaster are far more subtle. Again this remaster is a little clearer yet some of the warmth has been sacrificed. The 2009 master is closer to the original vinyl recording. Is this better than the 2009 remaster, probably not, it is different, clearer but colder. The 2009 remaster is more rounded being clearer than the 1987 version but with more range and warmth. These remasters are not as transformational as the “LOVE” recordings but that approach might have been too much of a departure from the original for many fans. For my part the original vinyl is still the definitive version. From a musical and sound quality approach this release was probably not worth the money. However I am not a collector of every release of an album. If there is a significant improvement in the sound quality then I tend to be happy. For me the 2009 CD remaster was adequate. Disc 1 I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile. • Clarity – ok, good dynamic range, better than the 1987 version • Channel separation - good • Channel balance – better definition than original versions. Dynamic mix retaining the feeling of the original recording. The instruments are more evenly “spread” than the 1987 re master • Sound Stage – is more detailed than the 1987 remaster. Reasonable sound stage but still limited • Distortion – non audible • Compression – far less limited than the 1987 remaster. Slightly louder with more dynamic range and detail. • Atmosphere – reasonable far less muddy than the 1987 remaster. Not the most atmospheric recording but better in that it feels more energised as a result of the enhanced clarity • Bass – low frequencies – more controlled less “boomy” but less of the bass guitar is revealed. The drums are tighter but still not over dominant. • Treble – high frequencies – the guitars and piano have a more realistic and “personal” sound which is more open • Vocals – very clearly front and and centre of the recording. Not significantly different than the 1987 remaster, just a bit cleaner. Disc 2 – extra versions These early versions may be of interest to collectors showing the evolution of the original release. Most significantly they illustrate how the recording process gradually erodes the sound quality as the layers are added and the final track built. The dynamic range is greater. The instruments and sounds are much clearer. The vocals in particular feel as if a light has been shone on them, lifting a veil. For me the additional tracks were interesting but not a real reason to buy this recording. As a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse. Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

ARRIVED ON TIME AND IN EXELENT CONDITION

La Super De Luxe ha una confezione molto pratica, un bel cartonato della dimensione di un classico 33 dove è inserito perfettamente il Libro vero e proprio, che ha 4 piccoli scomparti dove sono custoditi i preziosi CD. I primi due sono del disco rimasterizzato e la versione blue-ray. Gli altri due contengono le demo di inedite prove in studio- Belle le foto interne dove, oltre a quelle celebri sulle strisce pedonali, ci sono diverse inedite fatte da Linda Mc Cartney. Ben curate le sezioni, con le varie introduzioni (inizia sempre Paul) le track by track, anche una sezione dedicata alla celebre copertina …and in the End… Purtroppo mancano i simpatici gadget che erano presenti nei due boxoni precedenti, mi aspettavo qualche poster, ecc. E’ una pecca, dato che il boxone proprio non te lo regalano. Ma veniamo all’audio. Ho tralasciato il CD audio e ho sentito direttamente tutto l’Album remixato del Blu-ray, con dts-hd master audio: uno spettacolo per le orecchie, è impressionante, l’ho sentito con un piccolo home theatre eppure sembra di stare in una sala di registrazione! Perfetto! Bravo Gilles! Ovviamente, tutti i brani ne hanno beneficiato ma mi ha colpito molto l’incredibile purezza della stupenda “Here comes the sun”, il magnetismo delle chitarre e dei suoni in quel capolavoro -primo pezzo heavy della storia- che è “I want you”. La batteria di Ringo in “The End” sembra nuova, mai sentita così. Le pareti quasi tremono quando parte “Come together”. Nel remix, in generale i bassi ne hanno enormemente beneficiato. Track studio demo Mi sono piaciute tutte le versioni acustiche dei brani di George (qui all’apice della sua creatività), l’arpeggio magico di John in Because (peccato che non hanno inserito nessuna versione “a cappella” di questo masterpiece come nell’Anthology), la sorprendente melodia di Paul di “Come and get it”, un altro brano che ci poteva stare alla grande dentro il disco, la bellezza degli arrangiamenti sinfonici di George Martin nelle celebri track come "Something" e "Golden slumbers-Carry that weight" che portano al celeberrimo finale di "The End". Ovviamente, “The long one” è la chicca che forse più emozionerà i fan. In sintesi, il boxone della confezione Super De Luxe è caro ma merita, ma soprattutto merita il disco “Abbey Road”, il magnifico canto del cigno di una grande storia, un disco leggendario, tra i più belli della storia della musica, un disco praticamente... perfetto! PS Eccellente come al solito la consegna di Amazon,

This album was released before "Let It Be," but produced after it. As such, it is the last music the Beatles ever created, and a fitting capstone to their incomparable career. As with my other album reviews I will rate each song on a scale of 5 stars, with 5 representing a classic or timeless piece, 4 a great song, 3 a craftsman-like work, 2 a pedestrian affair, and 1 a throw away. Come Together -- 5 stars - This is one of John Lennon's great nonsense lyrics, but what raises it to the heights is the presentation, a sound that is instantly recognizable and unlike any other song you have ever heard. Thus, it is ironic that Lennon was accused of plagiarizing a Chuck Berry song. The truth is that he borrowed one phrase as homage to Berry (here comes old flat top), and nothing more. The rest is original and unique. The execution of the song, from McCartney's bass to Ringo's drums, shows the power of the Beatles' ensemble to produce work that was greater than the sum of their individual contributions. Something -- 5 stars - After trashing the Beatles in their early days Frank Sinatra later came to nominate this piece as his favorite love song. Sadly, he credited it to Lennon and McCartney when it is actually a Harrison composition. It is probably the best song on the album - a work of elegance, passion, and captivating musicality. It will live forever. Maxwell's Silver Hammer -- 4 stars - This is one of Paul's "cartoon" songs. It seduces you to smile and sing along with its bizarrely cheerful dark humor, and thus wins 4 stars in spite of its meager ambitions. Oh! Darling -- 4 stars - McCartney bares his heart by scorching his throat with a passionate, guttural performance. As usual you will want to sing along, but try to compete with Paul and you may pay a visit to the throat doctor. Octopus's Garden -- 4 stars - Another "cartoon" song, this one written by Ringo. Yes, it's silly and slight, but I dare you not to sing along (and that's my mark of a 4 star song). I Want You (She's So Heavy) -- 4 stars - The subtitle says it all - this song has a very heavy ambiance. Lennon displays his gift for combining simple components to create a work that lingers in the mind much longer than you expect. Here Comes the Sun -- 5 stars - This is another Harrison work and another song that will live forever. It matches tone to theme as well as any song you will ever hear. It is a work of simple genius. Are you feeling down? Then play this song and feel your mood lift like the rising sun. Because -- 4 stars - As I understand it John Lennon heard Yoko Ono play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata backwards and John made this song out of it. It is, quite simply, beautiful. You Never Give Me Your Money -- 4 stars - This would be a minor work except for its semi-biographical echoes of the Beatles' rise and fall. Because of this it has a special poignancy to it. And once again, it will compel you to sing along. "The Final Medley": Sun King, Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam, She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End -- 5 stars - These seven songlets represent the last stretch of music on the last record the Beatles ever produced. They are joined together in a seamless whole, a mini pop opera, and so I have titled the group "The Final Medley" and treat them as one composition. Taken together they are, to re-use a phrase, greater than the sum of their parts. In fact, though I hesitate to admit it, I enjoy listening to these songlets more than anything else the Beatles ever did. And so I rate them 5 stars as a group. The details . . . "Sun King" provides a nice, slow intro. "Mean Mr. Mustard" is an edgy but humorous Lennon character study. "Polythene Pam" is Lennon again. It is a hard driving piece that seems to anticipate both heavy metal and punk. It is also the one piece here that cries out for a longer treatment. "She Came in Through The Bathroom Window" is McCartney. It is probably the slightest component here and foreshadows Pauls' work with Wings, but it fits and adds to the whole. "Golden Slumbers" is Paul again. It is heartbreakingly beautiful. "Carry That Weight" is a rousing chorus of the entire group, and seems to speak of the burden that attaches to the blessing of being a Beatle (you're going to carry that weight for a long time boys, and so they did, and do, and will - those who still live). The End is the end and contains the verse "and in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make." It is a fitting conclusion for a group that made so much love through their music that they earned the love of the whole world. Her Majesty -- ??? stars - it is characteristic of the Beatles that they could not leave off without adding a humorous note, and this irreverent fragment of a love song to the English Queen starts playing after you think the record has finished. The Beatles were not only great composers and musicians, they were also very funny. And so we have 4 five-star songs out of 10, joined by 6 four-star songs. This is truly one of the greatest albums ever made.

Nice!

I bought it as a gift and it came out to be the best thing ever. Really good quality and a very uniqe present for those who like the beatles.