Abbey Road, released on September 26, 1969, was the last album recorded by the Beatles, and although Let It Be hit the shelves in 1970, that album was recorded before Abbey Road. During their legendary career as a band, the Beatles recorded several albums which could be described as masterpieces, but in my opinion, Abbey Road tops the list.

Abbey Road presents the listener with a virtual audio montage of music that is as varied as anything the Beatles ever recorded. Many of the songs should be placed into context by the things that were happening with the band at the time the album was recorded. The legal battle that ultimated pitted Paul McCartney against John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr was beginning to get heated, the disruptive presence of Yoko Ono added to the dissension, and Lennon and McCartney were literally itching to get their solo careers started. When you consider all of the forces at work at this time, the musical continuity of the album and the warmth generated by this great band is really quite remarkable.

I don't need to tell you who the players are--they're easily the most recognizable musicians in rock n' roll history. The tracks on Abbey Road, and my impressions of each, are as follows:

1. Come Together--Lennon pinched a Chuck Berry guitar lick as the central riff in this song, and McCartney's bass playing, melodic and wandering, compliments it perfectly. The lyrics are typical Lennon gibberish, although there are some personal references--"He got Ono sideboard" is a clear allusion to Yoko, who by this time was always by his side. The tune is largely autobiographical, and contains the overt sexual message--"Come together, right now, over me".

2. Something--Without a doubt, George Harrison's greatest composition, and a really timeless classic. Harrison's singing style, as well as his songwriting skills have matured by this time, and his guitar solo is a study in taste, restraint and ingenuity--take it from another guitar player! McCartney's bass playing is melodic and almost becomes a lead instrument in and of itself. The vocal harmonies are gorgeous, and Ringo Starr's use of the tom-toms give the players a platform to work from.

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer--This Paul McCartney song is delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek. The "camp" level is high, intentionally so, and the tune is just good fun. It's the story of a serial killer whose weapon of choice is a hammer, and the story line goes from the murders to his apprehension and trial, with another murder or two thrown in for good measure. Songs like this were always McCartney's strength--telling a story in the context of a song.

4. Oh! Darling--Another Paul McCartney composition that really demonstrates his skills as a vocalist--he hasn't sung like this since he covered Little Richard's Long Tall Sally. His high range vocal gymnastics are amazing, and the way the band slowly builds to a crescendo in this song is a fine example of how well these fellows played together as an ensemble. This one is a little reminiscent of the early Beatles.

5. Octopus's Garden--I've always thought that this song was a pale rewrite of Yellow Submarine--I'm not that crazy about it, but it does have some appeal as a children's song, and Ringo's vocal delivery is as unaffected as his personality--straight-up, simple and unabashedly Ringo.

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)--As the title would indicate, this is really two songs spliced together. The block chord guitar solo parts indicate that Lennon played some lead guitar, and the jazzy, smooth guitar lines are probably George Harrison. Lennon's vocal stylings enhance his reputation as one of the great rock n' roll vocalists, and the electricity between the players is apparent, climaxing in the heavy, ponderous build-up at the end. I think that on the vinyl version of this album, this track concluded Side 1.

7. Here Comes The Sun--Another George Harrison composition that demonstrates his coming of age, both as a writer and a singer. It's an acoustic guitar-based nature song, with a little synthesizer thrown in for added effect. The melody is simple and rustic, and the vocal harmonies add a shimmer to the melody that makes it unforgettable. Richie Havens did a particularly effective cover of this song that featured the acoustic guitar also.

8. Because--A beautifully elegant song that features some of the most enthralling harmonies that the Beatles ever produced. A synthesizer forms the musical framework for those harmonies, and the rich texture of the voices are the perfect overlay. There's a version of this song on one of the Anthology albums that features just the voices--you should hear that to realize just how powerful these harmonies are.

9. You Never Give Me Your Money--This is the beginning of the remarkable medley that makes up the second half of this album. A touching piano plays an endearing melody, but the message is about the legal wrangling that the Beatles were experiencing at the time--"You never give me your money, you only give me your funny papers"--a clear allusion to those financial and business problems. The song has a ragtime bridge, and closes with a child-like recitation--"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven". This is really a complex song, with several distinct parts and musical themes which are revisited later in the medley.

10.Sun King--Another tune featuring rich harmonies and a sweet guitar lick that opens the song. The end part is different--the Beatles string together nonsense words in a parody of the melody of the song. They really say nothing, but do it with the most haunting harmonies you will ever hear. At the end, Ringo's drums lead into...

11. Mean Mr. Mustard--John Lennon's song about a misanthropic curmudgeon who pulls some pretty nasty stunts in public. The aim is humor, and the Beatles succeed, despite the heavy-handed piano and the lopsided drums that give the music a serious feel. Mr. Mustard's sister is named Pam, and......

12. Polythene Pam--John Lennon literally thrashes his acoustic guitar to provide the introduction. His vocals are delivered in a thick accent to make the song all the more English. George Harrison plays a smoking guitar solo, and as the song ends, it tumbles into...

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window--This is Paul McCartney's song, and he sings it perfectly, with just the right bluesy inflections. I'm not really sure what the song is about lyrically--it could be just a bit of Beatles psychedelia. Musically, McCartney uses the major key verse-minor key bridge to contrast the two parts, in effect making it two songs. The song ends abruptly, and next is...

14. Golden Slumbers--A pensive piano that revisits the chord structure of You Never Give Me Your Money starts this song, and Paul McCartney's voice is perfect for this lovely ballad. "Once there was a way to get back home" evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, and the good night lullaby--"Golden slumbers fill your eyes" makes us think of simpler times, perhaps when we were children. The strings later in the song add a lush effect that is overwhelming. The table is set perfectly for...

15. Carry That Weight--A strong dose of reality. This song is about the price of fame, one that the Beatles were well familiar with, and which led in part to their breakup. A sense of weariness is projected perfectly, and musically, many of the preceding melodies are revisited. Finally, we come to...

16. The End--Ironically, the Beatles end their career as a band in exactly the same way they began--playing good rock n' roll. This song demonstrates their love for the form, and the warmth generated by this great ensemble is palpable. John, Paul and George each take a turn with guitar solos, and the song winds down with those famous words--"And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make".

17. Her Majesty--Delivered with a wink and a nod, this tune is one that could be easily sung in the pubs in and around Liverpool--at about thirty seconds long, it tags the magnificence of the album with a true touch of Beatles roots.

Whew, that was long! There's a lot more that could be said about this music, but see for yourselves--get the album and give it a very close listen