Released on September 26, 1969, Abbey Road is not just one of the most well known albums by the Beatles, it is one of the most recognizable albums of all time. While it was released over 50 years ago, the album continues to reside with people of older generations as well as teens and kids from today. With its recognizable tracks like “Here Comes the Sun” and “Octopus’s Garden”. Abbey Road has proved that music can live forever.
Abbey Road is incredibly relevant today because of its influence on music that would precede it. Bands such as Radiohead and Oasis have been heavily influenced by the band and this specific album. This album helped to create a sound for rock music and this album continues to inspire artists today. Even people who don’t like rock music or the Beatles would recognize the classic cover of John, Paul, George and Ringo walking on the London crosswalk.
Musically, the most impressive part of the album is its variety. Each song on the album explores a different theme with a song like “Here Comes the Sun” exploring the theme of overcoming hard times and the song “Something” exploring the theme of love. This song is one of the main reasons why the album still concedes with teenagers today. With George Harrison meaningfully expressing how it feels to love somebody else, the song remains relevant as the feeling of being in a relationship is universal across generations.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the album is “The Long One” which is a medley that goes from the song “You Never Give Me Your Money” to “The End” with 9 songs in total. When interviewed, IHS social studies teacher Mr. Fata said that this part of the album was his favorite, citing “The End” as a standout track. He said, “The End is probably my favorite song on the album. It encompasses the Beatles at their peak. It was the only time that Ringo Starr did a drum solo and it was amazing… The three way guitar battle where it goes from John to Paul to George was absolutely amazing.” As this song was the last ever recorded track by the 4 members before they went their separate ways, it serves as a beautiful goodbye to the music world.
Ultimately, Abbey Road isn’t just a musical masterpiece, it is an album that lives on and will continue to inspire generations. With its emotional and seemingly timeless messages, it will bring people together for years to come. Whether it’s an adult who is reminiscing on their teenage years by listening to the album or a teenager who is just discovering the beatles, Abbey Road gives them something to appreciate and to connect with.
