ABBEY ROAD..It was 50 years ago today [almost]

[hampsteadclaret]

That photo on the cover of the Abbey Road album [the Beatles on the zebra crossing] was taken 50 years ago [August 8th 1969].

'The cover was designed by Apple Records creative director Kosh. It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover, which was Kosh's idea, despite EMI claiming the record would not sell without this information. He later explained that "we didn't need to write the band's name on the cover ... They were the most famous band in the world".


The front cover design, a photograph of the group on a zebra crossing, was based on ideas sketched by McCartney, and taken on 8 August 1969 outside EMI Studios in Abbey Road. At 11:35 that morning, photographer Iain Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo whilst he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up traffic behind the camera. Macmillan took six photographs, which McCartney later examined with a magnifying glass before deciding which of the shots would be used upon the album sleeve.

In the image selected by McCartney, the group walk across the street in single file from left to right, with Lennon leading, followed by Starr, McCartney, and Harrison. McCartney is barefoot and out of step with the other members. Apart from Harrison, the group are wearing suits designed by Tommy Nutter. To the left of the picture, parked next to the zebra crossing, is a white Volkswagen Beetle which belonged to one of the people living in the block of flats across from the recording studio. After the album was released, the number plate (LMW 281F) was stolen repeatedly from the car. In 1986, the car was sold at auction for £2,530 and in 2001 was on display in a museum in Germany. In 2004, news sources published a claim made by retired American salesman Paul Cole (7 July 1911 – 13 February 2008),[92] that he was the man standing on the pavement to the right of the picture. On the original cover, McCartney holds a cigarette; in 2003 several US poster companies airbrushed this cigarette out of the image, without permission from either Apple or McCartney.

* Tons more online for those who like pop/rock music trivia [like me]

The image of the Beatles on the Abbey Road crossing has become one of the most famous and imitated in recording history.

The crossing is a popular destination for Beatles fans and a webcam, provided by EarthCam, has operated there since 2011. In December 2010, the crossing was given grade II listed status for its "cultural and historical importance"; the Abbey Road studios themselves had been given similar status earlier in the year.' [WIKI]

https://today.duke.edu/2019/08/it-was-5 ... day-almost" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


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[mdd2]

Brilliant Hampstead- and what an album that was-did you keep a ten bob note up your nose in those days?

[hampsteadclaret]

Abbey Road was the Beatles eleventh and last studio album, [released September 1969] and the recording sessions for the album were the last in which all four Beatles participated.

Some music from that fab album..Golden slumbers, Carry that weight, and The End.

Wings at the Albert Hall, with Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins..conducted by George Martin.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjKtfvKJSuk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stalbansclaret]

I had no idea about this anniversary but coincidentally I drove over the very same crossing this morning due to a work appointment in St Johns Wood. This was about 9.45am and there must have been 40 or 50 people standing around taking photographs and taking turns to pose on the crossing. I was impressed with how popular it seemingly remains as a tourist go-to spot but possibly some, at least, of those present knew about the anniversary.

[Grimsdale]

The side two medley - vocals only: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKN81vdhY-g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just emphasises what a brilliant singer McCartney was and how good the harmonies were.

[Masham Ale]

Booker T & the MGs copied it a few months later for their album McLemore Avenue

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[Corky]

Funny how words pop out at you. On the left of the Booker T photo it reads Soulville USA and I have just been listening to the Soulville LP by The Ben Webster Quintet. I love LP designs a real art form in themselves.

[hampsteadclaret]

4..hello stalbansclaret

I used to work just up the road just up the road from Abbey Road studios, went by that zebra crossing quite often on my way home - during daylight hours it is very often busy with people taking photos,.. that's people from all over the world. Local residents are remarkably tolerant of delays to traffic while groups of tourists walk over the crossing taking piccies...an iconic landmark all right.

Sky News doing a little feature on this in a few minutes.

[Jel]

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[Bosscat]

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The Blue one should have no tyres on its wheels if its supposed to be Paul McC

[Quicknick]

I'm probably the only person on here that hates the Beatles.

[Devils_Advocate]

Love the Beatles but thought the last two studio albums weren't that great.

Thought they tipped the self indulgence over great songs balance on the White Album which would have made a great single album but as a 30 track album had a lot of nonsense and then lost the edge to their music thereon after

[Dyched]

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Billboard in the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles.

The guy in the picture took Paul when he was 16. Still has today.

[LeadBelly]

Like all Beatles albums, very good and different enough from the others.
Only my 3rd favourite after Sgt Pepper & Rubber Soul.
I still have "a Beatles day" most years when I just reacquaint myself with all their stuff. There are quite a lot of artists where I have 1 or 2 favourite albums that I revisit yearly (or so) but only 5 or 6 that I go through a whole chunk of their output. (Led Zep, Joni Mitchell, Dylan for 3).

[FactualFrank]

A quiz question I've seen a few times regarding this and it's which one was walking across in bare feet - Paul McCartney.

[Dyched]

Love the Beatles but thought the last two studio albums weren't that great.

Thought they tipped the self indulgence over great songs balance on the White Album which would have made a great single album but as a 30 track album had a lot of nonsense and then lost the edge to their music thereon after

I’m a pretty big Beatles fan. But tbh half their material is crap. Like most 60’s bands.

[Devils_Advocate]

I’m a pretty big Beatles fan. But tbh half their material is crap. Like most 60’s bands.

Disagree with you here but each to their own. For me there's barely a bad track from Hard Days Night to Pepper and a lot more good than bad on the first 3 albums

Just tailed off at the end for me

[MrTopTier]

[Stevie2112]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx34ZJtiwss" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
An American take on what we heard earlier,starts at about 5-12 i think

[Billy Balfour]

Apparently the photo of Paul, being barefooted. started rumours that he had been killed in a car accident and the person in the photo was a body double and represented a corpse. John Lennon, in white, represented god, Starr was the priest and George represented a gravedigger.

Just goes to show that you don't need the internet for silly conspiracy theories.