 | Solid State: The Story of @quot;Abbey Road@quot; and the End of the Beatles Subjects: Beatles; Beatles. Abbey Road; Rock music -- 1961–1970 -- History and criticism; Rock musicians -- England; Sound recordings -- Production and direction -- England; Music writer Womack (The Beatles Encyclopedia) delivers a fascinating, in-depth look at the creation of Abbey Road, the Beatles' penultimate album released 50 years ago. The record received mixed reviews upon its release, and Womack observes that critics generally agreed that the album "sounded different" from the band's previous work. He astutely argues that the adoption of a series of new technologies at the EMI Abbey Road recording studio, where the band had recorded its previous albums--most notably a new solid state eight-track mixing desk--lent the music "brighter tonalities and a deeper low-end that distinguished Abbey Road " from the band's earlier works. In enthusiastic descriptions, Womack then breaks down the album song by song, showing how "Come Together" and "Something" benefited from "superlative musicianship, an innovative production team, and an evolving studio technology," and how the studio's new mixing deck allowed the band to capture exquisite three-part harmonies and effortless solo work on the fabled "suite" of songs that close the album. Womack displays a detailed and insightful analysis that fans will hope he applies to the band's other albums. (Oct.) Correction: An earlier version of this review twice mistakenly referred to the author using an incorrect last name. Kenneth Womack's previous books about the Beatles include Long and Winding Roads and The Beatles Encyclopedia. He is also the author of the acclaimed two-volume biography of Sir George Martin, Maximum Volume and Sound Pictures. Womack is Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University, where he also serves as Professor of English. Follow him on X @KennethAWomack and visit kennethwomack.com for more Beatles history and insight. |
