I was listening to a band the other day for the first time – can’t recall who – thinking ‘I quite like this lot’. But after about the fifth or sixth track, I realised I was listening to a repeat of the first track. Good, competent, but blinkered and without breadth. Which is absolutely what you do not get from listening to Abbey Road. Some called it experimental. Well, it’s certainly a word you could use but how about talented, varied, boundary pushing. You would find it hard to explain ‘Maxwell’ alongside ‘Come Together’ or indeed anything else.
I remember doing a paper round for a few years back in the 70’s and listening to ‘Here comes the sun’ on a crappy old cassette player I used to lug around with me, especially as the nights were dark and cold and occasionally snow bound. It was the most beautiful song to listen to on those cold lonely journeys. If ever a step was quickened, it was through St Denys Close in South Killingholme as this song was played at full blast.
And that’s what The Beatles gives you. Memories, an appreciation of greatness and a sadness that Lennon died when he did.
