Abbey Road

Abbey Road

Photography

This is the cover of the famous Beatles album Abbey Road. This street crossing is directly in front of The Beatles' main recording studio in London. From their photo shoot, this image was the only one where all of the musicians were stepping at the same time. This cover photo is the first of their album covers to exclude both the group and album name. By the time this photo was taken, everyone knew The Beatles, so the photo didn't have to advertise them; it didn't need to be a large dramatic experience. The photo plays on the simplicity and appeal to the everyday through its understated action. The musicians are in relatively normal clothing rather than extensive costuming and there is no set, rather just a normal street in London. There is minimal staging in this photo and that plays into the appeal of the band as a young rock group that anyone could listen to and love. The band had very little production that went into the album cover, especially compared to the more complex covers like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band, Yellow Submarine, and Magical Mystery Tour. In this photo, the band is simply crossing a street. Paul McCartney is smoking a cigarette and isn't even wearing shoes. This album marked a major upswing in the Band's trajectory, following interpersonal turmoil two albums prior; though this was their last album to be recorded. This photo also reflects a simplicity of the music in the album. The songs in Abbey Road are some of the most famous Beatles songs, but also contain a more grassroots quality as they don't have as many perplexing stories as in Rubber Soul nor as many instrumental effects.

Lauren Sims

thebeatles.com/album/abbey-road

thebeatles.com

9/26/69

Photography

Album Cover