Review: Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition

Just received the Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition today, so here are my thoughts after a first listen. I purchased the box set, because of the book and especially the two bonus cd’s. I am not really a ‘bootleg guy’, therefore most of the bonus tracks are completely new to me. 

So, curious after what the bonus cd’s might bring, I begin with them. And the first one really starts fantastic with a fierce version of I Want You (She’s So Heavy), recorded at Trident Studios, before the band returned to Abbey Road. The feel of this early version is quite different than the one we know from the album. It’s sure more powerful, with some amazing playing by Billy Preston o organ. This addition really is one of the highlights.
The second track on the first bonus disk is the home demo of Goodbye, solo by Paul. It’s a big contrast to the former track, but that is one of the many reasons I like The Beatles so much, this diversity. 




Also a highlight is the studio demo of Something. It’s, I think, only George on guitar and Paul on piano and that gives the song a more relaxed, dreamy mood. Another stripped version of a song is The Ballad of John And Yoko, with just John, singing and on guitar and Paul on drums. A bit of an unusual combination, only vocals, guitar and drums, but it makes that Paul’s drumming is dominant in this edit which gives a nice insight.
Old Brown Shoe is one of the Beatles songs which is a bit over-looked. At least, by me. But it’s a great track and really deserve more attention, so I do like this addition with the full band playing, featuring great bass lines by Paul. The alternative take of Oh! Darling is one with different vocals. It sounds like Paul is still looking for the right way to sing the track; here it’s more playful, less powerful.

The second bonus cd starts with Come Together, which mainly feature different vocals, followed by a version of The End without the guitar solo, but with an surprising ending. Also Paul’s demo of the Badfinger hit single Come And Get It is included. Paul, the one-man-band, plays all the instruments and the sound reminds me more to his later solo work than a track by The Beatles.
Other highlights are Sun King (what a great sound!), Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (especially the bridge between the two tracks) and Because, of which we now also have an instrumental version (after the vocals only version on Anthology 3).




And then there is The Long One, a 16 minutes long trial edit of the Abbey Road-medley. With slightly different harmonies, different piano during Carry That Weight, no guitar solo yet in an instrumental The End and Her Majesty still in between Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene Pam; which proved it was a good choice to cut that one out. It’s fun to listen to these alternate takes; because it makes you realize how well you know these songs: every little change is noticed. 

This release is the third in a row of the 50th anniversary editions, which started with Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band more than two years ago. Of those three, this is the smallest box set when you compare it with any extras like posters and other goodies that were included in the previous two editions. But the bonus tracks really are a good addition and also the book looks great, with introductions by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin and an extensive background information of all songs. And maybe most important of all, the sound is fab!

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André Homan

André Homan is a Dutch writer and journalist.

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