Abbey Road, the album resulting from the final recordings between all four members of the Beatles, became an instant hit when it was released 50 years ago today.
At the time, in late September 1969, all four were in their 20s – George Harrison was 26, Paul McCartney was 27, John Lennon was 28 and Ringo Starr was the oldest at 29.
Named after the Westminster venue where their 11th studio album was recorded, the record begins with Come Together and closes side one with I Want You (Shes So Heavy), which was written by Lennon about his relationship with Yoko Ono, who he had married earlier that year.
The studio is particularly famous because its surroundings provide the lead cover art for the album, showing the Beatles on a zebra crossing outside the studios on Abbey Road just before the record was released.
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Fans of the Beatles, as well as other iconic bands such as Pink Floyd, often retread their heroes steps by visiting the studios. So where can you find them and what is the story of Abbey Road? Read on…
Where is Abbey Road and can I visit it?
Abbey Road Studios were established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, which became EMI – one of the largest record companies in the world prior to its breakup in 2012.
The buildings had been completed a century beforehand and were originally residential, first accommodating a nine-bedroom Georgian townhouse and, later, flats.
Abbey Road took off as a studio from about 1936, welcoming the likes of American jazz great Fats Waller to a site which was deceptively large thanks to the garden space reclaimed at the back during building work.
More than 20 years later, the unlikely figure of Cliff Richard was one of the first pop musicians to record there with his band The Drifters.
They used Studio Two, which is where the Beatles made most of their singles and albums during a dazzling, prolific run of recordings between 1962 and 1970.
More recently, stars such as Kanye West and Kylie Minogue have made the pilgrimage to Abbey Road for special performances, partly recognising the special place the space has in musical history.
Is the crossing on the cover of Abbey Road by the Beatles still there?
Fans are encouraged to visit Abbey Road, which is near St Johns Wood Underground station on the Jubilee line.
The zebra crossing where the Beatles once posed is a few minutes walk from the station, and a webcam on the studios website means your friends and family can watch you crossing the famous path live.
The studios are a little down the road on the left, and visitors can write on a graffiti wall, visit the shop or relax on nearby St Johns Wood High Street.
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A programme of special events such as lectures, tours and open days also takes place at the studios.
What is the tracklist of Abbey Road by the Beatles?
As well as opener Come Together and Lennons ode to Yoko, Abbey Road features a string of instantly recognisable tracks on an album widely observed by critics to be one of the most important ever released.
Lead guitarist George Harrisons Something, which reached number four on the UK charts, is second on the list, followed by two tracks Read More – Source
