‘Abbey Road’ is a studio album next to the Beatles which was released in 1969. This album is quite important in the history of the Beatles. The reason this album is the last time four Beatles personnel participated.
In addition, this album cover photo is also very iconic. The Beatles’ personnel crossed the road and such style was widely imitated by people from various parts of the world. But there is an exciting story behind it. Here:
The front
The title
Before officially titled ‘Abbey Road’, the album was titled ‘Everest’. The name is taken from a cigarette brand. The cigarette pack has a picture of Mount Everest and the Beatles really like the picture.
The band was so eager to work on this album that they intend to fly to the foot of Mount Everest by private plane. But because of impatience, Paul McCartney instead suggested they go out of the studio and take photos there.
Photo time
The photo was taken on August 8, 1965 outside EMI Studio on Abbey Road at around 11:30 a.m. This photo was taken by a freelance photographer, Macmillan who is also a friend of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Macmillan was only given 10 minutes to take the photo. Until the police have to stop traffic for a while.
Photo Shoot!
This album cover photo was only taken six times. The personnel cross the street and Macmillan takes a picture. Of the six photos, Paul chose the fifth photo. Here are the photos:
Fashion
Except for Harrison, all Beatles personnel wear clothes designed by Tommy Nutter.
Funeral
There is a conspiracy theory that this picture represents Paul’s funeral. John Lennon’s white coat symbolizes the color of mourning in some Eastern religions, while Ringo Starr wears black. Even George Harrison wore denim which is the color of mourning in Canada
Cigarette
Paul McCartney is a left-handed man. But in the photo, he holds a cigarette in his right hand and is interpreted as a ‘coffin’.
Paul is different
In the previous two shoots, Paul was wearing sandals. But the rest he slipped off. Besides that Paul’s steps are different from other personnel.
VW Car License Plate
In the photo there is a white Volkswagen Beetle with “LMW 28IF” plate. And this resulted in several conspiracy theories. First, 28 if he doesn’t die in an accident Paul will be 28 years old. But actually Paul was 27 years old when the album was released.
In addition, there are also those who say that LMW stands for ‘Linda McCartney Weeps’, Paul’s new wife.
Car Theft
After the album was released, the VW car on the cover was repeatedly stolen.
And finally sold
The car was finally sold in 1986. The car was sold for £ 2,530. And in 2001, the car was exhibited at a museum in Germany.
Police Van
There was a black van belonging to the police that was caught in the cover. But this symbolizes the ‘silence’ of the police against the fatal misuse of Paul’s fenders.
Oasis uses a car with the same license plate as a police van
As a form of respect, the album ‘Be Here Now’ from Oasis featured a VW car with the same license plate as a police van, “SYD 724F”.
Accidental model extras
If you notice there is a man standing across the street. The man is Paul Cole. Accidentally he was at the location when he was on vacation in London. But he didn’t realize that there was a photo shoot. And Cole claimed that he had never listened to ‘Abbey Road’.
The audience
Across the street, it turns out there is someone watching the photo shoot. There are three people namely Alan Flanagan, Steve Millwood and Derek Seagrove. They were working, redecorating Abbey Road Studio and returning from lunch. But because there was a photo shoot they finally stopped briefly.
There is no band name and name
This album is the only album of The Beatles that does not include the name of the band and the title of their album. This is the idea of Kosh even though EMI had previously insisted on keeping it in order to sell. But in fact everyone knows the Beatles and the album is one of the most iconic albums.
Back
Blue Dress Woman
After photographing the Beatles across the street, Macmillan was looking for photos for the back of the cover. He went to the Alexandra Road intersection and photographed the sign. But unfortunately a flash of blue dress woman was caught on camera. Although many Beatles fans have questioned, this is the choice of personnel.
And in the accident that happened to Paul, it is estimated that Paul was driving a car with a fan named Rita. And the blue dress woman is thought to be Rita.
Connected point
At the back there are also three dots that are connected. Some people think it as a sign that the remaining three Beatles personnel.
Signs of the Beatles breaking up
On the back cover we see the name of the band written on the tile on the wall and there is a gap through it. Of all the symbols, this one turned out to be the most meaningful, and sad. Although the release of ‘Abbey Road’ was followed by plenty of evidence that Paul was still alive and well, what was not known to the public was that the Beatles had secretly disbanded. ‘Abbey Road’ will be the band’s last studio album, and the group will call it quitting a year later.
Abbey Road writings sold for £ 7,000 in 2012
Anne’s salesman lives in a flat opposite the Abbey Road sign and when he finds that the wall with the sign on it must be dismantled, he rescues the tile he can and his father attaches it again. Anne managed to save only four tiles A, B, E and Y. These tiles were sold to Andrew Lamberty for £ 7,000 in 2012.
Satoko 