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Abbey Road Artwork

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Best Album Cover of all time?

Abbey Road was the last album recorded by the Beatles before they split up (it also happens to be my personal favourite).
But I would like to explore another aspect of the album in this lens - the artwork.

So what's so interesting about the artwork then?

(Something in the way she woos me perhaps?)

Two things:

1) It's amazingly simple! Four guys crossing the road at a zebra crossing. It's this simplicity which makes it the most copied album of all time (more of that below).

2) There's an urban legend surrounding it - we'll turn to that next briefly, before continuing with the artwork.

Paul is Dead

(Well you know I nearly broke down and cried)

Paul is dead is an urban legend that surfaced in the latter half of 1969. It alleged that Paul McCartney died in November 1966 after storming out of a Sgt. Pepper recording session, getting into his Aston-Martin, subsequently crashing and dying.

Q: How does this relate to the Abbey Road cover?
A: It is supposed to represent the funeral procession:



Here is John Lennon, leading the funeral procession, dressed all in white like a clergyman.

Space

Ringo Starr is next in line in the procession, wearing a black suit. He represents the undertaker.

Space

Next comes Paul himself (or, as the urban legend has it, his replacement). Paul is barefoot. And did you notice that he out of step with the others?

Space

Last in line is George Harrison. He wears an all denim outfit and is supposed to represent the grave digger.

Space

Also take note of the VW Beetle on the left side of the street. The numberplate reads "LMW 28IF" - and is said to represent "Linda McCartney Weeps" and the fact that Paul would have been 28 - if he hadn't died...

Paul is....alive?

(Here comes old flat top - He come grooving up slowly)

Paul McCartney receives the Ultimate Legend Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards...
McCartney Is the Ultimate Legend
by AssociatedPress | video info

116 ratings | 33,068 views
curated content from YouTube

Books which further explore the "Paul is Dead" urban legend

(You never give me your money, You only give me your funny paper)

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Here Comes the Fan Art, here comes the fan art

(...and I say it's all right...)

In the many months that I have been researching this album, I've found dozens of examples of artwork referencing the Abbey Road album cover - paintings, drawings, photos, models and graphical design. The ingenuity of some of the pieces is incredible - a big thank you to all of the amazing fans out there.

If you want your own artwork featured, drop me a line in the guestbook at the bottom of this page (although if you're on Flickr or Deviantart, there's a good chance I've already made a note of your artwork and will add it here soon).

Conversely, if I've featured your work and you want it removed, drop me a line (I've done my best to accurately credit all work)


DeviantART Artists

Artist: taintedsilence



Artist: beast89



Artist: loony-lovegood07



Artist: pyrokineticsiren-san



Artist: Absynthe-Rose-1313



Artist: RanaTilion



Artist: BurntToad



Artist: Anne-eli



Artist: MatthewHunter



Artist: fockerbb



Artist: trixxy3



Artist: Reinout--D



Artist: maya-chan



Artist: e1n



Artist: *VGCScott



Artist: LadyMaraGrandchester



Artist: madangfan



Artist: amarillochick



Artist: MastroFaccina



Artist: throughglasseyes



Artist: John-Hamptonshire



Artist: DairyKing



Artist: xeclypsionx



Artist: CaptainQuirk



Artist: Danix54



Artist: professorfandango



Artist: Trey-Vore



Artist: BlightedKujo



Artist: zephyris



Artist: Inkmonkey-Woodis



Artist: TheControl



Artist: manfromnaret



Artist: cool-kid-wannabee



Artist: dougstewartdesign



Artist: joshmawdsley



Artist: Irish-Confetti



Artist: jac-of-hearts



Artist: wienerfarmer



Artist: yoyobaconbits



Artist: T0yas-w0rld



Artist: conining



Artist: yumitah



Artist: *monsteroftheid



Artist: RayneMaker1014



Artist: Kiyooka



Artist: psguy



Artist: redhotjohn21

Fan art continued.....Flickr users


Flickr Users

Photographer: Her Majesty1



Photographer: Kradlum



Photographer: tavallai



Photographer: sonicham



Photographer: mybuffo



Photographer: calumwl



Photographer: mickyates



Photographer: sreed99342



Photographer: oddsock



Photographer: thenari



Photographer: dunechaser



Photographer: Digger Digger Dogstar



Photographer: Glenn Karlsen



Photographer: Jucaru



Photographer: Daveinthedumps



Photographer: Jose Campoy

Artwork found on t'interweb

Random Art found on Interwebs


(Thanks to John Bishop, comments section)



























Famous covers of the artwork

(Boy, you're gonna carry that weight, carry that weight a long time)

Many acts have imitated the artwork - including Paul McCartney himself. Here they are, in no particular order:

1) The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "The Abbey Road E.P."



2) Paul McCartney's "Paul is Live"



3) The Rutles' "Shabby Road"



4) The Shadows' "Live at Abbey Road"



5) Booker T. & the M.G.s' "McLemore Avenue"



6) Kanye West's "Late Orchestration"



7) Kapanga's "Barbeque at Abbey Road" (thanks to agt pirrone, comments section)

Aston Martin Goodies

(Once there was a way to get back homeward)

So you can't afford an Aston Martin Like Macca had in the 60s, but you can still dream...
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Paul McCartney - Dead or Alive....you decide!

(Boy, you gotta carry that weight)

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Feel free to leave comments on the lens or the "Paul is Dead" legend

(and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make...)

  • PhillipConte Oct 25, 2011 @ 9:38 pm | delete
    It's a very intersting way of looking at things. I enjoyed your lens.
  • Beatles lover May 12, 2009 @ 7:01 pm | delete
    hey all u out there bad mouthing the beatles, u guys better watch wut u say........... or John and George will haunt u down

    so will i
  • CrackerJackLee May 2, 2009 @ 10:37 am | delete
    Why don't we do it in the road?
  • agt pirrone Mar 3, 2009 @ 12:04 pm | delete
    theres also an Argentinian Band that parodied Abbey Road, naming their album: "Un asado en Abbey Road" (A Barbecue at Abbey Road)

    http://www.coveralia.com/caratulas/Kapanga-Un-Asado-En-Abbey-Road-Frontal.php
  • johnbishop@soon.com Feb 25, 2009 @ 11:31 am | delete
    Hi, I have been enjoying your collection of Abbey Road parodies from around the web and would like you to include mine as well, if you would. I use it on my website header. Scroll down and you will see the entire photo:

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0xfTgAEuRs8/SHJUwyMBQrI/AAAAAAAAAKE/r9k6kPb6Puk/s1600-h/Abbey Normal.jpg

    @

    http://ilbuonoilbruttoilcattivoidioto.blogspot.
    com/2008/07/abbey-normal.html

    Thank you for your consideration.

    V/R,
    John
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tobydownton

Toby is 32 and lives in London. He is interested in evolution, consciousness, theories/ideas/worldviews that explain who we are and where we came from... more »

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