The observation was made by Geoff Emerick, a sound engineer who worked with the band during that period and apparently had an eye for detail
Define your hairline
The album cover Abbey Roadof Beatlesis one of the most famous in the history of music. In it, fans can see (from left to right) George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr AND John Lenon crossing the street outside the record company studios EMIright on Abbey Road in London, England.
What few know is that the photo, taken by Ian Macmillan on the morning of August 8, 1969, has a profound meaning – and little discussed by the Beatles, as that context was not adequately exploited. Geoff Emericksound engineer who died in 2018, spoke about the topic in an interview with Music Radar in the year 2014.
Initially, he admitted he had “no idea.” Abbey Road It would be the last album to be recorded by the Beatles. Although it was the second to last to be released, it was recorded after its successor, Let it be (1970), which remained shelved for some time.
“Nothing was said to indicate this, at least not to me. As far as I understood, we were going to work on another album in the new studio I was building at Apple. The band got along better, the atmosphere wasn’t always like that good, but it was much better than the previous year (1968).”
It was then that Emerick mentioned how the album cover offered a peculiar clue: not that the Beatles would end, but that some big change involving EMI was coming.
“The only hint given to me or anyone else was on the album cover, where you cross the street. For those who don’t know the geography there, they are leaving EMI studios – or Abbey Road Studios, as everyone knows it now. It was intentional on their part: they didn’t want to walk to the studio. When I saw the photo, I thought they were sending a message.”
Beatles and problems with EMI
The Beatles’ relationship with EMI, in fact, was not the best. Even though they were the biggest band in the world at the time, there were no privileges of any kind.
“They were incarcerated at EMI. They came to hate that studio. It wasn’t the fanciest studio in the world: it was cold and uncomfortable. EMI was very slow to embrace the new technology: we were the last to buy four-track recording systems and eight lanes . Abbey Road It was the first album where I used an eight-track console.”
The case told by Geoff Emerick also left the interviewer perplexed: why couldn’t the Beatles demand better equipment and accommodation?
“It was against EMI’s rules. I remember at one point they wanted some lights covered in studio 2, like ambient lighting, and the response they got was, ‘we can’t do that sort of thing’. The band had to set up your own area in studio 2, with its little lamps and other things to make it more ‘homely’.”
+++ READ MORE: John Lennon’s idol made a point of kissing feet in public
+++ READ MORE: The stabbing and death from cancer of George Harrison, of the Beatles
+++ to follow Rolling Stone Brasil @rollingstonebrasil on Instagram
+++ to follow the journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
