Often derided by critics of the excessive use of
compression, was The Beatles’ Abbey Road one of those 1960s era albums that were
simply “way ahead of its time”?
By: Ringo Bones
Overuse of compression in the recording studio had recently
received a bad rap due to mainstream rock and pop records sounding worse and
worse in the attempt to make them have the impression of sounding louder. Well,
it seems like de rigueur post 9/11 worsening sound quality of mainstream rock
and pop music when the recorded drum-kit sounds like it is made of latex rubber
that make those late 1970s early 1980s rap / hip hop recordings sound
audiophile by comparison. But without compression, The Beatles’ Abbey Road
would not have sound like the Abbey Road that Beatle-maniacs with good audio-gear
are familiar with.
Back in 1969, producer George Martin at the time of Abbey
Road’s recording sessions creative use of compression in the recording studio made
the bass guitars and drum-kit sound as if they were in front of you given the
limitations of multi-track analog tape recording technology at the time. Often
mistaken that it was recorded in 1989 – as opposed to 1969, Abbey Road is
simply one of those 1960s era albums that’s way ahead of its time in terms of technical
excellence during its production.
The Beatles’ Abbey Road album’s 50th Anniversary
fanfare was kicked off with the reenactment ack in August 8, 2019 of the iconic
August 8, 1969 photo shoot of the album cover in front of the Abbey Road Studio’s
zebra crossing where the “Fab Four” posed for the iconic zebra crossing that
eventually became the album cover. Abbey Road is also well known as the last
Beatles album were all of the four band members worked together in the studio.
Originally released in September 26, 1969 in the UK and
October 1, 1969 in the United States, a 4 CD and 4 LP 50th
Anniversary boxed set reissue of Abbey Road is scheduled in September 27, 2019
where additional tracks mixed by record producer Giles Martin – son of the late
George Martin. Audiophile Beatles fans could judge for themselves on how the
new remixes stand up to the original George Martin produced ones with the
iconic Abbey Road style vacuum tube compression.
