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‘Abbey Road’ Rush: Ten Minutes the Beatles Spun Into Album-Cover Genius

8/8/07, 2:53 pm EST

Photo: Abbey
On this day in 1969, the Fab Four attended a not-so-fab photo shoot where they were given ten brief minutes to come up with an album cover photo for their eleventh album, Abbey Road. McCartney ultimately selected the shot, one of six photographer Iain MacMillan took from a stepladder. The image, of course, has become one of the most imitated and discussed in rock history — so hit us back with your favorite crosswalk homages.


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GhostofTomWaits | 8/8/2007, 3:16 pm EST

The B-Sharp’s – Bigger than Jesus

Homer, Principal Skinner, Barney and Apu walking on water

The Phantom | 8/8/2007, 3:42 pm EST

Yep. This album cover came about mostly by accident. They simply couldn’t come up with a feasible concept for a cover, so they shot this picture. It’s fitting to see them on the cover (rather than pscyhedelic artwork) since this was the last time they would be together as a band. PS Isn’t Tom Waits still alive?

Max Power! | 8/8/2007, 3:45 pm EST

Spinal Tap’s ‘Smell the Glove’(not the none more black one)

Max Power! | 8/8/2007, 3:49 pm EST

Spinal Tap’s ‘Smell the Glove’,a greased naked woman on all fours,with a dog collar and leash,with an arm extended,holding a black glove to her face to sniff.That one

Magic Banger | 8/8/2007, 4:33 pm EST

I totally boned a chick in that crosswalk a few years back, thats my favorite homage!

Eric | 8/8/2007, 4:46 pm EST

haha that crosswalk is magic…i picked up on what i thought was two cute british chicks, but it turned out to be some girls from chicago…with annoying chicago accents. i still hooked up, though.

Anonymous | 8/8/2007, 4:48 pm EST

up yours, chicago accents arent annoying. d-bag

zenidog | 8/8/2007, 4:52 pm EST

the scene in Sicko where the guy breaks his wrist

bub | 8/8/2007, 4:53 pm EST

red hot chili peppers’ shot was cooler, all socks.

lala | 8/8/2007, 5:40 pm EST

i loved the simpsons on of this…. very facinating

Booker | 8/8/2007, 5:41 pm EST

Best homage to this is the Beatles’ covers record that Booker T. ANd the MG’s did, Mclemore Avenue. . .A CLASSIC!

beep | 8/8/2007, 6:03 pm EST

News Flash:

(pauls dead)

midevil | 8/8/2007, 6:14 pm EST

Paul!Look out for Mick Jagger in his souped up outta control Bitchin’Camaro!Urk!Squish!Wah.

Beatallica | 8/8/2007, 6:15 pm EST

Who is pauls?????

Felipe | 8/8/2007, 6:25 pm EST

The Simpsons and the RHCP are the best after the original

bored | 8/8/2007, 7:54 pm EST

red hot chili peppers and the simpsons

Mr. X | 8/8/2007, 8:55 pm EST

the simpsons!!!

Wilson Lim | 8/8/2007, 9:08 pm EST

The Apo Hiking Society Cover LP from the Philippines is the Best

Liam Gallagher's Sneer | 8/8/2007, 9:10 pm EST

That Jerry Seinfeld AmEx (or was it Visa???) commercial from a few years back.

Syd Barrett | 8/8/2007, 10:27 pm EST

The cover of the “Paul Is Live” CD with Paul walking his sheepdog across the street is by far the best….the rest of you are morons.

Mr. Man | 8/8/2007, 11:48 pm EST

U2 & Green Day for “The Saints Are Coming”

Mr. Man | 8/8/2007, 11:48 pm EST

U2 & Green Day for “The Saints Are Coming”

alan | 8/9/2007, 12:08 am EST

the simpsons on the cover of rolling stone of course!

proletariat | 8/9/2007, 12:54 am EST

haha apo hiking i likkkkkkkkeeeeeee

cure58 | 8/9/2007, 5:15 am EST

The Beatles definitely left on top!!!

jdunn56 | 8/9/2007, 8:51 am EST

did this Eric dude really use a discussion on the Abbey Road album cover to tell strangers he “hooked up” with someone? idiot. go back to the frat house dude.

Canadian | 8/9/2007, 9:18 am EST

hahah I like the B-Sharps more than 64 slices of American cheese.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KKo | 8/9/2007, 9:51 am EST

check out this band (the alarmists) covering the B side to abbey road… VERY cool man!

(http://youtube.com/watc h?v=KKonsMkzLtA)

remove parentheses and spaces

Buzzardo | 8/9/2007, 10:48 am EST

I tried to re-create the famous Abbey Road shot a few years ago on a visit to London. Damn, that road is really busy! I had to run across, and the photo doesn’t look that great. Either the Beatles had the road blocked off for the photo shoot (very likely) or there was a lot less traffic in 1969–also very possible.

rocketman | 8/9/2007, 10:50 am EST

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invenion “We’re Only In It For The Money”. view cover here: (http://www.afterbirthofthecoo l.com/initforthemoney.jpg)

Buzzardo | 8/9/2007, 10:52 am EST

I read that the Beatles were going to call the album “Everest” and they were planning to fly to Nepal and take a photo in front of Mt. Everest. In the end, that seemed like a wacky idea (which it was,) so they simply stepped out onto the street…and the rest is history. It sounds like an odd story, but I remember reading it in what I thought at the time was a pretty reliable source–sorry, can’t remember where!

Daniel | 8/9/2007, 1:27 pm EST

I’m glad someone else remembered the Be Sharps’ album cover.

birddogger | 8/9/2007, 2:06 pm EST

The video for Paul’s 1985 theme song to the movie “Spies Like Us” featured him and stars Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase hamming it up in the studio. The final scene was each of the three of them getting photographed by surprise as they walked outside. Then the final frame is a shot of the still photo of all three of them, and it pulls back to reveal that they are crossing Abbey Road. Pretty funny.

beerhead123 | 8/9/2007, 2:38 pm EST

Booker T and the MG’s 1970 Beatles homage LP:
McLemore Avenue

Earljam | 8/9/2007, 3:53 pm EST

Are you kidding. The best homage is Red Hot Chili Peppers “Abbey Road E.P”

Buzzardo | 8/9/2007, 5:14 pm EST

It was in the Bob Spitz auto bio, and i think it was mentioned on the anthology tv series. Man, im glad they stuck with Abbey Road!

Max Buzz | 8/9/2007, 8:14 pm EST

What about the clothes?

How do the clothes fit in?

Bizarre!

Helvis | 8/10/2007, 6:54 am EST

Max Buzz is right. Who has John’s outfit now?

Helvis | 8/10/2007, 6:54 am EST

Max Buzz is right. Who has John’s outfit now?

cactus Jack | 8/10/2007, 9:22 am EST

I used to live in a building on right next to that crosswalk, and can I tell you that it is very busy, and there are always idiots walking across it taking photos. Oh, and idiots singing Stones tunes, thinking that was who recorder Abbey Road.
Also, if you go here: http://www.abbeyroad.co.uk/vir tual_visit/webcam/ it’s the webcam of the crosswalk. (I agree that the B-Sharps cover is best representation.)

Bill Cannon | 8/10/2007, 11:21 am EST

Check out the parody at http://billcannon.net/Music/Se lfTitled/SelfTitled.html

Joe | 8/10/2007, 2:11 pm EST

Go to Chuck E. Cheese and they have their own versions of album covers with the animatronic band members. They’re hanging everywhere in the restaurant. One is “Flabby Road”, another is “Cheesy Top”; you get the idea.

beep | 8/10/2007, 8:34 pm EST

paul is barefoot, meaning he wasnt in that photo but a likeness of his spirit was.. get it? not on this planet anymore? 6 feet south? not breathing? HES DEAD!

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